Freddie Foreman, Notorious London Gangster and Kray Twins Associate, Dies at 94

Freddie Foreman, a career criminal and associate of the infamous Kray Twins, died at the age of 94. Known by nicknames such as 'Brown Bread Fred' and 'The Guv'nor,' Foreman passed away on October 10th in a west London care home after a brief illness.

Mourners, including figures from the British criminal underworld, attended a service for Foreman at GreenAcres Kemnal Park in Sidcup, southeast London. Among those present were former Essex Boys associate Bernard O'Mahoney, actor Mike Linnane, convicted armed robber John Twomey, and former Kray Firm member Chris Lambrianou.

Foreman was a prominent figure in London's East End crime scene during the 1950s and 1960s, working closely with Ronald and Reginald Kray. He was involved in the disposal of the body of Jack 'The Hat' McVitie, who was murdered by Reggie Kray. Foreman later admitted to carrying out killings and disposing of bodies at sea.

He was sentenced to ten years in prison for his role in disposing of McVitie's body and later served time for his alleged involvement in the 1983 Shoreditch Security Express robbery, which was at the time the largest cash heist in the UK. In total, Foreman served 16 years across 15 different prisons, although he was acquitted of murder charges four times at the Old Bailey.

Despite his criminal past, Foreman was remembered by some attendees as a 'very warm man' and an 'old-fashioned gentleman gangster.' His godson, Nick Reynolds, described his death as 'the end of an era.'

Foreman's life and criminal activities were documented in the 2018 biographical film 'Fred: The Godfather of British Crime.' He also authored two volumes of memoirs. He was reportedly estranged from his family in his later years and had moved into a care home shortly before his death.