East End Hard Man Albert Reading - Part 2 Gripping Interview

East End Hard Man Albert Reading talks to Liam Galvin about going to Prison aged 12, Getting the Birch, Prison Riots, Escaping from jail, The 'Axe Man' Frank Mitchell, Billy Grimwood, Joe Pyle & taking on 'Mad' Frankie Fraser. Camera Nick Sherrard for a Sky TV programme about Frankie Fraser called 'Mad Frank'

[@MrG77]

I get a good vibe from Albert ,very truthful eyes. And sounds genuine to me. And his memory and the speed he remembers it shows he is telling the truth. 🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@adriantowe278]

I agree 👍

[@georgeadmiraal552]

He’s an absolute scumbag, evil in his eyes. Can’t idolise a man who attacks people with acid and kicks their head in while they burn, for no good reason

[@perrynnlynch1883]

I have to agree. Good comment.

[@The13thDukeofWybourne]

He was such a sweet man! Good vibes!

[@Loveunited106]

Yammy B has confirmed lots of stories

[@justinmortlake2024]

I had the pleasure of meeting Albert Reading on a few occasions through a mutual friend. Absolute gentleman throughout. Hard as they come from Canning Town and the East End 👊🏻

[@danielpalmer5835]

In the 90s growing up we had connie whiteheads club and Billy Williams not this guy that was cannning town

[@themadceltsbucketlist3807]

Got to respect a true Hardman that hates bullies and doesn't feel the need to bully this guys hard and he knows it true gent

[@cosmic867]

could listen to this guy all day love his story's

[@jontemple1817]

With you on that one.👍

[@resnonverba137]

Stories...

[@Genghis-Khan121]

Same here

[@iansmith5211]

I could listen to this man all day. His story's are awsome . Respect to you Albert reading. Ian from liverpool.

[@davidgoulden5956]

He respects Scousers so he is alright with me.

[@stevegable2707]

he telling the truth and I for one could listen to him all day. Thanks Mr Albert Reading and also Liam Galvin for putting this up.

[@chopper8357]

Bollocks!

[@anon-ts1mu]

@@chopper8357 is something you don’t have

[@Khaos969]

His eyes show a hidden rage , I don’t think he’s lied about anything he’s said.

[@chopper8357]

Khaos969 its all lies

[@dontlooknowbut1329]

The kind of guy you want inside the tent pissing out not outside the tent pissing in.

[@gabrielarch5145]

....his eyes show the demonic.

[@SA77888]

Yep, he looks pure fuckin evil.

[@barryhossin2000]

an Honest and true full man, as tough as they come, they do not make them like that anymore!!

[@MrShelmerdine]

This guy is genuine,you can tell straight away,he's obviously knocking on a bit and the way he just breezes through the stories you can tell they are truthfull,there's no contradiction whatsoever!

[@chopper8357]

I hope you are being sarcastic

[@regkray9872]

***** the guy was the real deal you fool. He was legend in the eastend and the worst of the worst when came to violence. His not a b ullshiter like chopper 19 murders ? Lol!

[@chopper8357]

haaa are you Readings bitch....he is a bullshitter

[@tedwilson7487]

u are very childish

[@regkray9872]

Chopper you no fuck all nappy boy

[@scottwheeler6807]

I met him and see him a few times in he’s pub he had in Hornchurch, the Spencer’s, he was the real deal and very tough and respected and respectful.

[@sw_909]

what years did he have The Spencers? It was the first pub I stepped into as a teenager, I had no idea.

[@patkearney9320]

This man is what you see his honesty is his word he don't admit boast brag or apologise I know him not personally but I know he hates bully's God bless you Albert

[@kennysmith5516]

Love listening to Albert he’s a proper genuine hard man as well as a respected man

[@conor90]

You can just tell this guy was the, real McCoy…Absolute genuine article, 100 percent

[@hassartheking3339]

Bobby and Albert reading Canning Town legends

[@Hellserch]

Right mate.

