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There has been a tv series broadcast recently, Gangs of Britain, I think on the Crime and Investigation channel, fronted by Gary and Martin Kemp. Recently they did Birmingham. They talked about the Brummagem Boys who were a major organised crime gang of the 1920's whose territory stretched from Leeds to the south coast. Mainly betting rackets centred on race courses, the only places where betting was allowed in those days.
They were formed and led by a guy called Billy Kimber, who for a few decades was one of the big crime 'Godfathers' in the UK. The Tony Soprano of Brum. He was also my great grandfather! My mum had told me about this criminal in our family before, but I never realised just what a notorious and major figure he was. His main rival was Darby Sabini, a London gang boss with whom they had many turf wars. Kimber went to America for a while, acted as Charlie Chaplin's bodyguard and ended up killing some guy who owed him money. I think finally he fled to South Africa and 'disappeared'.
Anyone see the programme or have other info on the Brummagem Boys, or the Peaky Blinders - another major Birmingham gang? It's a fascinating part of our cities history actually. You can google him. Kimber was born in Aston, as was most of my mothers family, and the reason incidentally why I support the Villa, despite being born myself deep in Small Heath territory :)
They were formed and led by a guy called Billy Kimber, who for a few decades was one of the big crime 'Godfathers' in the UK. The Tony Soprano of Brum. He was also my great grandfather! My mum had told me about this criminal in our family before, but I never realised just what a notorious and major figure he was. His main rival was Darby Sabini, a London gang boss with whom they had many turf wars. Kimber went to America for a while, acted as Charlie Chaplin's bodyguard and ended up killing some guy who owed him money. I think finally he fled to South Africa and 'disappeared'.
Anyone see the programme or have other info on the Brummagem Boys, or the Peaky Blinders - another major Birmingham gang? It's a fascinating part of our cities history actually. You can google him. Kimber was born in Aston, as was most of my mothers family, and the reason incidentally why I support the Villa, despite being born myself deep in Small Heath territory :)