“LAUGHING LOSER”

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 September 1940, Page 11

“LAUGHING LOSER”

BOOKMAKERS GOT Private Gordon Roll, the wealthy young Londoner who lost £30,000 on horse racing last year, is reported missing, states the “Sunday Dispatch.” Once an apprentice reporter on a provincial newspaper, he inherited a third share of his father’s fortune of £465,182 and a large legacy from his grandfather, who was chairman of the Pearl Insurance Company and a former Lord Mayor of London. Immediately, Gordon decided to go in for racing in a big way. He bought a string of 15 horses and backed them on a large scale. “I’ll sha|<e Tattersails,” he declared.

But between March and the end of the flat season he lost £30,000 to bookmakers. Gordon was not upset. “I know I’ve been a mug,” he said, “but it was worth it for the fun.” He gave lavish, extravagant parties. He would often tip a waiter £5 for bringing an ashtray, and one casino barman refused to disclose his huge tip for fear of having his salary reduced.

In August last he put his horses up for sale and went to America with the idea of becoming a film actor. When war broke out he hurried home to enlist as a private in the Queen’s Royal Regiment with his younger brother Jack. He settled down in earnest to earn his 2/- a day as a soldier. Out of barracks, however, he still lived luxuriously, with a hired car and chauffeur. He was popular with his fellow-soldiers, who called him their fairy godfather because he kept the whole regiment supplied with extra comforts and was always giving them parties. When on leave he went racing, and was always cheered by the bookmakers he once tried to beat. On a recent occasion he met his trainer on the course and saluted him. One of his last appearances on the racecourse was at the Grand National, where he watched his horse Tuckmill try again. It came in last. Private Roll still laughed.