Two brothers who controlled crime in London — and became famous.
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Before we read, let's learn the important words. Match each word (1–8) to its meaning (A–H). Say your answers out loud — "I think 1 is D" — then check.
1 = D (a gang) · 2 = B (the underworld) · 3 = C (protection money) · 4 = A (notorious)
5 = H (loyal) · 6 = E (violent) · 7 = F (to escape) · 8 = G (a downfall)
Read each part. Then try the questions from memory, and talk about the last one.
Ronnie and Reggie Kray were twin brothers. They looked exactly the same. They were born in 1933 in a poor part of London called the East End.
As young men, they were good boxers. But they liked fighting too much. One day, Ronnie hit a policeman in the street. Then Reggie hit a second policeman. The brothers went to prison for a short time.
Later, the army wanted them to be soldiers. But the twins did not want to. They ran away again and again, so the army sent them away. After that, they chose a life of crime. They made a gang and took protection money from local shops. People in the East End were afraid of them.
1. What sport were the twins good at? Why did they stop?
2. How did their gang make money?
1. They were good boxers, but they got into trouble (they hit two policemen) and the army sent them away — so they stopped.
2. They took "protection money" from shops in the East End.
In the 1960s, the twins became famous. They owned a popular nightclub. Famous photographers took their pictures, and they met film stars and singers. Many people liked them — they looked exciting and glamorous!
But they were also dangerous and violent. There is one famous story. Ronnie was once in a hospital, because doctors said he was mentally ill. One day, Reggie came to visit him. The brothers were wearing the same clothes. Because they were identical twins, they secretly swapped places! Ronnie walked out of the hospital, and Reggie stayed inside. The police could not say which twin was which — so Ronnie escaped.
1. How did the twins become famous?
2. How did Ronnie escape from the hospital?
1. They had a popular nightclub, famous photographers took their pictures, and they met film stars and singers.
2. The identical twins wore the same clothes and swapped places during a visit; the police could not tell them apart.
But the twins became more and more violent. In 1966, Ronnie killed a man in a pub. The next year, Reggie killed another man. This time, there were witnesses — people who saw it happen.
A clever detective worked for many months. Slowly, he found witnesses who were brave enough to talk. In 1968, the police arrested the twins. In 1969, a court sent them to prison for life — at least thirty years.
Ronnie died in hospital in 1995. Reggie died in 2000. But people still remember them today. There are many films and books about the famous Kray twins.
1. What finally stopped the twins?
2. What happened to them in the end?
1. They killed two men in front of witnesses, and a detective found witnesses brave enough to talk. The twins were arrested and sent to prison.
2. They went to prison for life. Ronnie died in 1995; Reggie died in 2000.
To tell a story, we use two past tenses together.
1. While the twins (run) the nightclub, their crimes (get) worse.
2. When the police (arrive), Ronnie (already / leave).
3. Reggie (visit) the hospital when the brothers (swap) places.
1. were running / were getting (both long actions happening at the same time)
2. arrived / had already left (or: "left") (a short, finished action)
3. was visiting / swapped (long action + short action inside it)
Put the verbs in the past simple or past continuous. Then read it out loud.
One evening, a man (drink) in a pub. He (not see) Ronnie come in. Suddenly, everything (change). A few minutes later, Ronnie (leave) and (disappear) into the streets.
was drinking · did not see · changed · left · disappeared
The long "background" action is in the past continuous; the sudden, finished actions are in the past simple.
There is a real podcast about the Kray twins. It is for native speakers, so it is fast and quite difficult — that is normal! You do not need to understand every word.
From the Noiser podcast. About 50 minutes. Listen to a few minutes now, or all of it for homework.
Listen on Spotify →Do all three tasks out loud. Use the timer to keep talking.
Tell the story of the Kray twins in your own words. Use these steps to help you: two twin brothers → boxing, then crime → a gang and protection money → famous in the 1960s → the hospital swap → two murders → prison.
Try to use the past simple and past continuous, and some of the key words (gang, the underworld, notorious, violent, escape, downfall).
Some bad people become famous. Why? Do you know any famous criminals — from films, TV, or from your own country? Why do people find them interesting?
Tell the story of any famous person you choose — a singer, a sports star, a politician — who was very successful and then had a big problem or a "downfall". What happened?
Not sure what to talk about? Choose one: