A BUBBLY and kind snooker legend who raised the profile of the sport both locally and nationally has died at the age of 86.

Leading coach Norman Dowie Senior passed away peacefully on March 17.

Norman was a popular and influential member of the Swindon sport community, nurturing the talents of many aspiring snooker stars.

The community stalwart’s prowess as a snooker coach was recognised both locally and on the world stage He was the Team GB wheelchair snooker team coach and travelled to Seoul, South Korea for the Paralympics. Known for his work coaching in disability sports, Norman was also the mastermind behind town talents Tim Bailey and Stephen Lee.

Norman was manager of a town centre snooker club and a familiar face at Jesters Snooker Hall and the 147 Snooker Club.

He first picked up his cue when he was a young boy growing up in Edinburgh, a move which sparked an 80-year long passion for the sport.

In Scotland he met wife Mary who he married in 1955. The pair lived in London where they welcomed the first of their seven children, before moving to Park North.

His son Charles ‘Chas’ Dowie, 46, praised his ‘kind-hearted’ father’s passion for the sport.

He said: “I was just always with him, even when I was younger and he was going to snooker clubs where I wasn’t allowed into. I didn’t want to be away from him and we travelled all over the country. He was an inspiration and he never stopped loving the sport.

He became well-known to many in the town and across the country as a leading coach and he taught skills to many players over the years, as well as shining a spotlight on the sport.

Norman juggled his main passion of snooker with a job as a pest control officer.

To honour his achievements, in 2011 Chas, devised the Norman Dowie Cup, an annual one-day snooker tournament held at the 147 Snooker Club

Chas said: “I wanted to honour him before he passed away and show him all he had achieved. He changed the lives of so many people.”

Karl Paul, part owner of 147 Snooker Club in Sheppard Street first met Norman at Jester’s in the early 1990s when he was 10.

He said the leading coach’s lessons in the sport would stay with him for a lifetime.

Karl, 35, said: “He was very big on the etiquette of the game. He always told the youngsters they had to remember to be a gentleman, be professional and always

“He was very kind and patient. He was a good player but a fantastic coach. He had a lot of patience with younger players and he was always passionate about the sport and that came through.

“As much as I tried, I could never beat him

“He believed anyone should get the chance to play snooker and he really got the best out of people.

“There are a lot of people who appreciate what he’s done in Swindon for the sport.”

Bradley Baker, owner of Jester's Snooker Hall in Greenbridge Road said Norman was an inspiration to snooker players across the town.

He said: "I first met Norman around 23 years ago when he asked if he could bring young players over to the club and set up a Saturday coaching event.

"He was very focused, burly and lively. He knew how to get the best out of his players and I know a lot of people owe their success to him. He really was the snooker man of Swindon. He was passionate about disability sports and he knew the game inside out."

Norman’s funeral will be held this Friday (April 7) at 1pm at St John’s Church, Cavendish Square before a burial service at the Kingsdown Cemetery with the wake held at the Swiss Chalet.