Bruce Reynolds, Great Train Robber - a life in pictures

Bruce Reynolds, mastermind of the Great Train Robbery, has died aged 81 Photograph: Rex Features

The Great Train Robbery was a £2.6m heist committed on 8 August 1963 in Buckinghamshire, England. The train was stopped on a bridge so it could be unloaded Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images

The interior of the mail van after the robbery Photograph: Associated Newspapers/Rex Features

A photo of Reynolds issued by Scotland Yard after the robbery Photograph: Paul Popper/Popperfoto via Getty Images

The Guardian's front page coverage of the Great Train Robbery in 1963 Photograph: Sarah Lee for the Guardian

Two sacks of banknotes which were found in a telephone box in Southwark. £2.6m was stolen, the bulk of which was not recovered Photograph: Associated Newspapers / Rex Fea/Rex Features

Reynolds, leader of the gang, outside Linslade court, Buckinghamshire, in November 1968. Since the robbery, Reynolds had been on the run abroad, before returning to Britain, where he was tried and sentenced to 25 years in jail Photograph: Paul Popper/Popperfoto via Getty Images

Left to right: Roger Cordrey; Buster Edwards and Bruce Reynolds, three of the Great Train Robbers outside Waterloo station on a publicity tour for their book in 1979 Photograph: PA

Reynolds was released in 1979 and went on to write the book The Autobiography of a Thief (1995) Photograph: Penny Tweedie/Corbis

Retired Chief Inspector John Wolley who discovered the Leatherslade Farm hideout, meeting up with Bruce Reynolds on the 40th anniversary of the Great Train Robbery, in August 2003 Photograph: Justin McManus/Rex Features

Reynolds with his son Nick at the launch of 'Cons To Icons' an exhibition of artworks of famous criminals Photograph: Alex Woods/Pns

Former gangster Dave Courtney with Reynolds at a screening of the film Bronson in 2009 Photograph: Dave M Benett/Getty Images