Great Train Robbery reunion

Robber Reynolds (right) met former police officer John Woolley

The mastermind behind the Great Train Robbery had a reunion on Saturday with the policeman who found his hideout.

Bruce Reynolds shook hands with retired constable John Woolley at a village fete in Oakley, Buckinghamshire - near the gang's bolthole at Leatherslade Farm.

The pair last met 35 years ago when Mr Woolley, now 65, escorted Reynolds from a court appearance when he was recaptured after going on the run.

As the pair put their arms around each other for photographers, Reynolds, now 71, told Mr Woolley: "There is a sense of deja vu about the whole thing.

"It was a different ball game then, there was grudging respect on both sides.

The train was held up as it passed through Buckinghamshire

"It was your job to catch us and our job not to be caught.

"It changed my whole life so I suppose it rekindles the spirit of adventure that made us carry out the crime in the first place."

The fete, which comes the day after the 40th anniversary, also featured vehicles used by the robbers including Reynolds' old Lotus Cortina.

Mr Woolley, who was the village bobby in neighbouring Brill at the time of the robbery, said: "It's very pleasant after all this time to finally meet up in such a lovely setting, with such lovely people and with such great weather.

"The incident in which we both shared a part of history is a story that is not going to go away it is still running.

"Over the last 35 years I have seen much about Mr Reynolds activities but I don't suppose he has seen much of mine."

Reynolds was on the run for five years in Mexico and Canada after the 1963 robbery before his £150,000 share ran out and he was eventually caught penniless in Torquay.