Big Arthur was the leader of a gang of local crooks, one of whom, Nobby Harris, tried to persuade Eddie Yeats to help them rob a supermarket on Christmas Day, acting as the getaway driver. Eddie, untempted by the offer of a £300 share, refused but he did take advantage of knowing that the power would be cut in the area to enable the robbery to take place to buy the Corner Shop’s stock of candles and selling them at a profit when the Street was plunged into darkness.