JOAN REDFERNThe mother of former TV family game show hostess Anthea Redfern, and one of the first woman racecourse bookies, Joan Redfern has died.Mrs Redfern died on January 15 in Paignton.She was the widow of fruit and vegetable wholesaler and former racecourse bookie Bernard Redfern, who died in 1997 at the age of 85.They were the parents of television personality Anthea Redfern, who was once married to Strictly Come Dancing host Bruce Forsyth for six years when they both worked on the Generation Game on TV in the early 1970s.Joan was born in 1923 at Ideford and was a twin. She was one of a family of nine.When she married she took on three step children — Keith, Sharon, and Jacquie — from Mr Redfern's earlier marriage, and the three now live in America.Anthea said: "She was a housewife and she used to drive daddy to the racecourses and ended up being the first lady bookmaker on the courses about 20 years ago."She had pitches at Newton Abbot and most of the major South West racecourses until she sold up about 12 years ago.The family also had betting shops in Market Street and Castle Circus, Torquay, as well as Bude."She had a heart of gold for her to take on three step children and they all worshipped her. Her children were her whole life."Mrs Redfern had originally lived in Windsor Road, Torquay, but later moved into a flat in Wellswood.She was married for 53 years, and is survived by two other daughters, Lisa and Trudy. She had four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. http://www.thisissout hdevon. co.uk/news/Tributes- women- racecourse-bookies/a rticle- 1780679-detail/artic le.html [Herald Express]
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