“LAUGHING LOSER”

Evening Star, Issue 23685, 19 September 1940, Page 14

“LAUGHING LOSER”

Private Gordon Roll, the wealthy young Londoner who lost £30,000 on horse racing last year, is reported missing (states the ‘Sunday Dispatch r ). _ 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 hia grandfather, who was chairman of the Pearl Insurance Company and x former Lord Mayor of London. Immediately, Gordon decided to g» in for racing in a big way. He bought} a string of 15 horses and backed them on a large scale. “ I’ll shake Tattersails,” he declared. LAVISH PARTIES. 1 But between March and the end of the flat season he lost £30,000 to bookbakers. 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 withthe 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 2s a day as a soldier. Out of barracks, however, he still lived luxuriously, with a hired car and chauffeur. He' was popular with hi* fellow-soldiers, who called fain: their fairy godfather because be 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 bookmaker* he once tried to beat. On a receul occasion he met his trainer on the course and saluted him. . ; One of his last appearances on the racecourse was at the Grandr-Natioiial. where be watched his horse Tuckmill try again. It came in last. Private Roll still laughed. .