PUB pool teams held a minute’s applause in memory of Cwmbran’s ‘Mr Pool’.

Tony Bielski, who was chairman of the Cwmbran and District Pool League for more than 20 years, died on January 9.

That night he had been playing a fixture for the Top Bridge against Greenlawn Club, and even won the deciding frame to beat them 6-4.

Mr Bielski, 62, was travelling in the car with his wife Chris and two friends on their way home, when he suddenly stopped talking and became unresponsive.

The car pulled into the car park of the Ashbridge on Avondale Road and an ambulance was called.

Paramedics used a defibrillator at the scene before taking him to the Royal Gwent hospital, Newport, where he later died.

Pub pool teams across Cwmbran held a minute’s applause on January 16, before their league games, to remember him.

A message on the homepage of the Cwmbran and District Pool League reads: “As a mark of respect to Tony no games to be cancelled. It’s not what he would have wanted.”

Mr Bielski used to play pool for the RAFA club. In the current Division One Leading Players Top Bridge B team, he tops the table.

He has been a keen football player but damaged knees led him to pool approximately 30 years ago.

His daughter Donna said: “Pool was his life – he was even known as Mr Pool.”

He leaves behind his wife Chris, sons Sean and Leigh, daughters Donna and Sam and ten grandchildren.

His funeral service will be held on February 8 at 10am in St Gabriel’s Church in Old Cwmbran, before proceeding to Gwent Crematorium at 11am.

Attendees are invited back to the RAFA club, Greenhill Road, Cwmbran, for refreshments.