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12/03/04 - Keeper of the Kray flame
By Dawn Knight
The Mirror
HUNDREDS of mourners thronged the streets of London's East End yesterday to bid farewell to the Krays' notorious henchman Tony Lambrianou.
They included gangland figures as well as Family Business TV actor Jamie Foreman and ex-Coronation Street star Chris Quentin.
Tony, 61, served 15 years for the 1969 murder of Jack "The Hat" McVitie.
His friend Steve Wraith, 32, said yesterday: "He was a kind man who did a lot of work for charity later in life. But he was also a gangster and the keeper of the Kray flame."
The funeral cortege was led by underworld boss Dave Courtney and four other riders on Harley-Davidsons.
The hearse was adorned with a floral tribute in the shape of a boxing ring and others spelling out "Good Man" and "Gentleman".
Tony's brother Chris - also jailed for the McVitie murder - and gangland figures Charlie Richardson and actor Jamie's dad Freddie Foreman were in church as Father Kevin Scully praised him for turning his back on crime.
He told the congregation: "Nobody's perfect and anyone claiming perfection is a liar,.
"It takes courage, commitment and strength to change and that can cost your popularity, success and friends." Dad-of-two Tony, married to second wife Wendy, died of a heart attack two weeks ago at home in Swanscombe, Kent.
Friend Toby Von Judge added: "He was a very well respected and highly regarded fellow. Tony dying is the end of an era."
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