Lenny Jones

LEGENDARY bookie Lenny Jones has finally taken his last wager. He died of heart failure on June 30.
Born in King’s Cross in 1931, he became a cup-winning boxer until, aged 22, he suffered a horrific nose injury that ended his career.
Described by his friends as “a character and a lovely man who loved his betting and his football”, he was a lifelong Arsenal fan.
He was considered so good-looking his daughters would pretend he was their boyfriend.
Mourners at his wake on Friday agreed he was “a man’s man and a complete gentleman with women”. They added: “He lived his life the way he gambled – win or lose.”
In 1952, he married Iris Ford, a friend of his cousin. They moved to Clacton in Essex and then Romford, where they had three daughters, Cheryl, Michelle and ?????????.
Daughter Cheryl said he worshipped his wife, adding: “He would cut the crust off her sandwiches if she wanted. He was an old-fashioned guy who treated his wife with complete respect.”
He also idolised his mother, Mary, who at 93 still lives in Queen’s Crescent. Although still very much in love with his wife, he lived with his mother for the last 17 years of his life while working as a bookie in Kentish Town.
At his wake Iris said: “The nicest thing he ever did for me was just being there for me whenever I needed him.” Daughter Michelle added: “He was my friend, my mentor, my counsellor – nothing was ever too much trouble for my dad.”
Many of Mr Jones’s close friends gave him a traditional send-off at the wake in Southampton Arms, Highgate Road.
Southampton Arms landlady Jackie Heim grew up with Lenny, and her brother used to box with him. She said “He will be missed. I won’t sell as many vodka slimlines either. I’ll have a lot more lemons too.”
A caricature of Lenny hangs on the wall of the pub. The cartoon celebrates his gambler’s knack of winning, and his habit of tipping the lemons from one drink into the next, keeping the same glass all night.
A packed funeral service at Golders Green Crematorium on Friday, was followed by the wake attended by more than 200 relatives and friends.

CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS