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Kent Prisons

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Invicta Alec:
In the early 1970s I played for a couple of teams in the Rochester and District Football league. During one season there was a team from HMP Borstal in our division.
The rigmarole playing against them was quite complex. For those of you familiar with the old war movie "Albert RN" it was somewhat similar.
As the visiting team you had to assemble outside the main gates. Once happy that everyone was present, then and only then, you requested entry. Once everyone had passed through the gate and it had clanged loudly shut you found yourself in an area confronted by another imposing set of gates. Here the headcount took place.
Having got changed into our football kit we were lead back to a cinder path with ten feet high chain link fencing either side which lead to the football pitch. The pitch was of course completely surrounded by high fencing. The opposition team was made up of eight inmates and three warders. We were instructed before the match that if any inmate started a fight against one of our team members to do nothing (!) and that the playing warders and further officials around the touchline would quickly deal with the offender. At the end of the game and after showering etc. our group was once again counted between the two sets of gates before we were released!
I never experienced any problems there and indeed it was an easy place to get a win (and the 2 points) since the opposition were usually a bit of a ragbag assembly.


Alec.

mmitch:
 20 years ago I used to deliver PPE etc to prisons amongst others. Stamford Hill open prison and then onto Elmley! At Stamford prisoners would be outside the barrier sweeping and tidying up. At Elmley I put my delivery in a bomb proof container while the guard watched me behind armoured glass. The 'keep off the grass' signs meant you will set alarms off if you do! In all senses it seemed like the end of the road....
]mmitch.

Mike Gunnill:

--- Quote from: Longpockets on June 07, 2020, 07:56:49 PM ---Mike

"Just ahead of this, Michael Howard, MP went into visiting room at the front gate and left 20 minutes later."



Ann Widdecombe's comment about Michael Howard " There's something of the night about him."

--- End quote ---


Sorry Longpockets just seen this comment of yours. It is a classic remark and made me look at Michael Howard in a different way. How he married such a lovely ex-model, I will never know.

Longpockets:
Mike

"Just ahead of this, Michael Howard, MP went into visiting room at the front gate and left 20 minutes later."



Ann Widdecombe's comment about Michael Howard " There's something of the night about him."

pete.mason:
One thing I have never found a answer to- In press reports of escapes in the early 1900s several refer to the warders opening fire on the fleeing escapees, does anyone know when warders were diisarmed?

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