Star’s lasting impression

Updated November 7 2012 - 5:24am, first published July 24 2011 - 12:02pm
INKED: James Mills had Stephen Hendry’s signature tattooed on his arm.
INKED: James Mills had Stephen Hendry’s signature tattooed on his arm.

Among the professional snooker cues and glossy programs for sale at the Australian Goldfields Open, one fan took home a more lasting souvenir.Pool umpire and snooker lover James Mills was so happy to meet Scottish snooker legend Stephen Hendry that he asked the man to autograph his arm.Then had it tattooed.Mr Mills, 47, from Seaford, has spent the last week at the Bendigo Stadium watching his hero play the world’s best snooker players in long, sometimes three-hour matches.“He’s world class, the best snooker player ever,” he said.Mr Mills had never seen Hendry play before and had the idea “half planned” before he met him after one of his matches.“He signed it for me in texta and I got it tattooed the next day.”Hendry bowed out of the tournament on Wednesday night but Mr Mills said he was still pleased to see “how good he is” in person. For decades the snooker champ enjoyed fame as one of the most successful players in the world, winning his first professional tournament in Australia in 1987.For Mr Mills, Hendry’s latest appearance Down Under was equally unforgettable.

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