[@entropylackthereforeof347]

first i ever heard him or of him, straight talker, likeable sort and loved the way he was so proud to bring home spuds and peas to his mum, thats a good lad

[@adamlees8410]

You've only got to look at that face and those eyes for a few seconds and you know he was one almighty handful in his day.Even at this age he still looks like he could take some stopping. Genuinely scary individual that walks amongst us.

[@arthurmorgan7086]

He’s dead pal

[@pencils1951]

I was born, bred and worked around the docks and learnt to survive in a very hard environment, you had no choice but to fight or become a bitch. I had fights in the streets and fights in the army, it toughens you. I can see where Albert is coming from, although I am in no way on a par with Albert, I appreciate what it takes to earn respect.

[@RaferJeffersonIII]

I reckon I’d ‘ave you

[@bobbyfischer6786]

I smell shite

[@stickykitty]

5:43 Dangerous, highly intelligent and a creative thinking free spirit I love that he believes in a higher power Much respect to him Also I feel so sorry for his childhood Not far he didn’t seem like he was a bad kid When he was little

[@patkearney9320]

Yea I liked that to

[@wboyle9721]

Got potatoes for his mum thinking of her he had a good heart

[@service2204]

He looks like he's the real deal you know with the way he speaks still has a presence around him

[@oldgit4260]

his best mate was a mad axeman! my best mate is a part time computer programmer lol

[@n136h]

Bad Alibi hahaha, funny, really brightened my eve, thanks

[@MrRobm81]

Yeh frank was massive ...sure fed lot of pigs ..allegedly

[@callithowiseeit5806]

In todays world I'd consider your mate wayyy more dangerous lol

[@gibogobshite]

DON'T BE SCARED HOMIE move on old man 🤙

[@harrymonk8948]

His best mate was sidney cooke

[@HarpreetSingh-rr8ir]

"Forgive me for swearing.." Brilliant!

[@marcduncan5501]

Worried about offending people swearing has no problem squirting acid in someone's face in a busy pub.

[@captainroger]

@@marcduncan5501 against a villain that was assigned to gain control of the premises for whatever. Drugs, sex trafficking you name it.

[@FreeFinca]

He was apologising because there is a woman in the room, real men don't swear in front of women.

[@elephantsmemory3142]

@Anne Phair Hear hear is the saying

[@itdontmeannothingnotathing3385]

It's funny how everyone loves him even the people he knocks out lol

[@wroteforluck2095]

Even if I did think he was lying I wouldn't dare tell him. If he says it happened - it happened as far as I'm concerned 😂😂

[@edwheeler2637]

Wrotefor Luck I remember my nan told me when he went in at 11 he was raped Then he handled em. Gangster

[@myworldstorm]

Albert Reading the last of the old school hard men RIP Albert.

[@Isleofskye]

Yes but what he was too modest to say is that the train came off worse! If you put that train in the Pub right now he would say the same straight to the train's face....

[@mattyhollywood9016]

Lol Thats hilarious man..

[@Isleofskye]

One does one's best Matty, One does one's best m8....

[@daveharrison7707]

hahaha classic mate !!

[@Isleofskye]

Mon plaisir Messieur :)

[@billytwosets5224]

i swear to god he would straight up guvnor well that's just me innit.

[@Mirkwood50]

Best 2 interviews on KZbin. Proper bloke.

[@blackie75]

+The_Bounty_Hunter agreed

[@billford5553]

There was blokes like him in most towns and cities back in the day

[@mickharrison9004]

Exactly rite a different breed back then proper hard men absolutely fearless ,a lot of these men were born around war time or just after ,true fighting men .

[@callithowiseeit5806]

"The Mad Axeman Frank Mitchell, yeah 'e was a gentleman" haha classic

[@Isleofskye]

Frank was just misunderstood. I mean I have known " AA " Men in Brixton carry an axe around....( True actually. It was 25 years ago and my car was stolen in Streatham and found on the Brixton Hill Estate. There was only one entrance/exit, it seemed, and I jokingly said " Hurry Up M8 " and he showed me his axe.

