• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

Overton’s bookmakers, turf accountants

Vivienne14

Kentish Brummie Moderator
Staff member
Does anyone remember Overton’s bookies ? I vaguely remember them having several shops in Birmingham.

There’s an Arthur Overton who was President of the Racecourse Bookmakers’ Protection Society (Birmingham) in 1951. Would he have been a relation of the Overton bookies shops ?

There’s a 1960 photo of a shop for Arthur Overton, turf accountant in post #53 here. Is this the same Overton as the President of the Bookmakers Protection Society ? He died in 1954, so was this an old shop of his, or a successor ?

Viv.
 

Attachments

  • CC66618D-6660-49D1-A34D-6780A2490FED.jpeg
    CC66618D-6660-49D1-A34D-6780A2490FED.jpeg
    229.7 KB · Views: 24
Last edited:
In 1950 Kellys list:

Overton Arthur, turf commission agent, Guildhall buildings, Navigation streets. T N's Midland6464/5/6 & 1818 & 4314 & Aston Cross 5455 & 3488 (all lines)

Turf accountants must breed like rabbits. Probably all offspring or relatives of Arthur. In the 1962 Kellys the following are listed:

Overton A. turf commssn. agt. 17 New st. Aston 6 (Aston Cross 3488); 162 Old Oscott la 22A (Great Barr 1601); 24 College rd 20 (Northern 8809) & 168 Beeches rd 22A

Overton E. E. M. (Mrs.), turf commssn. agt. 69 Geach st 119. Aston Cross 5455 • .

Overton H. J. Ltd." turf commssn. agts. 1093 Chester rd 24; & 726 Kingsbury rd 24

Overton K. turf commssn. agt. 442 kinggstanding rd 22c. Erdington 0973

Overton T. turf commssn. agt. 24 College rd 20. Northern 8809.
 
Last edited:
Way back in the 1950s I knew an Arthur Overton. He is second from the right in the third row of the photo below. I vaguely remember he was connected with bookmakers but it was a long time ago ...
MOHAWKS_mid__1950_s.jpg

from
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/for...hill-ice-rink-summerhill-road.3143/post-55167
 
Last edited:
Thanks all.

That’s why I remember Overtons - there was one on the Kingstanding Road - post #2 second from last address - typo, should be Kingstanding Road.

Viv.
 
More about the Overton’s and bookmaker business.

Arthur had sons named Arthur and Ken, who I expect inherited the business. Harry Overton (grandson of Arthur ?) also went into the business and was Director of the later Harry Overton Ltd.

All extracts from the British Newspaper Archive. Viv.
 

Attachments

  • 441EF7FD-BE13-4A85-9422-CA27CF05088D.jpeg
    441EF7FD-BE13-4A85-9422-CA27CF05088D.jpeg
    229.7 KB · Views: 17
  • EA26BB48-58CD-4D89-ABE2-137572ED3E05.jpeg
    EA26BB48-58CD-4D89-ABE2-137572ED3E05.jpeg
    182 KB · Views: 17
  • 2E1C8FA7-5153-444F-89C8-9EF5D7C7ED45.jpeg
    2E1C8FA7-5153-444F-89C8-9EF5D7C7ED45.jpeg
    134.9 KB · Views: 16
  • BBA77FE9-553E-4980-906B-D71AB422B57E.jpeg
    BBA77FE9-553E-4980-906B-D71AB422B57E.jpeg
    106.1 KB · Views: 17
  • 99803262-18E1-4786-BE60-EE0BC550C9AB.jpeg
    99803262-18E1-4786-BE60-EE0BC550C9AB.jpeg
    306.4 KB · Views: 18
Last edited:
Way back in the 1950s I knew an Arthur Overton. He is second from the right in the third row of the photo below. I vaguely remember he was connected with bookmakers but it was a long time ago ...
MOHAWKS_mid__1950_s.jpg

from
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/for...hill-ice-rink-summerhill-road.3143/post-55167
Way back in the 1950s I knew an Arthur Overton. He is second from the right in the third row of the photo below. I vaguely remember he was connected with bookmakers but it was a long time ago ...
MOHAWKS_mid__1950_s.jpg

from
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/for...hill-ice-rink-summerhill-road.3143/post-55167
That’s my dad !! he passed away in 2018 and I have been slowly doing some ancestry I thought I’d give it a long shot and google his name and saw this forum pop up. He was a bookmaker as was his farther and uncle and grandfather it was the family business going back a fair bit but when I saw this photo I have the exact same one with some of my dads photo albums upstairs as a lad I can remember him telling me about him being a skater I have attached a photo of his wedding day with his first wife shela I believe they met at the ice rink and she too was an ice skater.
 

