Royston Henry Shaw (11 March 1936 – 14 July 2012), also known as Roy “Pretty Boy” Shaw, Roy “Mean Machine” Shaw and Roy West, real estate investor, author and businessman from the East End of London who was formerly a criminal and Category A prisoner. During the 1970s–1980s, Shaw was active in the criminal underworld of London and was frequently associated with the Kray twins. Shaw is best remembered today for his career as a fighter on the unlicensed boxing scene, becoming an arch-rival with Lenny McLean.
THE FORMER GUV’NOR HAS PASSED AWAY BUT HIS MEMORY LIVES ON HERE AT THE CRIME THROUGH TIME COLLECTION AT LITTLEDEAN JAIL
Picture By: Jules Annan Picture Shows:Andy Jones with Roy “Pretty Boy ” Shaw’s boxing trunks and the Belt presented to Roy when he was the undisputed unlicensed British Heavyweight boxing champion between 1975 and 1981 . Roy sadly passed away 14th July 2012 . These items and other Roy Shaw material are on display at the Crime Through Time Collection at Littledean Jail Date 21st July 2012
HAVING HAD THE GREAT HONOUR TO HAVE MET AND KNOWN ROY FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS AND HAVING ATTENDED A GREAT MANY EVENTS WITH HIM DURING THIS TIME , HE WAS CERTAINLY A VERY TOUGH AND CHARISMATIC PERSON … TO SAY THE LEAST.
UNDOUBTEDLY ONE OF THE TOUGHEST MEN I HAVE EVER MET …. TRUE GENT AND OLD SCHOOL ALTHOUGH AS MANY OF HIS CLOSE FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES WOULD WELL KNOW… ONE YOU WOULD NOT WISH TO ANTAGONISE, UPSET OR CROSS .Â
HERE AT LITTLEDEAN JAIL WE HAVE LONG FEATURED A NUMBER OF PERSONAL EXHIBIT ITEMS THAT ONCE BELONGED TO ROY SHAW AND USED BY HIM THROUGHOUT HIS UNLICENSED BOXING CAREER ..
THESE ITEMS WERE KINDLY GIFTED AND PRESENTED TO MYSELF Â DURING AN INVITED PRIVATE VISIT TO HIS HOME BACK IN THE YEAR 2000 .
THESE INCLUDE HIS UNDISPUTED , UNOFFICIAL, UNLICENSED BRITISH HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP BELT , HIS BOXING TRUNKS, TRAINING GLOVES , ORIGINAL FIGHT POSTERS ETC….. HE ALSO CONTRIBUTED A NUMBER OF PERSONALLY SIGNED PHOTO’S TO BE INCLUDED IN AND AMONGST THIS PERMANENT EXHIBITION AREA HERE AT THE JAIL…
BELOW:Â ROY SHAW GIFING AND PRESENTING HIS UNOFFICIAL BRITISH HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP BELT ( DATED 1975-1981 ) AND BOXING SHORTS TO ANDY JONES OF THE CRIME THROUGH TIME COLLECTION… AT ROY’S HOME BACK IN THE YEAR 2000
“LONG WILL HE REMAIN IMMORTALISED HERE AT LITTLEDEAN JAIL” … SAYS ANDY JONES, CRIME THROUGH TIME COLLECTION OWNER
BELOW ARE A COUPLE MORE VIDEO FILM CLIPS RELATING TO ROY SHAW ….ALSO BELOW THESE A FEW MORE GALLERY IMAGES OF ROY SHAW AND SOME OF THE ITEMS ON DISPLAY HERE AT LITTLEDEAN JAIL …. INCLUDING ORIGINAL FIGHT POSTERS ETC……
Picture By: Jules Annan
Picture Shows:Andy Jones with Roy “Pretty Boy ” Shaw’s boxing trunks and the Belt presented to Roy when he was the undisputed unlicensed British Heavyweight boxing champion between 1975 and 1981 . Roy sadly passed away 14th July 2012 . These items and other Roy Shaw material are on display at the Crime Through Time Collection at Littledean Jail
Date 21st July 2012
Ref: *World Rights Only*
*Unbylined uses will incur an additional discretionary fee!*
SEEMINGLY OF  TIMELESS  MEDIA INTEREST …. BRITAIN’S MOST INFAMOUS AND NOTORIOUS 1960’S LONDON GANGSTERS …. RONALD AND REGINALD KRAY …..BETTER KNOWN AS THE KRAY TWINS .
