The End : Ronnie

Even in death… the legend drew a crowd.

In Episode 16 of The Krays Web, we explore the final chapter of Ronnie Kray — from personal loss and family tragedy to his death inside Broadmoor, and the extraordinary funeral that followed.

What should have been a private goodbye became a public spectacle — revealing just how powerful the Kray name remained, even at the end.

In this episode:
• The death of Violet Kray and its impact on the family
• How Ronnie and Reggie reacted to losing their mother
• The media frenzy surrounding Violet’s funeral
• Ronnie’s life inside Broadmoor and declining health
• His death in 1995 and the immediate aftermath
• Reggie’s reaction — grief, anger, and control
• Planning one of the most elaborate funerals London had ever seen
• The procession, crowds, and spectacle of Ronnie’s final send-off
• Readings, music, and the emotional farewell inside the church

Why it matters:
This is more than the death of a man — it’s the closing of a chapter in British criminal history. Ronnie’s funeral showed that even in death, the Krays remained larger than life.

Follow the show as we continue exploring the aftermath, legacy, and lasting impact of the Kray twins — beyond the headlines.

Next episode: Reggie — the final chapter.

Links to Resources

Check out my website for resources used and social media links : thekraysweb.com

Contact me : wendyceepods@gmail.com

Music by Captain Fat Hands captainfathands.com

Transcript

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Wendy Cee 0:23

Welcome to the Krays Web, a podcast about the infamous Kray twins and those associated with them. I'm your host, Wendy C, and this is season one, The Krays, Episode 17, The End, Ronnie. Please note that there is some swearing in this podcast and descriptions of violence. I will be adding specific trigger warnings where needed. The voices that you hear throughout the podcast are all my family and friends who have rallied around to help me to make this podcast more enjoyable for you to listen to. I have used lots of sources when writing these episodes, far too many to list here, but details of which you will be able to find on my website, thecraysweb.com. Violet Kray, the figurehead of the family and the boy's beloved mother, passed away on the 4th of August 1982, the day before her 73rd birthday. Violet had been admitted to hospital three days earlier, suffering from pneumonia. They all assumed it was routine and with the right treatment she would be back home in a week or two. Charlie had been to visit Violet on her first day in hospital and said she was the same old mum, happy and cheerful as always. I guess Violet was just like many ladies of her generation, who didn't want anyone to know just how ill they were and always put on a brave face. But by day three, Violet's condition had deteriorated, and Charlie was told that not only did his mother have pneumonia, but she also had cancer, which could not be treated until she was well. Charlie went home to digest the news. It was going to take time, but he was still sure that Violet was going to pull through. So when he received a phone call early the following morning, it threw him into a tailspin. And in fact, it is such a key moment in his life that it is the opening of chapter one in his book Me and My Brothers.

Charlie Kray 2:16

The ringing of the phone brought me out of a deep sleep. Through half closed eyes I squinted at my watch on the bedside table, five fifteen AM. I took the phone from its cradle. Hello, I muttered, husky from the tiredness.

Wendy Cee 2:30

A female speaker who Charlie did not recognise was talking to him, but he was numb and couldn't take in what she was saying, so he passed the phone over to his wife, Diane. She listened, muttered a few short confirmations, and thanked the caller, before replacing the handset and turning towards Charlie. Looking into his eyes, she shook her head and said, I'm afraid it's true, Charlie. After making his way to the lounge where he downed a large glass of brandy, Charlie returned to the bedroom, where Diane embraced him tightly while he sat and sobbed his heart out.

Charlie Kray 3:03

That morning at my home in Southeast London was the worst moment of my life. Worse than the day I was jailed for ten years for a crime I didn't commit. Worse than being charged with a murder I knew nothing about. But my tears of that morning of the 5th of August 1982 were not only for myself, they're for my twin brothers, Ronnie and Reggie too. And for old man. How on earth were they going to take it when I told them that the woman we all worshipped, the lovely lady we thought would live forever, was dead.

Wendy Cee 3:37

After composing himself, Charlie started to think straight and work out logistics in his head. With his brothers in prison and his father elderly, it was going to be up to him to sort everything out. Step one, he needed to tell everyone. He started with his father, who himself was very ill. Arriving at around 7 a.m., he broke the news.

Charlie Kray 3:57

Unfortunately, she's just died.

Wendy Cee 4:01

Charlie Sr., who was normally stoic, broke down and started screaming. The 5th of August 1982 broke Charlie Sr.'s heart, and he died just eight months later. Charlie had the very difficult task of telling his brothers Ronnie and Reggie too. And with Ronnie and Broadmoor and Reggie in Parkhurst, this was a challenge. As Broadmoor was only around an hour away, Charlie made his way to see Ronnie first, arriving around 11am to break the news.

