Fixed races, virtual horses and chaos mathematics

‘I’ve been gambling since I was 11’

Dear Millers,

“‘I’ve been betting since I was 11,’ says Gerry. ‘But, I don’t like to bet everyday. I don’t drink anymore; I like a bet and I like a smoke.’“

We all have our vices — but betting shops are one that receive curiously little attention from the media, despite their presence in our cities. Perhaps this is due to their decreasing relevance? After all, according to a study the University of Bristol published last year, there are declining numbers of betting shops around the UK. On the other hand, the same study found that there are still more gambling premises in Britain than stores run by the largest eight supermarket chains put together. 

We sent Jack down to a betting shop to report from the frontlines: he uncovered conspiracy theories; learned about chaos mathematics and heard about the golden days when backstreet betting shops boasted bookies sitting on disused toilets. 

Also in today’s edition:

• A portrait of one of the last surviving Bradford Pit miners, and the story behind it for ‘My Best Shot’, a feature where — you guessed it! — local photographers share their favourite work.

• Our latest podcast episode, which takes a look at Manchester’s new park in the sky, Castlefield Viaduct.

• We give you a great list of things to do over the weekend, including an evening of Japanese whisky tasting, a Latin reading club, and some early-morning jazz.

As always, our Thursday editions are for Mill members, and regular Millers can just read the top of the email. Join up now to read the whole edition, for £7 a month or just £1.30 a week if you pay for a year up front.

That is roughly equivalent to one glass of wine at The Hillary Step…half the price of a packet of Silk Cut cigs from Tesco…a little over a tenth of a ticket to see Bjork at Bluedot Festival…this month, let us be your most affordable (and informative!) vice :)

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Mill news briefing

A £20m bid for Levelling Up funding to jump-start the transformation of the ‘garden city’ Wythenshawe town centre has been submitted to the government by Manchester City Council. The funding would help the creation of a culture hub, food hall, and a new civic square. It’s also hoped that the money would help decarbonise some town centre buildings. Councillor Gavin White, Executive Member for Housing and Development, said: “It’s a confident place with huge potential. Securing this funding would accelerate the change we aspire to see and help unlock wider opportunities for the people of Wythenshawe.”

A new study has found that for poor children, living in an area where people have more friendships that span across class lines “significantly increases how much they earn in adulthood”. The study, which was published on Monday in Nature, analysed the Facebook friendships of 72 million people, amounting to 84 percent of U.S. adults aged 25 to 44. The study found that if poor children grew up in a neighbourhood in which 70% of their friends were wealthy, it would increase their future incomes by 20% on average.

A Bolton man has become of one of the first in England to be prosecuted under a new law that punishes domestic abuse. Tyler Lowe, 28, who has repeatedly used violence against women, strangled his partner and suffocated her with a pillow in June. As part of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, non-fatal strangulation or suffocation became a specific offence, carrying up to five years in prison. Nicholas Ross, who was defending Lowe, said: “He understands he has a lot of work and learning to do.” Lowe was jailed for two years and four months.

Stockport twins Thelma Barratt and Elma Harris celebrated their 103rd birthday yesterday. The pair are thought to be Britain’s oldest twins. Talking to BBC North West Tonight, Elma said the secret to a long life is a glass of brandy and lemonade — without ice — at night. Born in August 1919, the pair started working when they were 14 at Smiths Crisps. This heartwarming interviews marks the first time they have been able to be together since the pandemic. "It's lovely to be together because we don't get together very often," Elma said.

📻 Our latest podcast has just dropped. Joshi and Darryl talk about the newly-opened park in the sky, Castlefield Viaduct, and an announcement about the Mayoral Development Zone, plus more stories about Greater Manchester you need to know about. Listen here.