Attachments

  • 2AAB52AA-E444-47D2-A5CA-278A1D703C86.jpeg
    2AAB52AA-E444-47D2-A5CA-278A1D703C86.jpeg
    1.2 MB · Views: 22
My grandmother's maiden name was Overton and she came from Aston. Apparently her family were bookies so curious if this is the same family. My grandmother was born in early 1900's and her name was Amy Elizabeth Overton and married Thomas Webb.
 
It seems to be. Amy had a brother Arthur and it seems he had sons Arthur and Ken mentioned in post #7.
 
That’s my dad !! he passed away in 2018 and I have been slowly doing some ancestry I thought I’d give it a long shot and google his name and saw this forum pop up. He was a bookmaker as was his farther and uncle and grandfather it was the family business going back a fair bit but when I saw this photo I have the exact same one with some of my dads photo albums upstairs as a lad I can remember him telling me about him being a skater I have attached a photo of his wedding day with his first wife shela I believe they met at the ice rink and she too was an ice skater.
It seems to be. Amy had a brother Arthur and it seems he had sons Arthur and Ken mentioned in post #7.
Yes, she did. She also named her first born son Arthur (my uncle) who moved to Northern Ireland. I have no knowledge of this side of the family and would love to learn more.
 
That’s my dad !! he passed away in 2018 and I have been slowly doing some ancestry I thought I’d give it a long shot and google his name and saw this forum pop up. He was a bookmaker as was his farther and uncle and grandfather it was the family business going back a fair bit but when I saw this photo I have the exact same one with some of my dads photo albums upstairs as a lad I can remember him telling me about him being a skater I have attached a photo of his wedding day with his first wife shela I believe they met at the ice rink and she too was an ice skater.
It's quite possible you and I are related. My grandmother was Amy Elizabeth Overton, the sister of Arthur. She died very young (mid 50's). She named her first born son Arthur and had five children in total. But I have no other knowledge of her side of the family and would love to find out more.
 
You possibly know this but Amy was the daughter of Edwin Overton and Amy Elizabeth Rogers, who married 13 Jun 1886 at St Stephen's.

They possibly had 10 children some of whom appear to have died young - William Edwin 1887, Catherine Eva 1888, Nellie 1890, Susannah 1891, Alice 1892, Charles Henry 1893, Charles Frederick 1895, Harry 1897, Arthur 1899 and Amy Elizabeth 1901
 
You possibly know this but Amy was the daughter of Edwin Overton and Amy Elizabeth Rogers, who married 13 Jun 1886 at St Stephen's.

They possibly had 10 children some of whom appear to have died young - William Edwin 1887, Catherine Eva 1888, Nellie 1890, Susannah 1891, Alice 1892, Charles Henry 1893, Charles Frederick 1895, Harry 1897, Arthur 1899 and Amy Elizabeth 1901
I did not know any of this. The only living relative is Amy's oldest daughter Marie, but she doesn't remember much. I really don't know anything much about my grandparents at all (I never met nan Amy, she died before I was born) let alone her relatives. It's great to find this info out and I really appreciate it. Thank you.
 
Edwin and family lived on Whitehead Road in 1901, he was listed as a coal miner (stallman)

And one more generation...

Edwin Overton b1865 Aston was the son of William Overton (b1814 Bham) and Emma Berresford (b1841 Sutton Coldfield)

Amy Elizabeth Rogers b1865 Bham was the daughter of William Rogers (b1837 Redditch) and Susannah Catherine Porteous (b1835 Dumfries, Scotland)
 
My great grandad is Harry Overton, he use to own the bookies on Chester road. My dad always talked about his mother (lily daughter named after her mum, Lilly, Harry’s wife) my dad always said her family had bookies in brum, nice to see that I have some distant relatives on here too!. Xx
 
That’s my dad !! he passed away in 2018 and I have been slowly doing some ancestry I thought I’d give it a long shot and google his name and saw this forum pop up. He was a bookmaker as was his farther and uncle and grandfather it was the family business going back a fair bit but when I saw this photo I have the exact same one with some of my dads photo albums upstairs as a lad I can remember him telling me about him being a skater I have attached a photo of his wedding day with his first wife shela I believe they met at the ice rink and she too was an ice skater.
Hello

Arthur in the picture here is my uncle. So I believe you must be my cousin. I am the daughter of Philip.

Are you still located in the midlands?
 
My great grandad is Harry Overton, he use to own the bookies on Chester road. My dad always talked about his mother (lily daughter named after her mum, Lilly, Harry’s wife) my dad always said her family had bookies in brum, nice to see that I have some distant relatives on here too!. Xx
Hi ,my name is Alan Overton ,and my nickname is Harry,have been called this since I was about 13 ,I’m in my 60’s now .I lived by the shop on Chester Road by the Bagot Pub,which is now Willim Hills.About 10-15years ago they were doing work on the front of the shop and the original Harry Overton sign was still there ,they just left it and worked over it.
 
Back
Top