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I have a friend currently serving a sentence in HMP Foston Hall and a few weeks ago I went to visit her. I had read the poor inspection reports before I arrived, so I travelled with a feeling of dread. I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived, as I found It very different from how I imagined and feared.
Every member of staff I met was helpful; the facilities for welcoming visitors include a staffed Visitor Centre so that everyone was able to be briefed with what to expect and what was permitted; and I was particularly impressed that all those families entering the intimidating prison gates not only had the rules explained to them, but were also told the reasons why the restrictions are in place. People accept regulations more easily if they know why they are there, and tend to resent those that seem petty when they have not been justified. I left the jail convinced that all those I had met on that day were fully committed to improving the place. This is why I was fascinated by an invitation I received to a meeting of the Friends of Foston Hall Prison (FFH). As I had never come across a Friends group for a prison, I could not resist going along, albeit with slight scepticism about their value.
A challenging agenda
That is why, on a Saturday morning this month, I arrived eager to hear the intentions of the Friends group and how they envisaged their future role. The meeting was hosted by the Wirksworth and District Amnesty International Group, and I must say in passing that Wirksworth is a beautiful market town in the heart of the Derbyshire Dales. We were welcomed at the door by Sue Stockwell from the Friends, who had helped organise the event. The room, in a church, was filled by an audience of local people of all ages, eager to listen. After a welcome from Jerry Allen of Amnesty, who placed the need for prison reform in an international context specifically referencing their campaign for political prisoners in India, Kate French, FFH Chair, gave a summary of the prison then spoke about the group’s aims and ambitions. I have to say these plans are both wide-ranging and extensive. Kate, I learned, along with a fellow Committee member Sue Wall, knew the prison from their time with the Independent Monitoring Board.
Kate stressed they will support the Governor and team to deliver the Foston Hall aims. They intend to ensure that the prison is recognised as an important facility in Derbyshire doing vital work in giving people the opportunity for a positive future, and that those within it fully deserve such a chance. They will engage with community groups and individuals who can help women prisoners develop skills and improve their prospects of successful rehabilitation. Their programme includes workshops with women in Foston Hall, reading skills sessions, gardening classes, dance classes, the formation of a choir, and mentoring and coaching prisoners. Of course, all involved will require vetting, and will be supported in what will be a strange environment, enabling more local people with skills to join.
These are major initiatives, and it is good to know that the prison governor and officers are keen to support this addition to the work they themselves provide. The group had asked staff in Foston to recommend an ex-inmate to talk to them about their life experiences and time in jail, and Kelly Gleeson was recommended. Her presentation was the main item on the agenda.
I confess to being biased
I must say that Kelly is a good friend of mine, and so my view of her talk might not be entirely neutral, but she is an excellent speaker. She spent a lot of her earlier life in and out of prison, including Foston Hall. Indeed, when we went together to visit our mutual friend in Foston, the officers on duty in the visitors’ room proudly told everyone that she was their star pupil, and as we were leaving, they asked if she wanted her old room back for a few days. It indicated their pleasure at her achievements. Her life story is fascinating but sadly far from unique, and her recounting of it moving.
Kelly’s upbringing was in a family which was confrontational, and she thought the verbal abuse aimed at her mother was the norm for everyone’s home life. In her teens she was attracted to violently aggressive men. One punched her in the face on a plane as they flew away on holiday and later involved her in petty crime. Other abusive relationships followed. She was therefore groomed into crime and ended up in and out of prisons, including Foston Hall.
One day an officer took time to sit down and ask how she saw her life developing, and after a bit of thought she said she wanted to get to open conditions and try and change. It was then she decided to turn herself around. She eventually got Release on Temporary Licence and employment. She also took a role as a prison Listener. She ended up working in the prison reform sector, wanting to support those still inside. Whenever I sit with Kelly for a coffee, her time is often interrupted by telephone calls from women she met inside who turn to her for encouragement. Not part of her work; just part of her life.