[@regkray9872]

No problem! I like gangland 60s london. Some tough characters back then. Great stuff liam

[@fitzjon4628]

Could listen to Albert all day long

[@TheGrowler55]

Old School British Gangster no Civilians no Kids no Women, just saying from Glasgow 😎👊🇬🇧

[@Laneykl4lyf]

I wish Reading had his own book or documentary.

[@danrobinson572]

Harry Banks yes your right. His book would of been a real good one to read he probably got a lot of crazy stories to tell.

[@byronelenica8329]

He has personal integrity. Not a bully just straight John Bull.

[@markrowlands9547]

A MAN of Principles and Quiet Honour a Man's Man 💖💖💖

[@happyguyx1]

albert we love ya---glasgow

[@jamieoliver3262]

They Don't make em like him no more Albert reading absolute gentleman with it RIP 🤝

[@Phil-gl7dh]

you can just tell Albert tells the truth...

[@hairyjute]

Theres an old saying 'dont judge a book by its cover' but fuck me his face depicts the truth....a fucking savage

[@martino.malley9276]

He is one of the few I can believe every word he says.My eldest brother done time in Durham with him and said he was one of only a handful of cockneys he truly liked.And Albert wasn't all yap he could batter the best of them.

[@frankygers]

Ditto

[@davidprice7162]

come on, believe every word? When a guy says he's beaten everyone and anyone he's ever met, he may well be a hard man, but he's also a bullshitter

[@chrismcbride9458]

Believe every word 🙄what like when he was ontop the train and “took the back of his head right off”

[@davidprice7162]

@@chrismcbride9458 dude, if you believe every word gangster says, then you rode the short bus bus to school. How someone can be so moronic is beyond me.

[@Captainpubwatch]

@@chrismcbride9458 That’s the bit I didn’t get - firstly surviving that, then saying the Scousers came back for him (which implies he fell off the train roof, which is quite a long way up, while the train is moving) and unless the train happened to stop the Scousers must have managed to jump off of the roof of a moving train with no injury to themselves. I do like these videos and I do find Albert’s delivery really interesting but in the case of the train roof I really don’t get how that would work out

[@Theoriginalbigbrillo]

"There good them Scousers!!" Thanks Albert Yes we are ;) 💯💯

[@olifuckoffski2400]

Paul Williams good for fuck all!

[@paulmcdonough1093]

@@olifuckoffski2400 wouldn't say it to a proper scouser would ya

[@ryan-majorbreakz5676]

Not a lot about Albert Reading on here, but a mate of mine from Bethnal Green said he's proper, nothing more, nothing else.

[@banana-vr8fm]

This man is scarier than any old or new gangster I've ever seen ,

[@Challerz]

All these Gangsters wouldn't stand a chance these days. Kids today are mental. Literally a 15 year old will pull up on you on a bike with a Mac 10 and fill you in. Doesn't matter how big you are, you're not bullet proof.

[@aceofspades4948]

@@Challerz 100 percent no morals now

[@happyguyx1]

i fuckin love this geezer

[@marklewisham3088]

Grew up in the same manner. Albert was feared and respected...

[@intothewild5045]

You no this guy, is he still alive ?

[@AB-sg5wn]

​@@intothewild5045 Doubtful he was 68 when this was aired back in 2001

[@comeonengland5312]

You wouldn’t fuck with now let alone in his prime!! Hard old boy, the sort you’d like as your grandad and some little pricks of bullies picking on ya and the kid says I’ll get my grandad down here to sort you lot out and then he rocks up . Their faces would be so funny 😆 and they’d have a few skid marks, respect to Albert , proper LEGEND 👊🏻👊🏻😎

[@johndolan1851]

If wot u are saying about train and you're head at the back......I just add a new dropping moment upon hearing that....wow!.....seriously wow!

[@tanyathomas6316]

If he believes in a higher power then I'd be very worried if I was him . One life ,be nice ,love people and any form of life ,be generous, be compassionate and forgiving and your reward will be greater then what you can imagine.

[@tabularasa7775]

He didn't mention a sky daddy and rules or else you won't get to "heaven" lol He just said higher power .

[@matthewsmith7545]

You can see it in him. Imagine him younger. What a fighter.?

