Tributes have been paid to one of the island’s greatest ever snooker players who died recently.

Peter Anthony Reynolds, aged 64, from Douglas, died on August 26 in the intensive care unit of Noble’s Hospital after a fall down the stairs at his home.

Mr Reynolds, who was known as ’Potsy’, was the first winner of the Bill Cowell Trophy for the Island Snooker Championship in 1980.

He was forced to give up snooker due to Meniere’s Disease, a disorder of the inner ear which causes sudden attacks of vertigo and tinnitus.

Before retiring he was managing director of Douglas electrical contractors, Easthope and Cubbon.

He was forced to give up snooker due to Meniere’s Disease, a disorder of the inner ear which causes sudden attacks of vertigo and tinnitus.

His son Chris Reynolds said: ’He was a truly remarkable man in every way. He was loved and admired by so many for his kind, caring and loving character.

’He was my hero and my mentor and I’m so proud and grateful he was my dad.’

Numerous tributes were paid by friends on the Isle of Man Snooker Facebook page.

Snooker professional and former world number eight Darren Morgan said: ’Peter was a real gentleman and a very good player, real sad news, got a lot of fond memories with Potsy. Condolences to his family, he will be sadly missed.’

Current island snooker champion John Kennish said: ’Totally gutted. RIP Potsy.’

Tom Cain said: ’A great shame and a lovely man inside and out.’

Peter Godwin said: ’A great ambassador of Manx snooker who will undoubtedly be missed by many.’

Coroner of inquests John Needham recorded a verdict of accidental death at Douglas Courthouse on Monday.

A post mortem examination gave the cause of death as anoxic brain injury, due to or as a consequence of chest injuries, due to or as a consequence of a fall.

Mr Needham read out a statement from Mr Reynolds’ wife of 10 years, Serena Reynolds, who said that she had returned home from visiting her mother on August 25 at midday.

She said that her husband was on the sofa and she thought that he had been drinking.

Mrs Reynolds went back to her mother’s house and then returned home again at 4.15pm.

When she entered the house she found her husband lying at the bottom of the stairs with blood nearby.

She said that it looked like he had slipped and fallen down the stairs.

Mrs Reynolds said that her husband had fallen down the stairs nine weeks’ earlier which had prompted him to give up alcohol, but had started drinking again.

Mr Reynolds was conscious when paramedics attended the scene but lost consciousness before he was taken to hospital.

He died in the intensive care unit at Noble’s Hospital the following day.