Running for the bookies of Bishop
GAMBLING was effectively legalised in 1960, but before then a shadowy network of bookmakers and runners existed, trying to find ways around the law. Memories 502 told how on a Saturday afternoon in the 1950s, the whole of south Durham seems to have been phoning five numbers beginning Shildon 151 and ending with Shildon 156 to place a bet with Fred Simpson, who ran a bookmaker’s in Eldon. As long as no cash exchanged hands, gambling was legal, so gamblers had to have an account with Freddie on which their winnings and losings were totted up. But not everyone had a phone. Harry Elliso...
Source: thenorthernecho.co.uk