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New Straits Times
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- 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.
Int'l Business Times
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Int'l Business Times
Stella Rimington, First Woman To Lead UK's MI5 Dies At 90
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.
Powys County Times
04-08-2025
- Powys County Times
Dame Stella Rimington, first female director general of MI5, dies aged 90
Dame Stella Rimington, the first female director general of MI5, has died aged 90, her family announced. Dubbed the 'housewife superspy' when she came into the role, she is widely credited as the model for Dame Judi Dench's M in the James Bond films. She was born on May 13 1935 in South Norwood and died on Sunday night. 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.' In a statement on its website, MI5 expressed its condolences to Dame Stella's family, friends and former colleagues. Sir Ken McCallum, current director general, said she 'broke through long-standing barriers' as the service's first female head. He said: 'Dame Stella was the first publicly avowed director general of MI5. 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. '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. 'Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with her husband, two daughters and extended family.' As part of a policy to 'demystify' MI5's work, she began a programme of releasing files to The National Archives, the service said. She joined MI5 full time in 1969, having been recruited as a part-time clerk typist by its office in New Delhi's British High Commission after she accompanied her husband on a diplomatic posting there four years earlier. She became director of each of the service's operational branches before she was appointed to deputy director general in 1991 and then director general a year later. During her tenure in the top job, between 1992 and 1996, there were threats from the IRA and Russia, while the Islamist terror threat was also emerging. When a newspaper published a photo of her house, she and her family had to move to a covert location for their own protection. After leaving MI5 in 1996, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath that same year and published her autobiography, Open Secret, in 2001, kickstarting her career as a novelist.
South Wales Guardian
04-08-2025
- South Wales Guardian
Dame Stella Rimington, first female director general of MI5, dies aged 90
Dubbed the 'housewife superspy' when she came into the role, she is widely credited as the model for Dame Judi Dench's M in the James Bond films. She was born on May 13 1935 in South Norwood and died on Sunday night. 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.' In a statement on its website, MI5 expressed its condolences to Dame Stella's family, friends and former colleagues. Sir Ken McCallum, current director general, said she 'broke through long-standing barriers' as the service's first female head. He said: 'Dame Stella was the first publicly avowed director general of MI5. 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. '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. 'Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with her husband, two daughters and extended family.' As part of a policy to 'demystify' MI5's work, she began a programme of releasing files to The National Archives, the service said. She joined MI5 full time in 1969, having been recruited as a part-time clerk typist by its office in New Delhi's British High Commission after she accompanied her husband on a diplomatic posting there four years earlier. She became director of each of the service's operational branches before she was appointed to deputy director general in 1991 and then director general a year later. During her tenure in the top job, between 1992 and 1996, there were threats from the IRA and Russia, while the Islamist terror threat was also emerging. When a newspaper published a photo of her house, she and her family had to move to a covert location for their own protection. After leaving MI5 in 1996, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath that same year and published her autobiography, Open Secret, in 2001, kickstarting her career as a novelist.
Leader Live
04-08-2025
- Leader Live
Dame Stella Rimington, first female director general of MI5, dies aged 90
Dubbed the 'housewife superspy' when she came into the role, she is widely credited as the model for Dame Judi Dench's M in the James Bond films. She was born on May 13 1935 in South Norwood and died on Sunday night. 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.' In a statement on its website, MI5 expressed its condolences to Dame Stella's family, friends and former colleagues. Sir Ken McCallum, current director general, said she 'broke through long-standing barriers' as the service's first female head. He said: 'Dame Stella was the first publicly avowed director general of MI5. 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. '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. 'Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with her husband, two daughters and extended family.' As part of a policy to 'demystify' MI5's work, she began a programme of releasing files to The National Archives, the service said. She joined MI5 full time in 1969, having been recruited as a part-time clerk typist by its office in New Delhi's British High Commission after she accompanied her husband on a diplomatic posting there four years earlier. She became director of each of the service's operational branches before she was appointed to deputy director general in 1991 and then director general a year later. During her tenure in the top job, between 1992 and 1996, there were threats from the IRA and Russia, while the Islamist terror threat was also emerging. When a newspaper published a photo of her house, she and her family had to move to a covert location for their own protection. After leaving MI5 in 1996, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath that same year and published her autobiography, Open Secret, in 2001, kickstarting her career as a novelist.
