every precious moment

we know now

what we can be

we came this way

so we might feel

all the joy and sadness

love that's real

I would do it all again

every precious moment

I would do it all again

against the tide

we make our stand

in the deepest quiet

hand in hand

we shall abide

and when its time

we shall fall

like petals on the wind

burst like bubbles in the rain

I would do it all again

every precious moment

I would do it all again

we wont resist the sweetest thing

the sweetest thing there ever was

we'll see the stars 

that shone  on us

I know we can

I know we shall

I would do this all again

every precious moment

I would do it all again

peace

Cameron's last stand?

 

I blame new labour

When Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer was defeated at the battle of Little Big Horn the account was glorified as an heroic stand against  the overwhelming number of braves of Crazy Horse of the Lakota Sioux; Sitting Bull and Gall from the Hunkpapa Sioux; and Lame White Man of the Southern Cheyenne. In fact more recent examination of the battle and battlefield, shows that Custer's men fled under the superior fire of the native Americans automatic weapons against their own single shot rifles. Most cavalry soldiers were shot in the back as they fled. Custer was an arrogant man who ignored or underestimated the facts on the day, put his own narcissistic point of view above all others and led his men into catastrophe.

Watching the political leaders debate on ITV last night it seemed to me that Cameron was surrounded and the cavalry were not coming to rescue him. He stands alone in his view of the way to address the deficit and the speed with which it needs to be done.  Nicola Sturgeon, Leanne Wood and Natalie Bennett were agreed on at least one thing. The coalition has caused extreme hardship through austerity policies. They spoke about justice and a fair society where the poor don't pay the cost of Cameron's mates financial disasters of the banking crisis. Of course Miliband is in agreement with the women on the deficit issue and poor old Clegg is a lost boy with nowhere to go. Farage is a clever and manipulative problem child and some where among his supporters is the man or woman who would want to lead us back in time towards the darkly ignorant days of Enoch Powell speak and National Front. UKIP is possibly the most dangerous entity to raise its ugly head in a long time. I know a few ex Labour voters who are teased with the idea of voting UKIP. Don't do it!

If I lived in Scotland right now I think I would vote SNP or if in Wales Plaid Cymru. Why? It seemed to me that all of the women speaking last night were like reasonable, modern socialists. They seem to me to be people who might have left New Labour when it began to turn it's back on decent and viable socialist principles in favour of Tony's corporate mates and his dreams of glorious legacy. All of the women spoke of a new beginning where fairness and equal opportunity should prevail. It was exciting to hear this and what a contrast to that other woman who tried to break the unity of the working class and who successfully reduced Trade union representation of the UK work force to an almost impotent power. Some will say and a good thing too but not me.

If Cameron gets his way the cuts will be punitive and will fall, yet again, on the poorest and most vulnerable. We can, for the time being, dismiss Farage as a possible leader. We can also dismiss Clegg. In fact we can almost forget about him as being a possible anything in the new government. Still it must be said that even he is strongly opposed to the speed and manner in which his partner David would continue to cut public services. I believe Nicola, Leanne and Natalie are a glimpse of the future in politics and all of their ideas resonate with me more than the men's with the exception of Miliband and finally I can say that I am beginning to hear and see a Miliband that might just be worth his salt. Time will tell. Some of us wondered, where was the passion? Where was the standing up to Cameron that we desperately needed in the past. It is always difficult to seem effective in opposition and now that Parliament is dissolved perhaps we are beginning to see his true colours. In any event Cameron's repeated claim to achieving his fiscal goals are dead in the water. Borrowing is higher than ever and the deficit is still there. I wonder to whom do we owe these billions? But that is another story.

We can be sure that if Cameron is in the picture we will see a continuation of unnecessary austerity measures that will limit growth and generally further reduce morale in the public sector reducing the effectiveness of vital services. I would be surprised if you don't know someone who has been affected by massively reduced social services and the resulting negative effects on the NHS. Cameron constantly talks about " The hard working British people". He has a Farage like tendency to forget that our NHS, for example is staffed to a large extent, by people from all over the world. Of course he knows it but still we hear the mantra representing " the hard working British people". What about the unemployed and those who are unable to work? Is it right that they should suffer most through austerity measures? It is obvious that with so many part time minimum wage jobs and zero contracts Cameron's latest employment figures are a deceit.

