VISITING TALES

Damien, a New Bridge befriender from London, describes his first visit to a prisoner last year.

The train raced out of Kings Cross station leaving behind the skyscrapers and urban life of London. As I sat daydreaming, looking at the window with stations rushing past me, my thoughts were interrupted ferociously by a young woman ticket inspector saying, “Tickets please Sir.” Returning to reality I reached into my pocket showed her the ticket and it then dawned on me as she stamped that this was to be my first prison visit.  I have been a New Bridge Befriender since early September 2006 and though I have always had prisoners I had written to, I always wanted to build up a relationship so that we might have something to talk about on the visit. These thoughts came into my mind as I sat on the train to visit my prisoner that I had been writing for a year based in HMP Littlehey in Huntingdon.

Arriving at Huntingdon I boarded a local community bus in which took us directly to the prison. Everyone that boarded gave each person they passed a smile in which soon disappeared as it was clear that this business was not a happy one; my smile if faded was due to the nervousness in which I hid. The visitors centre was a flurry of activity, inside I informed a staff member it was my first time in which she talked me through the procedures of the prison. I asked a few questions and carried out the procedures in which the staff member instructed. I grabbed a cup of tea and waited for my group to be called to go over to the prison. I looked around the room and it was clear that these people (mainly women) did this regularly from listening to the conversations. As my group was called I was handed back the V.O. and proceeded over to the prison. Inside the prison smelt of cleanliness, disinfectant and order. I got searched, sniffed by a Labrador and patted down all in 10 minutes.

The visitors hall was arranged into four arm chairs behind a small coffee like table with the prisoners sat behind them in their blue and white pin striped shirt and blue jeans. I walked into the visitors hall nervousness rang all over me. I handed the prison officer my V.O. as I entered and was told table 14 and the walk was no more than three tables in and I kept thinking please don’t trip, don’t fall, arriving at the table I saw a fresh looking face smiling and as I sat down we began to converse.

2 hours, 2 Mars Bars, 2 Cans of Lit, packet of mini cheddars, 2 sausage rolls later, it was clear it was time to go. I was afraid that I would not be able to sustain two hours of conversation but it was clear it flowed naturally and as I stood to shake the prisoner’s hand it was clear how much of an impact I had made just by turning up. I wish I had longer to stay and talk to him but I’m saving that for the next visit and letter where we can finish off the conversations and subjects matters we started.

It was evident as I boarded the bus from the prison back to Huntingdon train station that the staff we friendly and helpful and well aware of the situation the visitors were all in. As a first visit I’m glad I had Littlehey as it was not too far from home and I look forward to my second visit back there.