Born in 1914, she was an outstanding defence barrister who went on to become the first woman judge to sit at the Old Bailey. Rose was born in Liverpool and attended Belvedere School and Liverpool University.

One of her most famous cases was the Cameo Cinema murder trial when she defended George Kelly. Even though he was found guilty and hung after 2 trials, he was eventually given a posthumous pardon in 2003.



In 1955 she was called the "greatest lawyer in history" by notorious London gangster Jack Spot after she successfully defended him when he was accused of stabbing a man during an affray.

She later chaired a committee that recommended a change in the rape laws, in that victims were to remain anonymous and continued working till 1988.

She died in December 2005 aged 91.