Quote Originally Posted by xsnaggle View Post
Turf accountant hey? there's posh!!!

It was a tanner in the 50's, neighbours used to come and ask my mum for change.
Quote Originally Posted by IanD View Post
Bookies on Pearl Street was gramp's second home. More tanners and Bob's spent there than on the gas. I've still got a letter his brother sent home in WW1, before going to France. On the back, at the side, are gramp's (or one of his brother's) odds scribbled down for horses he was betting on. Bloke on a street corner taking the bets before it was legal. Complete with lookouts and runners. 70 years of wages from the railways and pension donated to turf accounts various over the years. No wonder the front door was always open! Hopefully someone had a win on the bingo and they'd share it out. Enough to keep the gas going for a day or two amongst half a dozen households.

My Dad, used to take bets in and outside The Rhymney, (later called Baileys).

That was his pitch and no-one else was allowed to take bets there. This was during the day, his full time job was full time night shifts (so he could have his little sideline) was as a “master baker” (cue jokes), in Merrett’s, on Newport Road.

Coppers (Plod), were given a backhander to leave well alone