Placing bets was not an easy task (From Penarth Times)

Placing bets was not an easy task

DO YOU remember the betting shop opposite the old Penarth Times offices on the junction of Plassey Street and Arcot Street?

It was run by one of Penarth's best known characters, affectionately known as Ma Cheney, and I have to admit that at one time I was one of her regular customers.

When I joined the Penarth Times as a cub reporter in the early Sixties there were quite a few members of staff, both journalists and printers, who liked a bit of a flutter.

As the new boy I was coerced into being their runner, nipping over to the betting shop to place their bets. But it was not quite that straightforward.

The owner-editor, Mr K Rowland Harris, would certainly not have approved of betting at all, much less in the firm's time.

So an elaborate system was worked out where I would hover by the Times entrance until I was given the all clear that Mr Harris was not around, and then I would dash across the road to do the business.

Then I would wait in the betting shop until I was given another all-clear signal from an upstairs window in the Times offices, and I would hare back again.

This used to happen several times a day and I am sure it increased my fitness levels although I am not so sure that it did much to improve my skills as a journalist.

I would also stress that racing across a busy junction is not to be recommended because I almost came to a sticky end on several occasions.

One thing I did learn was that most of the stake money I carried went on a one-way trip, and I came to the conclusion that you are unlikely to get rich by betting on the horses!

l Malcolm Davies is a former editor of the Penarth Times. Mal's Memories now appear on the Penarth Times web site www.thisispenarth. co.uk and you can also find the early columns on Mal's site at www.communigate.co.uk/wales/mdav24/index.phtml