Founded 1980
Chair:        
Secretary: 
Treasurer: 

Graham Smith
Jan Thompson
Graham Mumby-Croft


APS 1 Spring 1991


The Accelerated Promotion Scheme replaced the Assistant Governor scheme and the first cohort assembled at Love Lane for a sixth month management course in October 1990. We had all passed the Principal Officers’ promotion board in addition to the scheme qualifying exam and the selection process held over three days at PSC Newbold Revel, before we reached Love Lane. Readers will have noticed that the first cohort was entirely white with only two female course members, this as late as 1990.
Of the original sixteen, only two, Andrew Lattimore and Andy Ainsworth, were graduate external recruits. Colette Kershaw and Rob Kellett had been Treasury Grades, and the rest of us were originally recruited as prison officers. Mick Farrington and myself attended the same school, but did not know each other. We were the first two to leave the scheme. Mick opted to revert to his previous rank of senior officer, I dropped out through being unable to pass the GV board, but got my career back on track without the scheme a couple of years later. Sadly, neither of the two women lived to see their 50th birthdays. Colette was the first course member to become an in-charge Governor. Ingrid was forced to leave the service due to injuries sustained in an accident unconnected with her work.
Our fortunes in the service varied widely, some having stellar careers up to and including the senior civil service, the rest of us further down the food chain. I believe a couple are still labouring at the coalface!



PAUL LAXTON























Left to right back row: David Cornwell (course tutor) Alec McCrystal, Dave Hoskins, Ferdie Parker, Chris Peck, Andrew Cross, Rob Kellett, Andrew Lattimore, can’t remember, Peter Bolton, Pat Midgley (course tutor)
Left to right Front row: Paul Laxton, Colette Kershaw, Mick Farrington, Jim Lewis, Ingrid McAlpine, Andy Ainsworth, Roger (surname escapes me)
My apologies to two former colleagues whose names I cannot remember.
Paul Laxton
Issue 93 Autumn 2023