First Female MI5 Director General Stella Rimington Dies Aged 90

Dame Stella Rimington, the pioneering first female director general of MI5 and inspiration for the character M in the James Bond films, has died at the age of 90. She joined MI5 full-time in 1969 after initially working as a part-time clerk typist in New Delhi and rose through the ranks to become director general in 1992, the first woman to hold the position. During her tenure from 1992 to 1996, she managed threats from the IRA, Russia, and the emerging Islamist terror threat, and was the first MI5 chief to be publicly named, which led to her family relocating for safety. Dame Rimington worked to bring transparency to the intelligence service, dispelling myths and misconceptions about MI5. After retiring, she became a successful espionage thriller novelist and served in various roles including chairing the Man Booker Prize judging panel. She passed away surrounded by her family and dogs, having lived a life marked by breaking gender barriers and reshaping public perceptions of intelligence work.