Ronnie Biggs

[Pete McCluskey.]

Master crook has passed on. R.I.P. I think.

 

[Keith]

I won't say anymore than simply, it's about time.

 

[Robert May Eng.]

Should of stood for rotted in prison but instead he basked in the sun enjoying celeb status. Famed by media coverage to the point that the public thought of him as a bit of a lad and not the thieving bastard he was.

Bob

 

[Mark]

I hope the door didn't hit him on his way out!

 

[Keith]

WOGGS I am proud of your stance. Remember always that his was not a victimless crime as some would have it. The train driver (Mills?) was needlessly bludgeoned and normal life subsequently made impossible by permanent brain damage until his premature death arising out of complications caused by that single blow.

 

[David Morton]

Some of the crews night stopping in Rio used to go around his place and swell his coffers buying quite weak drinks.
Not me though. It was usually only the cabin crew.

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

Should of stood for rotted in prison but instead he basked in the sun enjoying celeb status. Famed by media coverage to the point that the public thought of him as a bit of a lad and not the thieving bastard he was.

Bob

Spot on I have always been amazed how the media can glorify complete arseholes and make bad behaviour something to admire. I think it started with the Bounty mutineers, we have our own example with Ned Kelly who was a murderous bastard and is now a folk hero.

 

[Keith]

I agree with your comment on Ned Kelly Pete, but Bounty mutineers? They didn't harm anyone and I thought they were actually quite hard done by. It wasn't long afterwards that the Royal Navy eased it's stance somewhat and improved the lot of the average Jolly Jack Tar by banning flogging.

I don't think that Bligh was particularly well thought of in England, but his feat of navigation made him something of a folk hero.

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

Well they mutinied and in the day that was a hanging offence, it was only because of the skill of Bligh that they didn't harm anyone. After reading books on the subject I am convinced that the mutineers fully expected Bligh and those with him not to survive.
Not only was Bligh a brilliant navigator and explorer he had a reputation for looking after his men, the exact opposite of how Hollywood portrayed him.
His mistake was staying to long in Tahiti, the charms of the Tahitian women was the main reason for the mutiny.

 

[Keith]

An interesting connection:

The Great Train Robbery gang allegedly led by Ronald Biggs, were caught when father of future Jordan F1 designer Tim Holloway, reported their farm hideout to the Police.