Every
year a lucky young lady was voted as Rose Queen for the year and as
always she was crowned on the front lawn of Taxal Rectory by a notable
personality.
This would be usually a local councillor or some
equally obscure nobody. But things changed in 1950 when Miss Clarke won
the award. And who was announced to crown her? Well when the door opened
the Minister welcomed in Mr. Albert Pierrpoint the infamous hangman.
Until then a hangman kept his job secret, even from his wife.
But
Pierrepoint had become famous after executing many German war criminals. After the ceremony he spent the rest of the afternoon in the
Royal Oak in Taxal.
He was also seen on occasions in the Board Inn and The Shepherd's Arms.
Tony Beswick
Albert Pierrepoint was himself a publican, first at Hollinwood and later at Much Hoole near Preston. In 1950 he hanged James Corbitt at Strangeways, one of his own customers.
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