Please contactSpecial Collections if you are a subject of the interview, or know a subject of the interview, and have cultural or other reservations about the interview and summary being made available on this website and would like to discuss this with us.

This recording can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this recording for any other purpose please obtain permission by contacting the University of Newcastle's Special Collections. If you have any further information about the image, please contact us or leave a comment.

Tools

Download Add to My Collection Contact us about this Citation for this item

Bill Thompson (1904-1986) - Bookmaker, Cessnock. Recorded 25 July 1980. Part 1/2.

Details

SummaryBILL THOMPSON
Recorded 25 July 1980
Part 1/2

0:43
Bill is known as Twee - he was born New Lambton, 1904. They lived at The Sportmans Arms.

1:03
Came to Cessnock at age four, 1908

1:24
First recollections of Cessnock where he stayed with his aunt while his Dad built the house in Ferguson Street.

1:42
Jenny was the eldest sister by two years. She married the electrician, Mr Hanson. Mattie, his second sister married Bill Scott. She had died very suddenly, seven weeks before this interview. There were triplets who died whilst they lived at the Sportmans Arms.

2:43
Lila was the surviving triplet.

2:53
Frank Scanlon married Lila.

3:29
Joyce was the youngest sister who went with Kevin King. Her husband was an aviator who died. Elsie Thompson (wife)

4:16
Attended Aberdare Primary School walking to school "through the old bush track".

4:30
Stan Williams who used to make ice cream using the engine of his motorbike to churn the cream.

5:32
First worked as trapper at Aberdare Central

5:47
Worked as wheeler, Aberdare Central

5:54
He left Aberdare Central at the time of the Melbourne Cup in November 1935.

7:10
Took out bookmaker's licence in 1936. He never returned to the mines.

8:20
Jimmy Hunter from the Weston Store

8:40
Recollection of Jimmy's bookmaking system of cards with the name of every dog in NSW.

11:11
Personal views on modern horse racing - he's not a punter himself, he's very cautious. "Prize money is that high today". SP Bookies - the TAB - Bookies - betting fees - the most colourful bookmaker - Twee was always one for balancing his books.

18:22
Worked as rails bookmaker, Randwick

19:05
Reason for betting in "halves"

20:00
First held book at Maitland dogs, then the horses in Newcastle.

21:03
Father worked as bookmaker in about 1914 in Newcastle, Gosford, Heddon Greta, the old course at Cessnock Alley, Wallsend. He was always an old gentleman, well dressed but never wearing a tie. Twee thinks he "got the bug off him".

23:37
Recalls winning B Grade golf championship

23:57
Recalls taking up bowls. He has knee injuries which make it difficult to walk up steps.

25:51
He and Elsie married in 1939 and they lived in Dora Creek.

26:09
Roy Tudor

26:31
Paul and Craig were their sons. Craig is a magistrate and Paul is a barrister with Labor and Industry.

28:44
Elsie Thompson, nee Wells was Bill's wife and born in Cobar. Her family came up to Abermain when she was 8.

29:30
Father was publican at Sportsman's Arms, New Lambton - he played dominoes and cards.

32:14
Father worked at Neath Colliery

32:40
Harry Tudor

37:48
Cyril Williams - song master. Singing together promoted fellowship in Lions Club. Yarns were collected.

39:25
Freddie Hallam - "Bimbadeen" - reciting stories from memory in the style of Banjo Paterson.

43:12
Recalls betting on "place cards" - the Melbourne market. He had his own printing machine to print his own cards.

45:17
Arthur Tinkler, Harry Tinkler would bring in the cards.

Tape duration: 45:42 Last edited by: Dave Trimble

SubjectNew Lambton (N.S.W.)Coal mines and mining -- New South Wales -- Hunter River Region.Abernethy (N.S.W.) -- History.Aberdare South Colliery (N.S.W.)BettingBookmakersBookiesThompson, William, 1904-1986 Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

PersonJack Delaney Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Depicts or Relates ToFred Hallam Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Frank Scanlon Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

CreatorThompson, William, 1904-1986Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010CollectionVoices of the Hunter Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

PlaceCessnock, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Date Created25th July 1980Location^[1]Aberdare South Colliery, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

^[2]Abernethy, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

^[3]Cessnock, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Identifier284A Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Start typing here to find a location	Latitude	Longitude	Zoom	Actions

loading google map....

Save Cancel