This is the speech that I delivered on 29/01/2024 to the Birmingham- Legal - Medical Society. I was delighted to be asked to deliver a speech on the state of prisons in the United Kingdom at their monthly meeting.
\n\nThe audience consisted of members of the local legal community and psychologists.
\n\nFYI
\nThey did't fall asleep !
This is a re-record and small edit of an earlier rant. I did it again as i think that I can do it better justice, now.
","summary":"My little Sunday evening rant","date_published":"2023-07-23T19:00:00.000+01:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/ce4f4c3b-f0f9-406b-828f-7a193b474e59.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":6282466,"duration_in_seconds":470}]},{"id":"d0600b8a-7c29-4e77-83c8-8fd72b03e840","title":"Episode 27: The Ballad of Reading Gaol","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/27","content_text":"A little excerpt uploaded by request. I have moved a couple of stanzas around for context.\nHope you enjoy !","content_html":"A little excerpt uploaded by request. I have moved a couple of stanzas around for context.
\nHope you enjoy !
This episode discusses the reasoning of the difference of what the media report and the actual facts. It also touches on why we resign ourselves to failure.
","summary":"Where I question the media","date_published":"2022-03-06T18:00:00.000+00:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/0a15a632-1a05-4c0f-ad81-8185f699f623.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":13390761,"duration_in_seconds":911}]},{"id":"f319ad8b-098f-4a3b-ad12-def3dd0f4eb1","title":"Episode 25: When is it Time to Talk about it ?","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/25","content_text":"My Rant on the state of prisons ","content_html":"My Rant on the state of prisons
","summary":"I seem to have got my voice back ","date_published":"2021-01-24T21:00:00.000+00:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/f319ad8b-098f-4a3b-ad12-def3dd0f4eb1.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":6260218,"duration_in_seconds":387}]},{"id":"8719307d-bcda-42bb-b0a5-24483f07e223","title":"Episode 24: The Unchained Melody","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/24","content_text":"I read my recrnt blog on my experiences of launching a new program in a prison ","content_html":"I read my recrnt blog on my experiences of launching a new program in a prison
","summary":"A reading of a recent blog ","date_published":"2020-10-25T20:00:00.000+00:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/8719307d-bcda-42bb-b0a5-24483f07e223.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":8616421,"duration_in_seconds":506}]},{"id":"b22fec7a-f5db-425c-a533-8f120592f0f6","title":"Episode 23: If","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/23","content_text":"A very short 2 1/2 minute reading of Rudyard Kipling's poem \"if\". A little calming music in th background. Please enjoy. ","content_html":"A very short 2 1/2 minute reading of Rudyard Kipling's poem "if". A little calming music in th background. Please enjoy.
","summary":"Reading of Kipling's \"If\"","date_published":"2020-10-25T17:00:00.000+00:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/b22fec7a-f5db-425c-a533-8f120592f0f6.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":3005593,"duration_in_seconds":147}]},{"id":"c8209302-6a5f-46d6-bae9-12feb92c675a","title":"Episode 22: Turn the Clock back?","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/22","content_text":"The one where I discuss if I wa given the opportunity of turning my life clock back, would I ? The answer might surprise you.","content_html":"The one where I discuss if I wa given the opportunity of turning my life clock back, would I ? The answer might surprise you.
","summary":"if you could turn the clock back, would you ?","date_published":"2020-10-04T19:15:00.000+01:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/c8209302-6a5f-46d6-bae9-12feb92c675a.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":13339294,"duration_in_seconds":873}]},{"id":"a74757f1-8f92-4632-b360-e3963d55f7c0","title":"Episode 21: Late night Poetry","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/21","content_text":"Recorded in the wee small hours, \"My Friend\" Kahlil Gibran","content_html":"Recorded in the wee small hours, "My Friend" Kahlil Gibran
","summary":"recorded in the wee small hours, \"My Friend\" Kahlil Gibran","date_published":"2020-08-11T01:15:00.000+01:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/a74757f1-8f92-4632-b360-e3963d55f7c0.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":3017504,"duration_in_seconds":238}]},{"id":"51e40b9c-25ef-4834-8937-b2b57fa253a1","title":"Episode 20: The Government Admits Failure","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/20","content_text":"I disect the horrnedously badly written press release issued by The Ministry of Justice in England referring to the building of 4 new prisons in England over the next 6 years. \n\nI state that this is a huge admission of failure on behalf of society. ","content_html":"I disect the horrnedously badly written press release issued by The Ministry of Justice in England referring to the building of 4 new prisons in England over the next 6 years.
\n\nI state that this is a huge admission of failure on behalf of society.
