Betting

The Not So Secret World Of Bookies.

My grandmother who lived next door to us in “Randley” Raglan Road, an unmade footpath through hawthorn and scrub off of Berry Lane, was an avid follower of the horses. She was invariably one of the coachload of punters who left from the Laindon Hotel for a day’s outing at Epsom or other nearby courses. Memory says that betting on almost any sporting event was very popular. Top of the popularity poll, however, were the nags. Not simply the Derby, the Grand National, the 1000 Guineas, the 2000 Guineas, but every race meet. A race meet, be it Epsom, Sandown, Redcar, Cheltenham or wherever might last for a week with half a dozen races a day. It seemed that everyone had a bet once in a while at least….and some had several bets each day.  How did this happen since off track betting was illegal until 1961?

It seems that a vast underground conspiracy existed whereby a network of local and illegal bookies took bets and funneled them back to their principals. Who these principals were is anyone’s guess. Perhaps they varied. Crime syndicates? Legal bookies at the track who took the bets under the counter? Who knows? It seems that, while off track betting was illegal, it was widely practiced and the authorities turned a blind eye.

My grandmother would routinely give my mother an envelope containing money and the details of the horses she had selected. When my mother made her almost daily trip along the High Road for shopping her instructions were clear. Hand the envelope quietly to Eric Cole the greengrocer — no one in the store but him. (This is the same Eric Cole that I watched on Saturday’s who played right half for the Laindon football team on the hotel ground.) Eric Cole would disappear into the back of the shop and then reappear with a second envelope which he would quietly hand to my mother. This contained the results of my grandmother’s previous bets with her winnings — if any.

Mr Clegg (I never knew his first name) was another illegal bookie. Or allegedly so. The Clegg family lived next to Dr Choudhary, opposite the Radion cinema. One of his daughters, Kathleen Clegg, was in my class at Langdon Hills School. I think I am correct in saying that she left for Australia and took up horse rearing. Mr Clegg was a postman. Clearly his delivery route fitted in very nicely with picking up new bets and dropping off any winnings due. Quite what the GPO would have thought of these sideline activities is unknown — but presumably they would have taken a dim view.

Clearly these gentlemen did not advertise and their activities were kept fairly close. Nevertheless, there must have been others in the village or surrounding areas. While technically illegal, the police never seemed to target these illegal bookies. The bookies, for their part, were expected to keep a low profile and not to flaunt their activities.

I can only mention Eric Cole and Mr Clegg. Nina mentions a Charlie Wignall but it is a little unclear to me if he was an illegal bookie from 1945 when he married or if he only ran a betting shop from 1961 onward when OTB became legal. Or both.

There must have been more illegal bookies in the area and perhaps other contributors to these archives can add other names and stories. There must be quite an untold story of illegal betting in the old village of Laindon if only it were possible to ferret out the story.

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  • I worked for Francis and Jagger. The business was based in Bolsover Terrace before moving to Florence Road. Bill’s partner was Harry Jagger who was Water Officer for the London Fire Service before he retired and bought into the business. Harry lived in Billericay in the house at the junction of Norsey Road and Stock Road. Bill moved from Florence Road to a place called Coponor Lodge at Hanningfield. I believe when Bill retired he moved to the Isle of Wight but I am not sure. If you have any questions, mail me and I will try and help. Unfortunately I do not have any photos.

    By Roy Tampkins (03/03/2024)
  • Refering to comments about Charlie Wignall, I am also related to him, he was my uncle. I have special memories when all the family would travel to Laindon from Essex for Christmas, as a child I remember the big Christmas tree in their lounge, his daughter Rene and husband Ron (lodge), we lost touch in latter years

    By `PAT SHARP (ANTHONY) (22/01/2024)
  • Trevor, you say your Brown grandparents lived in King Edward Terrace. They lived in number 3. We were their neighbours and lived in number 2. I remember them well. Why did they later move to Roberts Road? To my recollection, the houses were all the same while the red brick with the green space in the front of King Edward Terrace were (at least in my view) more attractive. I was also class mates with your aunt Kathleen at Langdon Hills Primary School and probably Laindon High Road School, although I am not sure about the latter.