There is still some way to go before we get to vote. I still think there is a case for not voting at this election but the very idea appals me in some ways and my parents long passed would be very shocked at the idea. Also it would require a massive non turn out to bring real change and that is not going to happen. So, I would like to think that Ed is worth a shot but is he? He sounds clearer and more believable than he has previously. He should take serious note of some of the things that are being proposed by Nicola, Leanne and Natalie and only make promises he can keep.

For me the high light of the debate was that we could see the difference between the leaders and their policies. We have a choice and it is to vote for the interests of the very rich few because we think they are most important for our health and wealth or, we vote for a fairer and happier society. Over simplification? I don't think so. It is not always possible for a leader to do what he or she really wants. Listen to The State of The Nation speech by any US president. But we need to see real intent now. Intentions that can be achieved and not the familiar betrayal, we are all familiar with, as soon as the incumbent leader is installed. This will always be a new challenge for anyone raised in the Westminster culture of - I say this but I will do that.

I wish you all a happy holiday.

peace

addressed by a sign speaker

acoustic routes at the brick homeless project sleep out fund raiser
pic j bradshaw

If Mister Spock had scanned the entire Earth in 1981 he would've stood straight, stepped back and uttered..."fascinating"...right after he scanned this album!...In the desert wasteland of post 70s music this record stands like a pyramid next to "Moving Pictures" and maybe no others as the last great albums in Earths evolution. Sadly the future of music seemingly died with Randy Rhoads...and if you want to know why, buy "Superchip" and study it like a college text-book!...A complete concept album in every way,...fast paced, funny, scary, weird and fantastic musicianship...Broughton, Grant & Broughton are as classic as the three stooges! Arthur Grant is second to no one on bass guitar,...solid as a rock! And although Edgars' guitar work is not the feature that it was on the first five albums 69-73, there's so much going on, and so many fresh new sounds you wont miss it. Unless you only prefer the "Love In The Rain"..."I Got Mad"...trademark sound of this band. If so you may be disappointed,...there's a lot of keyboard to be sure. Also you need a good sound system and ears that function,...there are sound effects out the ying yang...an a vocal presentation an auctioneer would marvel at!...Fortunately the lyrics are included along with a brief word from Edgar. Young people if you want to know what is happening this is the best 38 minutes of clues there is. "The Virus" a 17 minute bonus track from 1996 uses samples of "Superchip" in a techno-ambient pastiche in an attempt to bring closure to the story...But "The Final Silicon Solution" continues!...Why do some think that mind-control is being implemented...by the 50s when the Nazis had fully usurped our government, they started experiments with 149 task forces under the c.i.a. umbrella...implanting micro-chips in humans stems from those experiments!...But the technology may be older than Earths' human race!...Consider, what would a chimpanzee transform into after 200,000 years of behavioural modification implants? To me anyone who does not believe in mind control are like those who believed the world is flat even after Columbus proved otherwise. So how do you know how bad-off you are?...Well if your over 30, listen to top 40 radio for a length of time, the sooner you begin to feel your colon clinch the better off you are!...If your under 30, your job is to find a solution to 'their' solution!...Mine is a plant (mammals evolved by inhaling plant by-products)...it's hard to brainwash the stoned!....This CD covers alot of music styles on the totally electric end,...and I could go on and on...so lastly if you like the BEATS of modern music...you'll find a pioneering track right here "Save Me Keep Me" is the song part of track 11 "Do You Wanna Be Immortal" reggae-rap that hasn't dated...indeed it seems like it was written about life today...so you see Edgar Broughton is perhaps the clearest visionary recording artist in history!!!!!Do yourself a favour and give 'em a listen..."Oora" 1973 is probably their best...But get their DVD "At Rockpalast" 2006...it's their only release of new material since "Superchip"...Then you'll see why the party should be at Edgars...oh and don't forget brother Steve (what a cool drummer)! These guys deserve better than the R&R hall of lame!...How 'bout the underground house of cool...OXOz choice,

Reviewed by Steve Zubal   7 Feb 2010

I think he likes it!!

