Stella Rimington, Britain's first female spy chief, dies at 90
Rimington, who ran the domestic security agency between 1992 and 1996, was its first head to be publicly named and later wrote a memoir 'Open Secret' about her career at the formerly secretive organisation.
She went on to write a series of espionage novels and is also widely thought to have inspired actor Judy Dench's tough but playful characterisation of the fictional spymaster 'M' in several James Bond movies.
'She died surrounded by her beloved family and dogs and determinedly held on to the life she loved until her last breath,' a family statement quoted by local media said.
Rimington was given one of the British state's highest honours when she was made a dame in 1996.
She joined MI5 in 1969 and worked in roles including counter-subversion and counter-terrorism. Under her leadership MI5 took a more prominent role in Britain's fight against Irish republican militants, according to a profile on the MI5 website.
'As the first avowed female head of any intelligence agency in the world, Dame Stella broke through long-standing barriers and was a visible example of the importance of diversity in leadership,' current MI5 Director General Ken McCallum said in a statement.
She committed the agency to a more transparent approach to its work, softening its post-Cold War image.
'We are, of course, obliged to keep information secret in order to be effective, this is not to say that we should necessarily be a wholly secret organisation,' she said in a publicly broadcast 1994 lecture.
'Secrecy is not imposed for its own sake. It is not an end in itself.'
Foreshadowing her later literary career, Rimington opened that same speech with a nod to the British spy novel tradition and the fascination with the security services it had inspired among the general public.
'It is exciting stuff and has led to the creation of many myths - and some lurid speculation - about our work. I must admit that it is with some hesitation that I set out tonight to shed some daylight,' she said.
'I have a sneaking feeling that the fiction may turn out to be more fun than the reality.' - Reuters
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
7 hours ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Singer Jessie J hospitalised with infection six weeks after breast cancer surgery
LONDON: British pop star Jessie J is facing another health scare, less than two months after undergoing surgery for breast cancer. The 37-year-old singer, whose full name is Jessica Cornish, revealed on social media in June that she had been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer and had a procedure to treat it. However, in an Instagram Stories post titled "How I spent the last 24 hours" on Aug 3, she revealed she had returned to the same hospital ward just six weeks post-surgery. According to the Straits Times, she wrote that the hospital admission was "not expected or planned" and that she had, and still has, symptoms that suggested a blood clot in the lung. The singer shared a photo from her hospital bed with an intravenous cannula in her arm. Clarifying that it was not a blood clot, she wrote: "They ran a lot of tests, which ended up showing I have an infection (still trying to figure out what) and a little fluid (in) my lungs." She added: "Finding it hard to breathe in, but I discharged myself last night (I hate being in hospital) and will continue the investigation as an outpatient." Jessie J, who is a mother to a two-year-old son with her partner, Danish-Israeli professional basketball player Chanan Colman, 41, also shared the challenges of her recovery. In a second post, she wrote: "For me, the true hard journey of this whole thing physically was the day I went into surgery." She explained that the physical recovery is "far from quick or easy" and that "mentally, it's been the most challenging time". "Especially as a mum with a toddler and being unable to be the mother I usually am," she continued. "And having to change the plans for my career for this year has been frustrating after working so hard to get to the point and excited to do it all. But it's life. I know that." She also noted that while getting the "all-clear" was "incredible," the result "didn't speed up or make the recovery from the surgery any easier physically." In a third post, Jessie J said her recent health scare was a reminder to herself to slow down, even though she felt like she was currently moving at a "tortoise" pace. "This isn't a speedy recovery. And it isn't meant to be," she wrote. "That slow pace has been a hard reality to accept. I love moving and working and being up and active, but I can't be right now, and that's what it is." She concluded that she is "finding strength in knowing that all can be adjusted to align with a slower pace and the support of my very small inner circle." The singer, who has previously been open about her health, disclosed on social media in July 2024 that she had also been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Sinar Daily
8 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
Are Florence Pugh and Finn Cole secretly engaged?
