Island Echo begins its series on Parkhurst prisoners by examining the story of the Kray twins who spent much of their time behind bars here on the Isle of Wight.
Reginald and Ronnie Kray are the 2 most celebrated and notorious gangsters in British history. They were probably the closest our country ever came to having underworld figures of similar stature, influence and wealth as the American mafia. Such is their notoriety that their lives have been immortalized in 2 blockbuster films – The Krays (1990) and Legend (2015) – as well as a best-selling biography The Profession of Violence (1972) and a hit record by Morrissey The Last of the International Playboys.
The Kray Twins were born in Haggerston in Hackney, East London on 24th October 1933. Both were keen amateur boxers in their youth with wily Reg the more skilful of the pair, ending his career undefeated. After being dishonourably discharged from the army, Reginald and Ronnie went on to become nightclub owners and celebrity gangsters of the 1960s Swinging London scene.
The twins were both sentenced to life imprisonment – with a recommendation that they serve at least 30 years – in March 1969, following a sensational trial at the Old Bailey for the murders of 2 fellow East End villains, Jack ‘the Hat’ McVitie and George Cornell.
Below: The Last of the Famous International Playboys (Morrissey) with excerpts from the film Legend
An ironic anecdote associated with the killing of Cornell was the fact that the song The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore by the Walker Brothers was being played at the very moment Ron Kray pulled the trigger. A stray bullet hit the jukebox causing the needle to get stuck and continuously repeat the line as Cornell lay fatally wounded.
The status and fearsome reputation of the Krays in the East End resulted in no one present in the pub at the time being able to recall anything at all about Cornell’s assailant. However, once the violent twins and their associates had been remanded in police custody, the barmaid (having been given a new identity outside the East End) was willing to provide the crucial evidence that Ronald was the killer at the trial.
The Krays are said to have had further victims, including ‘Mad Axeman’ Frank Mitchell and a further underworld figure and author ‘Mad’ Teddy Smith. The bodies of those who crossed them are said either to have been encased in concrete in the foundations of motorway bridges or to have been dumped in the English Channel by fishermen.
So, what happened to the Krays once they had been sent down? They spent much of their time at Parkhurst prison here on the Isle of Wight, where, by all accounts, they ruled the roost and continued to control a business empire outside the prison gates.
Below: Ronnie and Reggie interviewed on television in the 1960s after being found not guilty in an earlier trial
On being convicted of murder at the Old Bailey, Reginald refused a blanket over his head to protect his identity from photographers and was escorted to a Jaguar which took him first to Southampton, from where he boarded a Red Funnel ferry on his way to Britain’s Alcatraz – Parkhurst Prison. Here, he was housed in the Special Security Block, together with the Great Train Robbers, rival Gangster Eddie Richardson and others considered too dangerous to be housed with run-of-the-mill prisoners.
Ronald was taken to Durham prison, where he was frequently in trouble for attacking fellow inmates and prison officers. After a campaign by the twins’ mother Violet, he was moved to Parkhurst to be with his brother. Both were placed in ‘C’ block – the prison’s psychiatric wing and given heavy medication.
During their time at Parkhurst the Krays undertook some lessons, including in tailoring. But they didn’t actually do any work… in return for a good report they ensured no trouble would kick off during the lesson, resulting in an easier life for the teacher. No one wanted to mess with the Krays.
Ron had escaped from a secure mental hospital while incarcerated before. In 1958, he had been visited in hospital by Reggie, who was at liberty at the time. Reggie had entered wearing a coat, which he then swapped with Ronald. Ron then left the building wearing Reggie’s coat, leaving his twin in his place. When Reggie asked to leave himself, he could not be kept in Ron’s place. He claimed that he had fallen asleep, and that when he had woken up, his brother had disappeared.
But Ronnie didn’t like Parkhurst. In an attempt to be moved to a secure mental hospital he stopped taking his medication, became more violent as a result, and was dispatched to Broadmoor in 1979. There, he could wear his own clothes, have his own furnishings and do more or less as he pleased.
Left alone in Parkhurst, Reg found himself only 2 cell doors away from rival gang leader Charlie Richardson. Ronald sent a message to his brother that Charlie should be eliminated. Fortunately, other prisoners made peace between the pair in a way that neither would lose face: their rivalry would be settled with a ‘straightener’ on release.
Now freed from the influence of his psychotic twin brother Ronald, Reg – the more astute and business-minded of the pair – took to making money while incarcerated. The film the Krays earned the twins £250,000. Their company Krayleigh Enterprises – fronted by their older brother Charlie – offered security for visiting Hollywood stars. Frank Sinatra hired 18 bodyguards from their enterprise when he visited London.
