Bookmaking legend Dave Brown moves on after more than 40 years at sharp end

Last Tuesday Dave Brown handed over the reins as trading director of Ladbrokes Coral to Jim Humberstone of GVC, marking his retirement from a working life with the major names in high street bookmaking going back more than 40 years.

Brown's life in bookmaking began in his school days and he will continue betting as Toland Brown on course, where he has pitches at Doncaster and York.

"It's now time to move on and do other things," he said. "Over the years there is not much in betting I haven't done. Retail, on-course, business development. I was right in at the start with the internet when William Hill got a site live for the 1998 World Cup. I love it today as much as I did when I first started.