hangmen/ executioners

[talisman24]

Are there any hangmen or executioners alive today in the uk?

[Narolines]

Ruth Ellis was in fact the last woman to hang in the UK, in 1955; the last hangings were the simultaneous executions of Peter Anthony Allen (at Walton Prison Liverpool) and Gwynne Owen Evans - real name John Robson Walby, (at Strangeways Prison Manchester) in 1964.

[henneth]

Albert Pierrepoint has often wrongly been considered as Britain's last hangman. He did dispatch many a celebrity murderer in the 1950's such as Ruth Ellis, Derek Bentley, Timothy Evans and John Reginald Christie. He died in 1992.

He was not employed in the final executions however so to call him Britain's last hangman is untrue. Nevertheless he was the last person to hold the title of Her Majesty's Chief Hangman.

For the record Harry Allen performed the duties on Gwynne Evans whereas Robert Stewart terminated the life of Peter Anthony Allen (no relation to Harry, I assume).

[Octavius]

Syd Dernley was Britain's last living executioner when he was interviewed in 1994. He died a few weeks after the interview took place. Read it here: hangman

[snapdarlich]

Fascinating, really fascinating but I feel the link that Octy posted was unfairly written and biased to be against the executioner. It wasn't their fault that people were wrongly hanged, it was way earlier in the line when they were classed as guilty. It was a job...(they didn't judge) The jury did!

[Carol Anne]

I Pierrepoint's book and putting the rights and wrongs of judicial hanging aside, I was left with the impression that he was a gruesome little man,who despite his undoubted profesionalism, derived immense personal satisfaction in killing fellow human beings.

[Carol Anne]

sorry, I read..

[Octavius]

Snapdarlich - I take your point, but does not Syd say in the interview:

"chopping bloody 'eads off! I could certainly do it. My conscience, if I've got one, would be still. I was a very good hand with a striking hammer when I worked at the colliery... off with his nut!"

In his own words he seems to have enjoyed the act of execution maybe even relished it, and his only regret was that he didn't hang enough men, innocent or otherwise.

[gambit100]

Syd Dernley was not the last surviving British executioner. He died in 1994. At least three former assistant hangmen survived him, one of them being the far more experienced Royston Rickard who died in 1999, followed by Samuel Plant in 2002 and Harry Robinson in 2006. There were one or two other assistants from the early sixties who may still be alive although I haven't been able to confirm it.

The last two "Number One" hangmen were Robert Stewart (died 1988) and Harry Allen (died 1992). They simultaneously hanged the last two condemned in September 1964 on the same day at 8am in Liverpool and Manchester prisons respectively.

[margamatics]

Yes, one. John Underhill, who assisted at three executions is still alive (July 2009)

[pierrepoint111]

john underhill was also a soldier in an sas regiment.

[pierrepoint111]

no,john underhill died circa 2005 he was the last on the 1964 prison commissioners list of executioners.