When the Ebb was recording Superchip, back in the day Steve came up with the song Outrageous Behaviour. The song depicts how, in Superchip world, the government of the time had installed what Steve called sign speakers in public places. They provided information but they also gave out instructions. Steve wrote the lyric in the first person. Below is the first verse

I was addressed by a sign speaker

Don’t walk on the grass please keep to the path

It was the first that I’d seen, yesterday there were non of them,

Now they would always be there.

I gave it a kick – what a feeling as I put my boot in its eye

But a park droid had seen me

My number remembered, location and size.

Last Friday I  played an open air set along with my mates Acoustic Routes at the all night sleep out in aid of The Brick Homeless Project in Wigan town centre. 

During the Acoustic Routes set a small gang of very drunk young men approached the scene shouting and singing. Hard to tell if they were trying to join in or it was some kind of mindless protest. They milled around the area and caused a little concern. Just when it looked like they were on their way they returned. After about fifteen minutes of this the relative calm was broken by the sound of a blaring loud speaker mounted on a nearby building. The sound was not the sound of some nasty and cheap tannoy system. It was very loud and clear. The remote voice informed the offending group of young men that they were in contravention of local bye laws, that they were on camera and must leave the area. It was announced that a police car was on the way. The speaker repeated the missive two or three times with a the sound of an approaching siren added to the re-mix. It was all very impressive and slightly disturbing. Big Brother was clearly watching. The threatened police car never showed but I would like to think that when the men moved away the police car was diverted to something more urgent. 

So Steve, like much of Superchip, your dark vision in the song has become a reality. I wonder if this is being employed elsewhere. 

Meanwhile, some good news, we are planning a download of Superchip including bonus tracks later this year.

After the gig in Wigan town centre it was a off to Wigan Athletic's ground to watch Wigan play Bolton. It was good to see Emile Heskey playing and to see Ojo, one the LFC kids on loan to Wigan. It was a good game with a 1-1 score so a point that Wigan might well consider to have been invaluable by the time it's all over for another year. I like the ground a lot and the vibe. Friendly people and no bad vibes. We had the privilege of visiting the players bar and sitting in what John Bradshaw described as the posh seats with padding. It is also the area where the scouts from other clubs sit making copious notes about players on the field. My friend and road Manager John is a Latics fan and so is his friend, also John, who came with us. So who would have thought it? There I was at the match with one ex Police dog handler and a retired Chief Inspector. All good.

Staying with John and Val Bradshaw is always a delight for me. Without the genuine support of good people who get it, I would be lost. John and Val are folk who are part of the small number of people who not only support me in very practical ways but give me all of the encouragement and sense of purpose that makes it all possible. I have few close friends, none on facebook, but I am very blessed by each and all of my true friends. By the way Val your butties are still top and the lemon drizzle cake was to die for.

Next up is the gig at The Robin 2 in Wolverhampton on April 8th. Luke is also playing a set so that will be special. I will be playing some new songs and golden oldies with a twist and it will be great to be back at The Robin. So it is time to rehearse and plan the set. Any realistic suggestions will be taken into consideration.

peace

Latest - The number of people in London visiting food banks has increased by 394% in the last two years.

let them eat cake

Lisa Eva Nandy

Yesterday Lisa Eva Nandy, Labour member of parliament for Wigan asked a question of the prime minister during Prime minister's questions. She asked if Cameron knew that in the past twelve months The Brick Homeless Project in Wigan has given out 6000 food parcels. The point was if the Tory recovery plan is real why are there so many in desperate need of charitable support. I was particularly interested in this question because as many of you will know I helped organise and played a benefit with Luke, Steve and Art, plus local musicians at St Thomas the martyr church, in Upholland last November. Later this month I will be entertaining folks undertaking a fundraising sleep out in Wigan for The Brick.

Today it was announced that a recent survey has established that many working people in the lowest paid twenty percent endure poor working conditions. The survey indicates that the health and fitness of this group is no better than the poorest unemployed. Major independent organisations continue to highlight the gap between rich and poor and that the poor are still paying the highest price as a result of ConDem policy cuts around the deficit and recovery from it. There are still huge cuts still to be made and if Cameron wins the next election we can be reasonably sure that public service cuts will become increasingly punitive.

