I met Ted last week as Guernsey celebrated the May bank holiday with a Horse racing meeting.

Ted was volunteering as an official to keep jockeys and public segregated. My Camera caught his eye and he began to pose a good 10 years above his birth age. As I approached, I asked him if he'd heard any good tips. Ignoring my comment, as is the way of old folk, he recounted a time in the 1940s, just after WWII when he was staying as a guest in a grand house that was being restored. The builders lived on site, and being Irish, it happened that one of them was related to a well connected jockey. During the evening this builder divulged the name of a horse that was expected to win on the following day, and he volunteered to collect envelopes and return the winnings if things went to plan. The following day, the builder returned with winnings and distributed the envelopes to the ensemble at dinner. On realising there was no envelope for Ted, he assumed Ted hadn't trusted him and said, not to worry, he'd heard of an even better gamble for the next day. The following day as he distributed even more winnings, again, there was no envelope for Ted. "You're a stubborn one alright" he said to Ted, "I only hope you trust me in tomorrows big race". The following night was an almighty celebration as the building team received winnings that now amounted to a fair purse. But still no envelope for Ted. The builder was annoyed. "Ted, I've given you 3 great pieces of information and you never trusted me". Finally a rather young and embarrassed Ted explained, "I don't know how to make a bet". And to this day, he still doesn't.

The stories you have to listen to to get a photo!