Beatlemania wasn’t the only big news out of Britain in 1963 – the Great Train Robbery also rocked the nation as a 15-strong gang attacked a Royal Mail train and made off with £2.6 million – the equivalent of £46 million (Dh270m) today – in a caper that soon became the stuff of crime legend.
In a textbook demonstration of the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle, they stopped the Glasgow-to-London train by simply covering the green signal light and connecting a six-volt Ever Ready battery to power the red light – then scooped 121 sacks of cash and formed a human chain to unload their loot from Bridego Railway Bridge in Buckinghamshire to their waiting truck in the wee hours of August 8, all without guns.
To rehash the crime itself, which has already inspired and influenced scores of books, movies, television series, videogames, music, theatre and even model railway lore in popular culture, could prove repetitive and redundant.
But Mrs Biggs – a new British drama series that traces the true story of Charmian Biggs, the woman behind Britain’s most famous villain, the Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs – takes us on an astonishing emotional journey over five hour-long episodes.
“Charmian’s is one of the great untold stories of the 20th century, set against the backdrop of one of the greatest crimes of all times,” says the award-winning writer and executive producer Jeff Pope (See No Evil: The Moors Murders). “But at the heart of it is a simple love story between Charmian and Ron. In fact, it illuminates so much about crime and punishment and love.”
“When I received the call to say that I’d got this job I burst into tears. Charmian is an incredible woman,” adds the actress Sheridan Smith – who won the Best Actress Bafta this year for her portrayal of Charmian in this saga of enduring love that spans three decades and crosses continents from Britain to Australia to Brazil.
Pope believes many women can identify with the young Charmian who, as a free-spirited 18-year-old from an oppressive family background, first met the charming Ronnie Biggs on a train – and fell in love with him. The series, which was first broadcast in Britain in 2012, shadows her journey through marriage to Ronnie (played by Daniel Mays), her shock when she finds out he took part in the robbery, his dramatic escape from Wandsworth Prison, their new life after fleeing to Australia, the tragic death of their 10-year-old-son and the moment she said goodbye to Ronnie in Rio to seize a new future for herself and their two surviving children.
“If my story were to be dramatised I wanted it to be done as accurately as possible,” says the real Charmian, who was ultimately allowed to remain in Australia and acted as a consultant to the ITV studios production. “It seemed to me this was an opportunity to convey the rollercoaster of emotions involved, rather than just the bare facts.”
While Ronnie kept up his fame and cash flow through publicity stunts – including singing vocals on two songs for The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle, Julien Temple’s film about the Sex Pistols, “I think he feels he’s had a lot of shots at telling his story and it’s time Charmian told hers,” says Pope.
Mrs. Biggs is broadcast at 5.45pm and 9.50pm on Saturday on ITV Choice HD
artslife@thenational.ae
Mrs Biggs trivia
• The series was filmed in London, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Manchester, Adelaide and Melbourne.
• A locomotive from the same batch of engines involved in the 1963 raid was used to recreate robbery scenes on the East Lancashire Railway.
• Charmian Biggs flew to Britain from Australia in February 2012, just before filming began, to visit Ronnie, who was ill. Despite their 1976 divorce, the couple remain on good terms.
• Charmian sat with actress Sheridan Smith during a read-through of the screenplay.
• While filming in Australia, Sheridan Smith and Daniel Mays spent an evening at Charmian’s house looking at letters and scrapbooks.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
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MATCH INFO
England 241-3 (20 ovs)
Malan 130 no, Morgan 91
New Zealand 165 all out (16.5ovs)
Southee 39, Parkinson 4-47
England win by 76 runs
Series level at 2-2
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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