City bookie dies in horror crash; Tributes paid after collision with lorry.

Byline: Gavin O'Connor

ARESPECTED bookmaker has died after his car collided with an articulated lorry.

Father-of-five John Lovell, was fatally injured in the accident when the lorry overturned on a busy roundabout.

Firefighters had to cut Mr Lovell out of his black Audi A6 saloon car on the Llanedeyrn interchange at the A48 Eastern Avenue, but he died at the scene.

The driver of the white freight carrier which was laden with a blue container was uninjured.

Cardiff bookmaker John Lovell, who lived in Llanedeyrn with his wife Mary, started a betting revolution in 1995 when he introduced computerised betting to British racecourses.

The owner of John Lovell Exchange, in Greenway Road Betting Shop, Rumney, was also the first bookmaker in the country to open a two-in-one betting shop for punters to bet the traditional way or use computer terminals in 2005.

Brian Lee, who had known Mr Lovell for more than 50 years, said: "I'm still in shock, it's very sad.

"He was the man who changed everything for British racing. He was the best bookmaker in Wales.

"He was well respected and was known all over the country at race meetings. Racing was his life.

"His daughter Susan was keeping a scrapbook of his achievements."

Mr Lovell, who at one time ran 14 betting shops, owned a number of horses over the years including Church town Boy who finished runner-up to Red Rum in the 1977 Grand National.

Mr Lee, 71, of Pontprennau, Cardiff, continued: "John had become somewhat disillusioned with British racing and he enjoyed point-to-point racing more.

"He had been to Hong Kong and Australia earlier this year and said we had a lot to learn.

"He was the chairman of the South and West Wales Point-To-Point Bookmakers' Association and bought a horse called Sam's Lad who won first time out at a meeting in West Wales earlier this season.

"He was also a bookmaker at the Cardiff Arms Park greyhound racing track which closed in 1977 and owned a number of greyhounds himself the best being Bear Cat.

"I will miss him in more ways than one. Welsh hunt-racing has received a tremendous body blow and I doubt if we will ever see his like ever again."

Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash which happened yesterday morning at 11.45am. Call the roads policing unit inGwaelodyGarthon0292057 1600, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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TRAGEDY: City bookmaker John Lovell