    By alan davies (08/01/2023)
  • What a marvellous website this is – I wish I had found out about it sooner. I lived in Laindon from 1950-1957 and went to Markhams Chase school from 1952-1957. We lived in Grantham, Douglas Road (just off St. Nicholas Lane) and then due to the compulsory purchase situation we moved to Upminster. Laindon provided many happy memories and lots of fun. Regarding the “illegal betting” I remember accompanying my father on Sunday morning walks to a spot near the Winston Club . I had to wait while he disappeared into a spinney for about 10 minutes and then continued our walk with the dog. I subsequently learned that he placed his bet there. I know a few more details, but probably best forgotten… Anyway just confirming that yes, it did go on. I remember my school days quite well and some of the teachers and pupils – my teachers were Miss Mayhew, Mr. Jones, Miss Pike, Miss Groves and Mr. Devine. My class mates included, Geoffrey Schroder, David Shoesmith, Roy Schofield, Sandra Honey, Carol Greene, Hilary Phillips, Jaqueline Barfield, Yvonne Hambleton, Linda Snares. Happy New Year to you all.

    By Kenneth Murphy (04/01/2023)
  • Alan and Nina, I am Trevor Clegg. Kathleen Clegg is my Auntie and William and Florence Clegg are my paternal grandparents. My father was Donald Clegg, Kathleen’s brother. My mother was Joyce Brown (more later). I was born in 1952 and my brother Richard in 1955. We lived at “Rooksdown” in New Century Road (when it was an unmade road) From memory mum & dad moved into what was a new house in 1950. They had been married in 1948. Richard and I went to Markhams Chase school. We moved to Upminster in 1963.

    I do not know when William and Florence moved to Laindon. William was a “hatter’s assistant” working in Soho. Florence was a farm labourer’s daughter from Aylesbury who was sent to London “in service” as a maid. That is where they met, married and moved to Laindon. William had been a medic in the First World War. He was blown up twice retrieving wounded from the battlefield, the second time at the Somme. He always struggled at times with the shrapnel that was still in his back. William and Florence had five children, in order, Stanley, Norman, Donald, Marjorie and Kathleen. They all lived and grew up at “Oak Villa” in the High Road almost opposite Parkinson’s Garage and next to what was to become the Laindon Link. William was a postman and ran Butlers the undertakers from Oak Villa. There was a mortuary in the garden of Oak Villa which was scary for us kids. The garden was large and my grandfather kept chickens, geese and a goat. He was nearly self sufficient in vegetables and fruits. He always made jam, rhubarb and ginger was my favorite. When we went round for Sunday lunch Nana would say about 11.00, “father go and get a chicken.” My brother and I were told we could not go with him but we always sneaked out to watch him kill a chicken for lunch and of course he knew we were watching. I so enjoyed our time there and grandpa teaching us how to grow fruit and vegetables. In the early days there were only gas lights in Oak Villa and an outside loo. We all had to use chamber pots. My grandparents moved to Leigh around the time we moved to Upminster. Grandpa was a real “Victorian” a stickler for good behaviour, so I would be very, very surprised if he were the bookies runner referred to. As Kathleen has said I do remember a Harold Clegg who was a relative but did not know him. Maybe he was the runner.

    My mother’s maiden name was Joyce Brown. Her parents were John “Sydney” Brown and Rose Clark. I’m not sure where grandad was born but the Clarks were a Laindon family. Rose was born in Railway Cottages. She had at least one brother, I remember him as Uncle Joss and he was married to another Rose. They had two boys, Frank and Larry and lived in the High Road past the Fire Station toward the Railway Station, later moving to Sudbury in Suffolk. I think it was next to a ladies hairdressers.
    My Brown grandparents lived in King Edward Terrace and later Roberts Road. They had four children, my mother Joyce was the eldest, she had a brother John and two sisters, Maureen and Helen.
    My dad left school at 14. He started work in London as an office boy for the London County Council. My mum also worked in an accountants offices in London. They knew each other from travelling up on the train.

    My dad was called up in 1941. He was a gunner/radio operator in the Royal Tank Regiment and was in North Africa as one of “The Desert Rats.” He later landed in Normandy in early July 1944 and was in operation Goodwood – the breakout from Caen. He was in his Sherman attacking German defences when they were hit by a shell from an 88 anti tank gun. The tank blew up. Dad and one other got out. He was terribly burned. He spent 2 years in East Grinstead hospital where all the worst burned servicemen were taken. He was operated on many times by Sir Archibald McIndoe, the pioneer of plastic surgery, and thus became a member of The Guinea Pig Club (worth googling). So called because they were all guinea pigs to McIndoe’s new techniques.

