The Hanging of Ruth Ellis.

On July 13th 1955, the last hanging of a woman in the U.K occurred at HM Prison Holloway. The woman was mother of two Ruth Ellis who moved to London from Rhyl and was an escort and nightclub hostess. 

Ruth Ellis was convicted of shooting her lover David Blakely at the Magdala Pub in London, it was witnessed by many people, and when it was done she asked for the police to be called and waited calmly. Today, her story would have summoned sympathy, probable cause and extenuating circumstances including self-defense...but then the reasons behind her eventual act were not even considered in her defense.

She had a dysfunctional, fiery relationship with Blakely - a motor racing enthusiast who was a heavy drinker and abusive man. Ruth (a heavy drinker herself) had been beaten countless times and been hospitalized, she also suffered a miscarriage shortly before she killed Blakely and it is commonly thought to be because he beat her and punched her in the stomach. A love triangle was also an issue, jealousy and tempers added to the violence and ergo the crime for which she admitted guilt.

On the morning of 13th July 1955, Ruth woke, had religious counsel and a large brandy before making her way to the noose - the hangman being the infamous Albert Pierrepoint, the calmest person to go to the gallows according to reports. Public outcry, petitioning and letter-writing began the eventual turn away from capital punishment in the UK, in more recent times it is acknowledged that the years of brutal abuse Ruth suffered would certainly count towards her defense.

Calan Gaeaf

Calan Gaeaf - the start of winter in Wales celebrated on November 1st following 'Nos Calan Gaeaf' (Halloween, All Hallow's Eve, Samhain or what ever you wish to call it) on October 31st when spirits abound, and the old year is ended and the earth is ready to rest over winter.

The start of winter was observed, and in some places still is, in Welsh villages and towns. Traditionally the main celebration was when the women and children danced around a fire in the centre of the village, everyone would write their name on a stone which would be placed into or near to the fire. As the fire started to fade, everybody would run home through fear that Yr Hwch Ddu Gwta - an evil spirit appearing as a tailless black sow with a headless woman would take their souls.

The next morning, all the named stones would be retrieved from the ashes and checked, any stones missing would foretell the person named dying within the year.