Category: Frances Shea

Frances Letter to Reggie

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The Letter that’s used from Frances to Reggie  to “prove” she hated him and wanted out in the Tragic Bride book and also used by Emily Browning when “researching” the role of Frances for the film Legend.
It’s pretty triggering  reading 

I am not in the least interested in seeing  you ever again in the whole of my life and I really mean that, 

I am only interested  in getting my annulment. 

Don’t ever try and contact  me not ever again because I have had enough of the life I’ve had to lead so far.

I am keeping myself occupied at the moment and I don’t want any interference from you ever again so get out of my life and leave me alone and let me forget the past .

Frances

Pretty strong words and tone, definitely not the simpering little wife we saw in the 1990 biopic portrayal of Frances in The Krays.
However, NOTICE  the date JUNE 1966 
Frances was sectioned in Hackney Hospital in JUNE 1966 and was there until the SEPTEMBER  –

At the time of writing this letter she was in an incredible  fragile mental state and in an episode of her personality disorder – you can tell this by the erratic writing style and heavy use of underlining almost every word. You can tell she is distressed, but this is a result of her illness not just Reggie.
This date and what was happening  to Frances has been completely overlooked in favour of “theories” which the media has wanted to prove with little regards to the sources origin or facts.

However, granted it is difficult to  understand  personality disorders especially how to understand  what she’s writing but at the same time appreciate  the fact her illness  is tearing her apart and it’s not truly her writing it. It is but only for that moment in time …. it is truly difficult to understand, unless you suffer yourself, that with her disorder,that she wrote that  but could have felt totally different after sending it – that’s how rapid the illness is -changing a person’s thoughts and feelings within five mins, ten mins, an hour …sometimes even within a split second.

This letter is a vital source when researching Frances as a person, it does provide  insights but not just one.

It tells us so much in that of her illness but sadly this has been overlooked … 

In Memoriam – 49th Anniversary of Frances Sheas death

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June 7th saw the 49th anniversary of Frances Shea s death and it was a day for remembrance and love on the Frances Shea group. 

An outpouring of beautiful tributes , memories and fan art by members led by a touching heartfelt poem written  by Frances niece – Frances Shea .

 

FRANIE     Gone 49 years today

I love you deeply and always will

I understand your leaving

I remember all the good with us

yet doubt I will stop grieving

You’re a part of my heart and

always have been

People can judge but they’ve never seen

The love we had and the times we spent

Your visit was brief but you were heaven sent

I’m here for you to get you seen

to represent you well

I’ll make them listen gorgeous

My darling, complex girl

                    Frances Shea

                                     x

God bless my beautiful fran. Hope you and mum are having a drink having a lovely time xxxxx J C

Hayley Hamils beautiful collage of Frances

She understood her worth, which made her powerful, The world needed a Beautiful woman who was strong and brave, so she became one. No super powers needed, Even as she sleep’s today she is remembered in the heart’s of many.I would like pay my respects on this day to the Shea Fam on the day of their Aunties anniversary.MK

Darling Frances left us 49 years ago today under such tragic circumstances. My thoughts are with the Shea family. Rest in peace, Frances. Gone but never forgotten. We love you. HH

Tribute from Gemma Brocks

“To live in hearts we leave behind. Is not to die.” #ThomasCampbell

Sending the very best of wishes to Frances Shea and her loved ones… TBH

✝ R.I.P Frances Elsie Shea ✝

               1943 – 1967

     Gone be never forgotten

                 💞💐🙏🏼 GB

Rest in peace Frances ❤️ I never got to meet her but her story has really touched my heart. Such a terrible loss of a beautiful young woman. My thoughts are with Frances and her family on this difficult day xxxxxx SW

Beautiful tribute by Gemma Brocks

So many beautiful tributes and pictures , I was unable to fit them all in.

But even after all those years , Frances still shines , in the heart’s and memories of all those who loved her and she always will.

A portrait of Frances Shea

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As Reggie Kray s first wife , Frances Shea is a vital role in the Krays story and legend. However, she often is cast by the media as stupid, nervous and a victim. A casualty of the Krays brutality.

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Katie Hardy s portrayal

In the 1990 biopic starring the Kemp brothers , the first time I ever heard of Frances, she was shown as a stupid yet neurotic and clingy girl who was dominated to such an extent by Reggie she couldn’t even choose her own friends or what clothes to wear.
Her part in the story was that of the much loved yet oppressed wife who unable to cope took her own life.

I ll admit it was intriguing yet very sad to watch.

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Emily Brownings portrayal of Frances

Then came along legend in 2015 which showed her in a completely different light – a strong young woman who just wanted reg to be normal , yet was despised by his mother and brother and beaten by reg and also sexually abused causing her to kill herself . It even had Frances narrating the storyline giving her the vital place in the history of the krays but still portraying her as the victim.

Strange that both films could portray one woman so differently yet still come up with the same ending.  And when both were made with input from firstly the krays themselves in the 1990 version ( which incidentally they hated and claimed was completely wrong) and associates in Legends case it does make you question how accurate both portrayals were especially when you factor in none of Frances family were ever asked to contribute.

