Snooker legends turn out to mourn John Virgo at emotional cathedral service

Snooker legends turn out to mourn John Virgo at emotional cathedral serviceThe service was held two days before the start of this year's snooker World Championship. Virgo died at his home in Mijas Costa, Spain, aged 79, in FebruaryCommentsNewsPatrick Hill Senior News Reporter18:15, 16 Apr 2026View 6 ImagesJimmy White gave fans a thumbs-up on arrival at the service(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)Snooker's biggest stars came together to pay tribute to John Virgo at a moving church service.‌Virgo, widely known as JV, was remembered fondly during an hour-long memorial at Sheffield Cathedral almost two months after he died aged 79 at his home in Mijas Costa, Spain.‌Legendary players Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, Jimmy White, Dennis Taylor, John Parrott and Ken Doherty were among a plethora of famous pals who attended the event alongside Virgo's family, including his widow Rosie Ries and his grown-up children Gary and Brook-Leah.‌Six-time world champion Davis said: "We're going to miss him dearly. A great commentator but a good friend to us all, he made you feel very special."We all thought we were friends with John because he had a great heart and he was funny, sometimes cantankerous but we loved him for that."All in all, he was part of snooker's furniture, he was part of snooker's history and a wonderful commentator. He got the best out of every match."‌READ MORE: John Virgo was looking forward to huge milestone before sudden death says pal Dennis TaylorREAD MORE: Dennis Taylor pays heartbreaking tribute to John Virgo on BBC coverage – 'Goodnight JV'View 6 ImagesJohn Parrott arriving at the memorial(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)Bishop of Sheffield Pete Wilcox officiated the service, which included a choir singing hymns and other songs, including their own version of the Beatles' hit Here Comes the Sun. Other songs included There Is a Higher Throne by Keith Getty, Remember Me by Bob Chilcott and Morn...