# John Street (snooker referee)

John Street (3 January 1932 – 6 January 2009) was an English professional snooker referee.
Street was born in Exmouth, Devon on 3 January 1932, the son of Gordon and Ivy. During World War II he was evacuated to Bishop Auckland for four years. When he was 17 in 1950 he contracted tuberculosis and was hospitalised for 14 months. Smith had competed at the 1949 English Table tennis Championship, but as the effects of his illness impacted his ability to participate in that sport, he took up snooker at Archie Oliver's snooker hall in Waterbeer Street, Exeter. He worked as an apprentice engineer, then as a salesperson at a tailor before returning to engineering and then working for a bookmaker.
He started refereeing matches in 1960, gained his "C" grade refereeing certificate that year followd by "B" grade the next year, his "A" grade certificate in 1968. His first professional refereeing role was at the 1974 World Snooker Championship and his first televised match was during the 1978 Masters. In 1977 he became the first secretary and treasuere of the newly created Professional Billiards and Snooekr Referees Association. His first major final as a referee was at the 1978 Masters, when Alex Higgins defeated Cliff Thorburn. In 1979 he refereed the English Amateur Championship final between Jimmy White and Dave Martin.
Street started working for the Pearl Assurance company in 1968, and was an insurance agent ntil leaving the role to focus on refereeing professionally in 1986.
His final match was at the 1997 Benson & Hedges Masters final when Steve Davis defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan 10–8 after trailing 4–8. This match was interrupted by a woman streaking. In all, Street refereed Masters finals.
Street refereed in five World Championship finals between 1980 and 1995. He handled the 1992 final between Jimmy White and Stephen Hendry when Hendry came from 8–14 behind to win the match 18–14 by winning 10 consecutive frames.
During the quaifying competition for the 1987 British Open, Higgins threatened Street while holding his neck, an incident that snooker historian Clive Everton wrote was "glossed over". In 1992, Higgins was fined £500 by the [[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association for "failing to accord [Street] appropriate dignity and respect" at the 1991 UK Championship. After Higgins's defeat at the 1994 UK Championship by Dave Harold in a match refereed by Smith, Higgins called Smith "incompetent", claimed that he need an eye test, and said that he would rather have a "man off the street" refereeing.$^{:192}$ Steet later reflected that "I just wish [that Higgins had] concentrated on his wonderful snooker talent more and kept his temper in check. I know some referees were frightened of him, but I always stood my ground, as did John Williams, which probably worked against us at times."$^{:212}$
Street wrote and self-published The Billiards and Snooker Referees' Handbook: An In-depth Guide to the History, Rules of the Games and the Art of Refereeing (1998) with Peter Rook. In an interview for Jack Karnehm's book World Snooker (1981), Street replied that a good referee, "You must want to be a referee rather than a player, spectator or anything else. It's a disease really, an obsession. Get a bunch of referees together and all they do is debate the rules for hours." He added that "you must be in control yet be unobtrusive."
Street was married to Jean in 1953, after meeting her at a local dance event, and they had three daughters. By June 2008, he required sticks to help him walk. He died from lung disease at Whipton Hospital in Exeter on 6 January 2009, aged 77. His funeral was held on 20 January 2009 at St Thomas Methodist Church. In 1987, Steve Acteson, snooker correspondent for The Times, referred to Street as "one of snooker's most respected referees". Journalist Dave Hendon, deputy editor of Snooker Scene magazine, wrote in 2009 that "Everyone respected him. He was one of snooker's top officials and a famous face himself in the game's boom years."