Mastermind behind the Great Train Robbery Douglas ‘Gordon’ Goody dies at Spanish home
THE man who masterminded the 1963 Great Train Robbery has died at his home in Spain aged 86.
Douglas "Gordon" Goody has died aged 86
Douglas “Gordon” Goody hatched the plot which saw a 15-strong gang escape with £2,631,684 in used notes from - worth around £46 million today.
The heist, dubbed the crime of the century, saw the group stop the Glasgow-Euston overnight mail train as it passed through Buckinghamshire countryside close to Cheddington.
Ronnie Biggs - 7 Million Dollar fugitive - Great train robbery
The train was driven a mile and a half to Bridego Bridge where they unloaded the loot before fleeing.
But 12 of the raiders were later captured and jailed for a total of more than 300 years.
Goody was sentenced to 30 years but released in 1975.
Gordon Goody arrives at Aylesbury court covered in a blanket
He set up his Spanish bar in the town of Mojacar, in the south of the country, four years later.
The Mojacar town hall statement said Goody died at 6am on Friday and paid a glowing tribute to him.
Gordon Goody arrives at court flanked by two policemen after being charged with the robbery
A spokesman said: "All who knew him were struck by his friendliness, his love for his friends and family and the many pets he rescued from the street."
Michael Biggs, the son of fellow Great Train Robber Ronnie, also paid tribute to his father’s partner in crime.
One of the carriages targeted during the robbery
He said: "I knew that he was ill, but I didn't know how ill he was, I've been away from the country for a few months.
"It is always sad to know someone's passed away and my thoughts are with his family at the moment, and I wish his family all the best.
"It's the end of an era. Now it's all down to the history books."
Gordon Goody pictured in 1978
Asked what his father would say at the news of his fellow gang-member's death, he said: "He would say, 'We can finally all get together for a drink'."
More than one broke out of prison, including Biggs, who spent over 30 years on the run before he finally returned to Britain in 2001 to face arrest.
Gang leader Bruce Reynolds returned in 1968, five years after the crime, and was captured in Torquay and jailed for 25 years.