Both Reginald in Parkhurst and his mad brother Ronnie in Broadmoor cultivated friendships with the celebrities of the day. They were visited by (among others) legendary actor Richard Burton, actress Diana Dors, singers Roger Daltrey (from the Who) and Debbie Harry (Blondie) – who will be on the Isle of Wight for next year’s festival.
Reg also made thousands of pounds for charity. When he heard a TVS report about a father raising money for a hospital that had provided his daughter with a liver transplant, he sent a selection of prisoners’ paintings to be auctioned in aid of the cause, contributing a considerable sum.
The twins hadn’t entirely turned their backs on villainy in later life. They despised ‘slags’, by which they meant violent offenders who had harmed women and children. Violent retribution on such offenders as Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe and the Moors murderer Ian Brady were believed to have been carried out at the twins’ behest.
Ronald Kray died in Broadmoor on 17th March 1995, aged 61. Reginald – who had become a born-again Christian and was a much-changed man – died in Norwich on 1st October 2000, having been released a month earlier on compassionate grounds. He spent his final few weeks with his 2nd wife, Roberta, whom he had married in prison in 1997.
The Kray’s older brother Charlie died at St Mary’s hospital here on the Isle of Wight, 6 months before the death of Reginald. He had been serving a 12-year term of imprisonment at Parkhurst.
What are the feelings of Island Echo readers towards the Kray twins? Were they a pair of Cockney Robin Hoods, taking from the rich to give to the poor? It is probably fair to suggest that they only ever hurt fellow members of the London underworld – anyone foolhardy enough to attempt to play ‘King of the Castle’ with the psychotic Ronald Kray.
Or were they simply a pair of mindless, murderous thugs?
Please feel free to voice your opinion in the comments section below…
I have been told that their Mother, Violet bought a bungalow at Bierly on the Island, near Niton.
Unsure if it is true, would love to know if anyone else has heard of this.
My opinion is, that they were likely unpleasant, dangerous, and not kindly, but no doubt their Mum had installed some respect into them hence the hate from them of child and Women abusers.
Compared with the vilest cretins from all corners of the globe who have replaced the Krays and Richards etc, I expect most would swap to go back to the days when real Londoners ruled crime, as now the imported criminals have made sure women and children are high on the list of sex abuse being twisted, uncaring creatures we have allowed to live and multiply here.
No idea why they are so revered – just a couple of degenerate thugs that thought they could bully people into giving them money by using violence.
although not sure what is worse – those two degenerates or the army of saps that have lavished praise and grovelled at their feet all these years.
what is so clever about being a criminal and spending most of your life in jail with other deadbeats.
if they were so great, they would have made their money legally, like others do and retained the freedom to enjoy it, with the support of society.
There is a story that the Krays bought a hotel in Newport so that friends and relatives could visit them and stay overnight can anyone verify this story
My father told me they were ok, if you had respect, they respected you back.
He told me they would help a little old lady cross the road, but as happend to someone who thought they could get one over on them, nailed him down to the floor boards through his calf muscles.
Sounds ok to me.
I am a relation of Teddy Smith, one of their gang, and our family history is that his disappearance is a mystery. He was either murdered or fled to Australia.
Oh I bet you are so proud of that history aren’t you. My relative was a member of Shanklin bus gang in 1994. They used to steal penny sweets and try to blag the bus conductor of a free ride. Sadly the bus conductor disappeared and never found. Some say he was nailed to wroxall obelisk some say he brought a hotel up pan but no one ever found out where that bus conductor went
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. What an idiotic response.
Love your reply made my day
Latest news? Really? LATEST NEWS? Slow news week is it? 2 thugs from the last century.
I used to live at westhill manor in shanklin, the krays used to own the whole manor, when it was a nightclub and casino, on top off chimney on the building is a weather vain with the letter’s R@R on there
You have to admit the Kray brothers controlled the East End of London, in fact many would say they did a better job than the Met Police. A large number of people had total respect for these two and I think London was Safer when they were around. They only killed those that had grossly stepped out of line and London was much safer than it is now. Just unfortunate Ronnie was more psychotic than Reggie.
Think there is more to these two than people realise, be interesting if someone had the time and patience to go through their lives, including court cases and evidence to see how they finally did end up in prison, there is a lot of conspiracy theory going on around their lives and I feel they were only out to better the areas they lived in even if they did control them they controlled them well.
Would rather have them around than the worlds rubbish blighting every area of the country and laughing at our weak police and courts.
Totally agree with what you said June & lucas
I’m very happy to have all my memorabilia it’s better than having an ounce of drugs once owned by some scumbag who robbed of someone too get it people who are negative about the family want to look deeper into the twins because they did just as much good as they did bad