OKAY ILL START OFF ONCE WEVE FILLED IN ..A.. YOU CAN MOVE ON TO ..B... AND SO ON ..........YOU CAN BITS TO THE GUY IF YOU WANT TO ...........A IS FOR AVALON ,EDDIE AVALON A WEST COUNTRY BOOKMAKER WHOSE MOTTO WAS ,"HAVE IT ON WITH AVALON" HE DIED AROUND 1988 GIVE OR TAKE, A DECENT SORT OF BLOKE ,WHO WAS ALWAYS HAPPY AND CHEERY
bbc Yes I'd heard he'd died.When I look back & think of some of the rows we had I've got to smile.He was the master at pulling strokes when doing the lines at the flaps. A classic I'll never forget was at Carsuis(cann't even spell the name now)when he put the line in at an angle.After the first race when we were all in he twisted his board round so we were all a foot behind.Everytime I went to the flaps in Wales we were arguing about seniority,I don't think I ever won an argument with him but I still liked the guy although I called him allsorts at the time.
bbcYes I'd heard he'd died.When I look back & think of some of the rows we had I've got to smile.He was the master at pulling strokes when doing the lines at the flaps.A classic I'll never forget was at Carsuis(cann't even spell the name now)when he
TESS TICKLE is famagusta open now,or just the turkish side.dad was in forces and lived there twice.took my mum back 2 years ago and stayed in larnaca.coudnt believe un were still patroling.many happy memories as a kid.played football on the beach with jimmy greaves and dave mackay.in those days was just a holiday for the teams that came out.about 1968 i think.we used to have a meze at the avenida restaurant just off jfk avenue.happy daysnow im one of those commision agents who go out 70 days a year and have 25% back on here.
TESS TICKLE is famagusta open now,or just the turkish side.dad was in forces and lived there twice.took my mum back 2 years ago and stayed in larnaca.coudnt believe un were still patroling.many happy memories as a kid.played football on the beach wit
quality thread, brought back some great memories from the northern circuit.
dont think anyone mentioned brian trewhitt who bet as gus carter. a man of very few words. think his son nicky sold his pitches to buy up shops and then sold them.
is colin websters son, the one with one arm, still kicking about ? think he was called david. he was a really nice bloke. very natty dresser.
quality thread, brought back some great memories from the northern circuit. dont think anyone mentioned brian trewhitt who bet as gus carter. a man of very few words. think his son nicky sold his pitches to buy up shops and then sold them.is colin we
Another northern bookmaker that I don't think has been mentioned is George ( Peter ) Horne. His son, Phillip, is a stalwart in the BK empire, with special responsibility for keeping a lid on the tin. Peter could start an argument in an empty room, but he was a decent layer. He is alive and well and enjoying his retirement.
Another northern bookmaker that I don't think has been mentioned is George ( Peter ) Horne. His son, Phillip, is a stalwart in the BK empire, with special responsibility for keeping a lid on the tin. Peter could start an argument in an empty room, bu
Billy Flintham was (as I seem to remember ) a really big player in the ring but was quite opinionated. If you worked for him you had to wear a white shirt and a tie. Again, I can't be sure, but I think he went skint. Around the same time Topper Robson went from bookmaker to professional punter.
More recently, when buying and selling started, Captain George ( John Critchley ) sold up and moved to France. I don't think that he has been in good health for the past few years.
Billy Flintham was (as I seem to remember ) a really big player in the ring but was quite opinionated. If you worked for him you had to wear a white shirt and a tie. Again, I can't be sure, but I think he went skint.Around the same time Topper Robson
FAMOUS and IMFAMOUS NORTH WEST BOOKMAKERS.PAT WHEELAN,IAN GARTSIDE(AS IN BE ON THE SMARTSIDE),BOB COLLINS,ROY BARKER,KEITH SWAIN,FREDDIE ABLE,CLARY WOOD,ALBERT BROWN,ANDY MELIA,JIMMY TUNSTALL,JOHN AINSWORTH,PADDY HINES,TEDDY HARRIS,NOTRMAN TAYLOR,MAURICE LYNDSAY,WALLY FENTON,JIMMY BURNS,GLEN GRAHAM,BILL TAYLOR,JOE PHILLIPS,HARRY JOY,BILL CORBETT,TERRY HIGGINS,JIMMY ASHALL,MANNY COOK,ARE JUST A FEW TO MENTION.
