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Now Biggs is well enough to go to a football match
Nigel Rosser and Felix Allen03.11.09
Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs won his freedom after doctors said he was so ill he had only weeks to live
But today the pensioner is feeling so much better he is planning a trip to see his beloved Arsenal play in the Premier League.
He has told friends he wants to watch a live game before he dies, following a slow but steady recovery from his life-threatening bout of pneumonia and MRSA.
Biggs, who was freed from prison on compassionate grounds by Justice Secretary Jack Straw in August, has begun putting on weight and has grown noticeably stronger in recent weeks, according to friends.
Confounding medical evidence that he was “unlikely” to recover from the pneumonia he picked up in Norwich prison, the train robber is now moving better and able to travel outdoors.
At the weekend Biggs, 80, travelled the short distance from his Barnet care home to his son Michael's house to watch Arsenal play Tottenham Hotspur on television.
After the game the passionate “Gooner” declared himself fit enough to attend a live Arsenal match at the Emirates Stadium, ideally, friends said, as soon as the clash with Arsenal's arch London rivals, Roman Abramovich's Chelsea on November 29.
He told friends via his spelling board: “I haven't seen Arsenal live since the early 1960s, and think I'm strong enough to watch them one last time. I would love to see the new stadium.”
Friends believe that just simple basic NHS care has allowed him to start to recover.
One said: “He is now getting excellent care on the NHS and has responded well to it. He's still not what you'd call a well man, and he will be fed through a tube for the rest of his life.
“But he could die from any little infection he picks up at any time. Mike has to be very careful as to whom Ron meets and come into contact with. Swine Flu is obviously a major concern.
“But he can do more things than before and is more comfortable. He used to say he wanted to have a pint of bitter at a Margate pub as a free man before he died, but since he can't eat or drink anything anymore, he's changed that to wanting to watch the Gunners live before he dies. The win over Spurs certainly perked him up as would a win over Chelsea.”
Despite Biggs family's insistence that the Train Robber remains terminally ill, his improvement will anger many who believe he shouldn't have been released from prison.
Relatives of Jack Mills, the train driver who never recovered after being hit over the head during the 1963 raid, said today they were now resigned to the fact Biggs was able to enjoy his freedom.
Daughter-in-law Patricia Mills, wife of the driver's son John, 68, told the Standard: “I fully expected it, I think everybody did.
“We have been through a lot over the years and we've said all we have to say [about Biggs]. We tend now to just try to ignore it.”
Following pleas from Biggs's son Michael, 34, Mr Straw made a massive u-turn and announced that he was freeing the robber on compassionate grounds - only a month after ruling he was a wholly unrepentant' criminal who should die in jail.
At the time, Mr Straw cited medical evidence showing that his condition would not improve and it looked unlikely that Biggs would ever leave his bed at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
Unable to speak or talk following a series of strokes, the former robber needs 24-hour medical care.
Biggs was a member of the gang from Lambeth, South London which robbed the Glasgow to London mail train of £2.6million in 1963.
Those that were were caught, including Biggs, were given sentences of up to 30 years. But after just 15 months in prison Biggs escaped from HMP Wandsworth and lived as a fugitive in Australia and Brazil, where Michael was born.
In 2001, after falling ill, Biggs returned to the UK voluntarily and was sent back to prison. He is now likely to be in a nursing home for the rest of his life.The cost of his 24-hour care is estimated to be at least £40,000 a year.
On top of the nursing home fees, Biggs is also expected to receive the state pension of £95.25 a week, backdated to his formal release on August 7, to cover basics.
Reader views (34)
I see that no-one has mentioned the poor train driver that died of his injuries a while after being knocked on the head by one of the train robbers.
People have very short memories where Mr Biggs is concerned.
HOW DO YOU THINK THE VICTIMS FAMILY FELT AND STILL FEEL.
He should have been left to rot in jail.
