A writer and researcher who tapped into some of the Kray twins’ darkest secrets could be among buyers at today’s “bizarre” sale of memorabilia in Leominster dating back to their infamous reign of fear and corruption in 1960s gangland London.
It’s believed Kate Kray, who was once married to paranoid schizophrenic Ronnie Kray, will be at Easters Court on the outskirts of Leominster where a collection of letters, poems, paintings and photographs once owned by the Krays are due to go under the hammer.
Handling the sale, Brightwells have already received considerable interest, though they admit that this auction is a “difficult one” to predict.
A fascination for Kray memorabilia is apparent from other sales in the UK, though the Leominster auction is unique.
This remarkable collection reflects the sad story surrounding Brad Lane, a young Doncaster man who developed an enduring friendship with the Krays while still at school.
He was said to have become obsessed with Reggie when his own father deserted the family home in the 1980s and was to become his most frequent visitor in jail.
Brad even changed his surname to Kray and Reggie signed a legal document declaring him to be his adopted son.
Brad also visited Ronnie until his death in Broadmoor in 1995, and maintained his friendship with Reggie who died five years later.
Over the years Brad amassed a remarkable collection of gifts from the twins.
But after his own tragic death in recent years, his family decided to sell what has been described as a “bizarre and fascinating” selection of personal effects once owned by the Krays, including a gold crucifix and a Cartier watch worn by Reggie in jail.
There are a number of dedicated photographs, showing the twins as young boxers and Reg with his wife Frances, and items such as a membership card for the Double RR Club, a notorious 1960s drinking den and a criminal court pass permitting their father, Charles Kray to attend the trial.
Auctioneer Toby Service told the Journal that members of Brad’s family were unlikely to travel down to Leominster as it would be “too upsetting” for them but he believed that 53-year-old Kate Kray could be coming to the sale.
Though the author of Natural Born Killers, a book probing the minds of Britain’s most wanted criminals, and Hard Bastards, a profile of 24 of the country’s toughest men, was eventually divorced, Kate Kray remained friends with Ronnie until his death.
In the past she has been quoted as saying that he was “just a nice person” and that she hadn’t married him for money or for the name.
Mr Service said that a considerable amount of interest had been shown.
“We’ve had lots of enquiries and hits on the website and there will be a fair number of phone bids,” he explained.
“It has aroused a fair bit of interest, thought it is a difficult one to predict.”
- The sale begins at 2pm at Easters Court.
