Stephen Wade

Who was Stephen Wade?

Stephen Wade was one of England's executioners from 1940 until 1955. He assisted Tom and Albert Pierrepoint on 31 occasions and also carried out 28 executions as head executioner.

His first assignment was on 31 October 1942, assisting Albert Pierrepoint at the execution of Antonio Mancini at HMP Pentonville. After the Second World War he worked for a time at a coach dealership in his home town of Doncaster. His first execution as head executioner was the hanging of Arthur Charles at HMP Durham on 26 March 1946. Following this, he was usually selected by the Sheriff of Yorkshire for executions at HMP Armley from 1947 onwards e.g. the execution of Walter Sharpe on 30 March 1950, where he was assisted by Harry Allen.

His final assignment was the execution of Alec Wilkinson, whom he hanged at HMP Armley, Leeds on 12 August 1955. Wade's assistant at this execution was Robert Leslie Stewart. Wilkinson had been convicted of murdering Clara Farrell, his mother-in-law.

Wade died in Doncaster Royal Infirmary, of stomach cancer, shortly after his 69th birthday.