"I used to have a list of things from my school buddies of what kind of art material they wanted. I'd go up to the West End of London and spend the whole day knocking stuff off"
- Ronald Biggs
About this Quote
The quote credited to Ronald Biggs provides a glance into his early life experiences and mean the origins of his disposition towards a life of criminal activity. Biggs, notorious for his involvement in the Great Train Robbery of 1963, states a developmental period in his youth where he participated in petty theft. The expression "knocking stuff off" is slang for taking, suggesting that even as a young person, he was involved in illegal activities. This honest admission shows a casual attitude towards theft, treating it as an adventure or a regular part of his day.
The setting is considerable: the West End of London, known for its vibrant arts scene and range of stores. The act of traveling to this location indicates a sense of purpose and perhaps an excitement in the act of pilfering art products. This wasn't a one-off event however a recurrent activity, as indicated by the phrase "spend the whole day," suggesting both the degree of his dedication to these expeditions and a semblance of organization in his ventures.
Furthermore, the mention of a list from his school buddies presents an aspect of sociability and exposes a social element to his actions. It paints a picture of a young Biggs not acting completely on impulse but serving the desires of his peers, which shows a type of social currency or bonding activity among them. This dynamic may have cultivated an early understanding of complicity and reliance on group activities, which can be paralleled to his later participation in the mob.
Overall, this quote offers a window into the early life of Ronald Biggs, highlighting a blend of vibrant rebellion, peer influence, and the early development of a path that would result in more severe criminal business. It highlights how small youthful indiscretions can sometimes foreshadow a more extensive entanglement with criminality later on in life.
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