The Kray twins. Did they deserve their fearsome reputation?

[slotty]

the Kray's were gentlemen villans, they would always shake your hand before breaking your legs

[Oakey]

Yeah, right, 'proper' 'gentlemen' crims. How did they make their money? Protection rackets and extortion?

[ThePrisoner]

eskidavies said:

at least they were proper crims not drug dealing,burgling,anti social asshole scum buckets like we got today,they only give st to they own type.in their days you could leave your house/car unlocked,no old ladies getting mugged or bullying or nonces when they were around.

This....Look at as now?.The Dumping ground for all of Europe's Criminals.

[Oakey]

Seriously, what are you talking about? The current top London families have been in power longer than the Krays were. It's bks, Reggie supposedly liked to rape young men did he not?

[muppetdave]

Our RE teacher at secondary school was a former East End vicar from their time, and claimed they were good lads and good to the church. Never said much else, but he never had anything incriminating/bad to say about them.

[Magic919]

Maybe Ronnie, but not Reggie.

[eskidavies]

i suppose it depends on the source of info about them ive read a few books and dont really know what to believe

[Oakey]

Sorry yeah, I meant Ronnie. Weren't there rumours about a certain The Bill actor?

[eskidavies]

Oakey said:

Sorry yeah, I meant Ronnie. Weren't there rumours about a certain The Bill actor?

bill murray aint it,he was at charity do's organised by krays when they wre inside

[ThePrisoner]

Oakey said:

Seriously, what are you talking about? The current top London families have been in power longer than the Krays were. It's bks, Reggie supposedly liked to rape young men did he not?

The top London Families? What are they in charge of..

[carmonk]

Twincharged said:

Famous Graham said:

snowy slopes said:

shakotan said:

Softly spoken does not mean a soft personality...

Yep, what's the old saying? Speak softly but carry a big stick

Walk softly.

Speak softly.

ETA: Apparently "Walk softly" is a mis-quote.

How would one 'walk softly' anyway? What would it involve, furry slippers and an alarming rolling of the hips?

[Cock Womble 7]

eskidavies said:

Oakey said:

Sorry yeah, I meant Ronnie. Weren't there rumours about a certain The Bill actor?

bill murray aint it,he was at charity do's organised by krays when they wre inside

Bill Murray? "Caddyshack" and "Stripes" Bill Murray?

He was "in" with the Krays? Really?

[Oakey]

ThePrisoner said:

The top London Families? What are they in charge of..

A large proportion of organised crime?

[Wacky Racer]

fiveoclockhero1 said:

Wacky Racer said:

Revealing archive interview here:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1Qc_8DoUCs&fea...

And what does that reveal?

I think that short clip (imo) reveals a lot about their personality and how confident and sure of themselves they were at that time.

[Guvna]

All I know about the Krays is that when I was a kid I met several (at least 3 separate) old ran down types who proudly boasted that they "knew the Krays" or "worked for the Krays" or "saw them in a pub" like that made them worth something.

They clearly had a big positive impact on people who met them... well.. at least those on their good side

[ThePrisoner]

Oakey said:

A large proportion of organised crime?

Well thats not what i have been told, but i'm willing to be proven wrong

[GTIR]

Which one was the Gheyer?

[Civpilot]

Lost soul said:

Cock Womble 7 said:

Twincharged said:

Famous Graham said:

snowy slopes said:

shakotan said:

Softly spoken does not mean a soft personality...

Yep, what's the old saying? Speak softly but carry a big stick

Walk softly.

Speak softly.

"Speak Softly, My Love" was the theme from "The Godfather".

Coincidence?

I thought "walk softly carry a big stick " is attributed to A US President

As correctly pointed out the first word in the phrase is "Speak" not "Walk"

The widespread use of 'speak softly and carry a big stick' began with American president Theodore Roosevelt. In a letter to Henry L. Sprague, on January 26th 1900, he wrote:

"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."

[Oakey]

ThePrisoner said:

Well thats not what i have been told, but i'm willing to be proven wrong

http://britishorganisedcrime.blogspot.com/

Sunday Times said:

SOME of Britain’s most notorious crime syndicates have been seeking millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money for their stake in a strip of derelict land in east London.
Their target was a share of a £20m government fund used to acquire land for regeneration projects in the district. One criminal family has received nearly £2m.
Other would-be beneficiaries have been implicated in murder, drug trafficking and fraud. They include David Hunt, whose criminal network is allegedly so vast that Scotland Yard regards him as “too big” to take on. His involvement in the land triggered a violent turf war and a large-scale police corruption inquiry.

That sounds like someone in control of an organised crime syndicate, no?

[Ganglandboss]

Oakey said:

Seriously, what are you talking about? The current top London families have been in power longer than the Krays were. It's bks, Reggie supposedly liked to rape young men did he not?

Like these?