*Ø* Blogmanac August 8, 1963 | The Great Train Robbery
I should keep quiet if I were you, mate, There are some right bastards here.
Ronnie Biggs to train driver Jack Mills, during the Great Train Robbery
1963 History's most famous heist, the Great Train Robbery took place in England. A 16-member gang stole 2,631,784 pounds – worth over 26 million pounds ($AU75.5 million) today – in used bank notes which were on their way back to the Bank of England for burning.
Two London gangs combined for the stick-up. Best known of the robbers, the fun-loving Ronald Biggs, was a member of neither, but was chosen because he knew the train driver. For his minor role in the robbery, Biggs was given a 30-year sentence, considered by many to be out of proportion to his crime. He gained fame by escaping from prison and remaining free for 28 years under the noses of Scotland Yard. Biggs lived secretly in Australia, then publicly in Brazil, made a movie with the Sex Pistols, and became an even bigger celebrity, making a living by being available for barbecues for a fee.
Old and infirm, Ronnie Biggs in 2001 made a celebrated voluntary return to Britain, and despite having lived a reformed life for 38 years, was arrested at London’s airport and remains in prison. One can only presume Biggs decided that English prison was preferable to Brazilian hospital. One might also conclude that British justice has an elephantine memory not only for people who break the law, but also for those who embarrass it.
Biggs interview
My father is not a murderer, a terrorist, a paedophile or a rapist. He was once a small time thief, who, on the day of his 33rd birthday, made the costliest mistake of his life. He is now an extremely frail 72-year-old man and has been punished enough.
Open letter from Michael Biggs
Pip Wilson's articles are available for your publication, on application. Further details
Receive similar items free each day with a free subscription to Wilson's Almanac ezine. Send a blank email
I should keep quiet if I were you, mate, There are some right bastards here.
Ronnie Biggs to train driver Jack Mills, during the Great Train Robbery
1963 History's most famous heist, the Great Train Robbery took place in England. A 16-member gang stole 2,631,784 pounds – worth over 26 million pounds ($AU75.5 million) today – in used bank notes which were on their way back to the Bank of England for burning.
Two London gangs combined for the stick-up. Best known of the robbers, the fun-loving Ronald Biggs, was a member of neither, but was chosen because he knew the train driver. For his minor role in the robbery, Biggs was given a 30-year sentence, considered by many to be out of proportion to his crime. He gained fame by escaping from prison and remaining free for 28 years under the noses of Scotland Yard. Biggs lived secretly in Australia, then publicly in Brazil, made a movie with the Sex Pistols, and became an even bigger celebrity, making a living by being available for barbecues for a fee.
Old and infirm, Ronnie Biggs in 2001 made a celebrated voluntary return to Britain, and despite having lived a reformed life for 38 years, was arrested at London’s airport and remains in prison. One can only presume Biggs decided that English prison was preferable to Brazilian hospital. One might also conclude that British justice has an elephantine memory not only for people who break the law, but also for those who embarrass it.
Biggs interview
My father is not a murderer, a terrorist, a paedophile or a rapist. He was once a small time thief, who, on the day of his 33rd birthday, made the costliest mistake of his life. He is now an extremely frail 72-year-old man and has been punished enough.
Open letter from Michael Biggs
Pip Wilson's articles are available for your publication, on application. Further details
Receive similar items free each day with a free subscription to Wilson's Almanac ezine. Send a blank email
Pip Wilson posted item above at 1:38 AM | Permalink
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