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John Ramwell
Prison Governor’s Journal. My Take. By John Ramwell

Mr O’Friel and I are the same age. In fact he beat me to this world of ours by 7-months.
He went to a Catholic boarding school; so did I. He has retained his Catholic Faith. I lost mine as I left school. The reasons are simple enough; I just did, as I became to believe in Darwinism rather than Creationism. He enjoyed a university education and joined the Prison Service as a Governor Grade in 1963.  I left school at 16 as an underachiever and joined the Service as a Farm Hand in 1961.

So Brendan's’ approach to our shared occupation was as an academic and leader: mine as a ‘hands on’ and as one of those to be led, until I climbed the ladder to become the Deputy Governor at HMYOI Hindley. We both stuck to our employer through thick and thin until retiring in 1997. I say, ‘through thick and thin.’ In my case I’m happy to claim it was mainly thin in that, apart from a few interesting moments, I had an easy tour of duty.

In Brendan’s case his interesting moments were of a more prolonged period and were certainly off the Richter Scale in comparison with anything I had to put up with. Our paths rarely crossed. I’m not sure we even met face to face but I’ve listened to several of his addresses at various conferences. He was to become a high profile figure and highly respected. I am pleased to be part of a Prison Service that not only retained his services but that also held him in such esteem.

So turning now to his book, ‘Prison Governor’s Journal.’ When reviewing any work there are three important questions.

1. Did I find it easy to read?
2. Did I enjoy reading it?
3. Did I learn from reading it?

The answer to the first two questions is, most definitely, yes. The answer to the third is an emphatic YES. A ‘YES’ to the extent it should immediately become compulsory reading by those at every level in the Prison Service who are currently serving and by those who may be contemplating this career choice. As for those who lead our Country by making choices regarding our priorities and finances, this is a book that should have far reaching consequences. This book has not been written by just another serving or ex-serving officer of the Service. 
The author’s credentials and experience are not, and could never be, questionable. To make a mark one often needs to be contentious. The more so the bigger the mark. But it remains my own contention that Mr. O’Friel has done little but state the obvious which, coming from him, is going to make a huge mark on the future of the Prison Service and its role in our society. The starting position is the need to accept there is a requirement for resources in terms of energy, leadership, finances, management, priorities and organisation.

The problem we all have to face is the reality of politicians having to find and allocate these resources against the backdrop of huge demands post pandemic as we all have to adjust our expectations to this harsh reality. Mr. O’Friel’s book should become a template for putting much right whilst accepting the need for a new and much anticipated ‘new normal;’ one that, as I write, will not become clear for years to come. There is little doubt that the courage demonstrated during two world wars and the Covid-19 Pandemic is going to have to continue to have to remain in place as Society wrestles with the all embracing requirements to fix what has been broken.

It might be that we really need to revisit such serious issues such as how are to be governed. Democracy has it’s benefits; we all know what Churchill said about it. But maybe the way we apply it as an overarching system to ensure we retain these benefits is going to be key.

Questionslike;

​1. Does it need to be so expensive? Could we not, at the very least, review the House of Lords, look more closely at local government. Trim down costs without loss of representation.

2. A different way of being accountable.

3. Part Three of ‘Prison Governor’s Journal’ entitled ’Unanswered Questions,’ although particularly specific have much wider connotations to the wider issues facing us all if we are to avoid “muddle than Machiavelli.”

A final word I leave to Brendan...

“Changing prison policy will require a very wide coalition of organisations within society to support positive politicians. Existing prison reform groups, religious leaders, trade unions, business leaders, and many more, will be needed to deliver energetic and full-hearted support for change. This presents an opportunity but also a huge challenge to us all.”

John Ramwell
BL5 2SL.
12th April, 2021