[@irishandproud1087]

Old skool proper hard man .don't see a lot of them nowadays

[@n136h]

I like Albert's story about how he disrupted NASA's second space shuttle programme/ mission by trying to debunk some of the science being used to configure the launch engines. Essentially his paper argued that mixing liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen could have catastrophic consequences if an unforseen malfunction occurred in the SRBS

[@timmelbourne2381]

???

[@Aisatsana1971]

Lmao

[@COLOUREDCOAT]

😂😂

[@petergedd9330]

That's a great story, I bet Albert would've loved to hear that recounted from you in person.

[@Aisatsana1971]

@@petergedd9330 it’s only shits and giggles mate

[@shaunpaulson9981]

He’s a Canning Town legend everyone knows about Redding’s e16

[@xtcalexxtc]

He still about ?

[@jimlaing5688]

Met Albert a few times .. proper Canning Towner - Old school made the most of what he could. No one came out of Canning Town with anything other than what they fought for

[@neilgrant6876]

Is Albert still alive? A podcast with him would be good

[@rayp1811]

No, he died a few years back.

[@rayp1811]

@Mony Torris I read that he passed back around 2016. I'm clearly wrong. A proper old school hard man, great story teller.

[@ACshinealight]

Train took the head off him after he fell out a helicopter while stealing a space ship 🚀

[@grahamjonathan762]

I always come back to this video for a good old laugh

[@geraldineclarkesmith417]

The last man in England to have the birch was Jim Smith. .. he had it twice all nine strokes... he told me it was like a wheel you were strapped to.. Frankie Frazer. says he had it.. Jim Smith says he could only take two strokes. ... fact

[@tarmac1697]

Proper man with morals

[@ergonomic4117]

Albert has no power in the underworld today , he is respected for his honesty and old school ways , but that isn’t to be confused with fear. Today these are just interesting old men with entertaining stories to tell

[@shaunpaulson9981]

Ergo nomic you ant got a clue about Albert I’d be careful wot you say geezer

[@glennicholls1971]

Prim example of keyboard 🤣 mug

[@jackcarter6629]

"This bridge took the back of me head off" LMAO "I DONE 'EM ALL."

[@alexnumber1317]

Liam galvin Amy chance you could do a full interview with Albert as he is now mate? Could listen to this all day

[@LiamGalvinFilm]

See if I can find him - this interview was a few years back so not sure how he is these days - cheers thanks for watching

[@thechunkyone7118]

Liam you heard much about that Billy grimwood he sounded like a character

[@grahamjonathan762]

I once met Albert Reading in the Library

[@elliottwatkins9086]

👏👏

[@jonfitz2278]

All the time in the world for ALBERT

[@charanjit7427]

Amazing interview. Will there ever be a film made of him?

[@LiamGalvinFilm]

I hope so - glad you enjoyed it

[@masonboyne5074]

The mad Axeman Yeah he was a Gentleman! Brilliant RIP Albert Reading

[@gerardmolloy6576]

what a great interview,he seems such a lovely bloke has he got his own book ? i read his bit in hard bastards but would love to read more,i could listen to him all day long,thanks for posting this

[@LiamGalvinFilm]

+gerard molloy Don't think he has his own book - great character - thanks for watching

[@billytwosets5224]

yes he wrote a book called from taters and peas to lock and keys i have a copy.

[@adamgledhill1495]

@@billytwosets5224 I can't find anything on it where did yu buy it?

[@danrobinson572]

@@LiamGalvinFilm how did Charlie take of the skin on Albert face??

[@ScarcityStudios]

where has this channel been hiding

[@LiamGalvinFilm]

We have a go! - thanks for watching

[@kurlykook2634]

My grandad was the best man at albert’s wedding. They’re best friends

[@The.panthera.]

Is he still alive?

[@kurlykook2634]

@@The.panthera. yeah he’s still alive, he’s 81 years old :)

[@kurlykook2634]

@@The.panthera. Albert came over to my house once for dinner when i was little

[@The.panthera.]

