Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs - RIP

[Ar-Pharazon]

Story

Ronnie Biggs has passed away today at age 84. Ronnie was the most famous of the 14 men from the 1963 train robbery due to his life on the lam and even his performing a song with the Sex Pistols.

He had a hell of a life.

R.I.P.

 

[MacLeod]

Whilst it is said for his family, lets put it into context he was invovled in a violent robbery, spend most of his life on the run. Didn't serve his full prison sentance for his part in the robbery.

So Is it really right we are having a thread about the passing of a common criminal?

 

[auntiehill]

The part of the article that stands for me is this:

Britain's Telegraph newspaper, in its obituary, makes the point that while Biggs won notoriety for the heist and his subsequent life on the run, "people tended to forget that he had seriously wounded the train-driver, Jack Mills, who died six years later having never recovered his health."

So, yeah, not really caring that the dick finally died. Too bad the innocent train-driver didn't live to 84.

 

[TheSeeker]

Another article I read left me with the impression that it was one of the other guys from the team who hit the train driver over the head.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I don't think it matters who actually wielded the blow, all the train robbers are responsible for injuries Jack Mills received.

 

[StolenThunder]

Thief who escaped from prison, unrepentant. Not a man to be cherished.

 

[TheSeeker]

I don't think it matters who actually wielded the blow, all the train robbers are responsible for injuries Jack Mills received.

Fair point.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

I doubt many will morn his passing, he and his fellow criminals actions directly lead to that poor drivers subsequent early passing while he lived off said notoriety, plus i have always been disgusted by how some of them were made into celebrity criminals.

 

[StarMan]

The part of the article that stands for me is this:

Britain's Telegraph newspaper, in its obituary, makes the point that while Biggs won notoriety for the heist and his subsequent life on the run, "people tended to forget that he had seriously wounded the train-driver, Jack Mills, who died six years later having never recovered his health."

So, yeah, not really caring that the dick finally died. Too bad the innocent train-driver didn't live to 84.

My sentiments as well.

 

[Starkers]

Yup, convicted criminal who spent years on the run living it up aboard, until he got ill and decided it was time to return to the UK and sponge off the NHS.

Amazing timing given the BBC showed the first part of a drama about the robbery last night!

 

[Pingfah]

Whilst it is said for his family, lets put it into context he was invovled in a violent robbery, spend most of his life on the run. Didn't serve his full prison sentance for his part in the robbery.

So Is it really right we are having a thread about the passing of a common criminal?

Common criminal or not, he is a well known figure, and for good reason. So his passing is bound to generate discussion.

I fully agree though that the hero worship he inspires is in incredibly poor taste. He was a cowardly thug. Nobody involved with the crime should be celebrated at all. Apparently Phil Collins didn't get that message.

 

[JarodRussell]

Given how many films, games, novels and TV shows are out there that celebrate criminals who get away with it, I'm not surprised at all. Whatever money he has left, shouldn't it go to the family of the man they killed?

 

[Haggis and tatties]

Whilst it is said for his family, lets put it into context he was invovled in a violent robbery, spend most of his life on the run. Didn't serve his full prison sentance for his part in the robbery.

So Is it really right we are having a thread about the passing of a common criminal?

Common criminal or not, he is a well known figure, and for good reason. So his passing is bound to generate discussion.

I fully agree though that the hero worship he inspires is in incredibly poor taste. He was a cowardly thug. Nobody involved with the crime should be celebrated at all. Apparently Phil Collins didn't get that message.

Don't even start me on that movie, they tried to portray them all as something out of a old 1950s eailing comedy.

 

[bbailey861]

My heart goes out to the family of Jack Mills, who have suffered the most and now relive it all over again because of the announced death of this criminal.

 

[Scout101]

I fully agree though that the hero worship he inspires is in incredibly poor taste. He was a cowardly thug. Nobody involved with the crime should be celebrated at all. Apparently Phil Collins didn't get that message.

No different than Bonnie and Clyde, Jesse James, DB Cooper, any random pirate, take your pick. We've always had a bit of a thing for romanticising the criminal/outlaw types. Especially when they get away with it (at least at first). Nothing new or special here.

 

[JarodRussell]

I fully agree though that the hero worship he inspires is in incredibly poor taste. He was a cowardly thug. Nobody involved with the crime should be celebrated at all. Apparently Phil Collins didn't get that message.

No different than Bonnie and Clyde, Jesse James, DB Cooper, any random pirate, take your pick. We've always had a bit of a thing for romanticising the criminal/outlaw types. Especially when they get away with it (at least at first). Nothing new or special here.

I personally cheered inside watching the film when Bonnie and Clyde met their fate.

 

[bbailey861]

I fully agree though that the hero worship he inspires is in incredibly poor taste. He was a cowardly thug. Nobody involved with the crime should be celebrated at all. Apparently Phil Collins didn't get that message.

No different than Bonnie and Clyde, Jesse James, DB Cooper, any random pirate, take your pick. We've always had a bit of a thing for romanticising the criminal/outlaw types. Especially when they get away with it (at least at first). Nothing new or special here.

I personally cheered inside watching the film when Bonnie and Clyde met their fate.

I didn't keep it inside. I was very happy to see them shot to hell. Incidentally, the day they met their fate, 23 May 34 was the day my Dad was born.

 

[Miss Chicken]

Given how many films, games, novels and TV shows are out there that celebrate criminals who get away with it, I'm not surprised at all. Whatever money he has left, shouldn't it go to the family of the man they killed?

They didn't kill Jack Mills, they severely injured him and he never fully recovered. He was never able to drive trains again, he did return to light duties for a while but couldn't cope with even that and had to retire. He died of leukaemia 7 years after the train robbery at the age of 64, his family said he had no will to fight the disease. It would seem that he either suffered from post traumatic stress or a brain injury, or both.

 

[doubleohfive]

Whilst it is said for his family, lets put it into context he was invovled in a violent robbery, spend most of his life on the run. Didn't serve his full prison sentance for his part in the robbery.

So Is it really right we are having a thread about the passing of a common criminal?

Common criminal or not, he is a well known figure, and for good reason. So his passing is bound to generate discussion.

I fully agree though that the hero worship he inspires is in incredibly poor taste. He was a cowardly thug. Nobody involved with the crime should be celebrated at all. Apparently Phil Collins didn't get that message.

Agreed entirely.

 

[BillJ]

I hope dude is enjoying some beach front property on the Lake of Fire right about now.