by Rita Smith
Even myself and other good friends would find that almost overnight he’d turned into a “tapper”. “Got a twenty on you?” “Got a fifty?” This would then mean a trip to the toilet, where I would fold the note up as small as it would go, wrap it up in cigarette-packet foil, then return to the room, where Reg could place it in his mouth before going through the usual after-visit search. Every now and again some young ex-con would knock on my door saying that Reg had sent him and, trotting out various reasons for asking, would try and borrow money. Unsuccessfully, I might add, after the first few times.
When a special friend was ghosted out of Maidstone Prison in the small hours, without even the chance of saying goodbye, Reg became distraught and his behaviour worsened. Then many of us would suffer early morning telephone calls, when he’d be drunk and incoherent or screaming abuse because some command had not been carried out to his liking.
Too many people were telling me that he was becoming a f—g nuisance, and he lost a number of friends when they changed their telephone numbers to avoid him.
Whatever he had become in those last years could never take away from the fact that against all the odds he had remained strong and intelligent for twenty-five or more years of his sentence. Perhaps because he never lost hope of being released one day.
The fact that it was obvious to him that politics would keep him inside for the rest of his life must have knocked the heart out of him. A psychiatric report put together for his last appeal stated that he was devious, manipulative and would not conform to certain prison programmes. Regardless of Reg publicly denying that any of this was true, it was in fact quite accurate.
Having said that, I personally felt that regardless of those facts they were pathetic reasons for denying him parole. He had more than fully paid his debt to society once he had served twenty years, so the fact that the Home Office kept him locked away until they were sure he would die within a short time, can only ever be classed as a miscarriage of justice.
The government papers that will explain why he could not be freed will not be made public in my lifetime, but one day the political reasons behind this decision will be known.
I have criticized Reg here, but as a final tribute I have to say that in the time I knew him he did me more good than otherwise. Without thought of profit or self-interest, he went out of his way to point my career in the right direction – and for that I can only thank him.
5th Feb
Peter
Thanks for letter – Please use discretion.
Do not talk about my
choice of company I don't want problems.
God bless
Friend Reg.
Say hello to young Peter for me.
25 Sep
Sunday
4-40 am
Dear Peter
Would you bring half a bottle of vodka in
Will give you a lot to work with
Use plastic top on bottle because sometimes they
use a metal detector
Thanks
God bless
Friend
Reg Kray
Index
Aish, James ref1
Albert Hall ref1
Aldgate ref1, ref2
Alfie ref1
Armstrong, Eliza ref1
Baer, Max ref1
Barnett, Samuel ref1
Barratt, Fenian Michael ref1
Bell, Tom ref1
Bender, Ronnie ref1
Berg, Jackie “Kid” ref1, ref2
Bethnal Green Road ref1, ref2
Bethnal Green Workhouse ref1
Billingsgate Market ref1, ref2, ref3
Blewitt, Mr ref1
Blind Beggar pub ref1, ref2, ref3
Blue Coat Boy pub, Bishopsgate ref1
Blunderston Prison ref1
Booth, Bramwell ref1
Boothby, Lord Robert ref1
Boxer, Johnny ref1
boxing ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
Brabham, Jack ref1
Brick Lane ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Broadmoor ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Broadribb, Ted ref1
Brooks, The, Bildestone ref1, ref2, ref3
Brown, Tommy ref1, ref2, ref3
Bruce Castle Park ref1
Bunhill Row ref1
Cadover Road ref1
Cartwright, Boy Boy ref1
Cedra Court ref1, ref2
celebrities ref1, ref2
Chelmsford ref1
Cheshire Street ref1
Chingford Mount Cemetery ref1
Church of St James ref1
Club Row ref1
Connolly, Pat ref1, ref2
Corbett, Dickie ref1
Cornell, George ref1, ref2, ref3
Cornell, Mrs ref1
Cornwall, Jimmy ref1
Crossley, Jenny ref1, ref2
Crystal Palace ref1
Curtis, Ann (wife of Joe Lee) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
Dagenham ref1
Daily Mirror (newspaper) ref1
Dane Street School ref1
David (vicar) ref1, ref2
Davis, Mr ref1
Devonshire Hall ref1, ref2
Diamond, Ron ref1
Dickens, Charles ref1, ref2
Dimes, Alfred ref1
Dolly (Charlie Kray’s wife) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Dot ref1, ref2
Double R Club ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
Doyle, Mrs ref1, ref2, ref3
Dunlow Court ref1
Durham ref1
Elaine (Ronnie Kray’s first wife) ref1, ref2
Elcot, Bill ref1
Elizabeth (Queen Mother) ref1
Esmerelda’s Barn ref1, ref2
Farmer, Pedlar ref1
Farr, Tommy ref1
Filler, Albert ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10