Kelly will also openly admit that the burden of her past often returns and drags her down, so she has to fight back against that fog to continue moving forwards. What is particularly striking, and most unusual, is that Kelly tells her story directly and seeks neither pity for the harm done to her in the past, nor applause for her present actions. Her drive is to help others progress, get out of prison, and move forwards. Those at the meeting on Saturday who may have entered the room unsure as to how important this Friends Group actually is, left in no doubt of the value of any help they can give.
One week earlier I had listened to Dr Mine Conkbayir, author of Maya’s ACE Adventures, describing her childhood and life, and explaining how that led her to write about parental imprisonment. She, too, talked about fighting through the trials and tribulations that inspired her desire to assist others, but also recognised the reality that those bleak memories often return to haunt you. These real-life stories should be aired widely. They enable others to see clearly what needs to be done.
I met the Sheriff
There were many other people there who deserve mentioning, but there is one I really must name. There, sat in the room, was the High Sheriff of Derbyshire, Theresa Peltier. High Sheriffs are appointed by the King and represent him in matters of law and order. It is an ancient role, and when those holding the office attend events their role may be symbolic but by their demeanour, they make residents of those counties proud. I thought when I met her that her presence at this gathering was very positive, and that her showing that interest was commendable.
I learnt a very important lesson from this: always look people up in advance. Theresa was there for far more than just ‘turning up’. She is the FFH patron, and a passionate and very active member of the committee, so was there as an activist, not an onlooker. A quick scan of the internet would have shown me that Ms Peltier lists the development of FFH as one of her key priorities for her year in office, which commenced back in May. She expresses her intention to work with the prison governor in supporting women inside, and had I glanced at the notes distributed by Kate French I would have seen that she has already been running very positive and much appreciated workshops within the jail, in which she has shared her personal experiences of the care system and discussed racism with the women.
She plans to run African dance classes during Black History Month, and her partner George Grignon is to take in an exhibition on Windrush. Amongst other work during her tenure as High Sheriff, Ms Peltier is focussing on the deaf community, and also adoption. She was an active head of equality for Derbyshire police. After the Saturday morning meeting, Theresa was off to help George plan for a concert in which he was performing. An active life for sure.
Ever since the days of Robin Hood, Sheriffs from the Midlands have had a pretty dodgy reputation, but had Robin’s infamous foe spent his time working to support those in Nottingham’s Oubliettes and running popular music festivals instead of persecuting the poor, we would probably sing songs about him, and the Merry Men could have stayed peacefully shooting deer whilst remaining carefree in Sherwood Forest.
On to a better future
Theresa Peltier personifies active commitment, and with her determined presence plus that of all those in the room that day, I am convinced the Friends will succeed. People signed up to take part immediately after the meeting. I also think the prison governor and officers deserve great credit for their having embraced this new committee. The group’s passion is infectious, and they persuaded Kelly to take an active role too!
I confess that as I travelled up to Wirksworth, I feared I might find a well-meaning committee who want to spend their time just running jumble sales and collecting funds to pay for bits and pieces for art classes to do a little bit of good. We all have our preconceptions, and I am delighted I was wrong. Those I met have experience of life and prisons, organisational ability, drive, and are persuasive. They will ensure that positive stories of rehabilitation and life changes are spread locally, and that companies are encouraged to give training and employment opportunities to those within Foston Hall. I was concerned as to whether the existence of the Friends might enable the prison to paper over the cracks that Inspectors reports uncovered, and divert responsibility away from the prison itself. I am not worried about that now.
The FFH are clear in their aims and aware of both the limits but also the extent of what they can achieve. They have experienced and dedicated members, and a timetable to which they will work. It is not just a good idea, but a damn good thing. All strength and success to them. They will help the prison staff make a significant difference. You can find out more on www.friendsoffostonhall.org.uk. Maybe other ex-members of IMBs might like to consider launching similar initiatives elsewhere.
As for me, next time I go anywhere, I shall read all the background notes in advance and make sure I leave my cynicism at home. However, my negative views of the Sherrif of Nottingham will stay the same.
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