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Graham Smith
Jan Thompson
Graham Mumby-Croft


Graham Smith
 Issue No. 81 Autumn 2019
The photo opposite was taken by me in 1987 at HMP Manchester [Strangeways] just prior to the introduction of "Fresh Start", the latest innovation at that time from HQ, radically changing the way HMPS was to manage and develop from then on. It depicts the last group of Chief Officers in post at the prison at that time with the Governor Brendan O’ Friel,  just before Chiefs came out of uniform and became Governors 5 [Chief 2] or Governors 4 [Chief 1]. Some say that the loss of the Chief Officers as Heads of the uniform staff  created a vacuum in  leadership and support that the Chief Officer gave. If the chief was wandering the jail we all knew about it and ensured things were as they should be or else “Watch out!” It was said that the Chiefs had rubber keys so you wouldn't always hear them coming: very crafty. The Chief Officers pictured as I remember them are, left to right, CO2 Foster, CO2 Maxwell, CO2 Frost [Catering], the next one I don't remember (I think he was Works Chief), CO1 Wallace  and CO2 Wilkinson [Hospital.] You will note that the Catering Chief Officer Roy Frost was a very tall, robust and down-to-earth sort of chap and if a prisoner complained about their food they were referred to see him and he always re-assured them appropriately.
I transferred to HMP Strangeways on promotion to Principal Officer from HMP Birmingham in 1982 and my first job was in charge of ‘E’ wing which held 340 under-21s, all three to a cell with no sanitation apart from a pot each and a recess half way along each landing where they would "slop out" 3 or 4 times a day. There was no regime as such apart from a bit of PE, education and a visit to the small library. As you may imagine boys 3 to a cell with nothing to do was a recipe for constant trouble with cell fires, bullying and self-harm top of the list. Allocation to a cell on reception was an art form: i.e no 20-year-old with a 15-year- old, no mixing the football supporters or lads from Manchester with Liverpool lads, long term with short term and so on. In May of 1982 under-21s were sentenced to the latest new approach to imprisoning young men, "Youth Custody", ensuring that no under-21 was sent to prison, except they still went to the same place as before with a different phrase on the warrants. We allocated them to Youth Custody Centres and had very busy days.

The address of Manchester Prison was, and maybe still is, 26 Southall Street which could be to all intents and purposes a terraced house. One Sunday morning with prisoners in the chapel, hopefully not rioting, and staff having a bacon sandwich from the mess, a knock on the wicket gate was answered by a new Officer who found a man with a piece of paper in his hand and speaking in an American accent asking if the Officer could direct him to 26 Southall Street. The Officer had no idea and asked the gate PO who came to the conversation stating that this was indeed that address and why are you asking? It transpired that he had a relative’s birth certificate and had come from America to trace his ancestors. The certificate showed the birth place as 26 Southall street.
His disappointment at finding out that his relative was from such humble beginnings was very evident as he walked slowly down the road still looking at the piece of paper and coming to a dead end with his venture at first go. Some kind person had endorsed the certificate with the actual address instead of HMP Strangeways to minimise any embarrassment in the future for the poor family. It didn't work though.

I know readers of the newsletter enjoy pictures and anecdotes/stories about prison life in times gone by, so if you have something lurking in a drawer gathering dust, please share it with us in a future edition so we can all enjoy and maybe add to the history.

GRAHAM SMITH



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