I also grew up in South London around the Brixton area.....however I had one serious family reputation behind me and trouble never really came my way to a great extent.......My cousin Vince who ran Rat securities (Ran the Brixton Front-line) He was tight with my father and although my father was a professional man in the Financial Services sector he also ran a security company in Brixton for several years.....to actually run a security company in Brixton YOU SIMPLY HAD TO HAVE SOME SORT OF CLOUT BACK IN THE DAYS!!!
I went to school in Wandsworth and my surname "ATKINS" carried weight even in the play ground.
My father always carried his Iron piped self made Nunchaku's in the boot of his car in Brixton only because Brixton was a dangerous place period.....Before we left the UK muggings was on the increase.......in that area especially.....and if you were an unknown BIG TROUBLE......Luckily we were known as a family that was not prepared to be harassed or bullied........I remember Brixton Water Lane was notorious for gangs demanding PROTECTION MONEY FROM Shops...........and let me make it clear my family were NOT TROUBLE MAKERS but in saying this they weren't prepared to be bullied by THUGS.......WE NEVER EVER GOT A visit from these THUGS FOR PROTECTION MONEY EVER.....and I assure it was REALLY BAD AT ONE TIME ON THAT STREET.
If fact at one time OUR SHOP WAS ROBBED by unsuspecting thugs who were NOT AWARE OF MY FAMILY name and THE MAIN GANG LEADER called my father the same day and Asked to return the STOLEN GOODS FROM OUR shop having found out who my family was.....
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