HERE BELOW IS AN Â ARTICLE FEATURING THE CRIME THROUGH TIME COLLECTION HERE AT LITTLEDEAN JAIL ,THAT APPEARED BOTH ONLINE AND IN PRINT WITHIN THE DAILY MIRROR ON PAGE 33 -7 MAY 2015 .
ABOVE AND BELOW : Original oil paintings of The Krays by Gloucestershire artist Paul Bridgman . Also depicts  two of their murder victims Jack “The Hat ” McVitie who was killed by Reg Kray at Evering Rd, Stoke Newington  and George Cornell who murdered by Ron Kray at The Blind Beggar Pub , Whitechapel Rd
HERE BELOW IS A BRIEF TRAILER OF THEÂ KRAY TWINS FILM ENTITLED “LEGEND” STARRING TOM HARDY PLAYING THE ROLE OF BOTH RON AND REG KRAY SOME OF THE MANY GENUINE KRAY MEMORABILIA ITEMS ON DISPLAY AT LITTLEDEAN JAIL… THESE INCLUDE ONE OF RONNIE KRAY’S SUITS SEEN HERE WITH HIS FORMER WIFE KATE KRAY’S WEDDING DRESS , KINDLY DONATED BY KATE HERSELF MANY YEARS AGO
BELOW IS SOME MORE BRIEF HISTORICAL INSIGHT FOOTAGE INTO THE KRAY’S
EXTRACTS FROM VARIOUS Â OTHER NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS FEATURING SOME OF THE KRAY TWINS MEMORABILIA ON DISPLAY AT LITTLEDEAN JAIL IN THE PAST.
BELOW IS A BRIEF GALLERY OF KRAY TWINS ITEMS INCLUDING 2 ORIGINAL PAINTINGS FROM BOTH RON AND REG, WHILST IN JAIL AT HMP PARKHURST , ISLE oF WIGHT , PAINTED BY THEM IN 1971 THAT WERE SOLD TOGETHER FOR £4800 + FEES, ETC  AT CHISWICK AUCTIONS , LONDON IN MARCH 2008 .
AFTER GOING AROUND VARIOUS OTHER AUCTION HOUSES SINCE THEN, Â THEY HAVE NOW ARRIVED HERE AT LITTLEDEAN JAIL ACQUIRED FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTOR Â AND ARE NOW ON DISPLAY TO THE PUBLIC Â ALONG WITH VARIOUS OTHER KRAY TWINS ITEMS .
BELOW IS THE Â PRESALE REPORT ON THE PAINTINGS AS SEEN IN THE DAILY MAIL Â ON THE 9 MARCH 2008
Yours for £2,000, oil paintings by the Kray Twins (currently owned by a ex-convict who won them in a card game)
Gangsters with an artistic streak: Reggie (left) and Ronnie Kray in the 1960s
One famously shot dead a fellow gangster in an East End pub for a verbal sleight. The other knifed to death another gangland member at a party  But it appears Ronnie and Reggie Kray also had a more sensitive side – as landscape painters. These oil canvasses by the infamous twins, painted after they were both jailed for 30 years, are to be auctioned in London this week.The one of a white cottage next to a road was painted by Ronnie. His brother’s is an image of a river running through a green valley with an ominously dark sky in the background.  Both twins began painting after their 1968 trial at the Old Bailey, often creating the same scene in picture after picture.  A spokesman for Chiswick Auctions in West London, where the paintings are being sold, said: ‘The same themes are repeated over and over again in their work, with very little variation. We expect these two to go for between £800 and £1,500 each.’ Both pictures are being sold by a former inmate who won them from the twins during card games in jail.The auction house spokesman said: ‘The seller has given us some interesting insights into the Krays’ minds.