Everywhere I go I hear the same story from professionals working with people. They tell me that it is increasingly difficult to provide the service that was available comparatively recently and the possibilities are diminishing steadily as the cuts to public services continue to bite. There is a steady drift of people leaving their work and we are losing a highly skilled workforce because they feel they are no longer able to provide effective service. Some middle managers hang on for the redundancy package or pension , trying to get blood out of a stone and building the paper mountain ever higher. As someone said to me recently, " Many people hanging in there are doing so out of greed or fear".

Meanwhile the best social workers, paramedics and others are leaving the work in droves. Stress levels produce burn out and depression. I personally know three or four quality people who are aware that if they continue to try to hold the fort there will be a high personal cost. They don't want to abandon their clients or give up a profession they have been dedicated to but, they feel they are no longer able to do the job we expect them to do. This is a very serious situation. In the wake of this migration of skilled workers comes the newbies. Many of them are young and enthusiastic but many couldn't write a letter without support. They have degrees which seem to have overlooked some of the important bits. Then there are the lovely young ones who will work their socks off and will stay the course because they care. Bless them and let us hope they are not discarded or burned out by an unseeing, unthinking government that still favours the demands of the wealthy over the needs of a growing number of disenfranchised people at the bottom of the pyramid. On the other hand a very bright trainee social worker from Eastern Europe recently asked a lecturer, " Do you think it is even worthwhile trying to be a social worker in the UK today"? After the lecturer replied the bright young one said that she would finish her degree and stay here to work but wait until the UK was once more engaged with those in the most need and then she would apply to be a social worker in the field. How sad is that?

I can't tell you how many experienced and good people workers have recently told me they would consider almost any employment with a pay cut if things get any worse. The work is hard but becomes traumatic if it cannot be achieved. Seeing people suffer because of a lack of resources is so stressful it becomes impossible to carry on. There will be a huge cost if this trend continues.

As the election looms friends have been asking me who I will vote for. It is a good question. I have never been so disillusioned with politics. Many years ago the established church in the UK began to lose its flock and they still struggle to connect with us. More recently the political leaders began to lose their audience almost entirely hence the rise of UKIP and other odious pretenders. We don't trust those who rule and we don't think they understand the world most of us inhabit. It isn't just the Eton gang that disappoints. Anti Christ candidate, in the new order hierarchy, Tony Blair said he thought Miliband could not win an election because Labour had moved too far to the left. What????

Blair was a massive disappointment to me and I see little change in his successors. In a recent documentary about Gaddafi we saw Blair cosying up to the self appointed Golden King of Africa because it suited us? Did it? We are still in bed with some of the worst despots on the planet and selling them arms for vast sums of cash. The hypocrisy of western governments who espouse the merits of democracy and justice cannot fail to assist in the radicalisation of young Muslims and Blair played his part in that along with Mr Denial, the weasel Jack Straw and others. Some years ago I was at a reception for Phillip Lawrence award winners at the Bafta Theatre. The group of young people I was with had won the award through crime prevention initiatives while working on the first youth radio station in the UK Fundamental F.M. Jack Straw was there and he remarked to me that I looked like an ageing rock star. I replied that he looked like a fading socialist. He laughed uneasily and moved away from me. Later I remember his clear and repeated denials that the UK had ever been involved with so called "rendering" and torture.

We often hear the cry " all politicians are the same" and they are very similar right now and we can be fairly sure that until we get a new perspective on fairness and justice from our leaders nothing will change. Who to vote for? For me the jury is still out. I think how ever poor they might be in the bigger picture, we have to vote for those who we believe who will genuinely try to care for all and marginalise no one through the devastating effects of austerity politics. Sadly it might be, yet again, about choosing the lesser of three or four evils. Having said that I fantasise about a no vote election where there are so few voters that a new political order is established based on what we the voters want in order to avoid constitutional crisis. Ah! It won't happen but it would be exciting wouldn't it?

Meanwhile I had reason to be encouraged and thoroughly cheered by a letter from one of the guys I met on my recent visit to Elmley Prison. It is the kind of thing that informs and shapes what I try to do. There is always something to be done towards a better way and I hope I might be invited back to H.M.P. Elmley to continue this venture. I have inserted a section of the letter below.

