26 September

ALFRED - MONDAY. 26TH. SEPTEMBER.

The guard dogs were particularly noisy this morning, I wonder why? Was the kennel man late? They really howled. A little later, as the light increased, the seagulls came, and they were also in a bad mood fighting each other for the scraps of food that the prisoners up above us had thrown out of their windows. I went to the window and rudely told them where they should go, and they did; but came back, and the crows with them. The noise was terrible, so I had another go at them. A pure waste of effort.
At the time for toast and tea bags, I went to the office upstairs, and asked at what time did prisoners get released. The answer was extremely vague: not very early, possibly at first main movements about 8.30 am, but it could be later, and usually one finally got out soon after 10.0 a.m. after a lengthy departure routine.
It was after the morning main movements, such as gym classes, that I was sent on my own to reception, and a warder from that department met me at the fence in the park to escort me in.
I had to wait for some time until I was taken to reception, where all my property was brought out in plastic bags: my change of clothes and two or three bags of things sent to me by well- wishers, most of which I was not allowed to have. I saw a packet of 200 cigarettes, two pouches of my tobacco, two pens to write letters, a large amount of sweets, a new pipe from a pipemaker, and several other items which I never saw again. , The pipe I finally collected when I left. But I was allowed to take 2 pads of paper, some envelopes, and a plastic wallet for paper, then back to the waiting room until they made contact with the Wing staff to meet me. As I approached the Wing, I was let in.
On my return I found Dev, so we must have just missed each other during the previous days. There was an association and exercise as well. Was this to make up for the lack of those over the weekend?
Ali asked me to look over his personal letter to the judge. This was recommended by his lawyer for him to use to plead, before his sentencing. It was a simple letter saying that he would not offend again and gave the circumstances that led to his arrest.
I actually spoke to Una on the phone, at the second attempt.

I heard on the midday news that Sylvia Hardy had been given a seven day Prison Sentence. The Magistrate was rude about her action, saying she might think of herself as a martyr, but really she was a fool. So he was in a bad mood. I think he was the fool.

My visitors this afternoon are Isobel and Tony Booth who live on the outskirts of Northampton. They have been supporters for some time, and part of our small committee, which used to meet at Susan Hatton's home. It was genially referred to as " meeting in Susan's Kitchen" where we were made welcome by her and her husband Ron. They looked forward to the next meeting, and they sent their love to Una.

We have some new inmates who looked like businessmen caught in some fraud or other. I do not know if that is what they were. They kept to themselves. If they are found guilty and in for a stretch, they will be off to a category D prison, an open one, in a week or two.

While I was at Reception, collecting my 'property in', I asked about the release timing. It was confirmed that I would leave the Wing at' main movement', at about 8.30 or 9.0.am, but that it would take another hour or so to complete the paper work. I would be out at about 10.0am, and that is why I rang Una, during 'association' to tell her.



UNA - SEPTEMBER 26TH 2005

The first surprise of the day was a statement on BBC's " Today " programme referring to Alfred's and Sylvia's Prison sentences. This was a rare moment indeed, and one I shared with Christine Melsom who was also impressed that the BBC had actually acknowledged this news.
As we talked she told me that there was criticism directed at her for not being at Exeter for Sylvia's Court Hearing and at Brighton for the Council Tax demonstration at the Labour Party Conference. She needed to answer these criticisms. Where does a leader go when big events occur almost simultaneously in a campaign? It is an obvious answer. The general stays at the point of contact. Christine stays in her home.

Soon after this the phone calls began. Radio 5 was first and then Martin Evans from the Daily Express.
I tried to balance all that took place in the day with ordinary things, to keep me grounded. Tidying bedrooms, ironing, grass cutting and piano teaching contribute to keeping in control.

It was important to finalise the booking for the Press Conference on October 4th, Alfred's day of release. I took myself off to the Saracen's Head and paid £50 for the room we needed, a gift from Isitfair.
I came home to speak on Glasgow's radio programme. It was a phone-in based on the news item of the day, the council tax issue. Before I spoke many people expressed their clear understanding that the council tax needed to be based on the ability to pay from income. I was really pleased to be part of this programme.

Later in the day Alfred managed a phone call to tell me that he expected to be released at 10 a.m. The media will want to know about this timing.

Anne, living in Devon, kept me up to date with the happenings in Exeter from the radio news there. She was also keeping an eye on me.
Joel, from work, did the same. Family support and ordinary things were important ingredients for a recipe that kept their mum calm.

At 1 p.m. BBC TV news showed Sunday's interview outside Woodhill Prison. In their wisdom they had cut out all statements I had made except the wifely one, " that Alfred was fine." This sounded so feeble it made me shudder.
All the efforts, the numerous takes, were sized- down to this! I tried speaking to a producer but they are protected by " messengers " who hand on complaints.
There is no guarantee that the statements you want to put across will be shown. After this attempt to make valid points had been wasted I had to let it go. Somewhere in the BBC is a discriminatory policy.

There were over 25 phone calls today. A special one came from Saskia belonging to Alfred's past and is now back in his present. As boys, Alfred and Christopher lived with guardians for a time, while their parents were in another part of the world. Saskia was a daughter of that family and now lives in Cornwall.
She had recently come across coverage about Alfred, and today she was hearing about Sylvia. Both of them she admired greatly for standing against a continuing unfair system. She reminded me that Alfred was special. Saskia had fallen in love with him when she was two years old!

Then came fairy tale news. Christian Gysin phoned to say he was arranging a two days away for us in a quiet and lovely location for after October 4th. I just could not believe it and neither did not I think to question why. For a while the effect was like drinking a gin and tonic on an empty stomach.

Michael Burt headed the highly respected programme the BBC featured on Radio 4, "1 Choice ". The producer was interested to feature Alfred when he came home. This was a great opportunity to make even more people aware of our cause.

John Burnett phoned in to say he had returned from a marathon car journey to Brighton and then on to Exeter, all in the name of protesting for Council Tax reform. He was part of the demo at the Labour Party Conference and then joined the lively placard bearing supporters for Sylvia Hardy in Exeter. He and his wife Erica are due to visit Alfred on Wednesday and to be part of the supporters at the Prison when Christine visits on Thursday. They enjoy a full schedule and are true campaigners.

I was glued to the television news at the end of the day which showed the details of Sylvia's traumatic day. The Magistrate had no right to call her a fool for being a protestor for council tax reform. Here is another Magistrate who should go back to his history books to note the exceptional people who have stood up for what is right.
She was driven away in a car without being handcuffed. This contrasts dramatically with Alfred's departure to Prison when he was driven away in a white van and handcuffed from the time of being in the police station.
The challenge now is whether or not other people, feeling as strongly as Alfred and Sylvia do, will decide to do the same as they have, it will depend on how the Government acts in the future.