Filler, Rita (cousin) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
and Bobby Ramsey ref1, ref2
childhood ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
employed as seamstress ref1
marries Ritchie Smith ref1
pets of ref1
psychic experiences of ref1
Reggie’s romantic attachment to ref1, ref2
twins look after ref1, ref2, ref3
First World War ref1, ref2, ref3
Foreman, Freddie ref1
France ref1
gambling ref1
Garland, Judy ref1
Gerrard, Alfie ref1
Gorsuch Street ref1, ref2, ref3
grandparents see Houghton, Mary Ann; Kray, Jimmy; Lee, James Charles guns ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Hackney Road ref1, ref2
Hart, Ronnie ref1
Haycox, Les ref1
Hayes, Timmy ref1
Hemming Street ref1
Hetherington, Father ref1, ref2
Hill, Billy ref1
Home Office ref1, ref2, ref3
Houghton family ref1, ref2, ref3
Houghton, Helen (great-grandmother) ref1, ref2, ref3
Houghton, Joe (great-uncle) ref1
Houghton, John (great-grandfather) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Houghton, John (great-uncle) ref1
Houghton, Mary Ann (grandmother) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9
appearance ref1
brings up Billy Wiltshire ref1
brings up young family ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10
death ref1
drinking ref1, ref2
finds gun in her wash basket ref1
and her grandchildren’s prison sentences ref1, ref2
husband’s death ref1
gains family inheritance ref1
keeps family together ref1
marries Jimmy Lee ref1
moves to Cheshire Street ref1, ref2
pets of ref1
and Ronnie’s insanity ref1
and Rose’s illness ref1
spirit of ref1, ref2
caught stealing ref1
and Violi’s marriage ref1, ref2
Houghton, Till (great-aunt) ref1
Howard, Kate (Ronnie Kray’s second wife) ref1, ref2, ref3
Huggett, Air Ball ref1
Ince, George ref1
Isle of Wight ref1
Jack the Ripper ref1
Jack Straw’s Castle ref1
John (vicar) ref1, ref2
Jollie, Jim (great-uncle) ref1
Jones, Alfred ref1
Jones, Billy ref1
Jones, Ron ref1
Kemp brothers ref1
Kentucky Club ref1, ref2
Kidd, Captain ref1
Kidder, Frances ref1
Kingsland Road ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Kingsland Road registry office ref1
Kray, Alfie (uncle) ref1
Kray, Bert (uncle) ref1
Kray, Charlie (brother) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
affair with Barbara Windsor ref1
appearance ref1
birth ref1
boxing ref1, ref2
business potential ref1
character ref1, ref2
death ref1, ref2
and the Double R Club ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
early years ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9
and Esmerelda’s Barn ref1
false accusations against ref1
and his father ref1
influence of the twins on ref1, ref2, ref3
and Jack McVitie’s murder ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
and The Krays film ref1
marriage ref1
as money-getter ref1
joins the navy ref1
prison sentences of ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
and the Regal billiard hall ref1
Rita’s relationship with ref1
breaks Ronnie out of Long Grove ref1
on Ronnie’s homosexuality ref1
and Ronnie’s insanity ref1, ref2, ref3
in World War II ref1, ref2
writes book ref1
Kray, Charlie (father) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
and boxing ref1
death ref1
discourages twins from “real” work ref1, ref2, ref3
jealous nature of ref1
marries Violi ref1
and money ref1
and the twin’s life sentences ref1
violent streak ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9
Kray, Gary (nephew) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Kray, Jimmy (grandfather) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Kray, Reggie ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
ancestry ref1
and the Bildestone mansion ref1, ref2, ref3
birth ref1, ref2
and Bobby Ramsey ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
boxing ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
business potential of ref1
mixes with celebrities ref1
gets Charlie into trouble ref1
childhood ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10
childhood illnesses ref1
cine film of ref1, ref2
and Cornell’s murder ref1
death ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
demanding money with menaces ref1, ref2
as dominant twin ref1
and the Double R Club ref1, ref2, ref3
dreams of ref1
and drinking ref1
and drugs ref1
early interest in violence ref1
early trouble ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
effects of his behaviour on the family ref1, ref2
and Esmerelda’s Barn ref1, ref2
false accusations against ref1
family holidays ref1
relationship with his father ref1, ref2
and his father’s death ref1
and Frank Mitchell ref1, ref2
charged with GBH ref1, ref2
on getting out of the East End ref1
ghosts of ref1
illness of ref1, ref2
jealous nature of ref1
and Kate Howard ref1
and The Krays film ref1, ref2
language of ref1
marriage and relationship with Frances Shea ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
