commentary by Patrick H. Moore
You are in for a few surprises if you take a gander at the art and antics of one of Merrie Old England’s hardest “hard men”, Charles Bronson (not ‘Death Wish’ Charles Bronson, the American actor). An artist known for his disturbing ‘crime art’ and a published author, Bronson is also one of Great Britain’s most famous living convicts.
Born Michael Gordon Peterson, he cut his teeth with petty crime before getting slapped with some serious time — seven years in 1974 for an armed robbery at a Post Office. He then began to make a name for himself as the freshest (and one of the scariest) bull goose loonies in Her Majesty’s Prison Service. Since first entering prison 40 long years ago, he has spent just four months out of custody and 36 of those years in solitary confinement.
According to Wikipedia, he is known for fighting both convicts and prison officers. Fiercely independent yet seemingly loyal to a select few, he has embarked on one-man rooftop protests. This original “problem prisoner” has been moved 120 times during his 36 years in custody. His original 7-year- stretch elongated into 14 years, before he was finally released on 30 October 1988. Apparently not the best candidate for a smooth transition to civilian life, Bronson spent only 69 days as a free man before getting attested again.
* * * * *
Now the man known as “the most violent prisoner in Britain” is back in the news because of a little dust-up he had with a dozen prison guards at Full Sutton HMP after he got bent badly out of shape after his team Hull lost to Arsenal 3-2 at Wembley on May 17th.
Bronson’s recent antics have been passed on to posterity in the form of a letter he wrote to Ronnie Kray’s wife Kate Kray two days after the catastrophic defeat. In the letter, this intensely expressive man bemoans the slings and arrows of his outrageous fortune.
In the letter to Kate Kray, Bronson said the “rumble” with officers in riot gear left him with broken ribs. He explained that he had slathered on the Lurpak hoping that the grease would make it harder for them to restrain him.
Bronson, who is 61, wrote to Ms. Kray: “Not good news. I’ve had another rumble. This time with a dozen riot mob on the yard!”
The attack was very reminiscent of an earlier assault on 12 prison officers at Wakefield prison in 2010.
“Obviously I had my reasons and I’d sooner swallow teeth than my pride. Sadly I came off worst – got smashed up ribs.
“Life goes on Kate! You won’t hear me moan!”
The hard man went on: “It was sunny! A scorcher! Arsenal was playing Hull. I so wanted Hull to win, coz I’m Spurs.
“I got Lurpak and spread it on thick. Then a small cloud appeared.
“I swear I see Ron’s face. It was eerie. Go on son, let ’em have it!”
Bronson explains his vision in his letter: “I know the mind plays games in moments of mad events but it is still a comforting thought Ron’s still around. Made me feel happy. Safe! Double up for it!”
A “hard man” doesn’t get moved from prison to prison 120 times for being a peace-loving fellow, and the incident at Full Sutton jail in York came just months after Bronson was accused of attacking the governor of Woodhill prison for having had the cheek to criticize his artwork.
Bronson is due to go on trial on September 1 for the alleged attack on the Woodhill governor. He claims to have been offered a 1/3rd discount on his sentence if he pleads out.
Assuming he’s guilty, which appears to be somewhat of a foregone conclusion, Bronson’s attack on the governor was triggered by His Excellency’s inflammatory claim that his style of art – his pictures often depict prison officers in violent scenes — was too aggressive.
In a heartfelt moment, Bronson admitted to Kate that he was mortified over the incident with the governor because it had upset his mother, Eira Peterson, who is 84.
Kate said: “Apparently he lost it and attacked the governor for saying his art was too explicit, too violent. He got put back in the cage and started drawing Easter bunnies instead of his usual disturbing pictures. But he is really upset that he’s upset his mum.
“I’d told him I was planning an auction of lots of Ron’s and Reggie’s stuff, so he said, ‘Can you put my drawings in auction to send my mum on holiday?’”
Kate is kindly selling nine of Bronson’s pictures, as well as a poem called Asylum, a statement about his art and a copy of an official complaint he made against the Prison Service in 2009 after his spectacles were allegedly stolen.
In one drawing, he stumps for “Kate Kray for Prime Minister”.
In another drawing, which depicts severed limbs, there is a note saying: “Remember me to Santa.”
In another Bronson relaxes on a sun-lounger on Blackpool beach with a bird and a speech bubble saying: “I’m sure that’s the Birdman of Broadmoor.”
And so it goes. Bronson is clearly no slouch as an artist and his chillingly entertaining work has been featured in exhibitions around the world.
Kate explained:
“I got to know Charlie through being married to Ron and included him when I was working on TV documentaries and books about Britain’s hardest villains.
“Of all the people I have interviewed, including murderers and maniacs, if you were to ask me, ‘Would you let Charles Bronson stay at your house overnight?’ I would say yes. It is testosterone-led with Charlie.
“Charlie has only two things to occupy him in his cage. His fitness regime and his art. If you keep a man in a cage for 36 years, then rattle that cage, be prepared, he’ll bite.”
Bronson’s talent is such that his surrealist pieces have sold for up to £1,000 and have been displayed in galleries across London. One of his pieces was briefly on display at Angel Tube Station.
“Come and join us on a journey into madness,” says his website. “But if you’re coming… bring a torch.”
* * * * *
Britain’s most violent prisoner clearly has a short fuse to go along with his considerable talent. His relative lucidity, combined with his artwork, despite spending most of 36 years in solitary confinement, is the stuff that legends are made of.