socks 32,253 Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 There are a fair few lads on this site from in and around London and I am sure some of you or your parents grew up in around these fellas ..... My question is this were the likes of Lenny McLean Roy shaw etc real bad boys or have books telly and the media in general hyped them up and made them out to be villains when infact they were just hard blokes that you respected and crossed at your peril ...... We all know about the Krays and the richardsons etc but I would be interested to hear about the less infamous people ......... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
C Hall 552 Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 I never really understood why gangsters such as krays, Richardsons, Mafia members etc etc are so glorified. The krays pimped boys to MP's! that makes them no better than Jimmy Savile in my book. I read Lenny Mcleans book which I enjoyed he didnt come across to me as a gangster just a respected fighter, from what little Ive read and watched on tv about Roy Shaw he comes across as insane. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
walshie 2,804 Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 I don't think anyone from "our world" could comment. They didn't mix with "civilians". Everyone seems to know someone who knew someone who knew the Krays, etc. Closest I've ever got to anyone ike that is John McVicar who used to drink in our local and he seemed perfecty normal. Roy Shaw was insane hence spending a long time in Broadmoor. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fireman 10,932 Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Maybe re read that book mate,he admits to paying lads to smash up pubs so he can "protect them" ,hard men who'd shite down my neck i'm sure but respect is a honour earned and not demanded due to fear imo. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Frann 882 Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 I enjoyed Frankie Frasers book, Mad Frank. I heard him on Talk Radio (before it became a sports station)and he sounded like everyones fave granddad Quote Link to post Share on other sites
C Hall 552 Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Slightly off topic but in the film, Mcvicar did not seem to want to mix with the kray that he was in Durham prison with. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marshman 7,758 Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 The only contact I had with Lenny McLean was when I was young and going to a few clubs. He had a reputation as a bit of a liberty taker with hitting young uns In Saying that though he didn't care who you were big small young or old If you wanted it , he would accommodate If you were told to drink up you drunk up quick otherwise you were on your arse! In the end if we knew he was on the door we went somewhere else . There's was always a bad atmosphere in a place when he was there. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
C Hall 552 Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Maybe re read that book mate,he admits to paying lads to smash up pubs so he can "protect them" ,hard men who'd shite down my neck i'm sure but respect is a honour earned and not demanded due to fear imo. It is a long time since Ive read the book your probably right Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fireman 10,932 Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 The only contact I had with Lenny McLean was when I was young and going to a few clubs. He had a reputation as a bit of a liberty taker with hitting young uns In Saying that though he didn't care who you were big small young or old If you wanted it , he would accommodate If you were told to drink up you drunk up quick otherwise you were on your arse! In the end if we knew he was on the door we went somewhere else . There's was always a bad atmosphere in a place when he was there. If he's was playing that game in this day and age i'd have a bet some teenage gang banger would put a cap in his arse 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
davis8008 65 Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 theres a series of books called hard b*******s written by kate kray, there about the only books iv read from start to finish (other than books about field sports) she goes round interviewing people from the under world some gangsters and others just hard c**ts like Glenn ross worth a read if you haven't already Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marshman 7,758 Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 @fireman. I think a few tried mate back in the day mate but they never seemed to succeed lol. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The one 8,485 Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 A different age makes for good reading now thats about it 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post WILF 47,324 Posted March 26, 2013 Popular Post Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Theres nothing glamorous at all about villany, the perception of "glamour" comes from films and tv. The reality is plenty of time looking over your shoulder, plenty of time behind the door with a load of shit bags, mixing with the dregs of society to a greater or lesser ecstent, getting your home turned over at any time of the day or night while your wife and kids are in the house by a load of cozzas who are sadistic b*****ds All this "only hurt their own" is nonsense, violence will be done to whoever is in line for it without distinction Its a "bully" mentality, as the most villiany carries the unspoken threat of violence in some form. Frank Fraser is a prick!......he is the type that always talked big about dead men but didnt have the bollocks to say things when they were alive He was part of a gang in the 60s that threw their weight about like most gangs do until thet got ironed out in a little club in Catford by a few lads who were not intimidated.......he has made a living off that ever since. As for throwing young lads out of clubs, well from what I have seen there are a couple of ways of going about it, I have seen experienced door staff do firm but fair, proffesional extractions and I have also seen half a dozen 17 stone men round a 10 stone lad kicking him to a pulp Some people just went down the road of villiany due to circumstances and others choose it out of some misplaced idea that its "glamorous".........as I said, there aint much glamour shitting in a bucket for 20 years with a smakhead sharing the bunk!! Men earn "Respect" by being nice men and conducting themselves right, the rest, well most people dont give a monkeys if they live or die Better to be skint and working your mundane job, just getting by and having time to enjoy your family, your friends and your life. Not for me a life of crime I am afraid, money cant buy the fact that I get to take my kids to school every morning 33 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
socks 32,253 Posted March 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Wilf I was in no way trying portray these types as glamorous or what they did as cool or whatever ... I just wondered if anybody on here or their parents had mixed with these guys and were are the tv programmes and books true to life or as most things hyper sensationalised and actually they were down to earth normal blokes ............ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WILF 47,324 Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 (edited) Wilf I was in no way trying portray these types as glamorous or what they did as cool or whatever ... I just wondered if anybody on here or their parents had mixed with these guys and were are the tv programmes and books true to life or as most things hyper sensationalised and actually they were down to earth normal blokes ............ Like anything mate, probably like yourself.......a good percentage of normal blokes who go to go to work, change hats and become abnormal because they are having to function in abnormal circumstances and a percentage of out and out shit c**ts You seem like a decent normal bloke Socks, but when you went to "work" you had to become something else Only difference being, when you came home, you didnt have to worry about the knock at the door or you or your familys personal safety Edited March 26, 2013 by WILF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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