  ‘He says Reggie always, always painted with a dark sky. This might reflect his state of mind and the dark thoughts he had. He was known for his moods and being aloof. Ronnie, on the other hand, always painted a white cottage because that was his idea of a dream house, a place in the country.
Ronnie’s paintings are more aspirational, whereas Reggie’s tend to reflect his sombre state of mind.’The images were painted in oils on to card. They are both eight-and-a-half inches by 11-and-a-half inches.
A similar painting by Ronnie sold at an auction in Lincolnshire in 2005 for £2,200, twice the expected fee.
The spokesman added: ‘The seller told us paintings were used in games of cards as currency. If they were by Joe Bloggs, they wouldn’t be worth £5.’
The Krays ran a brutal gang known as The Firm in London’s East End during the late Fifties and Sixties. Revelling in their image of sharp suits and flashy cars, they began to believe the law could not touch them.
That bravado allowed Ronnie to walk into the Blind Beggar pub in Whitechapel and shoot dead George Cornell in front of customers for calling him a ‘fat poof’.
A year later, in 1967, Reggie stabbed Jack ‘The Hat’ McVitie to death in a flat in North London.  But Scotland Yard closed the net and the twins were given life sentences and told they must serve at least 30 years.  Ronnie died of a heart attack in 1995 after collapsing in his cell in Broadmoor. Reggie died in jail in 2000.
MORE EXTRACTS OF MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE CRIME THROUGH TIME’S KRAY TWINS EXHIBITION
BELOW ARE MORE EXHIBIT ITEMS
Picture By:Jules Annan
Picture Shows:Original paintings by both Ronnie and Reggie Kray painted in 1971 whilst both were imprisoned in HMP Parkhusrt, Isle of Wight . Previously sold at Chiswick Auctions, London back in 2008 and now on display at the Crime Through Time Collection, Littledean Jail, Gloucestershire
Date ;10/06/2014
Picture By:Jules Annan
Picture Shows:Original paintings by both Ronnie and Reggie Kray painted in 1971 whilst both were imprisoned in HMP Parkhusrt, Isle of Wight . Previously sold at Chiswick Auctions, London back in 2008 and now on display at the Crime Through Time Collection, Littledean Jail, Gloucestershire
Date ;10/06/2014
Picture By:Jules Annan
Picture Shows:Original painting by Ronnie Kray painted in 1971 whilst imprisoned in HMP Parkhusrt, Isle of Wight . Previously sold at Chiswick Auctions, London for £4, 800 plus fees and VAT back in 2008 and now on display at the Crime Through Time Collection, Littledean Jail, Gloucestershire
Date ;10/06/2014
Picture By:Jules Annan
Picture Shows:Rear of original painting by Ronnie Kray painted in 1971 whilst imprisoned in HMP Parkhusrt, Isle of Wight . Previously sold at Chiswick Auctions, London for £4, 800 plus fees and VAT back in 2008 and now on display at the Crime Through Time Collection, Littledean Jail, Gloucestershire
Date ;10/06/2014
Picture By:Jules Annan
Picture Shows:Original painting by Reggie Kray painted in 1971 whilst imprisoned in HMP Parkhusrt, Isle of Wight . Previously sold at Chiswick Auctions, London back in 2008 and now on display at the Crime Through Time Collection, Littledean Jail, Gloucestershire
Date ;10/06/2014
Picture By:Jules Annan