- Mr Pastry, london
Good luck,Ronnie,rapists,murderers and crooked politions do not spend as much time behind bars as you did.Shame the gunners are way behind Chelsea at the moment.ENJOY.
- John, benidorm,spain
He'll only be on the bench,
- Gwilym Rhys-Jones, marbella spain
And about time too. Ronald Biggs was jailed for too long considering that criminals for far more serious crimes these days just get a slap on the wrist and a caution. Even when hey are given long sentences they are released after serving only HALF of it.
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK
Put him back in jail.
- Frank, Bournemouth, England
Why is he still alive or has he found a 'miracle' cure more likely he has conned Labour Gov who freed him rather than letting die in jail as he deserved
- Mike, London England and once GREAT Britain
To Paul B,
I think it is very much our business when a convicted convict is released very early from prison on compassionate ground, to die in his own home. Now he is suddenly well enough to go to a football match. Yes, it is our business.
He has glorified crime for a lot of youngsters, he has been instrumental in causing an innocent man to die, etc.
I think he should have served out his FULL sentence.
- Sidney Marks, London, UK
So he conned Jack Straw into letting him go. How difficult is this?
- Dave B, Beckenham
He has served 10 years of a 30 year sentence... with parole and good behaviour most people serve a third or half their sentence. 10 years is a long time and I think more than enough. He did not kill Mr Mills (the train driver), another robber beat him over his head, and he died years later from an unrelated illness. He was given an overly long sentence in the first place and has been freed by the authorities. He’s an old sick man in the last years of his life… shame on everyone here with all their hate and bitterness… ‘Now Biggs is well enough to go to a football match’ what business is it of anyones what he does… he is a free man now… none of your business… move on…
- Paul B, London
Surely the biggest train robbery occured when the Major government privitised BR?
Anyway all Roonie did was watch Arsenal on TV at his sons house talk about much ado about nothing.
Anyway the biggest bank robbers are still free to earn bonuses and have the full support of Boris and George no doubt they all went to the same school together!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
Well, if the people who used to control Guinness such as Ernest Saunders et al who served 10 months for his part in a 38 million pounds fraud and was freed because he had 'Alzeheimers' - he is the only known person alive to recover from the disease - they why not a 'working class' man? He served his time unlike those white-collared criminals.
- Jessica, london
Labelling Ronnie in the same breath as the alleged Lockerbie Bomber is stupid. Considering what terrorists do compared to Ronnie is just plain rediculous. Good luck to Ronnie. Considering nowadays you could murder 25 people and not get the sentence he got, just because it was public money he and his mates stole. (This actually happens today but they call them social security cheats!)
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
I believe he was close to death He was not being nursed properly or given proper medical care Lucky for him his son fought to get him out and treated properly. We treat old people like the lowest form of life Well done Ronnie, you got a little bit of your life back
- Sheila, london uk
People talk about how people should leave Ronnie alone: I bet Jack Wills's family wish he'd been left alone!
- Nick, London
Who's the bigger Train Robber - Ronnie Biggs or the greedy vultures running our railways?
- Jane, London
Ronie Biggs never did the sentence for the crime he committed.Shame on you all for what you are saying.Does not anybody feel for the real victim Jack Mills.Wgat has happened to this country?
- Denis Regan, harbin china
Best of luck, Biggsy, and shame on the sad people, who, frankly, need to leave the guy alone and get a bleedin' life.
Yes why can't he leave us alone and get on with his bleedin life instead of running to the media and having his mug splashed across all the papers each time he decides to pop out somewhere.
- David, London
Outrageous - what is it with this disgraceful sham of a government and their favourite hobby of releasing serious criminals (Lockerbie Bomber, Ronnie Biggs)?!
What a disgrace! Who are they going to release next
"Tough on crime...."? Don't make me sick.
- Dan, London, UK
Mr Biggs should be given a OBE for keeping one step in front of the British establishment for so long,what a achievement.Wish i was manager at Arsenal,i would have the team carry him to his seat for life.A example to us all Mr Biggs.