"I am writing to thank you for spending time to come out and talk to us. The feedback was great and you have helped inspire some of us to start writing, in fact a week on and the lyrics and tune are nearly done".

OH YES!!!!!!

peace

the real music club

pic Dave Randell

I had a great evening out on Saturday last at the Real Music Club at The Brunswick Pub in Hove. The pub is cosy with pleasant and helpful staff and they do good food. The Real Music Club is an Oasis for great music of a most diverse nature that is run with real love for performers, the music and the audience. It reminds me of Berlin just after the wall came down when there were little cafe clubs everywhere presenting a huge range of music, poetry and performance art with seemingly unlikely fusions of instruments and genres that produced a very vibrant and healthy scene.

Ramblin' drove us down from London and we arrived in perfect time for sound checking. Fortunately I don't need much time for this and so I waited until the two supporting bands had done their sound check. Outside the wind howled off the sea and the rain came down in sheets. The sound check went well though I was disappointed to find my new Tanglewood guitar had dropped the action of the strings and so I couldn't use it. Still the old faithful Tanglewood Evolution did the job and I was ready.

The day in the prison on Tuesday had left me in a slightly dark torpid state and I was looking forward to outing the demons with an intimate performance at Brunswick. I was a little concerned about the walk up given that a gale was blowing outside and the rain still poured down. I needn't have worried though. The place filled up nicely and the first band took to the stage. 

Trim Tab Jim is a kind of political rock operatic outfit or at least that is what they presented for us on Saturday. Slightly understated vocal delivery around contemporary politics but quite interesting with some very nice piano playing and appropriate levels in the rocking band that allowed the message through. Early days for Trim Tab Jim but I suspect they will find a niche audience that will grow to love them very much over time. Refreshing and positive.

Dead Whiskey are a melodic raucous outfit with a slide bass guitar player. Never seen that before. They have a dirty bluesy grunt which is a really cool feature and they understand dynamics. Ramblin' found the howling feedback section a bit silly but hey, noise is noise and the throb through the floor was a good indicator to me that they had some deep and powerful bass noise going on that was a bit special. I wondered if it was always like that or just a magic property of the gig space that night. Just needed a snaking dub step line and I'd be right. Cool stuff from young guys setting out to make something else other than fall in with the destructive X Factor normalisation that pervades the UK charts.

Having found one of my guitars to be useless for the evening I was a little concerned that I did not have a spare guitar. I have never broken a string playing acoustically but having said that I realise I am tempting fate without a spare guitar.

                                                      pic Dave Randell

Soon it was time to play and the sound on stage was superb. I can really revel in my own noise when I get a sound like that and I launched into Red Star with little by way of introduction. I eased through my set in comfort while trying different vocal characterisations for the first time. I can't say it was effortless but it was easy. The crowd at The Real Music Club is warm and appreciative and I felt a strong connection with them. I had been toying with the idea of playing my song Ice On Fire for this gig and had rehearsed it. I think the song sums up aspects of the confrontation in war torn  Ukraine. There is one line in the song that I had forgotten on a couple of gigs. This is in a passage where the words are most important and I always feel bad if I have to improvise through failing to remember words. I think it is a rare occurrence but it annoys the hell out of me every time I do it. So I sang the song and remembered all of the words. I got lost in it as always do when it works and judging by the audience reaction most of them came on the journey with me.

Time passed and soon it was all over before I realised I hadn't played any old EBB songs. That is a first. After the gig a guy said he wanted to shout for Poppy, a favourite of his, but thought it might be out of context with what I was doing. He had really enjoyed the show and so I found his comment especially interesting. After six years playing on my own it seems I have developed a set of new songs which stand up alongside old favourites for some older fans and some new fans. This is satisfying and motivating. I love playing The Real Music Club it has a special vibe and the organisers and audience are very cool.

The drive home with Ramblin' was fun. It always is. What with his dialogues with Doris the Sat Navigator and the endless streams of Ramblin' DAVE consciousness the miles flew by. We stopped off for a coffee and then flew down a motorway with little or no traffic, towards South London and home. A job well done I think.

