The Kray brothers are perhaps the world’s most notorious identical twins. Born on 24th October 1933 to Charles Kray and Violet Lee in the east end of London, Reginald was born at 8am and 10 minutes later, brother Ronald was born.

The brothers’ father was a wardrobe dealer and already had a 6 year old son, Charlie Jnr, when the boys were born. A sister was also born but died in infancy.

At the start of World War II, the boys’ father was called up to enlist in the army, but he deserted and spent 12 years on the run, rarely seeing his family.

The brothers’ grandfather introduced them to the world of amateur boxing which was a popular pursuit for children living in the working class area of the west end of London. The brothers reached the London schoolboy championships which Reggie won. They turned professional and Ronnie won 4 out of his 6 fights and Reggie won all of his 6 fights.

As the brothers grew older they became a part of the gang culture that was rampant in the area, both of them attracted trouble and would fight anyone with fists, knives or boots, they soon were regarded as the toughest gang in the area. They managed to stay out of the law’s way until they reached 17 when they first appeared in court, but all charges were dropped when the witnesses would not come forward.

In 1952 the brothers were called up for national service which was the compulsory 2 year military service required back in the UK at the time. The next 2 years of national service saw the brothers constantly either on the run from military police or serving time in the military jails. They were eventually dishonourably discharged and the brothers ventured out onto their first business venture. They got a loan from their older brother and opened up a pool hall. The pool hall soon became the front for the brothers’ illegal activities. They became a part of the underworld and were involved in illegal book making, scams and small time theft. Soon the brothers wanted more power and infiltrated their way to the top of the underworld where they and their gang became known as ‘The Firm’. They were making serious money and it was now that Ronnie’s homosexuality was no longer hidden and also the fist sign of his mental illness was to emerge.

In 1955 Ronnie was imprisoned for 3 years, and it was whilst that he was imprisoned that two things of note happened.

Reggie turned the brothers business around, he got out of the pool hall and opened up a drinking bar and club that became very fashionable and attracted celebrities to the venue. The business was legal and profitable, but it was also when Ronnie was first certified insane and schizophrenia was diagnosed.

Reggie seemed to like the crime free life but it was his brothers’ influence when he was released from jail that took him back into a violent and crime filled life. Ron was romantically linked with a prominent labour politician. A tabloid newspaper printed the story about the unnamed figures in the romantic liaison, and the politician successfully sued the paper and the editor was sacked, so from then on the media tended to leave the brothers’ criminal life out of the press, The police also seemed powerless as witnesses would not come forward for fear of reprisals and both political parities left them alone as prominent MPs for both parties had been romantically linked to Ron.

The brothers did commit several murders but only were ever charged with one each; their older brother Charlie spent 10 years in jail found guilty of accessory to murder.

The brothers were finally arrested for murder in 1968 by the Scotland Yard and were jailed for a non-parole period for 30 years. They were allowed day release for their mother’s funeral when she passed away in August 1982. Ronnie ended up spending his last years at a psychiatric hospital, and he died of a heart attack on 17th March 1995.

Reggie was released from jail on 26th August 2000; he had served over the recommended 30 years and was released on compassionate grounds due to the inoperable cancer that he was suffering with. He died in his sleep as a free man on 1st October 2000.