Picture Shows:Rear of original painting by Reggie Kray painted in 1971 whilst imprisoned in HMP Parkhusrt, Isle of Wight . Previously sold at Chiswick Auctions, London back in 2008 and now on display at the Crime Through Time Collection, Littledean Jail, Gloucestershire
Date ;10/06/2014
Picture By:Jules Annan
Picture Shows:Sale receipt for original painting by Ronnie Kray painted in 1971 whilst imprisoned in HMP Parkhusrt, Isle of Wight . Previously sold at Chiswick Auctions, London back in 2008 and now on display at the Crime Through Time Collection, Littledean Jail, Gloucestershire
Date ;10/06/2014
Picture By: Jules Annan
Picture Shows:Andy Jones of the Crime Through Time Collection at Littledean Jail with child-like pastel drawing of two boxers painted by Reggie Kray circa 1980’s as part of the Kray Twins and The Firm Exhibition
Date 01st June 2012
Ref: *World Rights Only*
*Unbylined uses will incur an additional discretionary fee!*
Picture By: Jules Annan
Picture Shows:Andy Jones of the Crime Through Time Collection at Littledean Jail with child-like pastel drawing of two boxers painted by Reggie Kray circa 1980’s as part of the Kray Twins and The Firm Exhibition
Date 01st June 2012
Ref: *World Rights Only*
*Unbylined uses will incur an additional discretionary fee!*
Picture By: Jules Annan
Picture Shows:Cowboy crayon drawings by Reggie Kray which are part of the Kray Twins and The Firm Exhibition here at the Jail
Date 01st June 2012
Ref: *World Rights Only*
*Unbylined uses will incur an additional discretionary fee!*
Picture By: Jules Annan
Picture Shows:Cowboy crayon drawings by Reggie Kray which are part of the Kray Twins and The Firm Exhibition here at the Jail
Date 01st June 2012
Ref: *World Rights Only*
*Unbylined uses will incur an additional discretionary fee!*
Picture By: Jules Annan
Picture Shows:Andy Jones of the Crime Through Time Collection at Littledean Jail with cowboy crayon drawings by Reggie Kray which are part of the Kray Twins and The Firm Exhibition here at the Jail
Date 01st June 2012
Ref: *World Rights Only*
*Unbylined uses will incur an additional discretionary fee!*
Picture By: Jules Annan
Picture Shows: HMP Parkhurst Isle of Wight prison letter dated 02nd November 1983 sent to family friend Lawrie O’Leary by Reggie Kray which are part of the Kray Twins and The Firm Exhibition here at the Jail
Date 01st June 2012
Ref: *World Rights Only*
*Unbylined uses will incur an additional discretionary fee!*
Picture By: Jules Annan
Picture Shows: HMP Parkhurst Isle of Wight prison letter dated 02nd November 1983 sent to family friend Lawrie O’Leary by Reggie Kray which are part of the Kray Twins and The Firm Exhibition here at the Jail
Date 01st June 2012
Ref: *World Rights Only*
*Unbylined uses will incur an additional discretionary fee!*
ABOVE IS RONNIE KRAY’S Â ORIGINAL PROVISIONAL DRIVING LICENCE FROM BACK IN 1959 WHEN HE WOULD HAVE BEEN 26 YEARS OLD, REGISTERED TO HIM AT THE KRAY FAMILY’S HOME ADDRESS AT THE TIME , 178 VALLANCE ROAD , LONDON Â .
IN ITSELF A NOSTALGIC PIECE OF PRE-ARREST KRAY TWINS MEMORABILIA …. NOW HERE ON PERMANENT Â DISPLAY ALONGSIDE THE KRAY TWINS EXHIBITION Â HERE AT LITTLEDEAN JAIL .
THE ONLY KRAY TWINS EXHIBITION OF ITS KIND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC .
