CriticalDivide

Would you happen to know the name of the Ulsterman or anything about the health of the three surviving gang members? Did the survivor of the ones who got away manage to live well on his cut? Maybe that's beyond your ken but it'd be interesting to know how they're fairing. The Ulsterman was a bit of a smoke screen and not really that important. Almost certainly dead. As far as I know at least two of the three are dead. Two were never touched, although they were known, as they handed half their share to the boys in blue to leave them alone. Which they did.

Despite how the Mail tried to portray it (which was crass by their low standards) the photo was actually Ron messing about with the friend who took the photo. It was Ron reacting to the photographer's football team, the scarf of which is around Ron's neck. Truth is so often more interesting than fiction! PS: Love the Mail putting a copyright note on the photo when it will have been lifted from Facebook.

Sadly in 2013 we lost not only Ron, but also Bruce Reynolds and John Daly. From the 16 who were at the track only Gordon Goody from Bruce's gang, and Thomas Wisbey and Bob Welch, both part of Roger Cordrey's South Coast Raiders, are alive. Of the three at the track who got away, I believe only one to be alive. Most of the key back room people are also dead. BBC drama was exactly that. Drama, and not the facts. Bruce and Ron, along with the help of Nick Reynolds and myself have put all the facts about the robbery, or as much as we could!!!, in "The Great Train Robbery 50th Anniversary: 1963-2103". The bookazine actually covers from the birth of Billy Boal (who was not one of the robbers) in 1913, to the anniversary on 8 August 2013.

Ron - as many of you may know - always enjoyed the Death List and those here who play it in the right spirit. He also made me promise that when he died I would post this message. His death was sudden, and he was in contact with Paul Bearer only a few days ago and was about to send Christmas Greetings to the site. So over to Ron: "You always did warn me that you would win in the end, so congratulations and thanks for your patience over these many years. I was honoured to be your ambassador and will miss you probably more than you will miss me. And if you ask, yes it was a life worth living, even with the regrets. i hope you all get as much out of life as I have. See you on the other side."

Ron has posted a photo of himself on his web site with his Death List mug and Death List t-shirt. www.ronniebiggs.com It can be seen on the News pages of the web site and also on his Flickr pages (www.flickr.com/photos/ronniebiggs/).

Ron has asked me to wish all at the Death List a very Happy Holidays, a very, very Merry Christmas, and a peaceful and healthy New Year for all those on the Death List for 2012 and the new commers for 2013. He also looks forward to topping the "league" at Christmas again, and enjoying your company - friends and foes - throughout 2013. Ron hopes to give you all a run for your money again in 2013, at least until 8 August, the 50th anniversary of the Great Train Robbery. Best wishes from Ron from across the Critical Divide.

Having made number one on the Death List, Ron now finds his autobiography at number one in the Kindle charts for historical biographies. Thanks from Ron if you took the time to read it. Ironically for the Death List, Ron is one of the few living people on the chart!

Well some of you are a bit touchy when things don't go your way! Seems you don't like it when the Deathlist victims have a voice. I don't leech off Ron, by the way, I just happen to be a friend, and not a fairweather friend either. If he could, Ron would happily be making his own remarks on the Deathlist. Frankie Fraser was not involved in the train robbery, but has a link to Ron. One of the people who took advantage of Ron's escape from Wansdsworth to also go over the wall, ended up on Frankie's doorstep looking for his help to get him to Scotland. Lard Bazaar, I totally appreciate the views you hold, but not sure why you jump off the fence for knowing the facts. But that is your right. All I am trying to is point out is a few of the facts that programmes like Mrs Biggs and the media normally overlook or get wrong. As for the time Ron spent in prison, that is part of one of the unanswered question as to why the train robbers were given 30 year sentences when the norm at the time for such a crime would have been around 10 years max. Remember there was no parole at the time. Murderers were not even given 20 years. Some of the people involved in the Great Train Robbery had been involved in a far more violent crime than the Great Train Robbery, and those caught were given five year sentences. So where was the 30 years in being justice? And if you want the real victim of the Great Train Robbery, it was a man called Billy Boal who was arrested, tried and sentenced as a train robber, and wasn't. He died in prison an innocent man.