Solo I am in the happy position of not needing to fill a date sheet with shows nor do I need to play crappy gigs to cover the expenses of touring or be involved with fools. People ask me if I will play somewhere and I tell them what I need and they get back to me or they don't and I don't care either way until an agreement is made and then I make every effort to deliver my best  performance on the night.  As I write an email arrives from Norway asking if I will play in what I know to be a really cool venue and so it goes. I never know what is coming next and these days I get some really fun collaborations going on. I am currently working with my writer friend Walter Kohl on his book which I call the book of lyrics. We are also planning a collaboration with Walter's friend Octavia Shreiner who is an installation artist among other things. She is working towards a video interview installation with a twist. We are planning to meet up in the Spring to progress things further. I enjoy the variety of projects I can undertake these days.

On the 20th of this month I will be playing a set with my friends Acoustic Routes at an overnight sleep out benefit in Wigan town centre organised by The Brick Homeless Project. Acoustic Routes are one of the acts who played at the Upholland Brick benefit with us so it will be very nice to hook up again. Meanwhile I am writing all the time and playing with new technology. I have big plans for new things and given all that life can throw up as time goes by, I seem to be more or less on target with my own time lines. All is good right now.

peace

my day inside

HMP Elmley

Yesterday was different. I spent the day in Her Majesty's Prison Elmley and if I am to tell this tale well it will take some time so please forgive the longer read. This all came about after a FDPFAFDW gig at Ken and Gill's home in Sheerness. Ken is Managing Chaplain at Elmley Prison and after a post gig discussion he arranged a couple of workshops in the prison.

HM Prison Elmley is a local Category B/C men's prison, located close to the village of Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent. The term 'local' means that this prison holds people on remand to the local courts. Elmley forms part of the Sheppey prisons cluster, which also includes HMP Standford Hill and HMP Swaleside. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.

Ken had told me that that it had been a difficult year in 2014 due to a voluntary redundancy scheme which left the prison understaffed. In 2014 the Howard League for Penal Reform published research showing the number of prison officers at Elmley and its neighbouring Isle of Sheppey prisons, Standford Hill and Swaleside, had fallen by 300 in four years, from 740 to 340. The figures - supplied by the Ministry of Justice - are mirrored across the public sector prison estate.

For me it was an early start with Ken needing to pick me up at 9am in Sheerness. I decided to stay in a hotel and after a good night's sleep I climbed into Ken's car, on time and ready for work. I confess to being a little nervous. As Ken noted, it was a little outside my comfort zone. A challenge is always of interest to me and the possibility of working with a diverse range of folk is exciting. The opportunity to meet and work with men in prison in 2015 could not be missed.

Arriving outside the prison I was immediately surprised by it's size. We entered and I showed my photo ID and got a key for the mobile phone locker where my phone would sleep for the rest of the day. So there I was entering the inner sanctum of the prison Chaplaincy via multiple iron barred gates and the kind of security protocols you would expect in a prison. The knowledge that I would be released at the end of the day unless I behaved very badly allowed me to drink in the visions of seemingly endless drafty corridors and the general atmosphere. All along the way very busy people went about their work through the barred gates and heavy doors as Ken lead the way to the Chapel. It is a well appointed space with nice acoustics and has a very peaceful vibe. I felt very comfortable in this space. It was like stepping out of a slightly disturbing environ into a calm, safe place.

The morning session was for guys who were already playing guitar or wanting to begin to learn. The plan was to sing a song or two for them and to tell a story or two and jam along with them sharing a few tips and lazy short cuts. Eventually the guys begin to arrive for the session and I turned on my tiny little amplifier and plugged in my guitar. We shook hands and sat in a semi circle ready to start. 

One of the guys told me that they hadn't got their guitars with them because either they didn't have time to get them or they had not been told what was going on and that they would be allowed to bring them. This was a bit disappointing and required an immediate adaptation on my part. I told people a little about myself, my career in music and community work and I told a story to give a little flavour around the early history of the EBB and asked the guys what they wanted from the session. It was clear that the lack of guitars at the session was a problem. 

