Infamous East End villain Reggie Kray showed a softer side in a letter to his mother Violet from London’s Brixton Prison, where he had been jailed for the murder of Jack ‘The Hat’ McVitie
Murderous gangster Reggie Kray was a fan of yoga and crooner Des O’Connor, a never-before-seen letter from him reveals.
The notorious East End villain showed an unexpected softer side in the letter to his mother Violet from Brixton Prison in April 1969. This was just a month after he had been jailed for life for the murder of Kray henchman Jack ‘The Hat’ McVitie.
He appeared to be on a health kick as he told his mother he was doing yoga and suggested she put honey instead of sugar in her tea. Reggie added that he had just watched TV and ‘the Des O’Connor show was good with Patricia Noble and Sacha Distel’. He was in a philosophical mood and confided in his mother that he hoped everyone could have a ‘fresh start and leave the past behind us’.
The crook then suggested that they could begin a new life in the countryside as ‘country life is better than living in London’. Reggie disclosed to Violet he had been visited by a woman named Carol, believed to be Carol Skinner who rented the basement flat at 97 Evering Road, in north London’s Stoke Newington, where he killed McVitie in October 1967. He signed off by telling her that he was about to go to church and ‘I’ll be thinking of you while I’m there’.
The letter is part of a collection of Kray mementos which are being sold by the son of Charlie Kray’s long term partner, Diane Buffini. She was with the Reggie and Ronnie’s older brother for 27 years and kept hold of the material until her death last year. Ronnie Kray’s gun licence, which comes with a reference letter describing him as ‘responsible, solvent and trustworthy’, and Charlie’s 18 carat gold and diamond ‘pinkie’ ring are also up for sale.
The gun licence, serial number 00917, was issued by Bethnal Green Borough Office on May 30, 1964. The items are tipped to sell for a combined £15,000 at auctioneers Bearnes, Hampton & Littlewood, of Exeter, Devon.
Auction specialist Brian Goodison-Blanks said: “The collection has been consigned by Dean Buffini, the son of Diane Buffini. One of the items consigned is Ronald Kray’s gun licence issued in Bethnal Green in 1964 with the address at Valance Road. Among the letters are several dating from 1969 soon after Ron and Reggie were jailed and one from a lady signed Carol.
The letters and photographs are a unique historical archive that shows the relationship between the three brothers and their mother Violet Kray.
“Also included in the auctioned Charlie Kray’s 18ct gold and diamond ‘pinkie’ ring that he wore up until his death. The Reggie Kray letter shows an unexpected softer side as he talks about Des O’Connor, yoga and putting honey in your tea. You can’t write a comprehensive history of London without acknowledging the impact of the Krays on culture and society at the time.
“There’s an appetite for crime and crime history among collectors and these Kray items which are such personal pieces should attract a lot of interest.”
The Kray twins were jailed for life in 1969 after an Old Bailey trail for the murders of George Cornell and McVitie. Ronnie died in 1995 after suffering a heart attack at Broadmoor Hospital. Reggie Kray died aged 66 in 2000 after being released from prison on compassionate grounds. Their older brother Charlie was a professional boxer and convicted criminal who died in 2000.
The sale takes place on August 12. The four page handwritten letter, which is stamped HM Prison, Brixton, reads: “I just finished watching TV, the Des O’Connor show was good with Patricia Noble and Sacha Distel. Well Mum I’m going to do a few yoga exercises then I’ll listen to Radio Luxemberg. Try honey every day in tea instead of sugar – it’s good for your health.
“We will soon be going to church and I’ll be thinking of you while I’m there. I hope we can all have a fresh start sometime in the future, then we can all settle in the country and leave the past behind us. The country life is better than living in London.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
