Former Hollyoaks actor Stephen Beard received news of his grandmother Ruth Ellis being posthumously pardoned, the last woman executed in Britain, while having dinner with friends. The 38-year-old father of four expressed the emotional moment as the culmination of a long campaign for justice.
Stephen described the moment as amazing, lifting his eyes to the sky in remembrance of Ruth and his mother. The family had carried the burden for a long time, but now they could finally lay it down. Ruth’s death had a profound impact across generations, but the idea of “bad blood” stemming from the past events was now resolved.
The posthumous conditional pardon for Ruth, who fatally shot her abusive lover David Blakely in 1955, was granted by King Charles and announced by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy in Parliament. The death penalty was replaced with a life imprisonment sentence, acknowledging that modern defenses like loss of control or diminished responsibility could have been considered in her case.
Ruth, a Welsh-born nightclub hostess, was hanged at 28 after being convicted of Blakely’s murder. Her family had long argued for her pardon, citing her victimization by emotional and physical abuse at the hands of Blakely.
Stephen, who works internationally in data centers and resides in Dubai, always believed Ruth’s trial was flawed, lacking critical evidence of her abuse and mental state. The case not only captured public attention but also cast a shadow over Ruth’s family through the years.
The repercussions of Ruth’s tragedy extended through the generations, with her former husband and son both dying by suicide. Her adopted daughter, Georgina, faced alcohol abuse and succumbed to cancer at 50. Stephen shared the weight of his grandmother’s crime and the injustice she suffered but found closure in Ruth’s pardon, completing what his mother had started.
He expressed pride in his mother’s determination to seek Ruth’s pardon, highlighting the importance of rewriting history to right past wrongs. Reflecting on Ruth’s final moments, where she displayed bravery, inspired Stephen despite the lingering impact on the family.
As Ruth’s grandson, Stephen acknowledged the complexity of his family history but credited her resilience for instilling fearlessness in him. He planned to honor her memory by displaying her picture at home, emphasizing her identity beyond the notorious label of a cold-blooded killer.
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