Notorious prisoner Charles Bronson has described his 50 years in prison as “horrendous and brutal.” However, he insists that he still has hope of one day being freed.
The 73-year-old, who changed his name to Salvador in 2014, is one of Britain’s longest-serving inmates. He was first jailed in 1974 for armed robbery. Since then, he has spent time in various prisons, including high-security HMP Woodhill and Broadmoor Hospital.
Speaking from his cell, Bronson recounted his most memorable encounters. He claims to have rubbed shoulders with some of the UK’s most infamous criminals.
“Legends, Icons, and The Krays”
Looking back on his half-century of incarceration, Bronson says he has no regrets.
“I’ve met some of the greatest characters that some people only ever read about,” Bronson said. “The Great Train Robbers, I’ve met them all. I’ve done bird with all of them.”
However, two men stand out above the rest. Bronson picked out the notorious East London gangsters, Ronnie and Reggie Kray, as the most memorable people he has met inside.
“There’s no one compares to them two,” he stated. “They were gentlemen. They were legends. They were decent human beings.”
Advice from ‘Mad’ Frankie
Bronson also revealed the best advice he ever received behind bars. It came from another infamous figure, ‘Mad’ Frankie Fraser.
“He said to me in the exercise yard, ‘Don’t think it, do it,'” Bronson recalled.
Consequently, this philosophy shaped his time inside. Fraser explained that overthinking an action, whether hitting someone or smashing a cell, would drive a prisoner mad. Therefore, he advised Bronson to simply act.
“I think that’s the greatest advice,” Bronson added. “Not so much if it is crime and violence but, in the outside world… don’t think it, do it.”
Holding On To Hope
Despite the brutality of his confinement, Bronson maintains a positive outlook.
“My soul is good. My heart’s good. I feel happy,” he said. “Through all these 50 years, as bad as it has been… I’ve still got hope.”
Also Read : At Golden Globes 2026, Mark Ruffalo and other stars turn the red carpet into a protest over ICE shootings
