Founded 1980
Chair:        
Secretary: 
Treasurer: 

Graham Smith
Jan Thompson
Graham Mumby-Croft


Brendan O'Friel
EDITORIAL

Greetings to all our readers from Port St Mary in the Isle of Man. Despite being a little off the beaten track it is amazing how many people with Prison Service connections I see and hear about on the Island. From a retired officer who sails his boat into Port St Mary every summer to serving governors who decide to take a holiday somewhere different. We still have a container of possessions in store – but our house and way of life is settling down. I am involved in both on and off Island activities but there is still time enough to edit the Newsletter.

Our column “Inside Out” brings news of current events in the service. The recent one-day industrial action by the Prison Officers Association in England and Wales may have caused many of us to be particularly pleased that we are retired! The news that the prison population is over 80,000 - while not unexpected - may make many of us to reflect on lower prisoner numbers that we found very difficult to manage in years gone by. But then we didn’t have the number of places available that the current generation of Governors can use. And to think there were only around 13,000 in the system in the nineteen thirties.

Although we remain Prison Service and Home Office Pensioners, presumably our serving colleagues are to be – when they retire - Ministry of Justice Pensioners. The move of the Prison Service from the Home Office to the new Ministry of Justice may be the largest organisation change to the Prison Service since the abolition of the Prison Commission in 1963.

Details of pensions’ developments will be found in the Reports from the Public Service Pensioners Council – of which the RPGA is an active member. The RGN (Retired Governors Newsletter) carries information both about the social events that took place in 2007 and about those planned for 2008 which we hope will be well supported by members. My thanks to all those who contribute to the Retired Governors Newsletter. Without those contributions, the Newsletter would be a poorer publication. 

Any reader – new or old – who wishes to contribute is very welcome – letters, articles or just news of people are all welcome and will find a place in a future edition. A special thanks to Mick Roebuck who kindly edits alternate editions with me, making the task much less onerous. This edition features an article by John Ramwell as well as our usual columns of “Your Letters”; “Inside Out”; Clickers Corner and many more. “Your Letters” includes pictures – Bob Duncan’s abilities with his computer improve with every edition! And Rod Jacques’ cartoons add a unique flavour to the RGN.

Brendan O’Friel


Issue No. 57 Autumn 2007