A POOL competition is being organised in memory of a Kendal man who died five years after undergoing a double lung transplant.

Alan Leacock, who died aged 46, was a successful snooker player and following his transplants, came out on top in the sport at the British Transplant Games in 2014.

He passed away last July and his friends and family are now setting up the Alan Leacock Memorial Shield to remember him and support causes he was dedicated to backing.

The Albion Snooker Club, on Sandes Avenue, Kendal, will host the inaugural shield on May 20.

It will be open to anyone to enter with participation fees being donated to the New Start charity, which was set up to provide financial assistance to the heart and lung transplantation programme.

Ann-Marie Proctor was a close friend of Mr Leacock for four decades and she is helping to organise the charitable competition.

“Alan was a big supporter of New Start being a organ transplant recipient, he worked very closely with them,” she said.

“This shield is our way of trying to help people who are in a similar situation to what he was in.

“He was a fantastic bloke who would do anything for anybody which is why we are doing this in his memory.”

Following his operations, which Mr Leacock underwent due to his battle with cystic fibrosis, the cue sport enthusiast became involved with the Kendal Organ Donor Town initiative.

That was set up by former Kendal mayor Cllr Chris Hogg and his wife Rachel to encourage people to register as donors.

“Alan was a key part of Kendal Organ Donor Town and everybody really misses him,” said Mr Hogg.

“I think it’s a great idea to have a shield in his honour and it’s a great cause to support as well.”

To register for the Alan Leacock Memorial Shield and for more details about the competition, contact the Albion Snooker Club on 01539 735848.

The shield is set be held annually on the closest weekend to May 22, which was Mr Leacock’s birthday.