“Much more than the story of one of the greatest, most chaotic scoops of them all – a glorious, unabashed evocation of a world that is gone”
– Brough Scott.
About the book
Just 31 when he delivered the finest scoop of his career, Colin Mackenzie had already interviewed some of the world’s most important and fascinating figures. He had grilled Margaret Thatcher, Richard Nixon, President Nicoleau Ceausescu, actors Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, The Led Zeppelin band and many more.
His location of Ronnie Biggs and his lotus eating existence in far off Rio de Janeiro was recently nominated as one of the ten best scoops of the 20th century by the UK Press Gazette, Fleet Street’s trade magazine. This one story elevated the Daily Express circulation above the critical four million mark in 1974. In the pre digital world described in detail in this fascinating account, this was no easy accomplishment.
Mackenzie lovingly recreates a clubbable Fleet Street which, sadly, no longer exists as newspapers, battling for survival in a computerised world, have moved offices to the outer boroughs of London. “The Street of Shame” as Private Eye characterised the newspaper world of the Sixties and Seventies, is no more. Today politicians, top sports stars and celebrities employ teams of public relations and protection employees to ward off the attention of journalists. In 1964 Mackenzie got through to former Prime Minister Harold MacMillan with one phone call.
Throughout his career Mackenzie entertained a love of the Sport of Kings, owning small shares in racehorses that challenged his financial resources and yet provided adrenalin pumping excitement. In 1985 he was invited to be founder reporter on the Racing Post, a new racing daily. From there he rejoined the Daily Mail to become, after 20 years, the doyen of racing correspondents. In this role he rubbed shoulders with the Queen, the Queen Mother, Princess Anne, The Aga Khan and Sir Alex Ferguson.
This riveting memoir uncovers the many other great stories that Mackenzie delivered to his employers and to his readers. Some are hilarious, some are shocking and some just amazing.
How I came to write ‘Pressing My Luck’.
Lockdown sailed past when I had the notion of writing my memoir Pressing My Luck about my 44-year career in Fleet Street. Now the 90,000-word book is published by Amazon I am undergoing a crash course in modern media of the genre which has passed me by hitherto.
A bit of my background. In 1964 I graduated from Oriel College, Oxford, and landed a trial on The Daily Express (the top selling middle market paper of the day). Having been turned down by fifteen provincial papers this was my last attempt at securing work as a journalist. Cut to ten years later and I had the scoop of the decade. I found Ronnie Biggs in Brazil – published in ‘The Daily Express‘ newspaper – and told his story in a best selling book: Ronnie Biggs THE MOST WANTED MAN which was translated into ten languages.
Ronnie Biggs, the Great Train Robber who escaped from Wandsworth prison in July 1965, came into my life courtesy of my neighbour Constantine Benckendorff. He had been back packing round South America in 1973 when he chanced upon a man calling himself Michael Haynes. This was the identity Biggs “borrowed” from a friend when he eluded the Australian police four years earlier. By now he was running out of money and ideas. It was stressful not having legal papers. So he asked Conti to find a journalist willing to do his story. It is bingo for me. Until it nearly went wrong – thanks to Daily Express editor Iain McColl and Scotland Yard.
Following my retirement I evolved into a documentary film maker, utilising tapes from my Biggs enterprise to make (the below) RONNIE BIGGS THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBER (Channel 5).
Colin Mackenzie on BBC’s The One show.
Testimonials
“Mackenzie’s memoirs are up there with the best, not least because they are well written in an easy style and well edited (not always a given) and, always a bonus, the book is not just about racing.Sub-titled The Memoir of a Fleet Street veteran, if nothing else Mackenzie’s book should be part of a syllabus for would-be journalists, sport or otherwise.” Marcus Armytage The Daily Telegraph.
“Colin is a fantastic journalist who got fantastic stories. His book is a real page turner. His Fallon story (following the Old Bailey trial in 2007) was an amazing piece of work which Colin is very modest about.” David Yates, the Daily Mirror.
“Fleet Street legend Colin Mackenzie, the reporter who found Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs, has written a very entertaining memoir about his life in journalism. Fascinating and funny, with some great stories. Highly Recommend.” Piers Morgan, Good Morning Britain.