@@kurlykook2634 he can't be 81 surely...? because I watched a documentary about him nearly 20 years ago he's the same age as the kray twins apparently which would make him 88 or 89

[@kurlykook2634]

@@The.panthera. nope, my grandad is 81 years old :)

[@joejoe2928]

💂EVIL MAN THROUGH ACID ON A YOUNG HARD MAN'S FACE...RUINED THE GUYS FACE FOREVER...💂🌎🙏.

[@happyguyx1]

i fkn love albert

[@robbiffa]

Magic Geezer- I’m International me! The only man to get 25 years straight for robbery. Totally underrated and brilliantly captivating.

[@mitchelldring517]

Albert clearly speaks the truth, no bravado or ego.... Mans man..... Not like most of these 'faces' who just talk bollocks

[@terrabyte911]

A true hardman

[@joeblogs8827]

Legend 💯

[@robbiffa]

Albert Reading was a prolific Armed Robber whose tactics were to smash the bank screen and then say “ get your fucking strides off” you don’t get hero’s with no trousers he said. He even used his own car, he said there is only a £2 fine for having a wrong number plate! He is the only person convicted to an excessive 25 years for robbery. There is a video online with him as a younger man discussing this.

[@adamgledhill1495]

Hold on I'm pretty sure a few of the train robbers got 30s. Charlie Wilson certainly did and I'm sure he wasn't the only one.

[@Hellserch]

He “left chocolate” with us, many times. Good mate of my Dad.

[@megataurus7779]

Link to the video?

[@josephmills-mw2hs]

Wish the full version was out

[@grahamjonathan762]

This ol herbert is the real deal, my ol man done time with him in the Seiko watch factory. He's now gotta a dodgy ticker & tells war stories about the good ol days in Landan tan. Pwoper Nawty!

[@edwheeler2637]

Graham Jonathan this is my great uncle. He told me stories I’ll never forget.

[@trevcella2162]

Nice one me old china 😂😂

[@trevcella2162]

Still laughing

[@mulababy1337]

@@edwheeler2637 really?

[@RichardOatley]

i like this man.

[@flynnterry9848]

I have heard of Mr reading when l was a young boy in Walthamstow and everyone l know who was a lot older said he was not to be messed with..He was the real deal . Somebody told me a guy was taken the piss of Mr reading because he ordered a tomato juice in a pub Albert threw this geezer right put of the pub doors . And battered him .

[@Blankingfisherman]

did he have a pub in walthamstow mate that's my Manor

[@flynnterry9848]

@@Blankingfisherman no he was a South London man , and had pubs and worked in his later years in a car showroom as a sales manager.

[@Blankingfisherman]

@@flynnterry9848 I thought he was canning Town lol where u said everyone in stow knew of him thought might be local

[@flynnterry9848]

@@Blankingfisherman yes l believe he was originally from this side rick . But l thought he hung out on the south side . I lived in Walthamstow all my life myself.

[@flynnterry9848]

I know quite a few poeple from Walthamstow rick . J Happy days.

[@dannymcmince]

I used to drink with a few tough Paddies back in the East End during the early 80s, I tell you they were tough fuckers!

[@stevegreen9460]

he's got those black que ball eyes. you know u got trouble on your hands with some one got souless eyes like that.

[@pistolpeeroy]

only a few people have them, i know exactly what you mean...

[@KJ-br3md]

steve green they look blue to me.

[@peterolley7159]

@@KJ-br3md your colour blind then lol

[@FLIPMODE630]

It's called cocaine

[@alexmacdonald921]

Cue balls are white though.. 😂

[@shellsbignumber2]

' I was with the Mad Axe Man Frank Mitchel, he was a gentleman, my best mate '. Fair enough.

[@brcardetailing]

Proper character. Liam is there any more of the interview you're going to post?