FAMOUS and IMFAMOUS NORTH WEST BOOKMAKERS.PAT WHEELAN,IAN GARTSIDE(AS IN BE ON THE SMARTSIDE),BOB COLLINS,ROY BARKER,KEITH SWAIN,FREDDIE ABLE,CLARY WOOD,ALBERT BROWN,ANDY MELIA,JIMMY TUNSTALL,JOHN AINSWORTH,PADDY HINES,TEDDY HARRIS,NOTRMAN TAYLOR,MAU
apologies ribero, brian trewhitt did indeed retire 83/84 (?) and son nicky kept the gus carter pitches going for maybe a year before quitting, so well before he could sell them.
as has been said john joyce retired and sadly passed away around the same time. think his clerk briefly kept the racecourse pitches going. i believe that he was the son of joe douglas (carlisle) though and couldnt take the pitches over once joyce died as seniority couldnt be passed on to a non relative in those days. may be wrong but sure there was a big kerfuffle over it at the time. peter (sheepskin) watson produced rule book (nap)
joyce's family kept the many betting shops in the john joyce name going until a few years ago when they sold out to corals. i still see his bag man, ray, from time to time in one of those shops.
dog racing must have been big right up until the 70's as john joyce used to bet alongside my grandad, johnny ridley, at hartlepool, which was only a flapping track, yet had two of the biggest layers in the north in the ring. to offset that they also had billy day betting there. and i use the term betting in the loosest sense of the word. what he was actually doing was knocking people back. used to play for boro i believe and had pitches in the silver ring at a few northern meets. think dennis sweeney had a pitch there for a while. like i say not bad for a flap.
was it bill farrell who used to bring a box of pies to every carlisle meeting ? bet under that name, dont think it was his real one. nice pies, wouldn't lay a bet though.
there was also a bookie keeled over and died at the end of one newcastle meeting in the 80's. was paying out one minute, dropped down dead the next. he did look about 100. think his surname may have been priest, not sure. another you could never get a bet on with.
apologies ribero, brian trewhitt did indeed retire 83/84 (?) and son nicky kept the gus carter pitches going for maybe a year before quitting, so well before he could sell them.as has been said john joyce retired and sadly passed away around the same
I remember betting with Colin Waldron (he had a brother Alan, he played for my team, Bolton, in the 70's), but Colin was a big name at Burnley.......is he still around??
I remember betting with Colin Waldron (he had a brother Alan, he played for my team, Bolton, in the 70's), but Colin was a big name at Burnley.......is he still around??
Chipfire. You are partly right about John Joyce. Joe Douglas's son Tommy repped for him but it was never expected that he could take over the pitches as it contravened all the rules of the BPA's. John's son also called John was not the least bit interested in taking them over and to be fair it would have been a travesty if Tommy had taken them over as he was not in the same league as John snr. and would certainly have got the firm skint.
Bill Farrell had several pitches in the north and did , in fact, trade under his own name.
Finally, Nick Trewhitt of Gus Carter fame probably bet in his dad's pitches for a good 10 years before packing it in to concentrate on the betting offices. One of his workers was Austin Carney, who with two others bought out the then small firm of Reuben Page, later to become Pagebet and also to end up in liquidation.
Chipfire. You are partly right about John Joyce. Joe Douglas's son Tommy repped for him but it was never expected that he could take over the pitches as it contravened all the rules of the BPA's. John's son also called John was not the least bit inte
Incidently, Chipfife, Your grandad, Johnny Ridley, father of the current layer of the same name and famous for his muffler ( a scalf to the uninitiated ) was one of the finest bookmakers ever to attach his hod to a joint.
