A new edition – the first in paperback – of Ronnie Biggs’ updated autobiography was published by John Blake Books / Bonnier Books UK on 6 July 2023.
As well as the paperback edition, “The Great Train Robber: My Autobiography” is also available for Kindle and, for the first time, as an audiobook which has been read by somebody who knew Ron all too well, Nick Reynolds, son of Bruce.
Nick has also recorded the audiobook version of his father’s book, “The Autobiography of a Thief.”
On 24 March 1981 the world discovered that Ronnie Biggs was still very much alive – even if a little unsteady on his feet – after he arrived by yacht in Barbados having disappeared from Rio de Janeiro on 16 March.
At the time many thought it was one of Biggs’ publicity stunts, now they would learn that he had in fact been kidnapped from a restaurant in Rio by a group of British mercenaries as he waited to meet a journalist. The group, and the fake journalsit, were never charged for his kidnapping despite the British authorities knowing who they were.
Having arrived in Barbados the expectation was that Biggs would be quickly extradited back to Britain and HMP Wandsworth. That was not to be the case, however, as a legal ruling in Barbados in April 1981 would see Biggs’ case dismissed and his return to Brazil rather than Britain.
Second time lucky for The Postal Museum in London that now hopes to re-open on 5 December 2020 and has announced that the special “The Great Train Robbery: Crime & The Post'” exhibit, that was due to end in April 2020, has now been extended through 3 January 2021. So if you have not had the chance to see it, there may still be some time for a visit is you hurry.
The museum gives visitors the chance to revisit The Great Train Robbery and unearth the role of the Post Office’s own investigation department in piecing together this and other crimes, shedding light on the human stories of the victims through never before seen artefacts, objects and personal accounts. This exhibition is included in your ticket to the museum.
For more information visit the museum’s web site CLICK HERE
If you are a train fan or interested in what the site of the Great Train Robbery looks like now from a driver’s point-of-view, here is a new video.
The part relelvant to the robbery starts at around 4 minutes. The video is part of a new series that offers an insight into the West Coast Main Line from the driver’s cab with commentary by Avanti West Coast train drivers.
In the video the train is travelling from London to Glasgow, so travelling in the opposite direction to the train involved in the train robbery, but the driver explains the scene as he covers the key parts of the track. You will notice the train passes a couple of trains coming in the other direction, those are on the track the Great Train Robbery train was using.