Author Description

Over a quarter of a century has passed since the last person was hanged in Britain. Following the abolition of capital punishment in 1965 the secrets of the execution chamber were consigned to history, but due to changes in the secrecy laws a hangman is now able to tell the story of the work of public executioners and of the last moments of those who dropped to their deaths on the gallows. Syd Dernley's hidden life began on 29th March 1949, when he watched James Farrell hang at Birmingham's Winson Green Prison, and during the next four years he assisted in over 20 hangings. He was present at the execution of Timothy John Evans, the only man ever granted a posthumous free pardon. He recalls the differing behaviour of the condemned men - the frightened and the brave, and he reveals the nightmare that haunts every executioner - the hanging where things went wrong.