Incidently, Chipfife, Your grandad, Johnny Ridley, father of the current layer of the same name and famous for his muffler ( a scalf to the uninitiated ) was one of the finest bookmakers ever to attach his hod to a joint.
there was an article in the racing post about colin waldren a couple of weeks ago,he runs a credit betting buissness the old fashioned way,it was a full page spread on him it shouldnt be hard to get hold of.
flyerthere was an article in the racing post about colin waldren a couple of weeks ago,he runs a credit betting buissness the old fashioned way,it was a full page spread on him it shouldnt be hard to get hold of.
alan f was a good friend and knew the game inside out,died tragically young,as for him opening a boutique (60s era) up there,its 1.01 he is still banging on about personal seniority!
alan f was a good friend and knew the game inside out,died tragically young,as for him opening a boutique (60s era) up there,its 1.01 he is still banging on about personal seniority!
thanks porfavor, i started working on course probably 1978-1979 so was lucky enough to spend a fair bit of time working with my grandad before he passed away and he always struck me as being as close to the definition of a gentleman as you could get. probably a bit too gentle sometimes, i wish i had a fraction of the money people, including a couple of bookmakers, knocked him for.
i was only a kid at the time (15-16) and it was bizarre being in an enviroment surrounded by mainly old gadgies, who carried huge sums of money about in their pockets, and spoke largely about things totally alien to me. i guess i was lucky to an extent being a boy given insight into a mans world, but with hindsight i'm pretty glad i got out when i did in the mid 80's to do something different, because a lot of the people on course only seemed to have one interest in life, and that was gambling.
when i was 19 and most of my mates were drinking and sleeping with as many women as they could, i seemed to spend ridiculous amounts of my time fathoming how i could get from catterick to pelaw dogs in time for the first. even at 16 when i went in to see the careers teacher and she asked what my ambition was i think i replied " to own a decent open racer."
thanks porfavor, i started working on course probably 1978-1979 so was lucky enough to spend a fair bit of time working with my grandad before he passed away and he always struck me as being as close to the definition of a gentleman as you could get.
easybet, fat bald glasses bloke bet in the north, one of the first with computers in the late 90s layed decent bets and came in on a whirlwind and went out as quickly, when asked what went wrong he said that his master plan was to buy all the top pitches get known for taking a bet build his reputation and be on course for the next 20 years. He said he remembered going to a auction at kelso? and that clive feller standing up and stating there will be no boards on rails and a few weeks later they had agreed boards on rails.
The fat bald glasses bloke was a businessman and was not used to the lies and uncertainty of the shower at the njpc, he said that un nerved him and he told a few that racecourses will charge whatever they wanted in the future that was in 2001 and he was one of the first on betfair in 2000, he then sold up and did the first on line trading on betfair from the course with another businessman bookie who then cleaned up years before the rest caught on. That other bookie was b&k.
easybet, fat bald glasses bloke bet in the north, one of the first with computers in the late 90s layed decent bets and came in on a whirlwind and went out as quickly, when asked what went wrong he said that his master plan was to buy all the top pit
I was reading this thread last nite - brilliant reading !!
I m not a backer of horses, and I ve only ever been once to a course ( York ) so obviously wouldnt know any of the charecters mentioned.
I an familiar with Pagebet however - as I used to work for the firm that supplied the shops with the tills and tv text service. I found the Reuben Page lot to be somewhat difficult to deal with, I m not suprised they ended up bust as they came across as loudmouths with ideas way above their station...
I was reading this thread last nite - brilliant reading !!I m not a backer of horses, and I ve only ever been once to a course ( York ) so obviously wouldnt know any of the charecters mentioned.I an familiar with Pagebet however - as I used to work f
DIGGER it probably is a lifetime since i last played five a side. remarkably i'm still playing 11 a side on saturday mornings, though at approx 11-40 am yesterday, on a playing field in yarm, i did seriously question the wisdom of it.
you still putting yr boots on ?
DIGGER it probably is a lifetime since i last played five a side. remarkably i'm still playing 11 a side on saturday mornings, though at approx 11-40 am yesterday, on a playing field in yarm, i did seriously question the wisdom of it.you still puttin
Peter Holmes - had a notice on his joint along the lines of " fastest payer in the country " ? Used to work with his wife and seemed very quiet and gentle. Not your usual stereotype bookmaker.
Peter Holmes - had a notice on his joint along the lines of " fastest payer in the country " ? Used to work with his wife and seemed very quiet and gentle. Not your usual stereotype bookmaker.