Ronnie Kray 4:28

In Ronnie and Reggie's book, Our Story, Ronnie says I believe, and the others may hate me for saying this, but I believe it was Reg, Charlie and I who finally killed our mother. Twice a week for 14 years she would visit Reg and me and Charlie when he was inside, and in the end it was all too much for her.

Wendy Cee 4:47

And Reggie, well, he was in Parkhurst on the Isle of Wight, which would take Charlie around five hours to get to. So reluctantly, on the advice of the prison warder, he asked them to break the news to Reggie, and he would go and visit them the next day. Both Ronnie and Reggie were, of course, heartbroken. The funeral of Violet was organised for the eleventh of August 1982 in Chingford, East London, and she was buried at the family plot at Chingford Mount Cemetery next to Reggie's wife Frances. Due to the notoriety of the craze, this was not a small family ceremony. There were thousands of onlookers and hundreds of wreaths, including two long floral tributes of white chrysanthemums and red roses from the twins. In attendance were people from all walks of life, from family to firm members and underground figures to celebrities like Diana Dawes. But the main attraction of what should have been a sombre affair were Violet's precious twins, Ronnie and Reggie Kray, who were both allowed out for the day, handcuffed and flanked by heavy security escorts to say their last farewell to their mother. They were allowed to attend the church service and give family a quick hug before being whisked out of the back door of the church and back to their respective institutions. Ronnie and Reggie were not permitted to attend the actual burial or visit the graveyard. The funeral became a TV spectacle, with media and TV crews there taking photographs and filming the proceedings. The graveyard was rammed with attendees, press, and those that were there just to be nosy, and the behaviour of some of them was unacceptable, as nearby graves were trampled by people desperate to see what was happening. In Ronnie's own words, from his and Reggie's book, Our Story.

Ronnie Kray 6:37

Mine was cremated at Chingford Crematorium in Essex. It was the saddest day of my life. And what made it even sadder was the fact that the police and the press turned it into a bloody carnival. The crowd nearly caused a riot when Reg and I arrived. We were handcuffed to the two biggest officers they could find in the prison service. Reg was angry, saying they did it on purpose to try and make us look like two dwarves. There were police helicopters flying around in the sky, and the church was even searched for bombs. They went completely over the top on what should have been a solemn, simple, silent service.

Wendy Cee 7:10

When the funeral was over, Charlie was exhausted but grateful for the support.

Speaker 4 7:14

Well, I like to say as well that, you know, for the people, uh the kindness I can't believe. I mean, I just can't believe it. It amazed me. In fact, everybody.

Wendy Cee 7:27

Charlie was then asked by one of the press, don't you think it's strange that in spite of your family's reputation you get all this support? And he replied.

Speaker 4 7:35

Well, I I've got an answer for that, really, is that um whatever they did, um, you no one are condone. But at the same time, one thing I keep trying uh insisting about is they've never harmed the public, you see, and they let people out who do harm the public and kill children and women, they still release them. But the twins they never do. I mean, they've never harmed the public. Whatever they did was wrong, they know it. But uh, if they let them out tomorrow, the public's not gonna run away.

Wendy Cee 8:01

Ronnie wrote two poems to his mum, which can be found along with the others in the Krays Book of Slang. The first one is titled To a Beautiful Mother.

Ronnie Kray 8:12

When I look at the silver in your hair, how I wish you never in the world had a care. How I wish week after week it was not always hello and goodbye. You have made the weeks, months, and years fly. You have been our rainbow in a dark sky. We hope that one day it will be just hello and never again goodbye.

Wendy Cee 8:29

The other can be found at the front of Ronnie's book, My Story, and is simply titled Our Mum.

Ronnie Kray 8:36

Mum, you are like a rose. When God picked you, you were the best mum he could have chose. You kept us warm when it was cold. With your arms around us, you did fold. For us you sold your rings of gold. When you died, I like a baby cried. When I think of you, it's with pride. So go to sleep, mum. I know that you are tired.

Wendy Cee 8:56

Ronnie may not have been the greatest poet, but you could tell the words he wrote came straight from the heart. Ronnie Kray died on the 17th of March 1995 after suffering a heart attack at Broadmoor Hospital. He was sixty-one years old. A few days before his death he had been in and out of hospital, though the staff didn't seem to be able to tell his brother Charlie exactly what was wrong with Ronnie, and then he was gone. Charlie found out from his friend Robin McGibbon, who helped Charlie to write his book and also produced the Kray Tapes, which were interviews of the three brothers, clips of which you have heard in this podcast. At first he thought it was yet another untrue rumour about the crays, but he called Broadmoor, and it was confirmed. In Charlie's own words, this is how the call to Broadmoor went.

