Comments on: Harry Levenson, Bookmaker

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 07:22:47 +0000

Such a rich life – despite the bounced cheques!

By: Cherub

Cherub — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 13:51:18 +0000

I watched the video of Harry, it made me laugh as he was really cheery and entertaining. I thought about my late dad who loved betting on horses, it was his hobby until well into his 80s. Thankfully though, he knew to quit when he was winning. If he had a lucky streak he sometimes wouldn’t tell my mum, but there was no fooling her – she knew to check the inside pocket of his best suit hanging in the wardrobe so he rarely got away with it!

By: Maurice Nyman

Maurice Nyman — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 13:15:41 +0000

Very very interesting story. And I love seeing old pictures of Robert Montefiore even though this one is obviously well before my time. I started there in 1969 and then like everyone else, moved to the new one in Buxton St.
Happy happy days for sure.
Anyone else who went to Robert around this time, please leave a reply.

By: David Levenson

David Levenson — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 09:52:38 +0000

Stuart Ballen that is interesting… the dates and locations match up, as my Dad lived on Pentonville Road at the time, and Sidney Breton is not a common name, so I think we can assume that they are one and the same. There is a video online of my late dad Harry talking about Sidney https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl5KZcMhH24

By: Cherub

Cherub — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 09:06:44 +0000

I love Harry and Ivy’s wedding photo. Ivy is so elegant in her gorgeous outfit and Harry looks like he might burst from happiness.

By: stuart ballen

stuart ballen — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 19:01:53 +0000

Hi David ,,that is a very interesting story ,and so nice to have photos too . My Parents were married and me and my brother were Barmitzved ,By Rabbi Shaposnick in Great Garden St Shool too too .My father was born in Collingwood St .
However that is not why I am responding .
My Late auntie Eddie had a boyfriend for many years ,who would not leave his wife for her .She lived in Hornsey as did the boyfriend ,whom I met once at my Aunties flat on her death . .
But here is the story his name was Sidney Breton ,is it a coincidence ?
HHe and his wife are buried at Rainham where my Parents are too . This Sydney died on the 30thDec1985 aged 76 .The stone states wife and daughters names ,etc .
I would like to hear more if poss .
Best Regards ,
Stuart .

By: parktown

parktown — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 10:54:22 +0000

In 1959 every cheque presented for payment [known as the In Debit Clearing] was manually scrutinised by eye at the bank branch for words and figures, date, signature, and so on; then cancelled by initialling through the signature with a red pen.
You had to know each and every signature of all the customers at your branch; no MICR account numbers in those days. Cheques attracted 2d stamp duty, each a book of 25 cheques cost five-bob.
That 11 July 1959 cheque had been backwards and forwards several times: first RDPR, refer to drawer, please represent then “straight RD”, refer to drawer, then again with date added, all in red.

By: Andy.strowman1@gmail.com

Andy.strowman1@gmail.com — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 08:08:00 +0000

These photos are incredible.
Great story too.

By: marianne Isaacs

marianne Isaacs — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 07:27:41 +0000

what a great story . My Grandfather in law came from Spitalfields and came to Melbourne in the 1890s and became a very successful Bookie also skating around the law . He unfortunately wasn’t as wise as Harry and did bet . He lost everything and died penniless in a boarding house without his legs which he lost due to the habit of drinking a bottle of Whisky and day and smoking a box of cigars .i still have some of the jewels he gave his long suffering wife but other that that its all gone and we lead a much quieter and upright life 🙂

By: Paul Loften

Paul Loften — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 05:44:02 +0000

Small world and Spitalfields Life makes it even smaller . If the Levensons moved to Nathaniel Buildings in Flower and Dean St they would have known my mother’s family.