The Kray Brothers: From East End Hardmen to Broadmoor Brawls: A Right Royal Rumble
Ah, the Kray twins, those cheeky chappies from London's East End. They were the ultimate gangsters, the double-mint of menace, the Robin Hoods of the nightclub scene (if Robin Hood wore a sharp suit and preferred kneecaps to charity). But what happened to these notorious lads? Buckle up, because it's a wild ride.
From Punching Punks to Protection Rackets: A Sticky Situation
Ronnie and Reggie Kray were identical twins who ruled the East End of London in the swinging sixties. They weren't your average neds; they were well-built boxers with a taste for the finer things in life, financed by, shall we say, "alternative income streams." Protection rackets? You betcha. Violence? A bit much, even for primetime Eastenders. They ran nightclubs that were less "disco" and more "disappear behind the curtain." Their grip on the East End was tighter than a granny on a tenner sale.
The Coppers Catch On: The Gloves Are Off
For a while, the Krays seemed untouchable. They were celebrities in their own right, rubbing shoulders with actors and athletes. But as with all good things (and the Kray twins were definitely not good), their luck ran out. The police, fed up with looking the other way while people went missing like socks in a dryer, decided to take action. Enter Detective Superintendent "Nipper" Read. Now, Nipper wasn't your average bobby on the beat. This guy was on a mission, like a terrier with a bone (and that bone being justice... mostly).
The Big Bang and Beyond: A Tale of Two Prisons
After years of dodgy dealings, the Kray twins were finally arrested in 1968. The trial was a media circus, with everyone wanting a peek at the notorious gangsters. Fun Fact: It was the longest murder trial in British history, lasting a whopping 53 days. In the end, they were both found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Ronnie, always the fiery one, ended up in Broadmoor, a fancy term for a prison for the criminally insane. Reggie, on the other hand, chilled (well, as chilled as a bloke in prison can be) in a regular jail.
The Final Farewell: Not So Fond Au Revoir
Ronnie never got out of Broadmoor, shuffling off this mortal coil in 1995 from a heart attack. Reggie, however, managed to snag a release on compassionate grounds in 2000 due to bladder cancer. But freedom was short-lived, as he kicked the bucket just a few weeks later. So, that's the story of the Kray twins: a cautionary tale of violence, nightclubs, and the importance of not getting on the wrong side of the law (especially Detective Superintendent Nipper Read).
Kray Twin FAQ
How to be a gangster like the Krays? Don't. Seriously, crime is bad.
How to avoid a run-in with the Krays (even though they're dead)? Easy, don't travel back in time to 1960s London.
How to tell Ronnie and Reggie apart? Nearly impossible. That's the whole "identical twin" thing.
How did the Krays get so famous? A combination of fear, fascination, and a good dose of media attention.
How to get over your newfound fear of identical twins? Therapy might help. Or just watch reruns of Full House. They seem like a lovely bunch.