- Kev, London-UK
The point is not that he is ill, or that he has a degenerative illness, but that it was submitted he was close to death - several months ago. Clearly he was not and that's my objection. He hoodwinked the authorities, yet again.
At the time of his release many people posted here suggesting it was a try-on and so it seems it was. He was let out on compassionate grounds - he's an old man, he's dying, it was said. So are all of us, in our own way. This man is enjoying - as the several photographs of him of late clearly show - his freedom, a freedom that was given to him on a false pretext.
Well done, Jack Straw and the medics. Presumably the same sort of medics who perenially advise the release of supposedly non-dangerous mentally sick people who then go on to repeat their earlier crimes, not having been cured at all.
As Ray Winstone recently said, this country isn't going to the dogs it went there some years ago and it isn't coming back.
- Ramalamadingdong, Broxbourne
Maybe he is recovering a little because he is now receiving better healthcare than he was in prison.
- Mike M, Bedford England
Best of luck, Biggsy, and shame on the sad people, who, frankly, need to leave the guy alone and get a bleedin' life.
- Ted, London
Good luck to him,far better than costing the rest of us £40,000 a year to keep him in prison.
- Joe, London
i cant wait to see ronnie biggs going to the emirates stadium in his wheelchair wearing his beloved arsenal scarf....hes pulled the wool over the governments eyes yet again...not arf..
- John Hall, middlesbrough
Ronnie Biggs has been given a life sentence worse than the prison sentence,just read the article.I would'nt
wish it on my worst enemy.
All the best to you Ronnie.
- David Nigel Braham, Milan Italy
"Yet again we allow this person to stick two fingers up at the Law and continue to reward him with his liberty - shameful
- David, soton"
He's not an MP is he?
- Frank.Timon, London
Quote: Paul, London. If he was a Spurs fan he'd probably be deemed fit enough to get a game, never mind go and watch.
If he was a QPR fan; he would be captain; Paul.
- Mickinlondon, london
You do not have to be fit and healthy to visit a football match; and you often see very badly invalided people at all kinds of sports events, even in wheelchairs where they are accommodated by the stadium or event holders etc.
Likewise; many fit and able people often die at, or shortly after sports events, it has nothing to do with expected life expectancy, more just fate or bad luck etc.
If Ronnie Biggs wants to live a little longer, and get some quality of life; he should get out more, and also enjoy himself, it serves no purpose to stay trapped in a room, in an old people’s home.
Ronnie helped to rob a train, ok it was against the law; but Governments and Banks rob the people every day of the week, year in and year out, and not one has received a 30 year jail sentence yet, in-fact not one has received 30 days in jail yet?
Time to leave the man alone now; his time is not far off anyway; and you all will reach that stage before you know it, So live your lives and be happy ok?
- Mickinlondon, london
Frankly, it makes me want to puke.
- Ramalamadingdong, Broxbourne
Sorry to see that Biggs isn't able to "speak or talk". The double affliction must be crippling.
Give an old man who can't eat a break.
- Adam, London, England
Good luck Mr Biggs.Enjoy the game.Your crimes pale into insignificance when compared to the crimes of those in power in this country and those waiting in the wings,one thing you never did was lie to parliament with the intention of fooling the British people into committing genocide on the Iraqi people.Give me a good old fashioned robber any day.
- Kev, London-UK
If he was a Spurs fan he'd probably be deemed fit enough to get a game, never mind go and watch.
- Paul, London
Well good for him on making a recovery having only weeks to live...
...anyone rememmber someone else who was released early after being diagnosed as an Alzheimers suffer and miraculously recovered after being released from prison, the only Alzheimers sufferer known to do so.
I hope the BMC will be investigating the doctors who allowed Biggs to be released on the grounds of ill health because their diagnosis of him having weeks to live appears to be wrong!
- Neilhead, Cross fo Clay
Yet again we allow this person to stick two fingers up at the Law and continue to reward him with his liberty - shameful
- David, soton
