Founded 1980
Chair:        
Secretary: 
Treasurer: 

Graham Smith
Jan Thompson
Graham Mumby-Croft


OUTSIDE TIME A PERSONAL HISTORY OF PRISON FARMING AND GARDENING, BY HANNAH WRIGHT

Published by : Placewise Press, Eightslate, Uffculme, Devon, EX15 3DR

Hannah Wright, daughter of the late Farms and Gardens Manager Bev Wright, encouraged by Maurice Codd, writes of a subject which until now has not received the attention it properly deserves. She gives voice to those F&G staff who worked the land known to many of our members, expressing the
pride, passion, regret and some anger at the short-sightedness of those in power. The history and development from the first farm at Dartmoor in 1852, the gradual expansion through to the high point in the mid 1990s, then to its’ sharp decline later in the decade and virtual disappearance at the turn of the century is enlightening.

By the mid 1990s the F & G enterprise covered 13,590 acres and was the third largest farming operation in England and Wales-only marginally smaller than the Co-operative Food Group--for which Maurice Codd was responsible between 1982 -1991. Quite frankly I (and many of my fellow governors) was unaware of the sheer scale of what he was giving up when he became, very much to our gain, Yorkshire Area Manager between 1991-96.

For many of us who worked at establishments which had Farms and Gardens, this book will be of interest. It is personalised and, as such, gives coverage to some prisons more than others, but many of the characters mentioned will be familiar, since, to my surprise, I never realised how mobile F & G staff were. As an example, Hannah’s father joined the Service in 1975 at Camphill, did his training as an officer at Wakefield, was posted to Portland then transferred to F&G and went to Featherstone. Thence it was
off to Gaynes Hall, The Verne and later to Hadfield and Lindholme, from where he retired.

Her sources include historical records, as well as the many F&G staff who recount their own experiences, plus a few prisoners’ views on the discipline and satisfaction they have found having an opportunity to work on the land. Notable are the missed opportunities caused by the limitation of Treasury yearly accounting procedures, conflicting with the farming practitioners’ need for certainty over three, four or five years; and was highly relevant when dealing with animal milk and meat production, the narrow vision of HQ “tick box” mentality on the treatment and training of prisoners and the political direction of contracting everything out whereby the cost of everything is known but the value of nothing.

Now with growing awareness of environmental issues there are signs of local initiatives being undertaken, particularly in horticulture by some governors, albeit mainly within the walls. Unfortunately these are mostly grant funded (not by HMG) but for limited periods only, which heightens expectations and disappointment when the cash runs out, or by change of Governor whose interest lies elsewhere.

Lord Ramsbotham, former Chief Inspector of Prisons, says in his Foreword to this book, “Current fast food habits are storing up long term health problems. What better demonstration of purposeful rehabilitation than teaching the value of good food, grown by fellow prisoners.”

HARRY CREW

 Issue No. 79 Autumn 2018