Charlie Kray 9:51

I was devastated. Then I was angry. Are you telling me that my brother died this morning and I wasn't notified? I'm very sorry, Mr. Kray. The news was put out before we had an opportunity to call you. That's terrible, I said. What's Reg going to do now? I put the phone down. There was nothing more to say. No matter how bad I felt about not being told, it was not the point right now. I had to speak to Reg. Fighting about my tears, I died Maystone prison.

Wendy Cee 10:17

But Charlie was too late. Reggie already knew. Someone on the wing had heard it on the radio and told him. He was furious and wanted answers.

Charlie Kray 10:26

I put the phone down and poured a large measure of whiskey into a tumbler. I drank it down fast and then the tears started to fall. I could not stop crying for two hours.

Wendy Cee 10:36

The next morning Charlie went to Maidstone Prison to visit Reggie. They were given a small private room, and as soon as Reggie entered the room, there was silence. No words. They just stood in the middle of the room and held each other. After sharing a hug and their thoughts on Ronnie's passing, Reggie was back to business. He had a funeral to organise, and if you thought Violet's funeral sounded like a circus, Ronnie's was going to blow it out of the park. Ronnie had always said, even as a child, that he wanted six black horses with plumes at his funeral, and Reggie was going to make sure his wish was granted. However impractical that might be due to the distance between where the ceremony would take place and the cemetery. Reggie also insisted on dealing with all of the other arrangements himself, saying he had all the time in the world to sort things out. And Charlie let it go, because he thought it would help Reggie come to terms with what had happened.

Speaker 6 11:39

Reggie's words to Charlie that day were I made sure Ronnie has the best send-off possible. And we will have those horses, and they will take Ron to the cemetery.

Wendy Cee 11:54

Reggie needed a florist and was put in touch with McQueen's. I spoke to Nick McQueen, who set up McQueen's Florists, and has written a book, The Cockney Whipping Boy. In a later episode of The Krays Web, I'll be sharing my full interview and book review, so this is just a small snippet. We met at the Captain Kidd pub in Wapping, right by the river, on a beautiful June day in 2025. We sat outside in the garden and enjoyed a beer in the sun while we spoke. For this reason there is some background noise on some of the audio, and at times you can also hear Nick's wife Pauline speaking too. Nick told me all about how he was first introduced to Reggie Kray, and how he then became the florist to the Krays.

Speaker 8 12:35

I've got a name as a very famous florist. I worked for a lot of celebrities and big companies. I sold the best stuff. And you dealt with Reggie Kray? Yeah, five years I made Reg on the phones for me.

Speaker 2 12:46

Was that challenging?

Speaker 8 12:48

Yeah, yeah, because the first period that I had Reg was dealing with his twin brother. And burying a twin I would think is a little bit more intense than even your own brother, you know. So it was a very emotional time for Reg. Yeah, and that's what my first meetings and conversations with him was over Ronnie Cade.

Speaker 2 13:09

And then you did all the flowers for all the funerals, didn't you?

Speaker 8 13:12

Yep, I did uh Ronnie's funeral, which was a rear estate funeral, with his, again, Gary's, Charlie's, uh the whole family, yeah. Found the florist.

Speaker 2 13:23

How did they find you originally, do you know?

Speaker 8 13:25

Flanagan, who's a family friend, apparently recommended me, but I was also recommended by the guy that looked after Ronnie Kray's money. Laurie O'Leary. Right. What happened was Laurie O'Leary, who manages Ronnie's money and business outside the prison, came in, gave me the cheque for ten grand and said, Reggie's gonna ring you tomorrow. And when Reg rings, he announces himself. It is not a joke. Right? It really isn't. That's why I'm telling you, he's ringing at like 12 o'clock or whatever. Anyway, so I'll get the phone call. And he said, Reg Kray speaking. And it's like, oh my god, you know, is this through real? So I said, hi Reg, you know, blah blah blah. And yeah, we just had a sort of a phone call, he explained to me. Obviously I knew he wants me to take care of the the funeral. And we started discussing and he said, Just turn up at a prison ceramic with your books to show the different reefs that can be ordered and you don't need a VO. They know you're coming. Yeah, and that was the first meeting I had with Reg. First phone call. And it went on for years.

Speaker 2 14:31

Why didn't you need a VO? Is it just because it was part of the funeral or something?