I let a couple of the guys play my guitar and sang them a couple of songs. It was interesting to see the faces of the guys playing when they finished and we all applauded. It's something I expect and something they don't get to enjoy while in prison unless there is some kind of performance by them to an audience, however small. This group numbered a dozen but the pleasure on the faces of the players and the sense of satisfaction when we all applauded was a delight for me.

The highlight of the session for me was still to come. The guys talked about the need to come together for a session one day a week. They suggested a Friday or at the weekend. It was clear that most of the group were very serious about playing guitar. One guy had produced a beginners hand book to get fellow inmates started. It is a very neat collection of all the basic chords and scales and instructions around tuning etc. 

In terms of time available to the guys all activities are dependent on the availability of a supervising officer and things get cancelled or postponed in seemingly random way. The communication issues around bringing the guitars to the session seemed to me to be symptomatic of this, But what do I know? I know that suicides among young men in the UK is rising. 

I know that whatever any one says, conditions for these men are far from ideal and they clearly have less time and resources available to them than is reasonable if rehabilitation through practical support towards a better life is to be a serious objective. I know the suicide rate in prison is rising and there is a high rate of mental ill health among young men in prison This and self harming was highlighted by the discussion that followed my suggestion that the group might work together on a mixed media project focusing on their issues. Several guys mentioned self harming and prisoner suicides. they spoke about writing some songs about this. 

This was exciting. I was trying to assist them to find something that might speak to a prison Governor about a possible route  towards a meaningful activity that would have meaningful results and would resonate with most if not all of a prison population and The Home Office. I think the guys identified one very important issue that must be addressed.  see footnote*

Ken suggested the group write to the appropriate officer to tell them how it had gone, what they wanted next and to emphasise the positives of the session for them. All too quickly it was over and the guys had to go back to their cells. We shook hands and I was touched by the thanks expressed by the guys.

I had a cheese roll and a tea for lunch from the Officers takeaway canteen and after an attempted visit to the Music Technology facility only to find it was no longer in use I spent the rest of the time before the next session with a head full of ideas and the words of the guys running through my thoughts. The next group arrived for the afternoon session in the Group work room next to the Chapel. 

I ran through an introduction and asked them what they would like to happen. I was getting used to the reality that everyone seemed to have a slightly different idea of why I was there and my idea of why I was there changed with them, I hope. Anyway, I sang some songs which they very kindly applauded and after a chat with several of the guys about their thoughts and ideas it was once again clear that option to bring guitars to the session was not clearly communicated or understood. One guy said that he had left an art session to come to our session. He showed me the art work he was working on. It's theme was the mini mission statement of the prison which is writ large every where.

“Changing Perceptions,  Changing Minds,

Changing Elmley”

I thought back to the mornings session. I am thinking MORE. Mixed media men's work and MORE!

I reported on the morning session to the guys with regard to ideas around the self harm, suicide project and we chatted about how design, music, poetry, rap and a bunch of other goodies could be combined in some thing special. They all had ideas and the session buzzed. I sang some songs and then one of the guys sang his song. It was so nice to sit back with the guys and watch the young man play my guitar and sing his own song. It was lovely and we were all moved. Shivers down the spine. It was time to end the session. We shook hands and hoped to see each other again. Of course some of the guys could be moved elsewhere at any time so that might be difficult but never say never.

A short chat with a colleague of Ken indicated that money for development of what had been suggested by the two sessions might be a problem. However there are many paths to travel and I think that it is work in progress. I had enjoyed my day inside immensely. I would love to work with these guys again. So much learning for me and a bucketful of ideas. If I have seemed to be critical of aspects of things so be it. But I would like to make it clear that there are many good people working inside the prison who really want to make a difference and deliver quality service however, they could do much better if they were properly supported and resourced but they are not.  You can't make a silk purse out of a pigs ear.

This said I am ever hopeful that  I will be writing about HMP Elmey episode two at some stage.

 

* 82 prisoners took their own lives in prisons in England and Wales during 2014, bringing suicide rates to their highest level in seven years, according to the latest figures. Of the 82 suicides, 14 were young people between 18 and 24. More inmates have committed suicide at HMP Elmley than almost any other prison in England and Wales, according to figures released on 23rd January 2015 .The Sheppey jail comes joint top with Wandsworth, where four inmates took their own lives last year.

peace