But here’s the kicker that most people don’t know: Barbara Windsor once saved the Krays from a potential gangland hit. Or at least, she thought she did. During one late-night party at a club, she overheard some shady guys talking about “sorting out” the twins. Being a loyal, if slightly tipsy, friend, she rushed to warn Ronnie and Reggie.
How Kray twins went from mum's lovely boys to most evil men in Britain
The twins, ever the gentlemen (in their own twisted way), thanked her profusely and poured her another drink. Later, it turned out the “hit” was just two rival gangsters having a loud argument about a stolen shipment of fur coats. But still—the sheer chutzpah of a five-foot actress acting as a bodyguard for two stone-cold killers is the stuff of legend. It’s like a Chihuahua barking at a pack of wolves and the wolves stepping back going, “Respect, little one.”
The Friendship That Baffled Everyone
Why did the Krays, who had a body count and a reputation for cruelty, adore Barbara so much? Simple: she was funny and genuine. In a world of fake smiles and backstabbing gangsters, Barbara’s laugh was a genuine ray of sunshine—even if that sunshine came with a side of sauciness. Ronnie, who struggled with mental health issues, reportedly loved her for making him laugh, a rare luxury in his dark world.
She’d tease them mercilessly, calling them “boys” and telling them to stop being so mean. And they listened. Once, when Ronnie was sulking about a failed deal, Barbara apparently told him to “cheer up, you look like a constipated bulldog,” and he cracked a smile. Imagine telling a psychopath to smile and living to tell the tale.
Unseen Family Photos of the Kray Twins - Mirror Online
