The following, anonymous, article first appeared in the NAPV newsletter about twenty years ago.
George Wellintended was a worried man.
He had recently retired from London to Deep-down-Under (but it matters not where) and he realised from his contact with H.M.Prison Deepdown (and it certainly matters not what contact) that there was a need for regular dialogue between the prisoners and ordinary reliable men and women; people not necessarily involved with the prison system but who were prepared to give time talking with the prisoners as individual to individual, bringing in a breath of fresh air and interest from the outside.
This was inspite of the fact that the staff seemed remarkably caring (which surprised him more than it should have); that all the professional services, particularly the Chaplaincy and Probation Service, though inordinately busy were working effectively and the Samaritans were already involved, both on a crisis basis and holding classes.
Through lack of local contact, he felt incapable himself of doing much about it. What could he do?
Luckily for the prisoners and staff at Deepdown he did the right thing.
He wrote to the General Secretary of the NAOPV who welcomed his approach and put him in touch with the appropriate Regional Secretary.
The Regional Secretary found that there had once been excellent Prison Visiting at Deepdown but owing to the untimely departure of a few good people (on whom so much depends in voluntary work of any sort) and some rapid changes of Governors and staff, visiting at Deepdown had indeed virtually died out.
The Regional Secretary then discussed the problem with the Regional Headquarters of the Prison Service. "Oh Yes" he was told, "James Brightboy has just been appointed Governor there. Give him a month or two to settle in and I am sure he will be glad of your help; we will tell him to expect to hear from you. You can expect a new, young Chaplain there too. He should be in place in about two months time".
George Wellintended is now the Chairman of the strong and well run Deepdown Branch of the NAOPV, whose work is greatly appreciated by all at Deepdown.