","summary":"My rant on the news that England will be building 4 more prisons","date_published":"2020-07-06T14:00:00.000+01:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/51e40b9c-25ef-4834-8937-b2b57fa253a1.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":11774589,"duration_in_seconds":688}]},{"id":"27b3d989-f2ba-44e5-8dbf-57b8a70c853d","title":"Episode 19: The Red Setter","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/19","content_text":"A story ","content_html":"A story
","summary":"The Red Setter","date_published":"2020-06-28T20:00:00.000+01:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/27b3d989-f2ba-44e5-8dbf-57b8a70c853d.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":10681629,"duration_in_seconds":783}]},{"id":"5f06f92a-742b-4ed5-ab9d-2e10e74c60ab","title":"Episode 18: Poetry. Wordsworth, Frost and Gibran","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/18","content_text":"A reading of \nThe Daffodils by Wordsworth\nDefeat by Kahlil Gibran\nThe Road not Taken by Robert Frost.\n\nEnjoy!","content_html":"A reading of
\nThe Daffodils by Wordsworth
\nDefeat by Kahlil Gibran
\nThe Road not Taken by Robert Frost.
Enjoy!
","summary":"A little reading of Worsworth, Frost and Gibran","date_published":"2020-06-28T19:00:00.000+01:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/5f06f92a-742b-4ed5-ab9d-2e10e74c60ab.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":7609832,"duration_in_seconds":347}]},{"id":"ebe9594d-bf51-4e54-9015-53ecc7468658","title":"Episode 17: The Broken Contract","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/17","content_text":"Today, in the back pages of the internet, it was revealed that HMPPS had decided to roll out PAVA spray throughout the male closed prisons. At this time when staff relations with prisoners is at an all time high, this decision beggars belief. ","content_html":"Today, in the back pages of the internet, it was revealed that HMPPS had decided to roll out PAVA spray throughout the male closed prisons. At this time when staff relations with prisoners is at an all time high, this decision beggars belief.
","summary":"Upon reading the news today that the UK Prison Service has decided to roll out a incapacitating spray to their staff, I had to have a rant ","date_published":"2020-06-13T20:00:00.000+01:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/ebe9594d-bf51-4e54-9015-53ecc7468658.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":13024719,"duration_in_seconds":728}]},{"id":"c5e1254b-3134-4162-b6f4-73967ce1b7aa","title":"Episode 16: De Profundis - Excerpts and a critique","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/16","content_text":"A few of my favourite excerpts from De Profundis. The Letter written by Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas. De Profundis is an amazing letter, showing the machinations of his mind. ","content_html":"A few of my favourite excerpts from De Profundis. The Letter written by Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas. De Profundis is an amazing letter, showing the machinations of his mind.
","summary":"A few of my favourite excerpts from De Profundis. The Letter written by Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas in 1897","date_published":"2020-05-31T16:30:00.000+01:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/c5e1254b-3134-4162-b6f4-73967ce1b7aa.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":36865872,"duration_in_seconds":2410}]},{"id":"33c9f845-57f4-4b72-b79b-2930262d93f6","title":"Episode 15: De Profundis Part I","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/15","content_text":"De Profundis is a letter written by Oscar Wilde over 3 months in 1897 to Lord Alfred Douglas. \nIn Part 1 there is a crtitique of De Profundis and I read the first 20 pages. Parts II, III & IV to follow.","content_html":"De Profundis is a letter written by Oscar Wilde over 3 months in 1897 to Lord Alfred Douglas.
\nIn Part 1 there is a crtitique of De Profundis and I read the first 20 pages. Parts II, III & IV to follow.
This letter, written in 1898 from Paris was Oscar Wilde's last known letter to the Editor of the Daily Chronicle. In it he discuss the need for urgent reform in England's gaols. In it you will hear about Wandsworth prison having in cell lavatories. Such was the outcry from the neighbourhood that a prison should be built with in cell facilitries that they were soon removed.
\n\nWilde was released from prison in May of 1897 and died in Paris some 3 years later. The average life expectancy of someone released from prison at this time was no more than 4 years.
","summary":"Wilde's last letter to the Editor of The Daily Chronicle","date_published":"2020-05-17T18:00:00.000+01:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/2632d1b6-2b9a-4b42-96da-6b7317886e8b.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":20072946,"duration_in_seconds":887}]},{"id":"63bfd726-2057-4734-9353-6401f43d1f9b","title":"Episode 13: The Ballad of Reading Gaol - An Excerpt","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/13","content_text":"The Ballad of Reading gaol was written by Oscar Wilde in 1897, a year after he left prison and was living in self-imposed exile in France. ","content_html":"The Ballad of Reading gaol was written by Oscar Wilde in 1897, a year after he left prison and was living in self-imposed exile in France.
