Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Krays gangster to talk on how the Bible turned his life around
A former mobster, jailed for his part in a brutal killing by the Kray twins, is visiting Canterbury to explain how he turned his life around after discovering God.
Chris Lambrianou, 79, was part of The Firm, the infamous East End gang led by Reggie and Ronnie Kray.
He and his brother Tony were tasked with luring Jack ‘The Hat’ Mcvitie to the flat in which he was killed by Reggie Kray and was involved in the disposal of his body. Kray was subsequently jailed for the killing along with his criminal gang.
After being sentenced in 1968 to life for his role in the crime, Mr Lambrianou was released in 1983 and began a new life as a born-again Christian.
And he will deliver a talk at St John’s Primary School on Saturday, February 3, to discuss his journey from brutality to redemption.
From the Krays to Christ, which starts at 7pm, has been organised in collaboration with Emmanuel Church.
Speaking to the Gazette, Mr Lambrianou said: “In those days finding work was impossible. You either became a footballer, a boxer or a criminal. I got into the crime world.”
During his youth, he found himself in and out of young offenders’ institutions before his involvement with the Krays. And it was while in jail he was handed a copy of the Bible by a prisoner due to be released. He said: “Even though I had come from a strict Catholic background, I had never read much of the Bible before. I only ever used it for rolling cigarettes out of the pages.
“I took a day at a time. I read, I educated myself, I digested all that others had to teach me.
“While inside, I looked in the mirror one day and saw pure evil. I saw the tragedy of everything I had ever done to hurt the people closest to me. I wanted to change.”
He started going to church when in prison and continued when he was released.
He said: “I started to realise how strong my inner faith was. I wanted to get out there and tell people about my story.
“I’d like people who come along to take two things away from the talk. Firstly, never judge anybody. Everyone has a history and there are reasons why people fall into certain situations. And secondly, never get tempted by crime. It really doesn’t pay.”
Minister Richard Hagan of Emmanuel Church says of the talk: “Everyone’s nervously excited. Chris has got an incredible story to tell.
“We’re not looking to glamorise criminality at all. It’s Mr Lambrianou’s story of salvation that we believe many people will find inspiring. I have been wondering if we need bouncers at the event. I know the Krays had Kent connections.”
Admission to the talk is free. Guests can enter via St Radigund’s car park.
For further information, visit www. emmanuelcanterbury.org.uk.