    Dad returned to Laindon in 1946. Despite his injuries he returned to work, studying at night school and ultimately becoming a solicitor’s clerk, still at the LCC. My mum so admired his spirit and courage that they became more than friends and married at St. Nicholas’ church on Boxing Day 1948.
    I have such fond memories of my childhood in Laindon. My brother and I would always be cycling to “The Crown” woods where we made camps and climbed trees. We always stood on the bridge at the station to be enveloped by the steam and smoke from the trains passing below. We collected birds eggs, we fished and caught newts in the pond at the top of the road that was nearly opposite Buckenham’s the butchers in the High Street. Seemingly no dangers is those days.

    Anyway, reading reminiscences on this web-site I was inspired to give some of my own and our family history with Laindon. My brother Richard still lives in Upminster and I am in Brentwood – we haven’t gone far.

    By Trevor Clegg (12/03/2020)
  • I don’t know much about that prior to the sixties. It’s a bit of a mystery. My mum went to Dunton School in the twenties, yet the children of a neighbour went to Langdon Hills School.

    My siblings and myself went to Markhams Chase School which was about two miles from where we lived. Yet in the seventies when I lived in Woolmergreen, just a few yards to the side of Markham’s Chase School, I couldn’t enrol my children into Markhams Chase School as I was told we didn’t live within their catchment area. Absolutely crazy. I’d been in their catchment area when I lived two miles away. Maybe way back there was an element of personal preference and catchment areas were formed later.

    When my brother lived on the Pound Lane Estate, his two older boys went to Markham’s Chase School. When Chowdhary School was built not far from Markham’s Chase School, his two younger boys had to go to Laindon Park (Donaldson’s) School, even though they still lived in the same house.

    Sorry I can’t be of more help, but I will try to find out more if I can.

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (16/02/2019)
  • Nina, Kathleen Clegg was in my class at Langdon Hills and the Chowdhary children, living right next door to the Cleggs, went to Markhams Chase. Is anything known about how children were assigned to the different schools in that era? Were there geographical boundaries? Where did the boundaries run? Memory says Markhams Chase was a larger school and presumably could accommodate more pupils — but who knows? Donaldson’s (real name Laindon Park), perhaps the smallest of the three schools, was a lot closer to Markhams Chase.

    By Alan Davies (16/02/2019)
  • More likely to have been Nightingale Parade, as North Parade was in Laindon High Road. Looking forward to seeing the photograph.

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (02/02/2019)
  • Nina, thank you so much for that info. I am waiting on a photo of the house, coming from my cousin any day. We lived there for 6 months while our house in Florence Road was being built. The loo was outside and nan always had Izal loo paper, I am sure the oldies of us will know about that. We had to walk to the house as the road was unmade,full of ruts and mud, took us about 15mins, us being 7-10.

    Woodgrange Road had several old houses along it that had been knocked down [1957] but the gardens were still there overgrown,but a child’s paradise, these days adults would have a fit (health and safety), the houses were conected to wells not drains, so I should think there was many a well we could have fallen down. The cesspit was in the orchard, i assume grandad would empty the bucket there. My cousin John rolled home from the pub one night, took a short cut at the back of the house and fell straight into it.

    Those were the days! Grandad’s first yard was on the High Road not far from Woodgrange Avenue behind some shops. Could have been North Parade. I would be grateful for any info from anyone. Thank you Nina and I will send photo when i get it.

    By Marie Trimmer (02/02/2019)
  • Marie. I found the house in Woodgrange Avenue on the BDC 1949 survey. It was called ‘Treriffe’ and described as a two storey, brick and tile building, with six rooms and an orchard in the back garden. In residence at that time were, John and Rose Francis and Ronald and Christine Brazier. Treriffe was apparently one of a number of large brick built houses in this unmade road. The area is now part of Mark’s Hill Nature Reserve and Woodgrange Avenue is a footpath and bridleway. Are there any family photos of the house? If so, we would love to see them.

    Nina (Editor).

