Founded 1980
Chair:        
Secretary: 
Treasurer: 

Graham Smith
Jan Thompson
Graham Mumby-Croft


Issue No. 69  Autumn 2013
No doubt like me many of you will remember the first day you joined the service and also remember the numerous pieces of advice passed on to you by those who had lots of experience and years in the job. 

I well recall my first day at Nottingham prison where the advice given to me by a disgruntled officer of God knows how many years service was to ask what on earth was I doing joining an organisation where standards and discipline had sunk so low. He went on to say that he only had a few weeks left to serve and could not wait to get out of the job fast enough. 

I remember him saying that the MP’s had abolished the death penalty and how could officers be expected to look after prisoners for the rest of their incarceration. He went on to say that there was a rumour that prisoners might get access to the radio. “ It’s not the service I joined, nor the service I want to be in any more” and if I had any sense I would resign now before I got in too deep. I recall thinking at the time what a dinosaur he was and why was someone with such negative views allowed to work with new entrant officers. I’m glad I did not take his advice and am pleased to say that I enjoyed my thirty plus years. I met lots of interesting people, lived through many various experiences and look back with fond memories at all the establishments and other places my career took me to. 

But as we all know time moves on and I look now at some of the conditions current staff have had imposed on their working conditions. I sincerely hope that I am not as big a dinosaur as the officer I referred to earlier but I now thank God that I do not have to undergo the current pressures which staff of all grades, employed in our penal establishments have to work under today. I know from the emails I receive via the register that many of you feel the same way.

Lots of you commented on how well you enjoyed the crossword page included in the last edition so another one to keep your grey cells active is contained in this edition

Mick Roebuck