Ronnie and Reggie Kray, the notorious East End gangsters, were among the largest individual donors to the Aberfan disaster relief fund, according to historical research. The brothers each contributed £100 at a gala dinner, a sum equivalent to approximately £5,000 in today’s currency.

The donations, which were made anonymously at the time, only came to light decades later. Historian Professor Huw Williams explained that the Kray twins’ connection to the South Wales community stemmed from their shared background in boxing. The town of Merthyr Tydfil, near Aberfan, had a notable history of producing prominent fighters, which earned the respect of the Krays, who had both been boxers themselves.

Professor Williams noted that the brothers’ close-knit sense of family and loyalty resonated deeply with the tragedy that befell Aberfan in 1966. The disaster, which saw the collapse of a coal spoil tip engulf a school and other buildings in the village, resulted in the deaths of 144 people, including 116 children. The loss had a profound impact on the Krays, affecting their “East End macho psyche,” Williams said.

The Aberfan disaster fund was established to provide aid to the victims and their families in the aftermath of the catastrophe. While many donations were made, the Kray twins’ contributions have only been acknowledged in recent years due to the donors choosing to remain anonymous initially. Their involvement adds a complex layer to the history of the disaster’s aftermath, illustrating how the tragedy elicited widespread sympathy across different segments of society, including from figures often associated with criminality.