The Governor: From dealing with notorious criminals to baking cakes in Saffron Walden we speak to Vanessa Frake
Our reporter Matt Hudson went to speak to Vanessa
From Moors Murderer Myra Hindley to Rose West, there is one lady who has met them all.
Vanessa Frake from Saffron Walden has spent decades inside Britains most notorious prisons, during those years she's been dealing with fights, drug deals and infamous prisoners.
As the governor of the notorious Wormwood Scrubs she was responsible for thousands of inmates but after retiring her life has taken a dramatic turn, baking cakes and writing a book.
As a teenager Vanessa wanted to sail the world with the Royal Navy, after finding out women didn’t get the same opportunities at that time she settled to milking cows.
At the age of 22 she joined the prison service and spent over 15 years in Holloway, a women’s prison, but has since claimed men were easier to work with.
Vanessa was no stranger to confrontational and uncomfortable situations, having dealt with riots and attacks.
Since retirement she has worked on putting down her ideas on paper. The result? A book that is climbing up the charts.
‘The Governor’ describes Vanessa’s experiences behind bars which is a world away from her current lifestyle: baking cakes at Angela Reed’s Cafe in Saffron Walden and volunteering with the Wood Green animal sanctuary.