(shop).
Some inmates are claiming they know the culprit.
6.00 pm
A prisoner who recently arrived from Highpoint says he’s going to beat me up before he’s released. This threat was made during my morning rounds in front of a group of his mates. He must be around thirty and is in for GBH.
I confess to feeling frightened for the first time in months.
DAY 387 FRIDAY 9 AUGUST 2002
8.00 am
This morning the same prisoner turns up at the hospital. I try to look calm. He apologizes for what he said yesterday, claiming that it was a joke and I obviously misunderstood him. ‘I would never do anything to harm you Jeff.’ I suspect he’s worried that his threat may reach the ears of an officer, which would result in his being shipped out to a B-cat. Bullying is considered to be a worse crime than taking drugs. I nod, and he quickly leaves the hospital.
6.00 pm
David (post-office robbery) tells me that the prisoner from Highpoint who threatened me had a visit from Jim (robbery, antiques only), Mo (terrorist) and Big A1 (GBH) in the middle of the night. They explained what would happen to him if Jeff came to any harm, or words to that effect.
I’m touched that three inmates whom I do not know that well feel strongly enough to watch my back.
I gave Big A1 out LBW in last week’s cricket match, and he hasn’t stopped grumbling since.
DAY 391 TUESDAY 13 AUGUST 2002
Mr Berlyn drives me over to Lincoln for an interview with Chris Moreno and Chris Colby, the owner and director of the Theatre Royal Lincoln.
Both men could not have been more welcoming and kind. They make it clear to Mr Berlyn that they need ‘volunteers’ and would welcome other prisoners to join me. Mr Berlyn seems satisfied that a real job of work exists, and that I could be of some service to the community. He says he will recommend that I start work on Monday.
DAY 393 THURSDAY 15 AUGUST 2002
2.00 pm
A prisoner called Hugh attacks an officer in the north block. She arrives in hospital with a broken cheekbone. Hugh is immediately transferred to Lincoln Prison and will be charged with assault. The officer tells Linda that she will be claiming compensation, and expects to be off work for at least four months.
5.30 pm
‘Lucky Ball’ arrives at NSC – the man who claimed to have won the lottery and proceeded to spend his non- existent winnings.
7.00 pm
It’s my last day as hospital orderly. Stephen (two years, VAT fraud, ?160,000) takes my place. I will continue as Saturday orderly so I can keep my daily bath privileges, when Stephen will have the day off.
DAY 306 SUNDAY 18 AUGUST 2002
8.00 am
Jim (gym orderly) drives me to Cambridge so I can spend the day at home with James. Mary is still in Japan. James and I buy four new koi carp from the local garden centre. Freedom is underrated.
5.00 pm
I drive Mary’s car back to the camp and leave it in the prison car park. This will be the vehicle I use to get myself to Lincoln and back each day. I decided not to drive my BMW 720 as it would cause all sorts of problems, with the press, the prison staff and the other prisoners. While I’m driving, I feel a little like Toad in his motor on the open road.
DAY 397 MONDAY 10 AUGUST 2002
9.00 am
I began work at the Theatre Royal Lincoln today and enjoy wearing a shirt and tie for the first time in a year. Couldn’t find a parking place and arrived a few minutes late. Over a hundred journalists, photographers and cameramen are waiting for me.
The first thing I notice is that my little office has bars on the window.
When I walk in the street during my lunch break, the public are kind and considerate. Find it hard to leave at five, grab a meal and be back by seven.
I reach NSC with three minutes to spare. If I’d failed to make it on time, I would have lost all my privileges on the first day, and probably been put to work on the farm.
DAY 424 SUNDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2002
I can now leave the prison every Sunday and travel to Grantchester to be with Mary and the family for the day.
Today, my fourth Sunday, Mary and I have been invited to lunch with Gillian and Tom Shephard and a few of their friends at their home in Thetford. As Thetford is on the way back to NSC, and within the fifty- five-mile radius of NSC, we decide to take separate cars so I can return to prison after lunch. [33]
We leave the Old Vicarage at 12.15 pm. [34]
DAY 434 WEDNESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2002
Five idylic weeks working at the Theatre Royal.
