the repair shop

Never clapped eyes on one Ronnie but as a young man, managing betting shops I worked with an old dear that'd worked for a guy who ran a book. She was au fait with it all and said that people would take it in turns to turn up at court to cop a fine for illegal bookmaking. All this was under the auspices of the town's rozzers who were in on the caper.

I remember the clocking bags well. I used to have a Saturday job in the 60s (from the age of 16!) settling but one Saturday the manager of another shop couldn't do his shift and asked me to do it (one man shop though quite busy). The Head Office manager knew me and that I was only 17 but reluctantly agreed.

Everything was going well but mid afternoon a driver came, as normal, to pick the clocking bag to take the bets taken and at the same time drop off a new bag. He tooted his horn and I ran out to give him the bag which he took and whizzed off without giving me a new bag. The driver was now on the road collecting/dropping others so I contacted Head Office manager who was not happy, he asked me who else was in the shop (I never saw him in our village but somehow he knew people) and he chose one to countersign the sealed envelopes for the rest of the day. No big wins fortunately or there may have been a stewards!

How times have changed.

Used to use them in the local pub that was taking bets right up till late 70's.

We had a couple in the house when I was young that had been used in Grangemouth to time bets before they became outdated.In those days what stopped you expanding was having enough people you could trust not to slip in a winner after the race had finished.

Still in use  in GUERNSEY, I THINK..