Of which 1960's South London gang was 'Mad Frankie' Fraser a notorious member?
"investigation against the Krays, Detective Superintendent Leonard ""Nipper"" Read. However, the Piranhas' described methods seem to resemble more closely those used by the rival Richardson Gang and their associate ""Mad"" Frankie Fraser. The bizarre creature ""Spiny Norman"" is possibly a subtle reference to the notorious former head of the London Drug Squad, Detective Sergeant Norman Pilcher. The sketch is introduced by a piece of music (the Intermezzo from Sibelius's Karelia Suite) which was used for many years, until 1992, to introduce the Thames Television (and previously Associated-Rediffusion and Rediffusion London) current affairs series ""This Week."" A slightly re-worked version of"
"Frankie Fraser Frank Davidson ""Frankie"" Fraser, (13 December 1923 – 26 November 2014), better known as ""Mad"" Frankie Fraser, was an English gangster who spent 42 years in prison for numerous violent offences. Frankie Fraser was born on Cornwall Road in Waterloo, London. His mother was of Irish and Norwegian ancestry, while his father was half Native-American. Fraser was the youngest of five children and grew up in poverty. At the age of five, he moved with his family to a flat on Walworth Road, Elephant and Castle. Although his parents were not criminals, Fraser turned to crime aged 10"
"three years of his life. In June 2013, the 89-year-old Fraser was served with an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) by police after a row with another resident. On 21 November 2014, he fell critically ill during leg surgery at King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill and was placed into an induced coma. On 26 November, Fraser died after his family made the decision to turn off his life-support machine. Frankie Fraser Frank Davidson ""Frankie"" Fraser, (13 December 1923 – 26 November 2014), better known as ""Mad"" Frankie Fraser, was an English gangster who spent 42 years in prison for numerous violent"
"London in a one-man show, ""An Evening with Mad Frankie Fraser"" (directed by Patrick Newley), which subsequently toured the UK. Fraser also appeared as East End crime boss Pops Den in the feature film ""Hard Men"", a forerunner of British gangster movies such as ""Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels"", and had a documentary made of his life, ""Mad Frank"", which was released as part ""The Ultimate Gangster DVD"" (2003 Gangster Videos), which featured crime figures Charles Bronson, John McVicar, Paddy Joe Hill, Albert Reading, Dave Courtney, Roy Shaw, Norman Parker, Marilyn Wisbey and axe victim Eric Mason. This programme"
"(who introduced Fraser to satirist Terry Southern), William Burroughs and Kenneth Anger. Because of this, he was given the nickname ""Groovy Bob"" by the writer Terry Southern. He is also thought to be an inspiration for the character ""Dr. Robert"" in the song of the same name on The Beatles album ""Revolver"". His flat at 23 Mount Street, on the third floor above Scott's restaurant, was described by Barry Miles as one of the ""coolest sixties pads in London"". Fraser sponsored the 1966 exhibition by Yoko Ono at the Indica Gallery run by Barry Miles and John Dunbar, where she"
"Spirit UK Tour in May 2017 to celebrate the music of Free by performing songs strictly from the Free catalogue. Free (band) Free were an English rock band formed in London in 1968, best known for their 1970 signature song ""All Right Now"". They disbanded in 1973 and lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become a frontman of the band Bad Company along with Simon Kirke on drums. Lead guitarist Paul Kossoff formed Back Street Crawler in 1975, but died from a pulmonary embolism at the age of 25 in 1976. Bassist Andy Fraser formed Sharks. The band became"
"was also shown on the Crime & Investigation and Biography channels in the UK and was directed by Liam Galvin. London-based production company Classic Media Entertainment has secured the film rights to Mad Frankie's life. A feature film production is currently in development with Fraser's endorsement. Fraser gave gangland tours around London, where he highlighted infamous criminal locations such as the Blind Beggar pub. In 1991, Fraser was shot in the head from close range in an apparent murder attempt outside the Turnmills Club in Clerkenwell, London. Part of his mouth was shot away in the incident. He refused to"
"elder Nicholas Fraser, who went on to a very successful career in the City, and the younger, Robert Fraser. As an adult, Robert became known as ""Groovy Bob"" because he was so well-connected to the leading figures in Swinging London in the 1960s. Their daughter, Janet, along with her fiancé, Richard Proby, was killed in a car accident on 14 March 1960. Fraser was a devout Christian Scientist. He died on 2 January 1965 of bronchial pneumonia and cancer at his home, 30 Charles Street, London. His memorial service was held on 19 January 1965 at the Church of St"
