I’m almost a month late with this, but it feels important.

9th January. For the third year in a row I travelled to London for a couple of days to attend the annual memorial ceremony for Edith.

(Photo taken after the ceremony on 9th January 2023, the 100th anniversary of Edith’s execution).

Last year we met in anticipation of a forthcoming pardon before it was denied at the end of February. This year we met with the same anticipation, and, I think, a new determination

The ceremony consists of readings, of a eulogy and some letters. Two of them by Edith where she reflects on her circumstances from Holloway.

Another by Edith’s mother, writing of the ‘peaceful’ look on Edith’s face after she had identified her body at Holloway following the execution.

I read Freddy’s letter to Edith, written from Pentonville a week before they died, ‘I want to ask you not to give up hope.’

I’m aware I talk about hope a lot in relation to Edith, but it’s something wonderful I have taken away through knowing her.

As she wrote to her friend Ida from Holloway, ‘However, I’m going to forget all that [her appeal had failed] now, I’m going to hope.’

We continue to do so. Edith’s innocence is well-established by this point, but this would be the final stage in the fight for justice. It would be wonderful to be able to meet next year in celebration of a triumph.