John Ramwell

FROM ESTATE HAND TO HOSPITAL PRISON OFFICER TO GOVERNOR - 1960 TO 1997 MY TIME ON THIS SIDE OF THE BARS.

HMP OXFORD

From Britain’s newest prison to it's oldest; Oxford Prison was quite a revelation. Old, indeed ancient, but functional about summed it up. It started life as a Norman medieval castle. In the 14th Century the military value of the castle diminished and the site became used primarily for county administration and as a prison. Most of the castle was destroyed in the English Civil War and by the 18th century the remaining buildings had become Oxford's local prison.

A new prison complex was built on the site from 1785 onwards and expanded in 1876; this became HM Prison Oxford. The medieval remains of the castle, including the motte and St George's Tower and crypt, are Grade I listed buildings and a Scheduled Monument. Rarely, usually an American who’d researched his history and his right to visit on demand, would turn up at the gates and ask to see these monuments for himself. I often got the job of escorting the visitor and so did my own research in order to enhance his - or her - experience. Often meant a generous tip. The prison closed in 1996 and was redeveloped as a hotel. My wife and I booked to stay at the Hotel and because of my connection was given a generous rate but we never quite got round to enjoying it's comfort and luxury which would have been in stark contrast to the days when I worked there. I still hanker after a few days there. One day. Meanwhile, onward with my tale...

OFFICERS TRAINING SCHOOL, WAKEFIELD

After a month as a trainee at Oxford Prison I went off to Wakefield Officers Training School. Three months of intensive training in law, prison rules and procedures together with such as first aid, judo and PE kept us well occupied. I learnt early on never to volunteer any previous knowledge or experience, a lesson to hold me in good stead as the judo instructor asked whether anyone had done judo before. I had acquired a couple of belts but I remained silent and another put his hand up. Well, he got thrown around the mat like a rag doll. Good decision!

Half way through our training came half term but before we could all make our way home we had to learn who had made it thus far and who had not. We were lined up in the corridor, all of us, and if your name was read out you had to walk into the library. My name was read out and into the library I marched. An anxious buzz as were in the dark as to whether we had been earmarked for a pass or a failure and a trip back to the Employment exchange as well as having to share failure with family and friends. It was a bad situation. Shortly we could see our previous compatriots walking down the drive with their suitcases in hand and we readily concluded we were alright for completing the next term when we had to go through this procedure again. So twice I survived this 'ritual' and only had to complete my year of probation at my home establishment, Oxford Prison, to qualify. This harsh selection process is history which, though uncomfortable, compares so much more favourably with the current (2021) process. I’ll say no more.

During our training we were shown the film, 'Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner' with Tom Courtenay after the book by Alan Sillitoe. I remember it having quite an impact on me. It made me feel that I could make a contribution; perhaps it did, perhaps it worked.

BACK TO OXFORD PRISON

The highlight of my time at Oxford Nick was playing my small part in dealing with the infamous mail train robbers. They were all remanded to Oxford and the Governor, Mr Brophy, was under no illusion just how infamous they were to the extent HMG wanted no slip up, ie. no escapes. Given their resources (the robbers got away with over £2.6 million, equivalent to £49.1 million today) this was no remote possibility as subsequent events at HMP Wandsworth later proved. I remember a long cold night patrolling the landing on which they were housed. In July 1965, Biggs escaped from Wandsworth Prison, 15 months into his sentence. Incidentally I was at Wandsworth when Biggs made his escape and I believe I was the last one to set eyes on him before he made his final get away by car. So this particular event had quite the part to play in my early days in the Service.

As a young N.E.P.O. (Newly Enrolled Prison Officer) I spent quite a lot of time in the various local County Court docks. One lengthy case involving nine accused - they had to build an enlarged dock. The case was a protracted one. The accused were charged with fraud; a complicated case. which involved three prosecution exhibits; A, B and C. Each exhibit over a thousand pages of evidence. 'If the jury would turn to page 999 of Exhibit B ....' One hot and humid afternoon the judge, who always appeared to be sound asleep himself, interrupted the proceedings to say, 'would the officer on the left wake up the officer on the right.' I was the offending officer and had the court reporter bothered to mention this little 'interesting' moment in his report I doubt I would be sat here writing this!

It wasn't all boring. I recall a lady of low repute being sentenced and taking off her high heel shoe and landing it right on the judge's nose! What a shot!

And judges themselves could have quite the sense of humour. One young man on being sent down for a lengthy period - it was his n'th court appearance - shouted in despair, 'I'll never do it.' and as quick as a wit the judge replied, 'Well do the best you can.' Well, I found it funny.

I was in the Aylesbury Crown Court dock with the mail train robbers when they received their very lengthy sentences. HMG were not amused and this was their way of showing it.

An interesting little anecdote. Quite some months later I was holidaying with my parents in Scotland. We were staying at the Murray Arms Hotel in Gatehouse of Fleet. Each evening I would meet with my Father at the bar and each evening we would be joined by one of my Dad's fellow fly fishermen. I was sure I had seen my Father's new found friend before. I later discovered he was Mr Justice Edmund Davies who sat in judgement on the mail train robbers. He looked quite different without his wig and robes.