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Topic History of: Prison - Holloway...
Max. showing the last 5 posts - (Last post first)
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JK2006 |
We had a similar heart attack death in Maidstone; a lovely guy called Woody, one of the nicest men I ever met.
In his seventies; died during lunchtime bangup having been given Gaviscon for his symptoms.
Like you, the officers were genuinely upset. |
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JC |
In Risley there were two VP wings called Patterson and Vidler, and two wings for the "normals" called Fox and Howard. there was also the privilage wing called Churchill, mainly for those who were close to release. Our governer was Brendan O'Friel and he ran a relaxed regime where VPs and "normals" could mix. Many "normals" chose to be housed on a VP wing because they had a better atmosphere. Work was also mixed. Anyone who attempted to cause trouble was shipped out to another prison. I'm not sure if it's still like that since the change of governer. Prison life was tolerable there, but I would never choose to go back. The food was awful, I'd guess about 15p per inmate per day was spent on food. Mattresses were like wafer biscuits and, despite single cells (with no TV btw) there was little privacy. Random drug tests. The results took a week but I was called for a drug test the day before my release. Medical cover was minimum. One guy rang his bell at night because he was having a heart attack. The night officer had no key so he had to go get someone who had. Fifteen minutes later, two others came and made him kneel down with his hands behind his head before they would open the door. They established that he was very ill, so they locked him alone in his cell while they went to call the doctor. The doctor was at home, and it tok another 45 minutes for him to arrive, by which time the inmate had died. Lots of other sad stories which the media never report, if they even know about them.
To their credit, regular daytime wing officers were genuinely upset about the death. |
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JK2006 |
I mixed with "the main" in both Maidstone (the print shop was non segregated) and remain friends with many from there - and in Belmarsh - the "VP" wing (or VIP as I changed the name) was often mixed with the main. Ditto Elmley.
Times have changed. "Nonces" are no longer sneered at and the VP wings are regarded as the place to be... a much better class of inmate. |
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????? |
But you were on the nonce wing which is not normal prison life, believe me i know. |
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JK2006 |
Good television with the odd nugget of real information, like when Charlotte said one of the vital things in prison is good manners.
You have to be unfailingly polite when locked up 24/7 with unstable people who can take offence at unintended slights.
I remember one young man who became furious when I suggested the Mirror might be more appropriate for him than the Guardian (considering he could not read).
I loved that - it taught you to be polite and sensitive even when slight rudeness was sensible.
A very good and positive aspect of prison. I learned tolerance and patience - two vital talents I totally lacked for 56 years. |
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