marriage to Roberta ref1, ref2, ref3
as money-getter ref1, ref2
and his mother’s death ref1
murders enemy of Ramsey’s ref1
murders Jack McVitie ref1, ref2, ref3
naming of ref1
National Service ref1, ref2, ref3
returns home after National Service ref1, ref2
and Old Joe ref1
and ordinary folk ref1
and Peter Gerrard ref1, ref2, ref3
prison sentences ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11, ref12
protection rackets ref1, ref2, ref3
psychiatric report on ref1
and the Regal billiard hall ref1, ref2, ref3
reputation ref1
romantic attachment to Rita ref1, ref2
bond with Ronnie ref1
breaks Ronnie out of Long Grove ref1, ref2, ref3
and Ronnie’s death ref1, ref2
Ronnie’s influence on ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
and Ronnie’s insanity ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
and Ronnie’s three year sentence ref1, ref2, ref3
sentenced to life imprisonment ref1
sexuality of ref1, ref2, ref3
and Tommy Brown ref1, ref2
violent upbringing ref1, ref2
and weapons ref1
and women ref1, ref2, ref3
and work ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
in World War II ref1
Kray, Ronnie ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
ancestry ref1
and aunt Rose ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
and the Bildestone mansion ref1, ref2, ref3
birth ref1, ref2
and Bobby Ramsey ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
and boxing ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
breaks out of Long Grove ref1, ref2
mixes with celebrities ref1
certified insane ref1
gets Charlie into trouble ref1
childhood ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10
childhood illnesses ref1
cine film of ref1, ref2
cruel streak ref1
death ref1, ref2
death list of ref1, ref2
and the Double R Club ref1
dreams of ref1
dress sense ref1
drinking ref1
early interest in violence ref1
early trouble ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
effects of his behaviour on the family ref1, ref2
and Esmerelda’s Barn ref1
false accusations against ref1
family holidays ref1
and his relationship with his father ref1
and his father’s death ref1
and Frances Shea ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
and Frank Mitchell ref1, ref2
and Freddie Foreman ref1
charged with GBH ref1, ref2
generosity of ref1
and George Cornell ref1, ref2, ref3
heroes of ref1
illness of ref1
and Jack McVitie’s murder ref1, ref2, ref3
and The Krays film ref1
language of ref1
marriages and divorces of ref1, ref2
mental health of ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
and his mother’s death ref1
murders enemy of Ramsey’s ref1
murders George Cornell ref1, ref2, ref3
naming of ref1
National Service ref1, ref2, ref3
returns home after National Service ref1, ref2
and Old Joe ref1
and ordinary folk ref1
&nbs
p; meets Peter Gerrard ref1
prison sentences of ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11, ref12, ref13, ref14, ref15
protection rackets of ref1, ref2, ref3
and the Regal billiard hall ref1, ref2, ref3
bond with Reggie ref1
influence on Reggie ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Reggie assumes dominance over ref1
reputation of ref1
sense of humour ref1, ref2
sentenced to life imprisonment ref1
sexuality ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
shoots customer in Bethnal Green car dealers ref1, ref2, ref3
and Tommy Brown ref1
violent upbringing ref1
weapons ref1, ref2, ref3
and women ref1
and work ref1, ref2, ref3
in World War II ref1
Kray, Violet (sister who died at birth) ref1
Krays, The (film) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
Laburnham Street School ref1
Lambrianou family ref1
Lambrianou, Chrissie ref1
Lambrianou, Tony ref1
Lazar, Lew ref1
Lee family ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Lee, Connie (cousin) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Lee, Chritcha (great-grandfather) ref1, ref2
death ref1
mental illness ref1, ref2
trade of ref1
Lee, Dewey (great-uncle) ref1
Lee, James Charles (Jimmy) (grandfather) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11
and boxing ref1, ref2, ref3
and his daughters ref1, ref2, ref3
death ref1
on drinking ref1
and gambling ref1
and Gary Kray ref1
and his grandchildren’s prison sentences ref1, ref2
health fails ref1
inheritance of ref1
inventions of ref1
jealous streak ref1
keeps fit ref1
marries Mary Ann Houghton ref1
moves to Cheshire Street ref1, ref2
musical ability of ref1
nicknamed “Southpaw Cannonball” ref1
raises young family ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8
trades of ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
violent streak ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Lee, Joe (cousin) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11
childhood ref1
decides to stay straight ref1
demobed ref1
deserts the army ref1
on his father, Old Joe ref1