They are the kind of couple that hides in plain sight. Walking hand-in-hand behind festival crowds, exchanging warm Instagram comments and exiting red carpets through the back door. Florence Pugh, the Oscar-nominated darling of Hollywood and Finn Cole, the British actor best known for his role in Peaky Blinders, may have quietly fallen in love. And if recent reports are true, they may be taking the next big step together. August has just begun, and the rumour mill is spinning again over their alleged romance. According to one insider, Cole and Pugh have been in a bubble, getting to know each other away from the spotlight. Florence Pugh and Finn Cole are rumoured to be engaged. Photo: X As for a ring? None has been spotted and neither party has commented. But they continue to support each other's work publicly and it seems, love quietly. Back in September 2024, they were seen hand-in-hand at The Perfect Couple premiere after-party at The Hoxton hotel in East London. Even celebrity gossip accounts reported sightings of the couple all over London during that time. But perhaps the most telling moment came when Pugh confirmed to British Vogue in the same month: 'Yes. We are figuring out what we actually are. And I think for the first time, I am not allowing myself to go on a roller coaster. I am allowing myself to take time to let something evolve and let it be completely real to its core, as opposed to racing into that,' she said. While she did not name names, the timing was hard to ignore. She went on to describe falling in love as 'the most amazing feeling,' but warned that 'unfortunately if that is the only thing that you know in a relationship, then that is the thing that you chase. That is not gonna last.' Florence Pugh and Finn Cole are rumoured to be engaged. Photo: X In June 2024, the pair were spotted together at Glastonbury Festival, and by July, Pugh had commented excitedly on Cole's casting announcement, joking, 'Granny Pat wants to come. #obvi.' Though neither Pugh nor Cole has confirmed their relationship, the evidence has been building quietly over the past year. What began as a long-standing friendship appears to have turned into something far more serious. Their connection goes back to at least 2017. Over the years, Pugh has consistently liked Cole's Instagram posts, with her interactions becoming more frequent and affectionate in recent months. While Pugh's rise has been swift — from indie darling in Lady Macbeth to Marvel star in Black Widow and Thunderbolts — Cole's career has also been a steady climb. Born in Kingston, London, on Nov 9, 1995, Cole got his start with a background role in Offender (2012), which starred his older brother Joe Cole. Joe would go on to play John Shelby in the acclaimed BBC series Peaky Blinders, a gritty crime drama where Finn would eventually find his breakout role as Michael Gray, John's cousin and the ambitious son of Polly Gray. While his brother exited the series in 2017, Finn remained until its conclusion in 2022. His portrayal of Michael, who began as the family's legal brain before spiraling into a more ruthless figure, gave him a lasting mark in British television. From there, he expanded into international roles, starring in the American crime series Animal Kingdom (2016–2022), Dreamland (2019) and even appearing in F9 (2021) of the Fast and Furious franchise. Cole has largely kept his personal life private, giving few interviews and seldom appearing on the tabloid radar. As both actors continue to take on high-profile projects — with Cole recently appearing at the Thunderbolts premiere in support of Pugh — the intrigue around their relationship continues to grow. And while fans may keep watching for rings or red carpet appearances, perhaps what is most admirable is that the two seem content building their story far away from the spotlight, one quiet moment at a time.
New Straits Times
13 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Stella Rimington, first woman to lead UK's MI5 dies at 90
LONDON: Stella Rimington, the first woman to head the UK's domestic secret service MI5, has died at the age of 90, the spy agency announced on Monday. Rimington, who led MI5 from 1992 to 1996, was widely believed to be the inspiration behind the female role of M in the James Bond movies, played by UK star Judi Dench. She was the first director general of the intelligence service who was publicly named, as before Rimington's appointment in 1992, MI5 chiefs were never officially identified or photographed. Publication of her identity caused a press frenzy. "As the first avowed female head of any intelligence agency in the world, Dame Stella broke through long-standing barriers and was a visible example of the importance of diversity in leadership," the current MI5 director general Ken McCallum said in a statement. "Her leadership ushered in a new era of openness and transparency about the work MI5 does to keep this country safe, a legacy that continues to this day." MCallum presented his condolences to Rimington's husband, two daughters, and her whole family after her death on Sunday. In a statement, her family said: "She died surrounded by her beloved family and dogs and determinedly held on to the life she loved until her last breath." Born on May 13, 1935, in the southern London district of South Norwood, Rimington was first employed as a part-time typist at the British embassy in Delhi, having accompanied her diplomat husband to India. She then joined MI5 in a full-time post in 1969. Dubbed the "housewife superspy", the agency said Rimington had held various roles including in counter-subversion, counter-espionage and counter-terrorism. During her time as director general, the agency "underwent far-reaching transformation", the statement said. It also moved its headquarters and "instituted a policy of greater public openness to demystify the work of MI5, including beginning a programme of releasing MI5 files to The National Archives." But Rimington triggered controversy when she published her memoirs "Open Secret" in 2001 after her retirement, with some accusing her of treason and MI5 of trying to block the publication. "It was quite upsetting because suddenly you go from being an insider to being an outsider and that's quite a shock," she told The Guardian daily newspaper at the time. But she added: "I've never been one to retreat at the first whiff of gunshot." Another woman, Eliza Manningham-Butler, took up the helm of MI5 between 2002-2007. And Blaise Metreweli was named in June as the first female head of the UK's overseas spy service MI6.