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (02/02/2019)
  • My dad was William Francis of Francis and Jagger. They never moved to Francis’ yard, the business wound up 12th May 1975, from Florence Road, my granddad Jack Francis started the removals in Laindon a yard that could have been the Francis yard, that was 1940 ish. He started with horse and cart then moved on to a lorry, dad left the army and went in with granddad. At the moment I can’t remember where the firm was before they moved to Florence Road in about 1963.

    I remember fondly of the happy days my sisters and I had growing up in Laindon. If we got up to mischief, you bet dad knew before the day was out, nan and granddad lived in Woodgrange Avenue. You had to park a car at the bottem of the road next to the shop on the corner and walk, 15mins up this track to nan’s. Going home from brownies was not a nice walk, dad would walk down and meet us, often jumping out at us, scaring us, yet in those days we were perfectly safe, we could go off all day long playing up in the Crown Woods. Uncle Charles married Doreen Farmer.

    Mum was born 1924 in Laindon, her dad was Percival Selby, she had 4 brothers and 2 sisters, too long ago for anyone to remember them now.

    By Marie Trimmer (01/02/2019)
  • Alan, thank you for your latest comments. Now that I have found this website I find I keep returning to it! The teachers’ names you mention do ring a few bells, but not very loudly!! I do, however, remember the shelters and that we children played a lot in the escape hatches on the outside of the shelters. Isn’t it strange – this exercise has brought to light some memories which have lain buried for a very long time.
    Interesting to note that you also, are visiting this site even though you have, like me, been away from Laindon for many years. Unlike you, however, I have only returned to England once in the 56 years I have been in Australia, and I regret not visiting family members more than that, although we keep very closely in touch. We are lucky in that we have quite a lot of family members who visit us here fairly frequently.
    Kind regards Alan, keep the memories coming, I am really enjoying this.

    By Kathleen Pateyjohns (26/01/2019)
  • Kathleen, nice to hear from you again. Memory is a fungible thing. Sometimes small unimportant little incidents stand out clearly with little or no context. Other, much more important events, may escape the memory banks totally. I honestly cannot remember you in the earlier grades at Langdon Hills, only in the last two years. I assume we were together throughout. My memory says we started out with Mrs Hanson followed by Mrs Snow. Somehow we skipped the young and, to these young boy’s eyes, the very glamorous Miss Fiddis to leave infants (as it was called) to land in the class of Mrs Dove. A fine teacher who I remember fondly. Then Mrs Wise and somehow we managed to evade Miss O”Brien (by universal accord) the terror of the school. Then it was Mr Taylor. Then, expecting to go into Mr Wilkinson’s class we skipped his class and had Mr Taylor again. Was this some form of early streaming? Who knows. No one ever asked to my knowledge.

    Do you remember the four or five Morrison shelters that surrounded the far perimeter of the playground? We spent quite a lot of time in them whenever the air raid siren sounded. I don’t think we learnt much in there. Memory says the teacher led us in group singing. “Sandy he belonged to the mill/ The mill belonged to Sandy still/ Two blue pigeons/ one was black and white. Pom.” Odd the things that stay with you after seventy plus years.

    Yes, I also left Laindon although I do try to get back to the UK as often as possible. I left Chemsford Tech and worked in the city. At twenty I was transferred to the company’s US subsidiary and am still here. Between business transfers and retirement I have lived in Manhattan, Savannah Ga, Williamsport Pa, Atlanta Ga, Toronto On, and now San Diego CA.

    By Alan Davies (25/01/2019)
  • Alan, I didn’t expect to get a reply, so thank you for responding to my email.
    Most of the names you mention jog my memory, but alas, I cannot recall the people personally. One other name bobs up however – Frank Watson. I remember him because he used to chase me up the road after school. Luckily he never caught me because he carried a lot more weight than I did!!! As to why the different schooling for Vijay and Shakuntala Chowdhary – I have no idea. From your comments, it seems as though you no longer live in Laindon either.
    Thanks again for getting touch, it is very interesting hearing from you.

