The first woman Director General of MI5, Dame Steella Remington, has died, her family has said.
Dame Steella, who led the service from 1992 to 1996, was widely credited as a model for Dame Judy Dench’s M at James Bond Films.
She joined the MI5 full -time in 1969, and served as Deputy Director General in 1991 before being promoted as Director General.
She was the first to be publicly identified when appointed – and when a newspaper published a picture of her house, she and her family had to go to a secret place for their safety.
After leaving the service, Dame Steella started her career as a novelist.
In a statement, her family said: “She was surrounded by her beloved family and dogs and it was determined to occupy the life that she loved till her last breath.”