Dunstall park snooper...Paul Beard had a couple of horses but the one that won a few times was called Zonta, Bob (not Bill) Clay trained it at Gentleshaw although Paddy Connors used to do most of the work :-).In the 77/78 season Jonjo O`Neil was on 149 winners and his agent was booking him on anything to try to get him on 150 winners for the season (poss a record in those days)with only days to go till season end.He rode Zonta somewhere (Fontwell maybey) and fell 2 out, Jonjo stormed back and said he would have won!! Alas Jonjo finished on 149
Dunstall park snooper...Paul Beard had a couple of horses but the one that won a few times was called Zonta, Bob (not Bill) Clay trained it at Gentleshaw although Paddy Connors used to do most of the work :-).In the 77/78 season Jonjo O`Neil was on 1
ribero I knew Alan f and his pals Bert & Tony from elland road and Wakefield, I always remember him being referred to as Jesus due to his atire, he was a very good judge back then. When he got his pitches he became an even better judge on the horses. A lovely man who left us too early.
ribero I knew Alan f and his pals Bert & Tony from elland road and Wakefield, I always remember him being referred to as Jesus due to his atire, he was a very good judge back then. When he got his pitches he became an even better judge on the horses.
GOING BACK THROO THIS THREAD ...I NOTICED 2 BOOKS THAT HAD CHALK ROUND THE MOUTHS ......GRENVILLE (SMILER)PEARSON ...HERBERT CASSELL..... HERBERT HAD THE MOST ...ONE DAY AT SOUTHWELL WHEN IT WAS IN BETWEEN RACES SOMEBODY PINCHED SMILERS BIT OF CHALK AND REPLACED IT WITH A STICK OF CHALK HALF THE SIZE OF A STICK OF BLACKPOOL ROCK HE GOT BACK ON THE BOX GAVE IT A LICK AND OFF HE WENT
GOING BACK THROO THIS THREAD ...I NOTICED 2 BOOKS THAT HAD CHALK ROUND THE MOUTHS ......GRENVILLE (SMILER)PEARSON ...HERBERT CASSELL..... HERBERT HAD THE MOST ...ONE DAY AT SOUTHWELL WHEN IT WAS IN BETWEEN RACES SOMEBODY PINCHED SMILERS BIT OF CHALK
Used to go to Hackney Wick on saturday mornings before pics were available. Always remember No.1 pitch EDDIE SELBY, others DOUG TYLER, HARRY HYMAN,GORDON HUTCHINSON. Think in those days pitches were passed down through families. Was there the day John power opened the first Betting Shop within a dog track. Dave Smith & Graham Rock used to do the commentaries for Excel betting shop service. Fantastic atmosphere, unfortunately SIS made it unnecessary to go to tracks and the rot set in. The 10% betting tax in the 80s helped to swell attendances - think they should try it again !
Used to go to Hackney Wick on saturday mornings before pics were available.Always remember No.1 pitch EDDIE SELBY, others DOUG TYLER, HARRY HYMAN,GORDON HUTCHINSON.Think in those days pitches were passed down through families.Was there the day John p
Anyone remember either George Johnston [ noisy] or Jim Tait, both used to travel to Jersey races 9 times a year, must of found it worth while, unless unloading their cash into Jersey banks..
Anyone remember either George Johnston [ noisy] or Jim Tait, both used to travel to Jersey races 9 times a year, must of found it worth while, unless unloading their cash into Jersey banks..
Yes ribero - lots of very interesting anecdotes here. Similar good reads on greyhound forum re: tracks no longer operating, how certain individuals went to the dogs every night etc.
Yes ribero - lots of very interesting anecdotes here. Similar good reads on greyhound forum re: tracks no longer operating, how certain individuals went to the dogs every night etc.
RIBERO,I HOPE YOU DIDNT TELL MR STEELE YOUVE BOUGHT YORK TATTS NUMBER ONE AND DISPLAY YORKSHIRE PLACE TERMS ON YOUR BOARD YOU WILL SEE THE POOR BLOKE OFF
RIBERO,I HOPE YOU DIDNT TELL MR STEELE YOUVE BOUGHT YORK TATTS NUMBER ONE AND DISPLAY YORKSHIRE PLACE TERMS ON YOUR BOARD YOU WILL SEE THE POOR BLOKE OFF
Whilst at school in the early 60's I worked for a lady who owned a busy pub, looking after a number of rabbits she had. After feeding, cleaning them etc. I would go into the private kitchen where she would be sitting with the Sporting Life. There was always some 'pop' and a sandwich which I enjoyed whilst listening to her telephoning her bets through to Gus Demmy. She was backing in £5's and £10's which seemed a fortune back then and if her husband Frank entered she'd put a finger to her lips and give me a wink. Happy days if she'd found a few winners, I'd get a ten bob note.
