SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

It was the Guiness clock thread that reminded my of this. On Vicar Lane, the building adjacent to the market was at one time Jim Windsor's Sporting Club. It had an animated neon sign featuring a series of racehorses made to look as though they were galloping. I know that Jim Windsor had a chain of bookies in and around Leeds, and that's as much as I do know. Can anyone else fill in the details?

6th December 1979 Looking from Vicar Lane to the junction with Ludgate Hill. In the foreground is a vacant building formerly the National Provincial Bank, which has a notice saying 'Acquired' in the window. William Hill, bookmakers occupies the floor above this, with Windsors Commercial Club on the next floor up. Also on Vicar Lane are Bargain Records, Photomarket, March the Tailor and the National Westminster Bank. On Ludgate Hill, Willis Ludlow can be seen, with the Market Tavern and George Street in the distance.

Chrism wrote: 6th December 1979 Looking from Vicar Lane to the junction with Ludgate Hill. In the foreground is a vacant building formerly the National Provincial Bank, which has a notice saying 'Acquired' in the window. William Hill, bookmakers occupies the floor above this, with Windsors Commercial Club on the next floor up. Also on Vicar Lane are Bargain Records, Photomarket, March the Tailor and the National Westminster Bank. On Ludgate Hill, Willis Ludlow can be seen, with the Market Tavern and George Street in the distance. The animated sign was where the William Hill signs are.

My father worked for a bookmaker called Joseph Harrison and in the early days I think he layed bets off with Jim Windsor.My grandad used to go to Jim Windsors club on a Sunday night when he was in his eighties. I remember taking him there in my first car in around 1972. He was a drinker and it was in the evening Idropped him off in this area. So it must have been some sort of drinking club/Working Men's club as well?? Anyone with a better memory than mine??? LOL

There was also a colossal excellent public cafe which occupied the entire first floor (I think it was first floor though possibly second) of the Windsor's premises. I've had many a good wholesome lunch there - waitress service as well !! - for a very reasonable price. Many of the older waitresses in Leeds used to move from one famous cafe to another. One excellent lady in particular Kitty (real name we understood to be Sylvesta) worked there for a good while as well as at Sherwins Lands Lane and others. Happy days.    

I do not know about Jim Windsor, but my father worked in bookmaking from 1955 in Leeds. At this time it was illegal and my Dad picked up a fine (a large one at the time) for working in an illegal betting office. By the late fifties there were betting offices all over Yorkshire (although illegal) as the only betting was allowed at the racecourse itself until 1960. I t was one of those strange scenarios where everyone knew where the shops were, including the police, but there seemed to be a limited number of prosecutions.As I remember, from what my father said, his employer, Joe Harrison layed off big bets to Jim Windsor (whether this was in the illegal period I do not know) and by 1970 Joe Harrison retired. He had developed an extensive network of betting shops in Yorkshire by then, which he sold to Peter Smith Racing Ltd (I believe).What happened to Peter Smith Racing?? I do not know as I no longer live in the area, but probably swallowed up by a bigger fish??

BLAKEY wrote: There was also a colossal excellent public cafe which occupied the entire first floor (I think it was first floor though possibly second) of the Windsor's premises. I've had many a good wholesome lunch there - waitress service as well !! - for a very reasonable price. Many of the older waitresses in Leeds used to move from one famous cafe to another. One excellent lady in particular Kitty (real name we understood to be Sylvesta) worked there for a good while as well as at Sherwins Lands Lane and others. Happy days.     Would that be Craven Dairies?

Check out the price of the Jimbo Windsor Rugby League Annual.Half a bloody Crown !Andy

Trojan wrote: BLAKEY wrote: There was also a colossal excellent public cafe which occupied the entire first floor (I think it was first floor though possibly second) of the Windsor's premises. I've had many a good wholesome lunch there - waitress service as well !! - for a very reasonable price. Many of the older waitresses in Leeds used to move from one famous cafe to another. One excellent lady in particular Kitty (real name we understood to be Sylvesta) worked there for a good while as well as at Sherwins Lands Lane and others. Happy days.     Would that be Craven Dairies? Or Gilpins?

Trojan wrote: Trojan wrote: BLAKEY wrote: There was also a colossal excellent public cafe which occupied the entire first floor (I think it was first floor though possibly second) of the Windsor's premises. I've had many a good wholesome lunch there - waitress service as well !! - for a very reasonable price. Many of the older waitresses in Leeds used to move from one famous cafe to another. One excellent lady in particular Kitty (real name we understood to be Sylvesta) worked there for a good while as well as at Sherwins Lands Lane and others. Happy days.     Would that be Craven Dairies? Or Gilpins? Mmmmm - a puzzling thought that, Lads. I'm still certain though, with respect, that it was Windsor's, and was on either the first or second floor - either above or below Windsor's Commercial Club - certainly it involved entering Windsor's narrow doorway on Vicar lane, and climbing up stairs to the cafe.Where oh where is Kitty (Sylvesta) - she could tell us for sure !!