Viv Graham
WELL HARD man from Newcastle. Known for his likeability but also his tough way of dealing with people that owed him anything, was often referred to as the fourth emergency service for people who lived in Newcastle/Gateshead. Not well liked by others who were involved in organised crime who thought they could own the doors better. Many books have been written about him and he now has iconic status as a gangster, whether deserved or not. Was shot in Wallsend on New Years Eve,1993, when returning home from the pub, apparently carrying a loaf of bread for the missus.
Supposedly, professionals were hired to carry out the shooting. However the fact that he was shot three times from close range and none of the rounds were particularly accurate suggests that they were either rubbish hitmen or they were amateurs.
A former amateur boxing champion turned pub enforcer; Viv quickly earned a reputation on Tyneside as a hardman with a heart of gold. Always smiling and carefree, he took every fight with a pinch of salt, oblivious to the danger that was never far away. His size and boxing skills made him an excellent insurance policy against the thugs and drug dealers who at the time polluted the pubs and clubs scene.
Viv first started to make a name for himself as a bouncer on the rural outskirts of the city (Newcastle), he unwittingly became involved in the lifestyle of disorganised crime. His big break came when he impressed a local underground boss by beating up one of the well known, big time gangsters and was then moved to work in the city centre. It was here that he began to make enough money to fund his two obsessions - gambling and women.
Viv's infamy attracted the attention of a notorious crime family from the west end of Newcastle who controlled the majority of the drug flow into the region at the time and they attempted to get him onto their payroll.
At this point he was a lean, mean, fighting machine, however he was insecure about his physique. For this reason he decided to experiment with steroids and ballooned from 14 stone to 18 stone. However this new found strength coupled with his love for the drink became too much for him and he nearly killed a late night drinker. Luckily, the guy survived and Viv only receives a suspended sentance. It was becoming apparent to many that he is changing from a protector of the pubs and clubs to a bully who strikes fear into the heart of his enemies, but also of the people who he was meant to protect.
Viv was soon back in the headlines, this time for pummelling a fellow bouncer at Hobo's nightclub (none other than Stuart Watson!) and received a three year custodial sentance in which he furthered his reputation by breaking up a cellblock riot.
When he returned home he decided to break all ties that he had with his past allies and become his own boss in the east end of Newcastle by becoming a trouble shooter and minder for the pubs and clubs, expanding his business from a few small licensee's to his own little empire.
However, as quickly as he was making the money, he and his girlfriend Anna were spending it. They both craved the high life and regularly tried to outdo each other by seeing who could blow the most cash - their philosophy was easy come, easy go. They did not bother trying to plan for the future, both believing that their good luck would last forever. There is even a story of Viv having to hide behind a settee when a debt collector came to visit, having blown the thirty grand meant for the debt collector the day before.
Soon, Viv's apparent dislike of drugs and his concern for the community began to annoy the aforementioned West End crime family. They wanted to expand their already large drugs enterprise, but the anti-drugs Viv was in the way. They wanted Viv taking out and arranged a winner takes all bare knuckle boxing fight, but their plans failed when Viv was warned about the ambush and did not show. After this he started to suffer from frequent headaches and he was receiving death threats almost every day. Spookily, Viv predicted his own demise by telling a close friend 'I'll not see 40'. he had got himself involved in a business which he was discovering was impossible to get out of.
Viv and Anna decided to buy a new house on the outskirts of Newcastle, and he tried in vain to legitimise his business. What this really meant was that he sat at home not doing much while he got his heavies to deal with the actual problems. He became a regular at The Queens Head pub (rumour has it he had interests in the place) but a band of locals took an instant dislike to the famous hardman coming to THEIR watering hole. It is said that one of these had connections with the West End crime family, and, because of a dare one drunken night, they plan Viv's demise which they name 'Viv no more for '94'.
this plan was realised, as on New Years Eve 1993, just as Viv was leaving The Queens Head, three shots echoed into the night. Viv had been fatally wounded just outside of his car. the car window had been smashed also (however there is speculation as to whether this was done before the shooting or whether it was a rebounded bullet which caused the glass to smash). He summoned the strength which he had left and dragged his body back to his favourite pub. when he lay dying outside on the pavement, he asks his friend to drag him to his feet saying 'I cant let them see me like this'. He wanted one last fight, but soon died in the arms of his friend (who happened to own The Queens Head).
