able to get all their each-way wagers on in betting shops, many bookmakers felt the pinch.


With punters suddenly


Swift tried to get his fellow- bookmakers to reduce their each-way terms, but no big firms wanted their names linked to anything that might prove unpopular with the public. It was a long time before one-fifth the odds a place was introduced and gradually became accepted.


GANGSTERS were another menace. They started setting off bombs, gelignite or incendiary, in betting- shop doorways, alarming bookmakers with their “protection” demands. There were dangerous moments ahead – more on these in a later article – but despite a wave of explosions and fires, most bookmakers courageously refused to be intimidated and stood up to the gangsters by calling in the police.


The terror was eventually * * *


stamped out and the criminals sent to prison for long terms.


* * *


THAT FIRST CHRISTMAS of legalised off-course cash betting was certainly one for bookmakers to celebrate. Even Jack Swift, to his later regret, got sucked into the festive mood. “Just before Christmas,” he


been pub regulars. Harvey asked: “Is Chuckles”


– Jack Swift’s sarcastic nickname given him by his staff – “putting any maximum on his bar bill so I know when to cut your punters off?” “He didn’t say. But you


know what it says on our sign outside: ‘No Limit’. And Chuckles’ word is his bond.” I must have invited


said, “I’ll give our punters a few drinks and a bite. Tell ’em it’s my Yuletide treat.” “What, all of them?” “You heard. Fix it up with the guv’nor in the Clarence.” I duly arranged the party with Harvey Speight, the pub’s landlord. He set aside the upstairs dining room a few days before Christmas from 11:30 am until the 3 pm closing time. Harvey glanced at my


11.30, I was amazed to see a long line of punters outside the pub waiting for the “off.” I must say Harvey and his wife did our revellers proud, laying on turkey, chicken, ham, Christmas cake and mince pies. But Chuckles’ punters


bandaged hand. He knew Swift had recently refused to pay me compensation for losing a finger when a counter-flap crashed on it in the betting shop. He also knew Swift had sacked several clerks for being just a few minutes late. All had


didn’t want food. Instead they mobbed the bar to get ahead of others pouring in non-stop. A Christmas tree was


knocked over in the rush. Harvey had to phone downstairs for more barmaids. Then for more gin and whisky. I called in our two ex-coppers to restore order.


On the big day, just before


hundreds, never dreaming they’d all jump at the chance of regaining some of their losses.


they didn’t forget to join the stampede for free drinks. The ex-cops didn’t eat, either. At the height of the bedlam I confess I was hoping Jack Swift might turn up dressed as Father Christmas and jovially hand out boxes of cigars, cigarettes and the firm’s diaries with all the racing fixtures for 1962 from his bulging sack. But after a drunken booze- up that saw many punters fall to the floor I was glad our generous host didn’t show up. At 3 pm, I went back and found Swift in his deserted shop glumly listening to a racing commentary nobody wanted to hear.


handed over Harvey’s bill. Swift promptly shrieked: “Seven hundred quid?! How’s it possible.” “It was easy. Don’t worry,


everybody lapped it all up.” It was the first and last


Christmas party Chuckles ever gave. The occasion rounded out the end of that fabulous year when the betting shops came in exactly half a century ago.n


Hoping to cheer him, I


They failed. But I noticed


MRG Systems Limited Willow Court, Beeches Green, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 4BJ


T +44 (0)1453 751871


E sales@mrgsystems.co.uk F +44 (0)1453 753125 W www.mrgsystems.co.uk


visit www.bosmag.co.uk


BOS Magazine November/December 2011 17


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40