TIMES readers might think that two Tavistock snooker players who have racked up 177 years between them might want to give the game a bit of a rest — not a chance.

When it comes to cueing up the next ball at the West Devon Club, Ken Tucker, aged 93, and his friend Stuart Doidge, 84, are the first in the queue.

The pair are regulars for the Tuesday morning sessions and still play a good game of snooker.

Both have been members of the West Devon Club for 40 years although Stuart has been partnering Ken on the green baize for more than 54 years.

Despite their advanced years, their competitive streak is still there and the odd aggressive banter can still be heard during the heat of a match!

Stuart was born in Tavistock and went to work for many years in the local authority. He has been a staunch member of the Guilders and Colts, a Temperance Society, as well as being a long standing and active member of the Tavistock Lions.

Stuart and his good friend Dave Stenlake, who he has known for more than 65 years, still meet regularly in the club for some refreshment and a chat.

Fellow snooker member Colin Bath said Stuart certainly showed a clean pair of heels while at the table.

He said: 'Stuart has a number of different coloured pairs of shoes. We have told him that two shoes of the same colour are normally worn together!'

Ken was born in Derby and after leaving school joined the the RAF and served in the Far East during the war years from 1941 to 1946.

He moved to Tavistock in 1959 and ran the Drake Stores and Post Office  until his retirement in 1979.         

After retirement Ken took up martial arts which he says still comes in handy when Stuart gets out of hand playing snooker!

The game is thriving in the West Devon Club with four teams in the Tavistock Social League, managed by Neil Folley. There is also an in-house annual competition well underway with some high quality snooker played by players such as Kevin Rich, Paul Shrimpton, Colin Heasman, Martin  Pinkney, Keith Morris and many more.

When it comes to a black ball finish it is hard to choose between the snooker pals but one thing is for sure, it's not the different colour balls Stuart has a problem with — it's what colour shoes to wear.