Sorry not to reply sooner, but Mrs Biggs has been keeping us busy. Not sure why ITV bothered to make it or call it a "True Story" when so far they have show little regard to the truth or facts. Ron offered to check the facts, but they seem to think they know his life better than he does. The fact they got the day and date of the Great train robbery wrong in the first episode, was not very reassuring. In answer to some of the questions. I have known Ron for around 30 years and helped him write his autobiograpy. We also did a novel together. I see Ron most weeks and he often asks about what is going on on the Deathlist. When dealing with the Great Train Robbery, you have to realise that it was one of the first examples of Government spin, so some of the things you thinks you know about are not as they seemed. The fireman was bundled down the bank, but not struck. The driver Jack Mills was struck once, and did most of the damge when he fell against the side of his cabin. The man who hit him was one of the three that were never caught. The names of the three mentioned above being Alf Thomas, Bill Jennings and Frank Munroe. Ron is sorry for what happend to Jack Mills and nothing can put that right. But by the standards of the day the Great Train Robbery was not a violent crime. Mills died of Leukamia seven years after the robbery and the coroner at the time made the point of stating in his report that his death was in no way related to what happened at the robbery. The government and railways did little to help or reward Mills after the trial, and it was left to the rail union and the general public to raise some money for him. Nobody knows for sure if Mr Mills could not work or was told not to work. Not sure what is says about the Great Train Robbers lifestyles, but most of them outlived the senior lawyers, judges and policemen involved in the case. Few of them are still living. We do beleive Jimmy White is dead, however. But that has not been in the press. Also just to correct the Executioner's comment, Ron actually has spent more time in prison than virtually all the other gang members. If you are interested in Ron or the Great Train Robbery, I would urge you to read his autobiography (Odd Man Out - The Last Straw) as that is what actually happened to Ron, as opposed to what you may think has happened to Ron in his life. Of course, some people can't handle the truth as it does not fit with what they would like to see or what fits their agenda. Programmes like Mrs Biggs certainly won't help given the story told in the first two episodes, but it sells newspapers and makes money for the TV networks, the writers, and the actors, but not those that have their stories or names stolen! Happy to answer any questions I can about Ron or the Great Train Robbery. Ron hopes to be around for the 50th anniversary of the robbery in 2013, but hopes you keep him on the list.

Ron just checking on what he is meant to say "sorry" for. Not going to apologise for stuff the press invented about him. And please, don't take Mrs Biggs to be factual. In episode one they could not even get the date and time of the Great Train Robbery right. Ron has no involvement with the series, but offered to check the facts, which was turned down by ITV. Like some members of Deathlist they think they know the facts of his life better than he does. Ron has been enjoying the Paralympics and thinks in his wheelchair he could give wheelchair rugby a go in Rio in 2016. Stay tuned.

Ronnie Biggs' birthday today (8 August), so he apologises to those banking on him not making it to another birthday celebration, so instead he sends his own birthday greetings to all at the Death List. Today also starts the count down to the 50th anniversary of the Great Train Robbery on 8 August 2013. Ron promises to do his best to be around for that.

Ron has featured his situation as the highest surviving member of the 2012 Death List on his web site: http://www.ronniebiggs.com/?p=507 As well as celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee: www.ronniebiggs.com/?p=513

Ron appreciates that you seem to be methodically working through the Death List for 2012, but he is not volunteering to go next. But he is delighted that he is back at the number one spot amongst the living on the list, and will try to keep it that way. Ron's send his very best wishes to everyone else on the list for a very healthy 2012.

Ron is very sorry to hear that Etta James, who replaced him at the top of the Death List, has died. He is a big fan of her music.

Ron would like to wish all his friends and foe at the Death List a very happy Christmas and New Year. He would also like to wish his fellow surviving members of the Death List 2011 a healthy and prosperous year ahead. And in case you missed it, Ron's comment about the Death List from his autobiography popped up in The Guardian Diary. www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/dec/14/hugh-muir-diary?newsfeed=true Happy Christmas!

To honour the Death List, Ronnie Biggs wore his skull and crossbones braces to the launch of his new autobiography (Odd Man Out: The Last Straw) on 17 November. In his opening remarks, read by his son Mike, Ron told the press: "I want to start by thanking the health system and all the people at the care home. Without whom I would certainly not be here today, and would probably be dead by now. Although that might please some of your readers, and the people at the Death List who keep voting for my demise." Ron is now working on extending his time at the top of the Death List, but knows you have to win one day. But he hopes to keep you waiting. So greetings from Ron to everyone who is voting for his demise. Enjoy your freedom.

Ronnie asked me to let all his fans on Death List know that his new autobiography, "Odd Man Out: The Last Straw", will be launched on 17 November. In the book he talks about his chart topping status on the Death List, and now hopes the book will give you all something to read while you wait for him to live up to (or otherwise) his position at the top of your charts.

I am sure Ron would be happy to be photographed in a Deathlist T-Shirt. We would just have to clear it with the nursing home and his parole officer. Nothing smug about Ron and being alive. Given all his health scares over the years, it is a credit to the medical staff since he got out of prison that he is still going strong. Chris PS: I think Clive also deserves a T-Shirt, the only man to be on the list longer than Ron.

Dear Deathlist, Your ambassador, Ronnie Biggs, has asked me to drop you a note to thank you for restoring him to his rightful place at number one on the top of the Deathlist for 2011. He hopes you won’t take it personally if he tires his very best to disappoint you again and for a number of years to come. Ron is hoping to beat you for some time to come with the help of his nursing home and the doctors that are looking after him so well. However, he appreciates that one day you will get the last laugh. He wishes all his fellow members on the 2011 Deathlist a wealthy, and more importantly, healthy year ahead. Best regards from Ron, Chris Pickard Ron’s friend and biographer PS: I think after being 11 years on your list, the least you could do is send Ron a Deathlist T-shirt.