    By Kathleen Pateyjohns (19/01/2019)
  • Kathleen, what a nice surprise to see your comments. Of course my ego is sadly bruised (but not fatally so) by my not being remembered. Such is life! Memory says we were together in the same class through Langdon Hills but I am not sure about LHR. Of the girls name you mention I only remember Pauline Carnell. I do remember a few others, however, which might jog your memory bank. Maureen Shaw, Josephine O’Neill who married into the Collings hardware store family and still lives in Laindon, so I am told. Hazel Fox who still lives in Laindon and who I met a few years ago when I was back. Margaret Allen, Valerie Albon, Mary Clarke, Doris Martin (lived in Railway Cottages and later worked in Wilson Chemists), Joan Prescott. Some of the boys you might remember are Peter Sefton, Alan Burr, David Read (the newsagent family), David Chapman, Clifford Thompson (lived above Bata shop which his father managed), Donald Stockwell.

    I have no further information on the illegal betting front. It could very well have been your uncle.

    A further question comes to mind. You lived next door to Dr Chowdhary yet you went to Langdon Hills while the Chowdhary children went to Markhams Chase. Where was the dividing line I wonder? Was there some sort of geographical divide which determined your school and did it just happen to fall between your two houses?

    By Alan Davies (17/01/2019)
  • My name is Kathleen Pateyjohns (nee Clegg) and I have recently been made aware of this website by a family member and am most interested in the various comments. So much so, that I would like to make a few of my own. Sadly I do not recall an Alan Davies from my school days, but may I say “Sorry” to you Alan for a remark that has stayed with you for a very long time! “Boys don’t cry”. It has never been my nature to kick a man when he is down, so I can only think that my remark was made in an effort to encourage a defiant response to your rather harsh punishment and also convey a little sympathy. That kind of punishment would not, of course, be allowed in today’s scholastic world. Regarding your comments on whether my father William Henry Clegg was an illegal bookie: could the bookie have been my uncle Harold Clegg who also resided in Laindon at the same time and was also a postman? I say this because I do not remember at any time hearing any mention or even vague hint being made by any family member, of betting, legal or otherwise. And I certainly never saw any literature regarding horse racing.
    So, sorry I cannot throw any light on this subject.
    Thinking back on schooldays, friends I do remember are, Pauline Carnall, Ivy Hart, then later Margaret Harnwall and my best friend at the time Jean Hymas (nee Anderson), also Iris (….?). Teachers who come to mind are Headmaster Mr. Radford, Mr. and Mrs. Day, Mr. Bear and the English teacher a Miss (her name escapes me). There was also a young female PE teacher who lived at Benfleet.
    It has been interesting recalling times gone by. However, my husband Brian and I emigrated to Adelaide, Sth Australia in 1963 and we did indeed have a lot to do with horses for about 40 years. We are now both in our mid eighties and the only remaining member of my immediate family is my sister Marjorie, soon to be 94 years old.
    So let me finish by saying “Greetings to one and all” and I have been interested in all your comments, even though I got to them after they were about 12 months old! (I agree to the editor releasing my email address if someone requests it.)

    By Kathleen Pateyjohns (14/01/2019)
  • Charlie Wignall is my grandfather’s brother. How interesting to read!

    By Ms Wignall (30/07/2018)
  • Referring to Irene Wignall, older daughter of Charley Wignall the bookmaker.  In the late sixties I worked for a couple of years in Billericay in the same office as her younger sister Rose.   Rose had two daughters, Elaine and Jennifer.  Jennifer came to this year’s Annual Display at the Manor Mission.  We had a chat and she told me that her mother had passed away a few years ago, but she herself still lives in Cromer Avenue.  She is on the far right of the first photo on the article ‘Report and Photos of the Annual Display at the Manor Mission 29.04.17’.

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (25/07/2017)
  • As a further thought.  I have remembered that GW Jeakins also had a fleet of removal vans, rivalling those of DC Jeakins. These were based at the Arterial Road, close to where I worked at Hatters Garage in 1962/63. GW Jeakins removal vans were painted chocolate brown with gold lettering. They were a fabulous contrast to the dark blue vans with red wheels of DC Jeakins and the mid blue lorries of Francis and Jagger. I note that GW Jeakins had another base in London E8 which must have made them a very versatile company indeed.

    By Richard Haines (24/07/2017)
  • Jeakins still operate as a removals company but now, although their vehicles are still in the same livery, they are just Jeakins Removals. No longer trading as D.C. Jeakins and Co. Ltd as D.C. (Derek) passed on a number of years ago, so I assume the present company is operated by one or more of his offspring. I liked Derek as a person but not as a boss as he was a nightmare to work for, but socially you couldn’t fault him. But what a business head that man had! 

