During a recent stay in Birmingham, I met an outstanding figure in the Turf Accountancy world in the Midlands, Mr. Ernest Jones, who trades under the style of "Alan Macintosh & Co" at 39-41 Herald Chambers, Martineau Street, Birmingham, as also at Bournemouth and Jersey.

Mr. Jones is a gentleman of many activities and hobbies and has that natural ability for entertaining conversation.

It is now 27 years ago since he first ventured into his present profession. In his very early days, he was keenly interested in music and chose as his instrument the Banjo. He quickly reached the front-rank of players and in his work, both in London and the provinces, was accepted as an artiste of outstanding ability. A ready appreciation of a commercial led him to explore the profession of Turf Accountancy.
From that small beginning, 27 years ago, he has built up a very large business which has a very fine reputation for system, service and integrity.

Mr Jones very definitely emphasised to me that his business had been built up solely on recommendation "I have never employed publicity at all. It appeals to me that, if you give a client the fullest satisfaction, he will always stay with you—not only stay with you, but bring to you his friends to share that same feeling of satisfaction which he himself feels." It is very apparent that this creed has proved successful for the atmosphere of the offices when I called was one of 100 per cent. business. Everything is planned with the idea of catering for the professional type of client such as accountants, stockbrokers, merchants, etc., and what is certainly original, for the needs of the fair sex. If any of the readers find need for such a change, I can recommend them to write to Mr. Jones about their needs, for I know they will never regret it.

When I queried the state of business, he responded in a very optimistic manner." During the last two or three years, every member of our calling has experienced worry and anxiety. Now I feel that we are in smooth waters again. The Englishman loves to have his little flutter according to his means and so far as the greater proportion are concerned, they always honour their obligations with every promptitude. They are always prepared to pay for their amusements. The average loss which, they incur through their flutters is certainty small and one which they do not regret; but they must have service, satisfaction and prompt payment of their claims. These three I guarantee to all my clients. I predict the day when all the members of my profession will enjoy the same status as Chartered Accountants, Stockbrokers, etc when they will have their own central association, and their employees will have to acquire the proper qualifications by study and examination in the same way as accountants, doctors, etc. The internal workings of any up-to-date office certainly calls for as much knowledge, experience and diplomacy as any important commercial undertaking."

Before I left, Mr. Jones entertained me with some music from his Banjo. I have travelled far and heard every musical instrument played by the world's greatest maestros, but I never before suspected that the Banjo was an instrument of such brilliancy. Possiblv this is because I have never heard Mr. Jones either over Radio (he frequently plays over radio from 5 G.B. and 5 XX.), or on the Gramophone Discs (his Columbia Record No. 5491 is a wonderful example). His appearances in public are naturally very rare ,since his business activities require most of his time, but his hand has lost none of its cunning. I had thought that this completed his various roles, but I found that Mr. Jones was a very ardent gardener. At his private residence, he has every facility for the production of his favourite flowers, Carnations. At the last show of the National Carnation and Picotee Society, he took seven firsts and one second with his exhibits as well as the Charrington Bowl for the finest exhibit of any amateur in the show.

"And what do you do in your spare time ?" I asked him. "Oh, shooting during the winter; cricket (inactive) and swimming in the summer (if any)", he responded, "but I'm never too busy to meet new business".

Perhaps at some future date you will be meeting Mr. Jones yourself. If so, you will readily agree that he chose a very appropriate telegraphic address when he registered that of "Virtuoso, Birmingham".