A Roller, Ronnie Biggs and me
Hi folks, it’s my birthday today. I know at my age I should be past celebrating (except if I make the century?) but birthdays are also a signpost along the way. With my allotted three score years and 10 well behind me I can be thankful for every bonus year.
I have been thinking lately on how to make this column a tad more upbeat and add a bit of oomph and zest to my rambling memories.
The first thing I came up with was birthdays – yep, I have them on my mind.
Recently I bought this marvellous book (because I have strong Jewish and Scottish genes I waited till it was on sale) that records notable events and famous birthdays. It has 366 pages, one for each day of the year, including leap year.
Naturally the first page I looked at was March 27. It was a bit disappointing though as it does not appear to be a very notable date in history.
The only birthday of note was Sir Henry Royce, co-founder of Rolls-royce motor industry. He was born in 1863.
I am afraid a Rolls Royce car is way beyond my reach. However, I wouldn’t say no to a ride in a vintage model.
One piece of news for March 27 which caught my attention was the sentencing of those involved in Britain’s great train robbery in 1964. It was a complicated robbery involving 17 people who were meted out a collective total of 307 years imprisonment.
Most of us are familiar with the colourful career of Ronald Biggs who played only a minor role in the robbery, but was sentenced to 30 years.
After almost two years as a prisoner he escaped by scaling the wall with a rope ladder and dropping on to a waiting removal van. With his wife and two sons he fled to Europe via boat and acquired new identity papers and underwent plastic surgery.
He lived in Australia for a while and then as a fugitive in South America for 36 years.
Because he could not be extradited from South America he spent most of the time in publicity stunts which kept him to the forefront of the public eye and enabled him to eke out a living.
Wherever Ronnie went his charismatic personality always attracted loyal friends.
However, in 2001, tired of being a wanted man, he voluntarily returned to Britain and spent several years in prison before his health declined.
Eight years later, after many applications to the parole board by his son, he was freed on compassionate grounds.
His freedom came in 2009 a day before his 80th birthday.
After being freed, Biggs’ health improved. Typical of his optimistic nature he said: ‘‘I’ve got a bit of living to do yet.
‘‘I might even surprise them all by lasting until Christmas, which would be fantastic.’’ I wonder is he still alive? Even after my brush with the law I have a sneaking admiration for Ronnie Biggs.
To contact the Old Chook, email editor@timaruherald.co.nz and put ‘‘Chook’’ in the subject line.