Ronald Biggs
| Ronnie Biggs | |
|---|---|
Buckingham Constabulary mug-shot, 1964
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| Born |
Ronald Arthur Biggs 8 August 1929 , Lambeth, London, England |
| Died | 18 December 2013 (aged 84) Barnet, London, England |
| Occupation | Thief, carpenter |
| Criminal charge | Robbery |
| Criminal penalty |
1947: robbery of a chemist shop, dishonorably discharged on charges of desertion 1950: stealing a car, prison 1955: failed robbery of a bookmaker, prison (HMP Wandsworth) 1963: Great train robbery. 30 years in prison, served 10 years: 1963–1965; 2001–2009 |
| Criminal status | Released on compassionate grounds |
| Spouse(s) | Charmian Powell (1960–1976, divorced) Raimunda de Castro (2002–2013, his death) |
| Children | Nicholas (deceased) Chris Farley Paul Michael |
| Motive | Financial gain/enjoyment |
Ronald Arthur "Ronnie" Biggs (8 August 1929 – 18 December 2013) was an English thief, known for his role in the Great Train Robbery of 1963, for his escape from prison in 1965, for living as a fugitive for 36 years and for his various publicity stunts while in exile. In 2001, he returned to the United Kingdom and spent several years in prison, where his health rapidly declined. Biggs was released from prison on compassionate grounds in August 2009 and died in a nursing home in December 2013.
Biggs was born in , Lambeth, London, on 8 August 1929. As a child during the Second World War, he was evacuated to Flitwick, Bedfordshire, and then Cornwall.
In 1947, at age 18, Biggs enlisted in the RAF. However, he was dishonorably discharged for desertion two years later, after breaking into a local chemist shop. One month after that, he was convicted of stealing a car and sentenced to prison. On his release, he took part in a failed robbery attempt of a bookmaker office in Lambeth, South London. During his incarceration in HMP Wandsworth, he met Bruce Reynolds.
This time after his release, Biggs tried to go straight and trained as a carpenter. In February 1960, he married 21-year-old Charmian (Brent) Powell in Swanage, the daughter of a primary school headmaster. They had three sons together.
Biggs, who needed money to fund a deposit on the purchase of a house for his family, happened to be working on the house of a train driver who was about to retire. The driver has been variously identified as "Stan Agate", or because of his age, "Old Pete" or "Pop". His real name is unknown, since he was never caught. However, he was the one that introduced Biggs to the train robbery plot. Reynolds gave Biggs the job of arranging for Agate to move the train after it had been waylaid.
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