Speaker 8 14:34

Well I found the whole thing strange because when I got there there were four guys waiting to see Reg. And there were four of us because he had set two guys with us. So you're getting here. And then when Reg came out into the waiting room, I had him on the centre table in the room, all the tables around him were empty, and the other people with visitors were on the edges of the room. So yeah, it was quite interesting to see how they was giving some type of preferential treatment.

Speaker 2 15:01

But how did you feel during that day? Did you feel intimidated or is it just weird?

Speaker 8 15:06

Well, it's weird because I've been dealing with a lot of people who are bereaved, and I will understand the psychology of that situation can really unleash anything. I've been attacked, I've been abused. No thought of mine. It's just that they're so upset, so lost with their bereavement that they, you know, they all we all react so differently. Some are hysterical, some are just so quiet. I mean, there's no rhyme or reasons for how someone's gonna behave. So I said, Oh, well, he didn't try to shake my hand, so I didn't try to shake this. I'm weighing the situation up. And um his first words were, I'm gonna I sleep on the floor. I go to bed at eight o'clock. He said, When Indians sleep on the floor. Well, that was it. So much trouble here. And what have I walked into here? You know, one of the most dangerous men in the country, and he's don't seem to be very well at the moment. You know, it's like ah but no, that just happened to dissipate, and he became really friendly, really nice, and yeah, it's a sad thing when you're burying someone you love. Yeah. His eyes glazed up quite a bit, and yeah, it was an emotional thing, you know.

Speaker 2 16:13

She can only mask it so much, can't you? However hard you come across.

Speaker 8 16:17

But his twin thing obviously is interesting as well, because we don't understand how they feel from one another, and but apparently he's very intense for them, so yeah. Yeah, he's lost his other half, that's what he was saying, yeah.

Speaker 2 16:30

Did you visit multiple times or did you just go in the once?

Speaker 8 16:33

I went in the once, but he was on the phone. Every day.

Speaker 2 16:36

Every day.

Speaker 8 16:37

Every day.

Speaker 2 16:38

Did he always want to talk to you or did he talk to the girls?

Speaker 8 16:40

I've got this problem with the girls in the shop. Lots of the guys like to come and talk to the girls.

Speaker 2 16:44

Who was he sending the flowers to?

Speaker 8 16:46

Oh, wreaths to people that died. He also ordered the memorial. Uh, twelve months after the the burial of Ronnie, there's the stone laying.

Speaker 16:55

Yeah.

Speaker 8 16:56

Though he wasn't allowed out for that. And he said he wanted Charlie to have a few close friends, and he sort of like picked me. Because one of the close friends Charlie was in myself all the time.

Speaker 2 17:07

So when you were dealing with Reggie, and he was quite intense to deal with sometimes, did you ever at any point think I'd rather end this relationship with him or like that, I think. No. That's why I wonder, you don't really have any out once you're in, do you?

Speaker 8 17:20

No, then even not going in, you've got to go in. You can't, I can't say I'm not doing it for you. That's it, too many people. So the best thing to do is take the chance, do the job, hopefully it goes well. And but as you read in the book, they got to a point where they friends are killed men. Go to work and then get friends to get killed. I mean it's a bit much.

Speaker 2 17:38

Yeah.

Speaker 8 17:38

So yeah, so it comes with its challenges.

Speaker 2 17:42

I've read newspaper articles and things that say that they never paid for any of their flowers.

Speaker 8 17:46

Well, they didn't pay the Englishes, they knocked them. But there's lots of other fellas around and quite tough or whatever. Yeah. They think they can get things for free. Well, not in Mossop.

Wendy Cee 18:04

Reggie had been a model prisoner while he was at Maystone Prison, so three days before Ronnie's funeral, he was driven to where Ronnie's body was being held, his handcuffs were removed, and he was allowed to spend 15 minutes alone with his twin. The day of the funeral came, in Charlie's words.

Charlie Kray 18:21

The funeral was a cross between a West End film premiere and a Wembley Cup final. The crowds that Wednesday morning brought the East End to a virtual standstill.

Wendy Cee 18:31

Charlie and his son Gary took a moment out of the chaos to visit Ronnie one final time in the Chapel of Rest.

Charlie Kray 18:38

You're all right now, Ronnie, I said softly. It's the end of all the misery for you. You did the right way. You got out. You're with mum and the old man now.

Wendy Cee 18:46

And as Charlie and Gary left the Chapel of Rest, Reggie arrived.

Charlie Kray 18:51

He was pale and red eyed, and dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, and black tie. He was handcuffed to a Maystone prison officer, with another officer and Chris and Debbie Rogers standing nearby.