"The Richardson Gang The Richardson gang was an English crime gang based in South London, England, in the 1960s. Also known as the ""Torture Gang"", they had a reputation as some of London's most sadistic gangsters. Their alleged specialities included pulling teeth out using pliers, cutting off toes using bolt cutters and nailing victims to the floor using 6-inch nails. Charles ""Charlie"" William Richardson (18 January 1934 – 19 September 2012) was born in Brentford, West London to Eileen Elizabeth Mary (née Allen) and Charles Frederick Richardson, who had married the previous year in Camberwell, South London. The family soon"
"Free (band) Free were an English rock band formed in London in 1968, best known for their 1970 signature song ""All Right Now"". They disbanded in 1973 and lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become a frontman of the band Bad Company along with Simon Kirke on drums. Lead guitarist Paul Kossoff formed Back Street Crawler in 1975, but died from a pulmonary embolism at the age of 25 in 1976. Bassist Andy Fraser formed Sharks. The band became famed for their sensational live shows and nonstop touring. However, early studio albums did not sell very well until the"
"Robert Fraser (art dealer) Robert Fraser (13 August 1937 – 27 January 1986) was a noted London art dealer of the 1960s and beyond. ""Groovy Bob"" was a pivotal figure in the London cultural scene of the mid to late sixties, and was close to members of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. In February 2015, Pace London presented ""A Strong Sweet Smell of Incense, A Portrait of Robert Fraser"", an exhibition that took as inspiration the character and career of Robert Fraser. Robert Fraser was born on 13 August 1937, the son of the banker Sir Lionel Fraser, who"
"His criminal career began at age 13 with theft. During the Second World War his crimes escalated, including shopbreaking and desertion. He was a known associate of gangster Billy Hill throughout the 1950s. After joining the Richardsons, he served as their enforcer. Reportedly, Fraser's favourite brand of punishment was extracting teeth with pliers. Over his long criminal career, Fraser spent 40–42 years in prison. He died in 2014 of natural causes. Notable characters in the gang included the hitman Jimmy Moody, Roy Hall (who operated the electric generator), Bartholomew (Barry) Harris (who was the getaway driver for the gang), Albert"
"The Crazy Gang The Crazy Gang were a group of British entertainers, formed in the early 1930s. In the mature form the group's six men were Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen, Jimmy Nervo, Teddy Knox, Charlie Naughton and Jimmy Gold. The group achieved considerable domestic popularity and were a favourite of the Royal Family, especially King George VI. Although George Black is often credited with the formation of the Crazy Gang, the start was more complicated. In 1931 three double acts (Nervo and Knox, Naughton and Gold and Billy Caryll and Hilda Mundy) were tentatively booked at the London Palladium. This"
"performed at the Chichester Festival Theatre and later at the West End's Prince of Wales Theatre. Notes Bibliography The Crazy Gang The Crazy Gang were a group of British entertainers, formed in the early 1930s. In the mature form the group's six men were Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen, Jimmy Nervo, Teddy Knox, Charlie Naughton and Jimmy Gold. The group achieved considerable domestic popularity and were a favourite of the Royal Family, especially King George VI. Although George Black is often credited with the formation of the Crazy Gang, the start was more complicated. In 1931 three double acts (Nervo and"
"gang members would frequently occur. During the 1870s, the gang would include some of the most notorious gangsters of the era, including Red Rocks Farrell, Clops Connolly, ""Big"" Josh Hines, Hoggy Walsh, Piker Ryan, Dorsey Doyle, Bull Hurley, Fig McGerald, and Googy Corcoran. Many of the gangsters were among the first to use present day methods that would later be adopted by rival gangs, and eventually organized crime organizations in the early twentieth century. One notable example is Josh Hines, often seen wearing a pair of pistols, who would regularly arrive at illegal gambling dens and faro games demanding a"
"Kleptomania. He moved to Carnaby Street in 1967 and went on to make fame in the King's Road, Chelsea, with his Mr Freedom shop. By the 1960s, Carnaby Street was popular with followers of the mod and hippie styles. Many independent fashion boutiques such as Ariella, and designers such as Mary Quant, Marion Foale and Sally Tuffin, Lord John, Merc, Take Six, and Irvine Sellars had premises in the street and various underground music bars such as the Roaring Twenties opened in the surrounding streets. Bands such as the Small Faces, The Who, and The Rolling Stones appeared in the"
"Dave Courtney David John Courtney (born 17 February 1959) is an English self-proclaimed former gangster who has become both an author and celebrity. Author Bernard O'Mahoney and Frankie Fraser (the former member of the Richardson gang) have accused Courtney of embellishing and fabricating his criminal record and position in the underworld; however, Courtney has denied overstating his past. Courtney was born in Bermondsey, London to Teresa (née Dargan) and Patrick W J Courtney, who married in 1954 in Camberwell. Courtney often focuses on his links with gangsters such as Reggie Kray and Lenny McLean, although in the case of the"