    Editor:  The business is now operated by Derek Jeakin’s son and daughter, Derek and Michelle.

    By Donald Joy (24/07/2017)
  • On the subject of Francis and Jagger, I clearly remember their mid- blue removal lorries trundling up and down the High Road on their way to various destinations. Alan Jagger was in my class at LHR all the way from the second year till the end of the fifth year in 1963. Alan was brilliant at maths and I was always astounded at how he could consistently get such good marks. I also recall his brother Bill Jagger who looked just like him but was a year older. Actually I always thought the removal firm owner was Francis Jagger and that he was their father! I know that at one time their business office was in Billericay next to a shop called Kitts down near the station. I’m sure the lorries used to park behind those premises and I can still recall the same mid-blue being on the shop sign over the windows.

    Turning now to DC Jeakins, I still see their lorries around, they must have made a fortune. When we moved to Tiptree in 1963 it was a dark blue DC Jeakins lorry which took all our belongings to our brand new detached bungalow, a really exciting time for myself and my three little brothers. When I worked at Hatters Garage on the A127 I served petrol to two Jeakins firms. Firstly the lorries of DC Jeakins on occasions and then the black taxi cabs of GW Jeakins, the drivers from both companies always being reliable for a chat and sometimes a tip if we were lucky. Happy memories and brilliant times.

    By Richard Haines (23/07/2017)
  • I was working for D.C.Jeakins & Co. Ltd when Francis House, Wrexham Road was built for Jeakins new yard and offices. It puzzled me at that time why it would have been called Francis House, maybe after a relative?

    By Donald Joy (22/07/2017)
  • I remember that a pal of mine Ray Farmer, son of Sid Farmer who seemed to have a lock on Laindon’s taxi business, had a bet on the 1949 Grand National. How and with whom he placed this illegal bet I have no idea. I imagine the bet was a shilling each way which was all we young chaps could afford. Suffice to say that his horse, Russian Hero, came in first at 66 to 1. That certainly paid for a couple of weeks at the Archer Hall dances plus beer and Players at the Rising Sun during intermission.

    By Alan Davies (21/07/2017)
  • Unable to enlarge on the main topic re illegal betting but found a couple of interesting side topics to comment on. Stephen Clegg I remember well from school, affectionately known as Cleggy, a tall sturdily built lad which would serve him well in his post school years. Unlike Richard, I do recall Stephen working in the Co-op in Basildon. He worked in the stock room and the loading bay where his size and strength made him an asset to the store. I also remember Carol Hudson working in the footwear department, but then Carol was not one that could be easily forgotten!

    Paul Gibson’s comment that mentioned “Raggy” brought back memories of this intriguing character who I have spoken of in a previous article. What did puzzle me was him calling Jeakins yard Francis yard. This is the yard I worked in and also the yard where I learned to drive, round and round in an Austin FX3 taxi. But I have never heard it referred to as Francis yard. Come on Paul there must be more you can tell us (me). 

    By Donald Joy (21/07/2017)
  • I remember a removal company called Francis & Jagger.  Their business yard and vehicle storage was at one time over the railway bridge in Florence Road, but was relocated to Francis House, Wrexham Road, Laindon. Today there is an office block in Wrexham Road called Francis House.

    Bill Jagger, who I believe was one of the sons, was in my class at school.  He and his younger brother Alan are on the 1958 long school photo.

    I would be interested if anyone else remembers Francis & Jagger or indeed has a photograph of one of their lorries.

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (21/07/2017)
  • Following on from Alan Davies’ recollection of the illegal off course betting which was alive and well in Laindon in those pre licenced turf accountant days.

    I remember walking from Berry Lane along Ferndale Ave across the field over the first railway bridge into the unmade Durham Road and at its junction with Norfolk Road and Durham Road, there would be standing a fellow normally adorned in a threequarter length coat and a trilby type hat.  My father would walk up to this gentleman, look to see they were not being watched and hand him an envelope and if his luck was in, my father would receive one in return. As a young lad I was not aware of what was taking place as my father kept his business close to his chest.  I was to find out later that the gentleman that my father met on these occasions was Harry Brummel, then known as the bookies’ runner.