Wendy Cee 19:01

Chris and Debbie Rogers, who were a married couple, who both worked in senior positions in the prison, and had advocated for Reggie to visit Ronnie three days earlier. Reggie's handcuffs were removed, and he and Charlie were allowed a few moments alone together in the chapel of rest with Ronnie, one last time. As they left the room some ten minutes later, the handcuffs were slipped back on Reggie's wrists, and they were guided into a larger room full of friends, who had arrived to pass on their condolences. The funeral was held on the twenty ninth of march nineteen ninety five, at twelve noon, at St. Matthew's Church in Bethnal Green. The funeral procession was, just like Nick said during his interview, almost as large as a state funeral. Ronnie had his six black horses, which were followed by twenty six limousines. The procession went from Bethnal Green Road, up past Valence Road where the Krays had grown up. Thousands of people lined the streets along the route, making it difficult for the family and friends in the limousines to get into the church. Many were there to pay their respects. Others were there just to try and catch a glimpse of the infamous Reggie Kray. There were five pool bearers in total, Lori O'Leary, Ronnie's friend and confidant. And then Reggie had chosen the other four to represent the different areas of London as a form of reconciliation. Johnny Nash represented North London, Teddy Dennis West London, Freddie Foreman, South London. Freddie Foreman from South London was a last minute replacement for Frankie Fraser, who was too short to carry the coffin. And then of course there was Charlie Kray from East London. The coffin was carried into the church just after midday to the sounds of my way by Frank Sinatra. The order of service says Charlie and Rich would like to include in this service friends who cannot be here today, friends from Broadmoor and Prisons. They are young Charlie, Mohammed, Joe, Paul, Bradley, Anton, Jim, Rab, Ron, Pete, Lee, Andrew, and all others, too many to mention, that are with us in spirit. The service started with the hymn Morning Has Broken. Sue McGibbon, the wife of Robin, who had become close to all of the crays, read William Ernest Henley's poem Invictus about impending death, which ends with the words I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.

Kate 21:26

Sue then read a message from Charlie and Reg. We wish for only good to come from Ron's passing away, and what is about to follow is our tribute to Ron. It is a symbol of peace, in that four pole bearers will be Charlie, Freddy Foreman, Johnny Nash, and Teddy Dennis. Each one represents an area of London, north, south, east and west. Charlie, Reg, Freddie, John, and Teddy will encircle Ron's coffin in a minute's silence.

Wendy Cee 21:58

Reggie was allowed to stand next to Charlie at Ronnie's coffin during the one minute silence, his left wrist still handcuffed to the prison officer. They all stood, the whole congregation in the church of around three hundred people, in complete silence. Not a cough, not a sneeze, not a sound. You could have heard a pin drop. This was followed by another reading by Sue, which had been written by Reggie.

Speaker 6 22:34

But above all, he was a man, as how I'll always remember my twin brother Ron. God bless. Affection. Reggie.

Wendy Cee 22:43

Everyone stood and sung the hymn Fight the Good Fight, while the Christopher Bedford stood to give the final commendation, and the service ended with Sue reading the poem Do not stand at my grave and weep, which contains the following words.

Kate 22:57

Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am not there, I do not sleep I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn's rain.

Wendy Cee 23:15

And with that the poor bearers lifted the coffin and carried Ronnie to the door, as Whitney Houston's I will always love you played out. The funeral procession to Chingford Cemetery was almost half a mile long. It was a real spectacle and literally stopped traffic as it traversed along the six mile route. Like Violet's funeral, it was a media circus, and many were there just to watch and be part of it, grab a glimpse of someone famous or infamous. People were even sticking their hands through car windows to ask Charlie for an autograph. When they reached the cemetery, Reggie was handed three large red rose bouquets, and allowed a moment to place one on his mother's grave, one on his father's grave, and one on the grave of the love of his life, Francis. Ronnie's coffin was placed into the ground, and it was time for Reggie to go. As he went to leave, he muttered Rest in peace, Ron.

Speaker 6 24:10

See you one day.

Wendy Cee 24:12

I did an interview with Flan, who we have heard from in other episodes about the funerals, as she helped to organise them. I will be including that interview as a bonus episode. Thank you for listening to the Kray's Web. This was episode 16, The End, Ronnie. Next week in episode 17, The End Reggie, I will be discussing the death of Charlie and Reggie Kray. Finally, I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has helped me to put this podcast together. Please check out the show notes and my website for more information on the books and reference materials that I've used during my research. Until next time, stay safe.