"Longman, Grandad Findley (South London Enforcer for the gang), Alan Rigby, Frank Bailey, Harry Banks, Tommy Clark, Tommy Quinlan, James Kemmery and Mick O'Brien Charlie invested in scrap metal, whilst Eddie set up a company selling fruit machines. These businesses were fronts for underworld activities which included fraud, racketeering, usury, theft and stolen goods. Eddie would on occasion ""suggest"" that a pub landlord should buy one of his slot devices; failure to do so meant running the risk of being beaten and the pub vandalised. Charlie was at one point arrested for receiving stolen goods, but was acquitted through lack"
"originally formed by Patsy Conroy, an experienced river pirate who had previously ""operated with great success"" along the old Fourth Ward water front, and relocated his gang to the Corlears' Hook district in the early 1870s. Once establishing himself in the area, Conroy began recruiting many of infamous waterfront thieves and criminals including Socco the Bracer, Scotchy Lavelle, Johnny Dobbs, Kid Shanahan, Pugsey Hurley, Wreck Donovan, Tom The Mick, Beeny Kane, Piggy Noles, Billy Woods, Bum Mahoney, Denny Brady and Larry Griffin. Brady and Griffin would later become joint leaders of the gang. Its headquarters was located at a basement"
"in the city's underworld declined. The battle almost spread to politics when Dimes tried to use National Labour Party members against rivals Bud Flanagan and Spot, Jewish gangsters involved in funding the 43 Group. In 1966, Dimes helped to arrange a conference between New York mafiosi and the Corsican Francisci brothers, apparently regarding investing in London casinos. An associate of Charlie Richardson, his presence in Soho delayed the Kray twins from moving into the area for several years. The character Johnny Bannion, played by Stanley Baker in the 1960 film ""The Criminal"", was reportedly claimed by director Joseph Losey to"
"the time was the largest cash robbery in the UK. For which he received nine years in prison. Foreman also admitted to the murders of Frank ""Mad Axeman"" Mitchell, and of Tommy ""Ginger"" Marks during the 1960s in his autobiography, ""Respect"", in revenge for the shooting of his brother who had been shot in the legs. He had been acquitted of these murders at an Old Bailey trial in the 1960s. He is the father of actor Jamie Foreman and two other children. Freddie Foreman Freddie Foreman (born 5 March 1932 in South London) is a convicted English gangster. He"
"62 Group The 62 Group was a militant broad-based coalition of anti-fascists in London. Based on the earlier 43 Group, it was set up in 1962 largely in response to the resurgence of fascism in Britain at the time, and particularly the creation of Colin Jordan's Nationalist Socialist Movement. It used violence against the remnants of Oswald Mosley's Union Movement, the original British National Party, and the emerging National Front, as well as the NSM. The Group was led by Harry Bidney, a Soho night club manager and managed day-to-day by hardman enforcer, Paul Nathan who was known for his"
"Kray twins Ronald ""Ronnie"" Kray (24 October 193317 March 1995) and Reginald ""Reggie"" Kray (24 October 19331 October 2000), identical twin brothers, were English criminals, the foremost perpetrators of organised crime in the East End of London during the 1950s and 1960s. With their gang, known as ""The Firm"", the Krays were involved in murder, armed robbery, arson, protection rackets and assaults. As West End nightclub owners, the Krays mixed with politicians and prominent entertainers such as Diana Dors, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland. In the 1960s, they became celebrities, being photographed by David Bailey and interviewed on television. The"
"during 1925 and 1926, Dwyer's former partners were split among Owney ""The Killer"" Madden, the English-born former leader of the Gopher Gang, and Frank Costello against Jack ""Legs"" Diamond, ""Little"" Augie Pisano, Charles ""Vannie"" Higgins and renegade mobster Vincent ""Mad Dog"" Coll. The Westies are an Irish American gang hailing from Hell's Kitchen on the West Side of Manhattan. The most prominent members have included Mickey Spillane, Eddie McGrath, James Coonan, Mickey Featherstone, James McElroy, and Edward Cummiskey. In the Irish/Italian Mob War of the 1970s, the Irish mob saw an increased threat from the Italian Mafia as the Genovese"
"West End Gang The West End Gang is one of Canada's most influential organized crime groups. Active since the early 1900s and still active today, their rise to notoriety did not begin until the 1960s when they were known simply as the ""Irish gang"". Their criminal activities were focused on, but not restricted to, the west side of Montreal, Quebec. Most of the gang's earnings in the early days were derived from truck hijackings, home invasions, kidnapping, protection racket, drug trafficking, extortion and armed robbery. In the 1960s, West End Gang hitman Richard Blass was involved in minor fights with"