“As a former inky-fingered hack, I’m greatly enjoying Pressing My Luck, Memoir of a Fleet Street veteran. The book, out now, is by legendary journlist Colin Mackenzie, who tracked down Ronnie Biggs in a story voted one of the top ten of all time. It is jam-packed with colourful anecdotes conjuring up an exciting, sweaty Fleet Street that sadly no longer exists. For years Colin, a loverf of horse racing, rubbed shoulders with the Queen and the Queen Mother and got to know them in a way most never could and it’s a fascinating insight.” Lorraine Kelly, the Sun.
“Colin Mackenzie used Lockdown very productively to pen his entertaining memoir Pressing My Luck. Colin’s recall of events is quite extraordinary even when unearthing a titbit about Prince Charle’s O-level results. There are plenty of juicy tales fromt the turf from a well-conncted man. Well worth considering as a gift for e racing man” Mike Cattermole, sportinglife.com.
“Looks like it’s going to be a long, dfark Covid winter so plenty of time for reading. Just finished Colin Mackenzie’s terrific memoir Pressing My Luck, a great read about life and exclusives in the glory days of Fleet Street, both racing and non-racing,” Cornelius Lysaght, BBC Radio Five Live racing correspondent.
“Fleet Street veteran Colin Mackenzie has written a riveting memoir of his 44 years in journalism, covering everything from interviewing Margaret Thatcher, Elizabeth Taylor and former US President Richard Nixon, to when he was a racing correspondent, rubbing shoulders with The Queen and the Queen Mother” Emily Horan, Hello Magazine.
“I warmly recommend this book to you all!” Olly Smith, tv presenter and host of the Media Lunch Club.
“All things considered it was one hell of a scoop, voted one of the ten greatest Fleet Street exclusives ever – as Colin Mackenzie shyly reminds us a couple of times in this rollicking, rumbunctious memoir. The whole saga – and many like it – is joyously told in this engaging portrait of a pre-digital, now vanished, Fleet Street. Journalists’ memoirs are rarely War and Peace, but this is a tremendous story of a life enjoyed, a race well run, often hilarious, always engaging” Roger Alton, Daily Mail.
Listen to Colin on Dan Snow’s History Hit: “The Great Train Robbery”.
Featured Articles
Featured Podcasts
The Great Train Robbery | Wordery Interview
Alice and Matt speak to Colin Mackenzie, the tenacious reporter who managed to track down train robber, Ronnie Biggs, after he escaped prison. A Fleet Street veteran, he takes us back to a golden era in British journalism, and into the whirlwind 48 hours he spent with Biggs in Brazil.
Crime of the Century
BBC 4 Extra Debut. Jake Arnott examines the Great Train Robbery of 1963. He speaks to Ronnie Biggs and, in his last recorded interview, the gang’s leader Bruce Reynolds. From July 2013.
The Media Lunch Club Podcast #10 Olly Smith and Colin Mackenzie
The entertainment industry thrives on publicity, as do the personalities within it – it’s what helps sell movies, TV shows and books.One of Fleet Street’s veterans, and finest, is Colin Mackenzie. He grilled the likes of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, Warren Beatty, Led Zeppelin through to political leaders such as Margaret Thatcher, President Richard Nixon, and President Nicolae Ceausescu.
Colin Mackenzie on his book ‘Pressing My Luck’
It was thrilling to be interviewed by my three lovely daughters for my new website. They confessed that many of the stories in my book were new to them – many occurred before they were even born. They have a very different and healthy perspective on life and are much more “woke” than I. It was wonderful to hear their views on my life and story. For me I am just thrilled at how charming and beautiful they all are.
Colin Mackenzie – Pressing My Luck – Racing TV
Former journalist Colin Mackenzie opens up to Nick about the opportunity presented to him by the national lockdowns which enabled him to write a book about his career.
1963 Great Train Robbery radio documentary
From his care home in North London, Ronnie Biggs spells out how he randomly got involved in the heist and kept the story running for years as a fugitive in Brazil. Also taking part are criminologist Laurie Taylor, former head of Scotland Yard John O’Connor, Bruce’s son Nick Reynolds, BBC reporter Reg Abbiss, Daily Express reporter Colin MacKenzie and former Buckinghamshire policeman John Woolley.
Featured Video
Colin talks to Mark Dolan on Talk Radio
Colin talks to Mark Dolan on Talk Radio about various stories taken from his book.
Talking on The Daily Show with Russ Kane & Phil Dave
Russ Kane & Phil Dave from The Daily Show very kindly invited me to come and share some stories on the 30 April 2021.
Howard Hughes Talk Radio Interview
Howard Hughes very kindly asked me to join him on his show on Talk Radio.