edgt
Senior Jockey
The Robbery of the Century is 60 yrs old this August.
My fascination with this event came from a primary school teacher telling us of the event and how the thieves played monopoly with real money.
That fact alone stirred my young imagination.
Anyways from reading various books and articles the horse racing connections have caught my adult imagination as much as the monopoly my child's.
Apparently Roger Cowdrey (flower pot man) was a punter and racing fanatic.
HIs son Chris was apprenticed to Arthur Budget at Whatcombe
While viewing the trainline for a suitable site with Bruce Reynolds he informed Bruce that Reynoldstown won the Grand National in 1935 and 36 while the 1937 winner was Royal Mail.
Given the "tickle " they had in mind these facts tickled Bruce.
Ronnie Biggs had tried touching Bruce for £500 to start a building business, before supplying a train driver to move the train from Sears Crossing to Bridego Bridge.
Monday before the robbery Ronnie's ew double bet yielded £600, so he had the money he needed but stayed involved in the robbery anyways.
While on remand Ronnie had an escape plan involving doping the guards on duty with horse tranquiliser, which Roger's connections could source; this plan was scuppered by innocent but arrested Bill Boal alerting the prison officers.
Charlie Wilson , on his release from jail got involved in drug importation with a Columbian cabal and also ( allegedly) one Brian Wright , " Uncle " to a generation of jump jockeys including "needle man" Dermot Browne.
Finally solicitor's clerk Brian Field, who introduced the gang to someone in the know re Travelling Post Office High Value Packages , was in late 1970s along with his family killed in a motorway accident .
The offending car was owned by a daughter of Pierre " Teasie Weasie " Raymond Bessone, celebrity hair dresser and owner of Ayala, Grand National winner in 1963, 4 months before the crime.
All were unfortunately killed.
Hopefully An Capall reads this and marks the event with the solemnity it deserves.
My fascination with this event came from a primary school teacher telling us of the event and how the thieves played monopoly with real money.
That fact alone stirred my young imagination.
Anyways from reading various books and articles the horse racing connections have caught my adult imagination as much as the monopoly my child's.
Apparently Roger Cowdrey (flower pot man) was a punter and racing fanatic.
HIs son Chris was apprenticed to Arthur Budget at Whatcombe
While viewing the trainline for a suitable site with Bruce Reynolds he informed Bruce that Reynoldstown won the Grand National in 1935 and 36 while the 1937 winner was Royal Mail.
Given the "tickle " they had in mind these facts tickled Bruce.
Ronnie Biggs had tried touching Bruce for £500 to start a building business, before supplying a train driver to move the train from Sears Crossing to Bridego Bridge.
Monday before the robbery Ronnie's ew double bet yielded £600, so he had the money he needed but stayed involved in the robbery anyways.
While on remand Ronnie had an escape plan involving doping the guards on duty with horse tranquiliser, which Roger's connections could source; this plan was scuppered by innocent but arrested Bill Boal alerting the prison officers.
Charlie Wilson , on his release from jail got involved in drug importation with a Columbian cabal and also ( allegedly) one Brian Wright , " Uncle " to a generation of jump jockeys including "needle man" Dermot Browne.
Finally solicitor's clerk Brian Field, who introduced the gang to someone in the know re Travelling Post Office High Value Packages , was in late 1970s along with his family killed in a motorway accident .
The offending car was owned by a daughter of Pierre " Teasie Weasie " Raymond Bessone, celebrity hair dresser and owner of Ayala, Grand National winner in 1963, 4 months before the crime.
All were unfortunately killed.
Hopefully An Capall reads this and marks the event with the solemnity it deserves.
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