Whilst at school in the early 60's I worked for a lady who owned a busy pub, looking after a number of rabbits she had. After feeding, cleaning them etc. I would go into the private kitchen where she would be sitting with the Sporting Life. There was
Worked for a bookie called Hector Roberts as an outside man in the 60s he would call out everyone is looking for Hector Roberts here I am.
It was the time the police men were shot and one of the people who did it was Hector Roberts he was in hiding at the time in a forest.
Worked for a bookie called Hector Roberts as an outside man in the 60s he would call out everyone is looking for Hector Roberts here I am.It was the time the police men were shot and one of the people who did it was Hector Roberts he was in hiding at
Following the shootings of 41-year-old Police Constable Geoffrey Fox, Detective Sergeant Christopher Head, aged 30, and 25-year-old Temporary Detective Constable David Wombwell, Roberts hid in Thorley Wood near Bishop's Stortford to avoid capture. He was familiar with the area from visits there as a child. A £1,000 reward was offered for information leading to his arrest. Roberts used his military training to evade capture for ninety-six days, but was finally caught by police while sleeping rough in a barn at Blount's Farm near Bishop's Stortford.
WikipediaFollowing the shootings of 41-year-old Police Constable Geoffrey Fox, Detective Sergeant Christopher Head, aged 30, and 25-year-old Temporary Detective Constable David Wombwell, Roberts hid in Thorley Wood near Bishop's Stortford to avoid ca
Died about 3 years ago , the man wasnt afraid to take a bet!!
Dont think he worked on course but had a few shops.
Any of you knew George Carrigill from Dewsbury?Died about 3 years ago , the man wasnt afraid to take a bet!!Dont think he worked on course but had a few shops.
It's only just over a year ago that George Carrigill passed awayhttps://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/tributes-one-britains-oldest-bookmakers-13166707
Trevor passed away on the 7th November, he was 87 years old and for many years he was a Racecourse Bookmaker trading as Sandy Racing and latterly as Plant Bookmakers in pitches ranging from Chester to Royal Ascot and Cheltenham to Yarmouth, as well as several Point to Point pitches.
Trevor's Funeral will take place at 1.30 pm on the 28th November 2019 at Gilroes Crematorium, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QG, to which all friends and colleagues are cordially invited.
We pass on our sincere condolences to his wife Molly and the family.
R.I.P. Trevor
Trevor Peake BookmakerTrevor passed away on the 7th November, he was 87 years old and for many years he was a Racecourse Bookmaker trading as Sandy Racing and latterly as Plant Bookmakers in pitches ranging from Chester to Royal Ascot and Cheltenham
Patsy Macarthey who had a small chain of Betting Shops back in the sixties when they first opened up .Had a shop in High Holborn .and in Soho .and in Salisbury Court off Fleet St .He was a Big Fight fan and attended all the Big Fights.Don’t know what became of him or his Shops . Wonder if his still trading up behind them Pearly Gates .A great Guy.
Patsy Macarthey who had a small chain of Betting Shops back in the sixties when they first opened up .Had a shop in High Holborn .and in Soho .and in Salisbury Court off Fleet St .He was a Big Fight fan and attended all the Big Fights.Don’t kno
Patsy Macarthey who had a small chain of Betting Shops back in the sixties when they first opened up .Had a shop in High Holborn .and in Soho .and in Salisbury Court off Fleet St .He was a Big Fight fan and attended all the Big Fights.Don’t know what became of him or his Shops . Wonder if his still trading up behind them Pearly Gates .A great Guy.
Patsy Macarthey who had a small chain of Betting Shops back in the sixties when they first opened up .Had a shop in High Holborn .and in Soho .and in Salisbury Court off Fleet St .He was a Big Fight fan and attended all the Big Fights.Don’t kno
Black Sam,,,,,,Alan Bennett is still on-course normally has multi-pitches,the lad with the glasses was his rep not his son,Reps name was Neil,He has retired to the Midlands
Black Sam,,,,,,Alan Bennett is still on-course normally has multi-pitches,the lad with the glasses was his rep not his son,Reps name was Neil,He has retired to the Midlands