Interview #42 | Beyond the Prison Bars: A Conversation with Ex-Governor Vanessa Frake-Harris MBE

British Murders with Stuart Blues

I welcome Vanessa Frake-Harris MBE to the show in this interview episode to discuss her book, 'The Governor: My Life Inside Britain's Most Notorious Prisons.'

Having worked for 16 years in a high-security women's prison dealing with the likes of Rosemary West and Myra Hindley, Vanessa Frake-Harris thought she'd seen it all. That was until she was transferred to the notorious Wormwood Scrubs.

Thrust into a 'man's world', her no-nonsense approach and fearless attitude saw her swiftly rise through the ranks. From dealing with celebrity criminals and busting drug rings to recruiting informers and being subject to violent attacks, her hard-hitting but often humorous memoir reveals all about life behind bars in unflinching detail.

Vanessa was awarded an MBE for her work for the prison service in 2012. She retired early from the prison service, after 26 years, while the Government funding was still in place and things were going well in her job as she wanted to go out on a high.

More recently, in a complete career change, she baked cakes at Angela Reed's Cafe in Saffron Walden and volunteers at Wood Green Animal Sanctuary.

Vanessa's book was released on April 15, 2021, and is available to purchase here:

The Governor: My Life Inside Britain's Most Notorious Prisons | HarperCollins Publishers UK

***This interview was recorded on July 12, 2023.

For all things British Murders, please visit my website:

https://www.britishmurders.com/

Intro music:

David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'

https://linktr.ee/davidjohnbradymusic

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