REGGIE KRAYSÂ SO SAY (THOUGH CERTAINLY FAKE …. BUYERS BEWARE ) Â ORIGINAL ARTIST PAINT BOX , PAINTS AND BRUSHES LAST USED BY HIM AT HMP WAYLAND SHORTLY BEFORE HIS DEATH FROM CANCER ON 01ST OCTOBER Â 2000
COME VISIT AND SEE FOR YOURSELVES THE UK’S ONLY KRAY TWINS EXHIBITION ON PUBLIC DISPLAY FEATURING SOME OF THEIR PERSONAL BELONGINGS, HANDWRITTEN AND SIGNED LETTERS , Â TOOLS OF THE TRADE, ARTWORK, MEMORABILIA AND OTHER RELATED FIRM ITEMS .Â
ALL IN ALL AN INTRIGUING PERSONAL INSIGHT INTO BOTH PRE ARREST DAYS AND THEIR SUBSEQUENT LIFE BEHIND BARS
ALSO VARIOUS OTHER GANGLAND MEMORABILIA …..ITS ALL HERE AT THE CRIME THROUGH TIME COLLECTION AT LITTLEDEAN JAIL .
HERE BELOW IS A BRIEF PICTORIAL INSIGHT INTO SOME OF THE ITEMS ON DISPLAY …………
YES THIS REALLY IS RON KRAY’S PERSONAL KNUCKLE DUSTER Â KINDLY GIFTED TO ANDY JONES – THE CRIME THROUGH TIME COLLECTION AFTER A PERSONAL Â VISIT TO REGGIE KRAY WHILST HE WAS INCARCERATED AT HMP. MAIDSTONE …WHICH HE WANTED ANDY TO DISPLAY ALONG WITH VARIOUS OTHER PERSONAL ITEMS Â ACQUIRED FROM OTHER INNER CIRCLE FRIENDS, Â ACQUAINTANCES AND EVEN FROM VARIOUS FORMER METROPOLITAN POLICE OFFICERS …….. .FOR AND ON Â REGGIES AND Â RONNIES Â BEHALF..
.
ORIGINAL RONNIE KRAY ARTWORK PAINTED BY HIMSELF WHILST AT BROADMOOR MENTAL ASYLUM . HERE ON DISPLAY ALONG WITH MANY OTHER ARTWORK ,DRAWINGS AND PAINTINGS BY BOTH RONNIE AND REGGIEÂ
ABOVE: Original oil painting of “The Richardsons, Charlie and Eddie ”  by Gloucestershire artist Paul Bridgman. Also known as the sadistic “Torture Gang “, they were fierce South London  rivals of the  Kray twins.
BELOW DOUBLE PAGE ARTICLE PREVIOUSLY FEATURED IN THE SUNDAY PEOPLE NEWSPAPERÂ IN 2016……
BRITAIN’S OLDEST FORMER GANGSTERÂ REVEALS ALL…. AGED 93 AS EXPECTED THIS STORY , FORTHCOMING BOOK AND INEVITABLE FORTHCOMING DOCUMENTARY AND POTENTIAL FILM WILL GO GLOBALÂ IN 2017…. FOR SURE
BELOW : BERTS “BATTLES” ROSSI’S AUTOBIOGRAPHYÂ NOW ON SALE THROUGH VARIOUS OUTLETS INCLUDING AMAZON ….
BRITAIN’S REAL LIFE EQUIVALENT TO AMERICA’S GANGLAND BOSS Â ” AL CAPONE” Â WHO WAS ACTIVE DURING THE 1950’S Â AND BEYOND.
KNOWN TO MANY AS THE “GENERAL OF CLERKENWELL” , LONDON , Â ALSOÂ TRUSTED FRIEND Â AND MENTOR TO THE KRAY TWINS … Â “BERT “BATTLE” ROSSI ”
HE WAS CLOSE FAMILY FRIEND AND ASSOCIATE TO THE ITALIAN MAFIA ORGANISATION Â … THE GAMBINO CRIME FAMILY , WHO ARE OF COURSE WELL KNOWN AND FEARED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, EVEN TODAY….
