This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/6066570.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Hundreds gather at Hunter funeral | Hundreds gather at Hunter funeral |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of mourners assembled in Leeds Parish Church and many more gathered outside for the funeral of snooker professional Paul Hunter. | Hundreds of mourners assembled in Leeds Parish Church and many more gathered outside for the funeral of snooker professional Paul Hunter. |
| The three-times Masters champion died of cancer at Kirkwood Hospice, Huddersfield last Monday, aged 27. | The three-times Masters champion died of cancer at Kirkwood Hospice, Huddersfield last Monday, aged 27. |
| Matthew Stevens, Hunter's closest friend on the circuit, was one of the pallbearers at the service. | Matthew Stevens, Hunter's closest friend on the circuit, was one of the pallbearers at the service. |
| Meanwhile, many of Hunter's fellow professionals were due to form a guard of honour for their friend's coffin. | Meanwhile, many of Hunter's fellow professionals were due to form a guard of honour for their friend's coffin. |
| Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry and six-time winner Steve Davis were joined by Jimmy White, Ken Doherty, Ryan Day, Dennis Taylor, John Parrott and Willie Thorne. | Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry and six-time winner Steve Davis were joined by Jimmy White, Ken Doherty, Ryan Day, Dennis Taylor, John Parrott and Willie Thorne. |
| Hunter's coffin has been inside the church for the past two days and thousands have signed a book of condolence started by his widow Lindsey and 10-month-old daughter Evie Rose. | Hunter's coffin has been inside the church for the past two days and thousands have signed a book of condolence started by his widow Lindsey and 10-month-old daughter Evie Rose. |
| Lindsey Hunter watched as the coffin was carried into the church by six pallbearers wearing the snooker player's "uniform" of a dark suit with a black bow tie. | Lindsey Hunter watched as the coffin was carried into the church by six pallbearers wearing the snooker player's "uniform" of a dark suit with a black bow tie. |
| The hearse was covered in floral tributes. | The hearse was covered in floral tributes. |
| Mrs Hunter follows her husband's coffin into Leeds Parish Church | Mrs Hunter follows her husband's coffin into Leeds Parish Church |
| Down one side, the words "My daddy" were spelt out in pink roses and next to a photograph of Hunter was a card which simply said "From your princess". | Down one side, the words "My daddy" were spelt out in pink roses and next to a photograph of Hunter was a card which simply said "From your princess". |
| Other flowers on the car spelt out the words "Legend", "Son" and "Bro". | Other flowers on the car spelt out the words "Legend", "Son" and "Bro". |
| Jimmy White was among the first of the players to arrive, with those following forming a roll-call of the famous names of the sport. | Jimmy White was among the first of the players to arrive, with those following forming a roll-call of the famous names of the sport. |
| John Virgo, Willie Thorne and Steve Davis chatted with other mourners as Peter Ebdon, Ken Doherty and Shaun Murphy were among the many others who filed into the church. | John Virgo, Willie Thorne and Steve Davis chatted with other mourners as Peter Ebdon, Ken Doherty and Shaun Murphy were among the many others who filed into the church. |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan was one of the later players to arrive. | Ronnie O'Sullivan was one of the later players to arrive. |
| I admired the kid so much, he battled so very hard these last two or three years Willie Thorne href="/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6067408.stm" class="">In Pictures: Paul Hunter funeral | |
| Speaking outside the church, fans' favourite Willie Thorne said: "I'm deeply saddened. | Speaking outside the church, fans' favourite Willie Thorne said: "I'm deeply saddened. |
| "He's just going to be so sadly missed. He had a great personality, so you never knew whether he had won or lost. | "He's just going to be so sadly missed. He had a great personality, so you never knew whether he had won or lost. |
| "I admired the kid so much, he battled so very hard these last two or three years." | "I admired the kid so much, he battled so very hard these last two or three years." |
| Bald Thorne recalled how Hunter used to say he did not mind the chemotherapy "as long as I don't end up looking like Willie Thorne". | Bald Thorne recalled how Hunter used to say he did not mind the chemotherapy "as long as I don't end up looking like Willie Thorne". |
| Also speaking outside the church, former world champion Dennis Taylor said: "Paul just stood out a mile. He was just so good for our game. | Also speaking outside the church, former world champion Dennis Taylor said: "Paul just stood out a mile. He was just so good for our game. |
| "It's just a dreadfully sad loss. He would have certainly been a world champion, that's for sure." | "It's just a dreadfully sad loss. He would have certainly been a world champion, that's for sure." |
| Taylor recalled a particular final clash between Hunter and Ronnie O'Sullivan, saying the two of them walked to the table like "two pop stars". | Taylor recalled a particular final clash between Hunter and Ronnie O'Sullivan, saying the two of them walked to the table like "two pop stars". |