    Many years later I became firm friends with one of Harry’s sons Ray.  Ray’s brother Roy told me a story a couple of years ago that whilst he was at play as a schoolboy at Laindon High Road School in the late 50s he saw his father in the back of a Police car being escorted to the local nick for illegal betting, a small fine was paid and he was back in business the next day.

    When betting became legal in 1961 C.E Wignalls betting shop opened in Laindon High Road the new manager was of course Harry Brummel.  By now my old dad rarely ventured over the village so I was tasked into taking the envelope to Wignalls. Problem was I was not old enough to go into a bookmakers so I would wait outside until the local tramp, a man nicknamed Raggy, came out hand him the envelope and he would put the bet on for my father. Raggy was a well known character in those days.  He slept in the back of a old van almost next to Wignalls in Francis Yard which by now was run by Derek Jeakins what heady days they were.

    By Paul Gibson (20/07/2017)
  • My standout memory of Kathleen Clegg dates to the time we were together in Mr Taylor’s class in the last year at Langdon Hills School. Mr Taylor was a first class teacher and taught us a great deal.

    There was this one particular occasion when I must have committed some particularly grievous crime, although for the life of me, I cannot remember what it might have been. Mr Taylor decreed that I deserved three lashes with the cane on the back of bare legs. Short trousers being the dress code of the day. The sentence was to be carried out in front of the entire class no less. After the first two lashes I made the mistake of anticipating the third lash and bent my knees to lessen the pain. Mr Taylor was not amused! He deemed that to be unsporting and decreed a fourth lash.

    Sentence having been carried out I began to walk back to my seat which was immediately behind Kathleen Clegg. Whether it was the pain or the humiliation in front of the entire class, probably both, my eyes began to fill up. As I walked by Kathleen Clegg she whispered “boys don’t cry”. To this day I do not know whether her whisper was meant as encouragement and sympathy or whether it was disdain.

    By Alan Davies (20/07/2017)
  • Nina, do you remember Stephen Clegg, I seem to recall he was at the LHR school in my first year but that he was several years above me. I’m sure his name was on the sports day reports and I think he was one of the field event specialists, maybe a different Clegg family from the one mentioned here.

    By Richard Haines (18/07/2017)
  • Richard.  Yes I remember Stephen Clegg very well. He went to Markham’s Chase School.  Stephen was the youngest of his family and unfortunately had slight learning difficulties due to a problem at the time of his birth in 1944.  I knew his parents, Harold and Betsy Clegg – they were friends of my Grandparents.  Harold had been a Laindon postman at one time, the same as my Grandad. 

    Stephen had older brothers Ernest (born 1934) and Geoffrey (born 1936).  Also older twin sisters, Janeen and Jennifer (born 1940) who passed their 11 plus and went to Grammar School.  Stephen worked for the Co-op Stores in Basildon Town Centre for many years.  He travelled there and back on a bicycle that I always thought looked a little too small for him. Sadly Stephen passed away in 1996.

    Harold and Betsy lived in Tavistock Road in the fifties, Kathleen Ferrier Crescent in the sixties and then moved to Devonshire Close.  When my Nan lived in Cromer Avenue sheltered accommodation flats in the sixties and seventies, Harold and Betsy often called in to see her while I was there.  They were a lovely couple.   I think the Clegg families that have been mentioned are related.  

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (18/07/2017)
  • Nina, thanks for that information about Stephen, your memory is brilliant and you are a true Laindoner. I don’t recall Stephen working in the Co-op even though I was always in there buying records back in the day. I do recall Carol Hudson working in the ladies shoe department in the Co-op and also Josie Beasley working in Littlewoods, this must have been around Summer 1962 when most of my year left LHR. Of course I had to soldier on in 5X with some of the remainder of our class. I found a 1963 colour photo, not brilliant quality of 5X and 5X2 which I keep meaning to send to you. Some real superstars on the photo including Mr Rees and the newly appointed Mr Day, the headmaster of that year. Oh and myself of course.

    By Richard Haines (18/07/2017)
  • Alan.  I have checked the records and found that your classmate, Kathleen Clegg was the youngest child of William H Clegg and Florence E Clegg (née Parkins).  They appear to have moved from London to Laindon in the early twenties.

    By Nina Humphrey(née Burton) (17/07/2017)

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