ABOVE : A RECENT MEET UP BETWEEN BERT ROSSI AND ANDY JONES OF THE CRIME THROUGH TIME COLLECTION , LITTLEDEAN JAIL , WHEREBY BERT PRESENTS ANDY WITH HIS OWN Â PERSONAL Â PAUL LAKE LIMITED EDITION PRINT SIGNED BY RON AND REG KRAY . THIS FOR DISPLAY AT THE JAIL WITH A FORTHCOMING BRIEF EXHIBITION ON HIMSELF ….. Â THIS TO COINCIDE WITH THE RELEASE OF HIS FORTHCOMING BOOK ….. WATCH THIS SPACE FOR FURTHER DETAILS …… BELOW IS THE SIGNED PRINT ON DISPLAY AT THE JAIL
COMING SOON …. THE UNTOLD STORY OF BERT ROSSI ,WHO IS TODAY , AT THE GRAND OLD AGE OF 92 , THE UK’S Â OLDEST LIVING GANGSTER
FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE NAME …. MORE INTIMATE DETAILS OF HIS INCREDIBLE LIFE AND TIMES ARE TO BE PUBLISHED FOR THE FIRST TIME OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS …..
A BRIEF MEMO FROM BERT ….. FOR ALL THOSE INTERESTED IN THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BERT “BATTLE” ROSSI …. AND FOR THE RECORD …. BERT AT THE GRAND OLD AGE OF 92 HAS INFORMED ME THAT HE HAS NOW ENTERED THE DIGITAL SOCIAL NETWORK ERA AND IS HIMSELF NOW ACTIVLY INVOLVED AND IN CONTROL OF HIS OWN FACEBBOK PAGE HE PERSONALLY READS ALL THE COMMENTS AND AGAIN PERSONALLY INFORMS HIS FAMILY AS TO WHAT TO REPLY FOR AND ON HIS BEHALF … FOR HIS FACEBOOK PAGE  (SEE HERE) .
PLEASE DO NOTE HE IS NOT ACTIVELY ON THIS SITE 24/7 AS HE HAS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT COMMITMENTS ELSEWHERE ….. INCLUDING HIS SOON TO BE RELEASED BOOK ENTITLED “THE GENERAL OF CLERKENWELL”  , WHICH IS HOPEFULLY DUE TO BE RELEASED IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS 2015, ALONG WITH  A DOCUMENTARY WITH TITLE ” BOMP” …. FOR WHICH VARIOUS TASTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE BOTH ON OUR SITE HERE AND ON YOUTUBE . ALL AS HAS BEEN PERSONALLY AUTHORISED BY BERT HIMSELF.
INCONJUNCTION WITH THE FORTHCOMING BOOK LAUNCH AND DOCUMENTARY …. THE CRIME THROUGH TIME COLLECTION HERE AT LITTLEDEAN JAIL WILL BE STAGING A BRIEF ,BUT PERMANENT EXHIBITION ON THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BERT “BATTLE” ROSSI , IN AND AMONGST OTHER UK AND AMERICAN GANGLAND FIGURES …… WHICH WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE 2016 TOURISM SEASON .
THERE HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE AN EVER INCREASING MEDIA INTEREST IN BERT’S STORY … PARTICULARLY AS HE IS THE OLDEST LIVING FORMER GANGLAND BOSS ….. MOST RECENTLY FEATURED IN THE ONLINE NATIONAL CRIME SYNDICATION MAGAZINE BLOG ( SEE HERE )
HERE BELOW IS A RECENT (AUGUST 2015 ) , VERY BRIEF INSIGHT VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH THE NOW 92 YEAR OLD FORMER LONDON MAFIA BOSS AND MENTOR TO THE KRAY TWINS
HERE BELOW ARE A FEW VINTAGE IMAGES OF BERT ROSSI WITH VARIOUS FACES FROM THE PAST
BERT ROSSI AGED 92
BERT ROSSI
BERT ROSSI
On a recent visit to the Bookies
Alex Steene-Jersey Joe Walcott
Bert and Big Albert Dimes
Bert Rossi ,billy Hill , Ruby Sparks and Frank Fraser
Bert with picture
Bert , Albert and Lord and lady Docker
Bert , Billy Hill and Lady Docker
Krays boxing -pose -1953
Willie Pep
Bert “Battle ” Rossi aged 92 , July 2015
Andy Jones of the Crime Through Time Collection with Bert “Battle” Rossi at a recent get together