It is nearly 60 years since, as the Guardian reported at the time: “The 30-year prison sentence which Ronald Arthur Biggs, one of the Great Train Robbers, began 15 months ago was abruptly placed in suspense yesterday afternoon when he was allowed out to exercise in the yard of Wandsworth prison, London. With three other prisoners he disappeared over the 20ft-high wall while his guards, obstructed by men still on exercise, watched helplessly.”
The reporter Tony Geraghty added that, like the train robbery itself, “this operation was characterised by panache and flamboyance”.
