Ruth Ellis, known for her intense involvement in a crime, made history as the final woman to face execution in the UK, sparking widespread public outrage. A nightclub hostess and mother of two, aged 28, she fatally shot her lover, racing driver David Blakely, outside a pub in Hampstead, north-west London, driven by jealousy.
Their tumultuous relationship, characterized by chaos and violence, unfolded against the backdrop of 1950s London. On Easter Sunday in 1955, Ruth ambushed Blakely outside the Magdala pub. In a moment of heated confrontation, she drew a .38 Smith & Wesson revolver from her handbag and fired five shots. The first missed, causing Blakely to frantically dodge around his car. Ruth pursued, firing a second shot that knocked him to the ground. She proceeded to fire three more times as he lay on the pavement.
During her trial at the Old Bailey, Ruth admitted her intention to kill Blakely with the shots. The jury swiftly convicted her in just 20 minutes, leading to the judge imposing the death sentence.
The case stirred controversy, with over 50,000 signatories petitioning the Home Office for mercy towards Ruth, citing Blakely’s mistreatment of her and her emotional turmoil as mitigating factors. Despite expectations of a reprieve, the decision to proceed with her execution left many Britons shocked.
On July 13, 1955, Ruth was readied by Holloway prison staff for execution by Albert Pierrepoint. As the clock ticked towards 9 am, crowds gathered outside the prison, some in silent contemplation, others offering prayers. Inside, Ruth received last rites and a glass of brandy before being led to the gallows, where she was declared dead just 12 seconds after the execution commenced.
Regarded as remarkably composed in her final moments, Ruth’s death sparked enduring public outcry and played a pivotal role in the eventual abolition of the death penalty in the UK. Despite subsequent legislative changes, Ruth remains the final woman to face capital punishment.
Buried initially in an unmarked grave at the prison grounds, Ruth was later interred in Amersham. In a poignant letter to Blakely’s parents, she expressed eternal love for their son. The tragic aftermath of her death extended to her family, with her ex-husband’s suicide and her mother’s devastating mental health decline.
Ruth’s children also faced tragic fates, with her son Andy battling severe emotional struggles leading to his untimely death at 38. Her daughter Georgina endured a turbulent upbringing and succumbed to cancer at the age of 50, leaving a legacy of hardship and sorrow within the family.