"Frank T. Caruso Frank T. ""Skids"" Caruso (December 26, 1911 – December 31, 1983) was a Chicago mobster involved in illegal gambling and racketeering activities for the Chicago Outfit criminal organization during the 1950s. Originally from Chicago's Near North Side (known as ""The Patch""), his relatives include brothers Joseph (Joe Shoes), Leo and Bruno Caruso, including his brother-in-law First Ward alderman Fred Roti, and son Frank (Little Frankie) Caruso Jr. . As a youth, Caruso ran with the infamous Forty-Two Gang, which included future gangsters such as Sam ""Momo"" Giancana. Starting in 1935, Caruso amassed a criminal record of at"
"a criminal element within Manchester United's football hooligan gang, which was known as the Inter City Jibbers, and carried out armed robberies together in Holland. The photos page within the book includes a picture that claims to show a Quality Street Gang member at the wedding of Inter City Jibbers member John 'The Grid' McKee, who Blaney alleges was also heavily involved in the Dutch underworld, substantiating the link between the two groups. In 1986, John Stalker, Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, was suspended over accusations that, among other things, he had attended social events at which members"
"Gopher Gang The Gopher Gang was an early 20th-century New York street gang known for its members including Goo Goo Knox, James ""Biff"" Ellison, and Owney Madden. Based in the Irish neighborhood of Hell's Kitchen, the Gopher Gang grew to control most of Manhattan with their territory covering Fourth to Forty-Second Street and Seventh to Eleventh Avenue. The Gopher Gang formed from various local street gangs in the 1890s, numbering around 500 members, into what later became a committee including Marty Brennan, Stumpy Malarkey, and Newburg Gallegher. The committee met semi-regularly at their headquarters known as Battle Row, a saloon"
"eastern Broadway, bordering Paul Kelly's Five Points Gang to the north. While the gang dominated the West Side, it constantly battled smaller rival gangs including the Fashion Plates, the Pearl Buttons, and the Marginals for control of the Hudson River docks throughout the 1900s. Eventually, it drove the rival gangs out through sheer force of numbers, with over 200 members, not including the Gophers, who numbered several hundred more, controlling the waterfront by 1910. The gang, now a dominant force in New York, included the likes of Charles ""Red"" Farrell, Mike Costello, ""Rubber"" Shaw, Rickey Harrison, and ""Honey"" Stewart. The"
"business in 1969. Peter von Frantzius Peter von Frantzius (sometimes Frantizius) (died April 6, 1968) was a Chicago businessman and arms dealer to the Chicago underworld during Prohibition, later dubbed by the press as """"The Armorer of Gangland"""". An almost exclusive supplier of the Chicago Outfit (although often selling to rival gangs such as the North Side Mob), he was one of the first to supply ""Tommy"" submachine guns and other specialized weaponry connected to countless gangland slayings during the bootleg wars of the 1920s, including the murder of Brooklyn mobster Frankie Yale in 1928, the St. Valentine's Day Massacre"
"with a group of young loyalist friends, who ""got involved initially in petty then increasingly violent crime"". Members included Donald Hodgen, Sam ""Skelly"" McCrory, ""Fat"" Jackie Thompson, James and Herbie Millar. Adair, Hodgen, McCrory and Thompson were classmates at the Somerdale School on the Crumlin Road. Although the gang still officially attended school, they would frequently play truant, take a bus into the countryside and consume large quantities of cider. The gang regularly congregated outside the Buffs Club on the corner of the Crumlin Road and Century Street, where their numbers were swollen by other young men from in and"
"Party, in power from October 1964, but with a wafer-thin majority in the House of Commons and the prospect of another General Election needing to be called in the very near future, did not want Driberg's connections to Ronnie Kray (and his sexual predilections) to get into the public realm. Ronnie Kray shot and killed George Cornell, a member of the Richardsons (a rival South London gang), at the Blind Beggar pub in Whitechapel on 9 March 1966. The day before, there had been a shoot-out at ""Mr. Smith's"", a nightclub in Catford, involving the Richardson gang and Richard Hart,"
"who were auditioned there and taken on for a while included singers Elkie Brooks and Anita Harris, amid many whose fame was lesser or fleeting. The address of the Astor, off Berkeley Square, Mayfair, reinforced its ""respectable"" credentials, despite the fact that gangland not infrequently came to clubland, as when the psychopathic gangster, Frankie Fraser, buried a hatchet in the skull of one Eric Mason, an associate of the Krays, outside the club (Mason was later dumped, ""barely alive"", outside Whitechapel Hospital in East London). However wealthy and respectable were many of the Astor's patrons and despite the royal visits,"