Making a Mark
On August 8, 1963, a 15-member gang robbed a Royal Mail train traveling from Glasgow, Scotland to London. They beat the train driver with an iron bar before making off with 2.6 million pounds (in August, 2009 US dollars, well over 65 million). The driver never fully recovered from his injuries; he had headaches the rest of his life. Most of the money was never recovered. At the time, it was the largest robbery in British history. It became known as the “Great Train Robbery.”
Thirteen of the gang members were caught, tried, and sentenced on April 16, 1964. One of the robbers was Ronnie Biggs. After serving 15 months of a 30-year sentence, Biggs escaped from prison, fleeing to Paris where he acquired a new identity and underwent plastic surgery. In 1970, he moved to Australia and later to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Because of extradition laws in Brazil, he was able to stay there with legal immunity. Untouched by British authorities, Briggs lived in Rio for many years. He developed a cult-like status for his open defiance of British authorities. He lived a playboy lifestyle, made a recording with the Sex Pistols (“No One Is Innocent”), charged tourists to spend time with him, and made TV commercials for hair replacement.
Of his own will, Biggs, 71, returned to Britain in May, 2001, knowing he would be arrested. The press reported he returned to the UK to receive health care. However, according to his Brazilian son, Michael, health care was available in Brazil and he had many friends who would have contributed to any such expenses. Biggs proclaimed he wanted to once again walk into a pub to order a pint! He did not make it to the pub. He was arrested as soon as he arrived and returned to prison to serve the 28 years remaining in his sentence.
By August, 2009, weakened by three strokes and suffering from pneumonia, he was unable to walk or feed himself. Since he was unlikely to recover and did not pose a threat to society, on August 6, 2009, British officials granted him an early release, citing “compassionate grounds.” On August 8, 2009, Briggs was 80 years old.
Throughout his long life, Briggs remained defiant. On July 1, 2009, a judge rejected his plea for early release saying he remained “wholly unrepentant.” Briggs himself said, “I don't regret the fact that I was involved in the train robbery. As a matter of fact, I’m quite pleased with the idea I was involved because it’s given me a little place in history, shall we say.” He once told an interviewer, “I've made a mark for myself.”
What an attitude! He made a mark alright. By heavens standards, it was a black mark. All of us have marks we would like to erase. Thank God for His forgiveness, but our attitude ought to be shame for the black marks and concern that we leave some white marks.
Briggs’ problem was not just his view of history. Instead of looking at past history, he should have been concerned about a future appointment—the one where we all have to give an account to a holy God. Briggs was proud of his past and ignorant of the future.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 8/30/2009
Thirteen of the gang members were caught, tried, and sentenced on April 16, 1964. One of the robbers was Ronnie Biggs. After serving 15 months of a 30-year sentence, Biggs escaped from prison, fleeing to Paris where he acquired a new identity and underwent plastic surgery. In 1970, he moved to Australia and later to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Because of extradition laws in Brazil, he was able to stay there with legal immunity. Untouched by British authorities, Briggs lived in Rio for many years. He developed a cult-like status for his open defiance of British authorities. He lived a playboy lifestyle, made a recording with the Sex Pistols (“No One Is Innocent”), charged tourists to spend time with him, and made TV commercials for hair replacement.
Of his own will, Biggs, 71, returned to Britain in May, 2001, knowing he would be arrested. The press reported he returned to the UK to receive health care. However, according to his Brazilian son, Michael, health care was available in Brazil and he had many friends who would have contributed to any such expenses. Biggs proclaimed he wanted to once again walk into a pub to order a pint! He did not make it to the pub. He was arrested as soon as he arrived and returned to prison to serve the 28 years remaining in his sentence.
By August, 2009, weakened by three strokes and suffering from pneumonia, he was unable to walk or feed himself. Since he was unlikely to recover and did not pose a threat to society, on August 6, 2009, British officials granted him an early release, citing “compassionate grounds.” On August 8, 2009, Briggs was 80 years old.
Throughout his long life, Briggs remained defiant. On July 1, 2009, a judge rejected his plea for early release saying he remained “wholly unrepentant.” Briggs himself said, “I don't regret the fact that I was involved in the train robbery. As a matter of fact, I’m quite pleased with the idea I was involved because it’s given me a little place in history, shall we say.” He once told an interviewer, “I've made a mark for myself.”
What an attitude! He made a mark alright. By heavens standards, it was a black mark. All of us have marks we would like to erase. Thank God for His forgiveness, but our attitude ought to be shame for the black marks and concern that we leave some white marks.
Briggs’ problem was not just his view of history. Instead of looking at past history, he should have been concerned about a future appointment—the one where we all have to give an account to a holy God. Briggs was proud of his past and ignorant of the future.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 8/30/2009
