Did Harry win his bet?

String o' beads · Post by **String o' beads** » Fri 27 Jan, 2012 8:30 pm

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IT ... ited&hl=en

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Fri 27 Jan, 2012 9:31 pm

Harry Ward born circa 1880 died 1970 at the earliestJim Windsor (bookie) born circa 1887 died 1970 at the earliest.Pre decimilisation stake of sixpence or less as I suspect the payout would be less than £6000 given exchange rates at the time.The surnames are perhaps a little too common for our genealogists on here, but maybe business directories will show a bankrupt bookie Unfortunately my summation of the task a la "Mission Impossible" is about all I can add, so who's going to accept the mission?

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Fri 27 Jan, 2012 9:35 pm

With his active gambling business I very much doubt that Jim Windsor ever went bankrupt!

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Fri 27 Jan, 2012 9:49 pm

Leodian wrote: With his active gambling business I very much doubt that Jim Windsor ever went bankrupt! Sorry Leodian I appear not to be old enough to remember that particular chain of turf accountants but as you did a bit more research turned uphttp://www.secretleeds.com/forum/Messages.aspx ... 66&bih=653

iansmithofotley · Post by **iansmithofotley** » Fri 27 Jan, 2012 11:24 pm

Hi everyone,I used to know the bookmaker, Jim Windsor, in the 1960's & 70's, and often visited his club on Vicar Lane, at his invitation. I knew him through my police work and also because, when I worked as a patrol sergeant at Chapeltown Police Station, I often used to go to his home when his burglar alarm went off (always accidentally). At that time, he lived in a beautiful house on Wigton Lane. I found him to be a really nice man. Having said that, he had already made his money when I knew him, and I have no idea of his dealings before betting became legal around 1963. He was great friends with the famous South African, heart surgeon, Christian Barnard.So far as relates to Harry Ward, I knew a man called Harry Ward, again in the 1960's & 70's. He was an auctioneer and had sales rooms in New Station Street and there were auctions every day. He was a friend of my father, as my father also had a shop in New Station Street. From memory, I think that the sales rooms were later moved to a side street between White Horse Street and New Station Street, off Boar Lane. The man that I knew would have been a similar age to Jim Windsor and, as they were both well known Leeds people, and businessmen, they would definately have known each other.Ian

String o' beads · Post by **String o' beads** » Sat 28 Jan, 2012 12:15 am

Thanks. I wondered whether it might be *that* Harry Ward. Seems likely.I can't find obits for either of these two Leeds characters.

uncle mick · Post by **uncle mick** » Sat 28 Jan, 2012 4:05 am

Found a Jim Windsor born 10th June 1897 Leeds. Death registered in December 1984 at Leeds.I find it strange that I can't find any other sources for such a well known local character.

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Sat 28 Jan, 2012 2:36 pm

uncle mick wrote: Found a Jim Windsor born 10th June 1897 Leeds. Death registered in December 1984 at Leeds.I find it strange that I can't find any other sources for such a well known local character. I got my maths wrong and it should have been 1897 (not 1887) so this is almost certainly the correct Jim Windsor who will have lived long enough to pay out on the bet if required.Not sure that Ian's Harry is correct though as he says similar age. In correcting my Maths there was 17 years between them. I suppose 17 years between someone in his 70's and someone in his late 80's/early 90's isn't that much when compare to say a toddler and a young adult and a spritely 90year old could look similar to a less mobile septegenarian.Interestingly there is still a Harry Ward and Sons auctioneers in Leeds 9. Still in the same family?http://www.google.co.uk/webhp?rlz=1C1CH ... =heb&ion=1

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Sat 28 Jan, 2012 2:47 pm

Would Turf Commission Agent be a posh name for Turf Accountant.I'm taking this is something to do with Jim Windsor's fathers willhttp://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/39754/p ... 3/page.pdf

Johnny39 · Post by **Johnny39** » Sat 28 Jan, 2012 3:00 pm

uncle mick wrote: Found a Jim Windsor born 10th June 1897 Leeds. Death registered in December 1984 at Leeds.I find it strange that I can't find any other sources for such a well known local character. I don't remember a great deal about Jim Windsor but I think I'm correct in saying he usually wintered in South Africa. He had a lovely house or it could have been a bungalow on Wigton Lane, Alwoodley. He ran his own fixed odds football pools which were usually run by agents in all the major firms across the city. He also ran a Rugby League fixed odds pool which was very popular. The Commercial Club was a very popular venue for functions both local and long distance, a kind of upmarket WMC. I seem to remember something about one of his tellers running away with the days takings, a substantial amount was taken and I don't think he was ever caught. Sorry if this all sounds like a lot of hearsay but it was a long time ago. Suffice to say Jim was a very popular person in Leeds due to his charitable work.