25 November 1954
Hangman’s last laugh
Maurice Welby, Britain’s most famous executioner, performed his final hanging on this day in 1954 at HMP Winson Green. Known as the ‘Laughing Hangman’ owing to his fondness for practical jokes, he soon became a national celebrity. Read on...
Welby (out of picture) celebrates the appointment of his friend Harry Allen (centre) as chief executioner
