STAMFORD PEOPLE
Stamford family business is a global brand Snooker is played all over the world, but the top professionals and many of those who play for fun buy their cues and accessories from a family business in Stamford. Nick Rennie interviewed Paul Roberts to find out more about Stamford Cuemakers
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he started helping his T’S been quite a father in the workshop year for Stamford until he decided to Cuemakers. The concentrate full time 17-year-old company on making cues. supplied the cues Five-time world and cases used by champion Ronnie both finalists at the O’Sullivan has used 2016 World Snooker the Stamford firm’s Championships, in products and current Sheffield. title holder Selby relies When champion on their equipment to Mark Selby and runnerstay at the top of the up Ding Junhui used game. their equipment in the “Mark has had iconic Crucible Theatre his cue for around it was a moment of real 10 years and he pride for founder Paul has looked after it Roberts, his wife June brilliantly considering and son Lewis. the rigours a cue goes Paul (55) said: through in its life,” said “We’re very proud to Paul. “The wood had see our players doing worn slightly so we well. Any success they needed to carry out have is down to their some maintenance own hard work but we to bring it back to its like to think we have original condition. The played a small part. Stamford Cuemakers’ founder Paul Roberts (right) with son Lewis and 2016 world snooker feel of the cue is the “In terms of champion Mark Selby (centre) most important thing companies which make for a player. Once they are used to a cue they around 21 inches offered a naturally forward snooker equipment, I would like to think we are will detect the slightest change in it.” up there at the top. The UK has some great cue- balanced cue which can suit certain types of So why do the top players keep coming back player.” makers, probably the best group we’ve seen, to this family business in a small Lincolnshire The company has established a particularly and all deserve some credit.” market town? strong customer base in the Far East. That is The company was originally called Turpin “Using our experience from playing the game likely to increase after an estimated 210 million Cues after a family trip to York when someone to a certain level we feel we can offer an edge Chinese watched the world snooker final on jokingly mentioned Dick Turpin might be a good in terms of getting each cue to play as best as it television due to the presence of Ding. name for the business. can,” Paul explained. “The taper of a cue is very “A lot of our cues and cases go to Asia, It was changed to Stamford Cuemakers important and knowing all the shots the cue will particularly China, Hong Kong and Singapore,” in 2002: “We wanted something that was a need to play helps to fine tune each cue.” said Paul. “Cues are especially popular as they bit more serious and professional but also The firm sometimes take on special bespoke know the quality of English cues is very high. traditional,” explained Paul. “We’re proud to be projects. Paul said they were honoured to be When they see the likes of Selby and Ding from Stamford so we wanted to represent that asked recently to make a commemorative trusting us for their cues, etc, they want to in the name.” cue for Leicester City footballer Jamie Vardy follow suit as well.” The business stemmed initially from Paul’s to mark his record of scoring in 11 successive The breakthrough years for the business love of playing snooker in the 1980s. He was an Premier League games. came in the 2009-10 snooker season when five engineer at the time, but started repairing cues Stamford Cuemakers also supply leather of the eight major finals featured players using for friends and it took off from there. cases, extensions, cue towels and chalk pouches Paul began splicing his cues with ebony in the their products. but it is the cues which continue to raise the “That was a great year for us,” recalled Paul. 1990s. The shaft is made from ash or maple but profile of the brand worldwide. “There aren’t many cue-makers who can say they this alone is not heavy enough. Ebony is a very Paul added: “We’re proud to be from have had a cue or case feature in a major final but dense wood and is spliced on to the shaft to Stamford and if we have had a positive impact to have five in a single year was great. The last give a better natural weight and balance to the on the town that would be great.” three world championship finals have featured cue, which is also weighted with lead. • For more information on Stamford our products which we are also proud of.” Paul introduced an innovation in 2002 Cuemakers go online at: www. Contacts with the top snooker players were which proved popular with customers. He said: stamfordcuemakers.com or call 01780 established when Lewis became a professional “Usually cues are spliced with ebony around 17 765759. player in his early 20s. Between tournaments to 19 inches. We found that splicing the ebony
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STAMFORD LIVING OCTOBER 2016