[@LiamGalvinFilm]

Yeh there's a third part to this interview I'm going to post soon just got to track it down - cheers

[@brcardetailing]

Nice one thanks Liam. Top work as ever

[@regkray9872]

***** I love your stuff Liam very interesting interviews with interesting characters thanks

[@LiamGalvinFilm]

Cheers really appreciate that

[@silverfox8598]

Did not realize he was about in Upminster I was raised my whole life there was good times

[@jacintadixon7302]

I,m sure this albie chap was a right hard man those eyes say a lot about him an evil looking man I,d say he was handy in his day he looks as though he,s gettin on a bit but I wouldn,t let that fool ye I dont think they make them like that anymore he,s also a great storyteller I,d rather have him on my side than against me thats for sure.

[@jeremyclapham394]

I like Albert, he is what we Cockneys call a Mensch.

[@jonathanseymour2681]

all you lot have never met the man.believe me I'm his nephew, every word he said I stand by to the day I die.so don't judge what you don't know.he a proper man. and there many people who will agree. he does not have to prove anything to you lot.gentleman that what he is.not one of you could stand up to him wen he was in his prime.even now he would not fear you.so fuck you who don't know him.

[@jeremyclapham394]

jonathan seymour Is your vitriol directed at me? I thought that I was actually praising the man, if nothing else, for standing up to those coward gangsters : the Richardsons and so-called 'mad' Frankie Fraser.

[@Mirkwood50]

+jonathan seymour You are speaking the truth mate. Don't listen to the keyboard warriors. They wouldn't say it to his face as you well know.

[@Blankingfisherman]

cockneys ??? that's a Jewish word meaning to admire or North American a person of honour certainly ain't Cockney lol

[@daleHarrison93]

give this guy some fuckin subscribers all these vids he uploads for us

[@LiamGalvinFilm]

Cheers appreciate that - I have a go!

[@daleHarrison93]

no worries man all these vids you upload are pretty amazing interviews etc I love them all:D

[@LiamGalvinFilm]

Thanks a lot - really appreciate you watching cheers

[@alfonsobonzo3782]

“The Mad Axeman, Frank Mitchell? He was a gentleman.” 😂

[@davidprice7162]

As Chopper once said, never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

[@chriselliot8791]

Good to see a guy who talks about life, some boy

[@edwheeler2637]

That’s my great uncle. Now I’m in Edmonton doing the same thing. Must be in the blood. That’s my Nannie reading brother. My dads uncle.

[@Genghis-Khan121]

Enjoyed that proper geezer , I did Portland myself in the mid seventies all the way down from Merseyside ! 😉

[@richardbarnes9342]

R.I.P ALB proud of ya. A true eastender 👍🙏

[@kevinbarry6880]

A true east ender the east end has gone too the dogs now

[@jerryjames9315]

SIR ALBERT, I FUCKING LUVYA!!! GREETINGS FROM DUBLIN IRELAND... FACT

[@ChrisSmith-ll1hw]

Billy grithis became billy Greenwood somehow🤷🏻‍♂️

[@cobbscorner6476]

You either have it in your eyes or you dont ....this man has that look.

[@cobbscorner6476]

5:33 when you realize somewhere in the past or present you made a serious error in judgement.

[@ginder66]

sometimes there is a gent who does not take the piss this man says other people where gents no this man is a working class gent if you don't know what that means don't ask because am not one of em but a know a few . GB fella , gets it right screws don't put you in they look after you when you get in

[@benp5528]

Alberts one of the best to listen to especially as you can tell he means every word . Another dude thats the same is eric mason . Another man you can tell doesnt bullshit when he talks

[@rikodanprime85]

you ever heard the saying 'real recognise real'?

[@shiddy.]

very seriously, this guy would be great in movies

[@scottwheeler6946]

I remember meeting him years ago when he had a pub called spencers arms in hornchurch . top man.

[@edwheeler2637]

scott wheeler lol that’s right. Me and my brother used to spend summers there with him. We’re in Canada now being bad boys.

[@edwheeler2637]

Are we related?

[@BANE81support]

"he'd come out the cell gummy" best fucking thing I've heard all week 🤣

[@tomgallagher7870]

A bridge took my head off 😂😂😂😂fucking brilliant.

[@TV225TS1]

"I'm International" brilliant !

[@user-qp6vg9ho8u]

In his prime this guy was no joke