Ronald Kray (24 October 1933 – 17 March 1995) and Reginald Kray (24 October 1933 – 1 October 2000) were English identical twin brothers from Haggerston, who were heavily involved in organized crime from the late 1950s until their arrest in 1968.

Their gang, known as the Firm, was based in Bethnal Green, where the Kray twins lived. They were involved in murder, armed robbery, arson, protection rackets, gambling and assaults. At their peak in the 1960s, they gained a certain measure of celebrity status by mixing with prominent members of London society.

The Krays were arrested on May 8th, 1968 and convicted in 1969 as a result of the efforts of detectives led by Detective Superintendent Leonard "Nipper" Read. Each was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Ronnie, upon being certified insane, was committed to Broadmoor Hospital in 1979 and remained there until his death on March 17th 1995 from a heart attack; Reggie was released from prison on compassionate grounds in August 2000, eight weeks before he died of cancer.

Both Kray brothers were portrayed by actor Tom Hardy in the movie Legend and by the Kemp brothers of Spandau Ballet in the movie The Krays.

Lot 63 : Ronnie Kray’s yellow ground patterned cravat.
Lot 137: Ronnie Kray’s pair of black russell and bromley shoes.

PROVENANCE

All featured Kray items were obtained at one of UK's leading auction houses J.P. Humbert Auctioneers Ltd at their June 17th 2014 auction;
‘The residual contents of the estate of the late Ronnie Kray'.

J.P. Humbert Auctioneers Ltd catalogue from their June 17th 2014 auction