MY CALL - RIP KEVIN THOMSETT

By David Fowler | Tuesday, November 8, 2011

David Fowler is the principal thoroughbred caller for Radio TAB. David, who is a keen form student and punter, has enjoyed a lifetime involvement in the racing media. His personal blog, ‘My Call’, appears exclusively on HRO.

A little man with a big heart.

Popular Brisbane bookmaker Kevin Thomsett, at 68 years, passed away last weekend after battling ill health. His funeral will be held tomorrow.

That's the official line. Now let's pay tribute to Kevvy the man.

I wasn't a close of friend of Kevvy's but had enough beers at enough joints with him to provide some insight into one of the real characters of the Brisbane betting ring in recent years.

This is one man who lived the dream. Weekday worker and weekend bookmaker!

Kevvy and his family ran a successful panel beating business in inner Brisbane but come Saturday, the work duds went off and the suit went on. It was time to play bookie!

He'd also often escape to an occasional midweek, like Gatton, where he enjoyed the atmosphere of the country betting ring and an ale or ten with his right-hand man John DeWarrren, one of the best clerks in the business who also worked for now-retired Brian Ogilivie for many years.

Kevvy reached the "rails" in Brisbane bookmaking. A man who didn't have too
many lofty aspirations in life, this was the dream totally fulfilled.

Rubbing shoulders with the Ogilvies and the Gallaghers in the hustle bustle of a Saturday at the races when there were plenty of people … and plenty of bookies for that matter.

But such an elevation didn't change him one iota. He didn't have a pretentious
bone in his body.

But, as they say, when you're at the top there is only one way down. It happened to Kevvy with a string of bad results.

So it was back to the secondary ring but it was just another chapter closed in the book of life. Besides, it was back to the betting environment he was probably more comfortable in.

He loved an after work drink. Did he what!

I spent many late afternoons and early evenings at the pub or club of his choice. The Albion, the Waterloo, the Bookies Club are a few that come to mind.

He loved the Exhibition. Proudly sporting his RNA badge, if he spotted you there was no chance of an early getaway.

These are just a few snippets of a genuine knockaround who was liked by all.

Even if he said something that got up your nose, you'd say to the mate on the other side, "well, that's Kevvy".

On a more serious note, there are two observations that have to be made about Kevvy.

On the racetrack his word was his bond and he treated his fellow bookies and punters with utmost respect.

In recent years, the great form student and punter Bill Unwin used to advise him on race morning and a small gratuity would be exchanged at the track.

But it wouldn't have mattered if Bill had tipped the card or got a "skinner". The fact that Kevvy could count Bill Unwin in his inner circle was far more important.

And he was a family man through and through. Loved Bev and the kids to death.

I didn't see him in recent times and for that I'm sad because I've missed plenty of laughs which we can ill afford to do in this mortal world.

But I can count myself lucky that I did know him and enjoyed plenty of those same laughs over the years. And they can't take away from you.

RIP "Kevvy".

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