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The first ever biography

Add to the mix the only biography of Frances to have been written in 2008 and revised in 2015 entitled The Tragic Bride by Jackie Hyams and you see history has well and truly decided Frances role in the entire Krays story.

But at least The Tragic Bride did bring more information regarding Frances into consciousness, information that had deliberately been ignored because it didn’t fit the mould shaped for her.

In fact , the real Frances was extremely intelligent having attended grammar school and had worked in administration in the West End of London. There was more to her than the average gangsters moll. She had brains as well as the looks.

Also it was revealed though unfortunately not considered that she had suffered from mental illness from the age of 13 and rather than causing her death it was Reggie who was the one who desperately tried to get her help even paying for private treatment and hospital stays in vain attempts to make her well.

Conveniently ignored for the sake of a juicy story I strongly suspect.

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Frances Shea wants the truth of her aunt to be known

Which is why I’m so thrilled that Frances niece ,also named Frances has , after all these years , decided to speak out to not only defend both her aunt and uncle but to make sure her aunt does not go down in history as a victim.

On her Facebook group she has over 3k members who she very generously shares personal stories about both Frances and Reggie and memories that she holds dearly.

Already we are learning that Frances was actually quite a feisty lady who gave as good as she got , who was deeply in love with reg as he was her and that the nasty and disgusting rumours surrounding their marriage are false.

She is currently writing a book which will give not only great insight into Frances, Reg and Ron but also put to rest a lot of false allegations, information that has never been shares before.

Frances Shea does have a place in history and it isn’t the role she has been assigned – isn’t it about time this lady and her remaining family were shown some respect ? Isn’t it time for the truth to be told ?

The Story of Frances Shea

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It’s not every day you receive a phone call from Reggie Krays niece, through marriage to his first wife and namesake, Frances Shea.

And it’s not everyday you find yourself discussing revelations for an upcoming book which plans to reveal the truth about this young woman.

But for me it’s actually become a weekly thing as I find myself honoured not only to be a trusted admin on the Frances Shea (Kray) Facebook group but also to be able to consider her niece and page founder – a close friend and confident.

Frances Shea, the younger, has to be the most warmest and genuine person I’ve ever had the pleasure to encounter and her love for the members knows no bounds. Speaking to her she makes it clear to me , she considers members of the group her friends. I can certainly believe that as despite having her own problems she had taken the time to call me to check I’m OK as I’ve been a bit quiet !

I adore this lady and I know I’m not the only one she will call and check on if she’s worried – which is why I’m so whole heartedly behind her vision not only for the group set up in the memory of her aunt which is to bring more awareness to mental health but also in the future to help out communities all over the country in her aunts name.

This will be the result of tireless work in which firstly she plans to get the true
” frances Shea story ” out into the public domain.

As Frances herself explains:

“ This isn’t a gangster book, this is the story of an emotionally vulnerable young woman who happened to marry the most notorious criminal the UK has ever seen and her subsequent death and how that not only affected those who loved her but filtered down through the generations”

Her aunt has recently been the subject of not only Legend but also the book The Tragic Bride – both of which used letters and diaries which were effectively stolen from the Shea family
” and should never have been put in the public domain”
Frances book will explain exactly what those diaries entail but also why as she is the only person left living who can tell readers exactly what Frances was like and exactly what she was going through at the time of writing ..the book will dispel myths and rumours surrounding Frances suicide which books such as that by John Pearson has encouraged such as Ronnie killed her and reveal exactly what the suicide notes contained …including the mentions of herself.

In doing so , it is hoped finally her aunts ghost will be able to rest as the truth will set her free.

Frances Shea – The Truth

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Fan made poster for the Documentary

Forget everything you think you “know”.

Written about in books and portrayed in movies for over 50 years – many Kray fans believe that they know what Reggie Kray and his beautiful young wife Frances s marriage was like.

Many believe the mythology surrounding the entire Kray empire that the films tell us – but most recently Legend told us the story from another’s point of view…. that of Frances Shea,  Reggies young wife who tragically killed herself aged 23.

On big screen, director Hedgeland portrayed his belief of what happened with Frances and had her speak as if it was Kray fact.
However, none of Frances family had been contacted when researching this film…..

You can imagine the pain caused to her surviving relatives who finally because of this decided to break their long silence on the entire matter.

Coming Summer 2016 a documentary by Skithead Productions will be released featuring an interview with Frances niece, also named Frances and is simply called Frances Shea – The Truth .

So eager are Kray fans to know what really happened,  the original 18 mins unedited interview was leaked online and received 15,000 hits before YouTube decided to remove it.

Now a full trailer has been released and although currently on YouTube, they are threatening to remove it.

For some reason, the truth about Frances has got somebody very rattled.

Here on Lorraine a life less ordinary I am pleased to say that thanks to Colin Marrison and Sonya Roseman I have been given a copy of the trailer to share – one which won’t be removed .

So, here it is a very emotive, genuine and authentic trailer for the documentary everyone is going to be talking about this summer. Feel free to share and pass it on but please credit myself, Frances and importantly Sonya and Colin x