What was the first bookies in Ardrossan?

[George Ardrossan]

Thanks, Mitchy. I didn't know that.

George

[Mitchy]

Thanks, Mitchy. I didn't know that.

George

Morrisons / Scotbet are essentially an east coast company, with only three shops on the West Coast, but over sixty in the east. The shop in Ardrossan is a very popular one. It's good that it's stayed out the hands of one of the large betting chains who would most likely buy it, then close it to force people to their existing shop, as they have been known to do in the past.

The way I'm talking you'll be thinking I had a mis-spent adulthood

[morag]

and? lol!

[robert reid]

hi george johnstone, re three town bookies
before betting was legal bet were placed behind the eagle cleaners in kilmahew street,
the first legal bookie was mitchell of saltcoats entry was along from castlehill vaults the bookies was a converted flat above the bute bar they moved across the street to the deep sea fish & chip shop,
if anyone would like more info contact me robert reid.

[Mitchy]

hi george johnstone, re three town bookies
before betting was legal bet were placed behind the eagle cleaners in kilmahew street,
the first legal bookie was mitchell of saltcoats entry was along from castlehill vaults the bookies was a converted flat above the bute bar they moved across the street to the deep sea fish & chip shop,
if anyone would like more info contact me robert reid.

Robert,

Are you the same guy who actually owned the bookies at the top of Glasgow St at one time?

Mitchy

[jinit]

When we lived in Princes Place in the mid 1940's, I remember my dad going across Glasgow Street to the bookies (in the wee street that had The Deep Sea on one corner and the dry cleaners on the other). The betting shop was, from memory, in a sort of temporary caravan or shed and the bookie was Davie? Williamson.

[creamolafoam]

nellanys owned the hayocks shop in the 70's,for sure

[Marie]

My dad was a bookies runner in Ardrossan just can't remember the name of the bookies! He also worked for Lennox in Saltcoats I remember going to see him at work after school!

[abla43]

George Fleming, I'm delighted that you remember my uncle (Jimmy Ferguson) so well and were able to supply info as to how he acquired his book. Jimmy, as far as i know, was a "runner" prior to setting up as a "proper" bookie. I'm thinking now it was probably your uncle Tommy he was running for. What more natural than him taking over his former boss's book. Jimmy operated from a small shopin Princes Place which almost looked up Kilmahew St . I seem to remember two brothers called McNamara had a shop there and I was regilarly sent round there for tatties,etc. Did your uncle use the same premises before Jimmy? He opened a branch in West Kilbride and it lasted a few years. Can anybody provide further info? Cheers, A.B.

[georgeflemingard]

Hi A,B
Thats interesting that Jimmy Ferguson was your uncle. The Fergusons were our down stare neighbours when we lived at 158 Glasgow street. Thier kids were, Scott, Dan and marcia. My uncle Tommy who was the bookie lived with us up stares from Jimmy but he died in 1940/41 {from TB} I was only five at this time so can just remember him. According to my Mother, who told me the story many, many years ago this was when jimmy took over Tommy's bookie busyness. And yes it was somewhere in Princess lane.
All the best George F

[abla43]

Hi, all, Further to my last post, I've a vague memory of reading in one of Patrick O'Connor's books that yhere was a bookie operating down the Inches in his young days. Have I misremembered it or can some body help? Cheers, A.B.

[Penny Tray]

Pat, on more than one occasion, mentioned Mick Kelly operating from The Inches.