","summary":"An excerpt of The Ballad of Reading Gaol","date_published":"2020-05-10T17:00:00.000+01:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/63bfd726-2057-4734-9353-6401f43d1f9b.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":6037857,"duration_in_seconds":279}]},{"id":"0a8da3e9-373b-4546-8f08-b1463cbc076d","title":"Episode 12: Two Short Stories","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/12","content_text":"Taken from the wonderful David Sedaris' book Squirrel Seeks Chimpunk","content_html":"Taken from the wonderful David Sedaris' book Squirrel Seeks Chimpunk
","summary":"Two Short stories featuring animals ","date_published":"2020-05-09T18:00:00.000+01:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/0a8da3e9-373b-4546-8f08-b1463cbc076d.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":15196590,"duration_in_seconds":1113}]},{"id":"df222558-f9f1-4e7a-bc02-52f0f00c1de4","title":"Episode 11: A Letter from Oscar Wilde to The Editor of the Daily Chronicle 1897","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/11","content_text":"a short while after being reelased from prison Oscar Wilde writes to the Editor of the Daily Chronicle. In it he asks for the intervention of the newspaper in looking at the treatment of children in Prison and the treatment of those who are mentally ill. He decries the firing of an officer for giving a child a biscuit !","content_html":"a short while after being reelased from prison Oscar Wilde writes to the Editor of the Daily Chronicle. In it he asks for the intervention of the newspaper in looking at the treatment of children in Prison and the treatment of those who are mentally ill. He decries the firing of an officer for giving a child a biscuit !
","summary":"This letter was written by Oscar Wilde in 1897 just after he was released from Reading Gaol ","date_published":"2020-05-03T19:00:00.000+01:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/df222558-f9f1-4e7a-bc02-52f0f00c1de4.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":30929124,"duration_in_seconds":1551}]},{"id":"d09e5a96-2332-4631-bf4e-24af183067f4","title":"Episode 10: Desiderata","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/10","content_text":"A Reading of the wonderful Desiderta originally written my Max Ehrman in 1927","content_html":"A Reading of the wonderful Desiderta originally written my Max Ehrman in 1927
","summary":"A Reading of the wonderful Desiderata","date_published":"2020-05-03T18:30:00.000+01:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/d09e5a96-2332-4631-bf4e-24af183067f4.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":3984197,"duration_in_seconds":187}]},{"id":"17e25bc1-271a-4055-bb2d-28855aab77d0","title":"Episode 9: Can we Get This Right? ","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/9","content_text":"I just wanted to rant a little at the inability to get the most basic things right and a slight at the bureaucracy that faces our prison staff on a daily basis. ","content_html":"I just wanted to rant a little at the inability to get the most basic things right and a slight at the bureaucracy that faces our prison staff on a daily basis.
","summary":"A Rant on the release of Prisoners in the UK due to the Coronavirus. A word of thanks to all those working in and around jails and a look at the innovation in our jails ","date_published":"2020-04-18T19:00:00.000+01:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/17e25bc1-271a-4055-bb2d-28855aab77d0.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":24856901,"duration_in_seconds":962}]},{"id":"45084ec7-0ed7-4992-b7d5-6df435e96de0","title":"Episode 8: Decency Please ","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/8","content_text":"The one where i ask for decencyfrom everyone. I condemn the person who needed to be condemned and I thank the people who need to be thanked ","content_html":"The one where i ask for decencyfrom everyone. I condemn the person who needed to be condemned and I thank the people who need to be thanked
","summary":"That was 2019 then. Not much has changed but a little plea from me, if you will. Happy New year to all","date_published":"2019-12-31T12:00:00.000+00:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/45084ec7-0ed7-4992-b7d5-6df435e96de0.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":8799188,"duration_in_seconds":741}]},{"id":"706c29dc-3618-4ec9-b2f5-ae7ceb5ae5be","title":"Episode 7: None of The Above","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/7","content_text":"I discuss the Party Manifestos of the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties as they relate to the prisons in England & Wales.","content_html":"I discuss the Party Manifestos of the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties as they relate to the prisons in England & Wales.
","summary":"My take on the 3 main Parties manifestos as they pertain to prisons.","date_published":"2019-11-25T22:00:00.000+00:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/706c29dc-3618-4ec9-b2f5-ae7ceb5ae5be.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":9850725,"duration_in_seconds":724}]},{"id":"e8385925-3f6e-4d31-830c-64f1e9422b2b","title":"Episode 6: Freedom - What A Concept","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/6","content_text":"The one where I talk about the blurred lines of reality vs perception .","content_html":"The one where I talk about the blurred lines of reality vs perception .
","summary":"Perception Vs. Reality ","date_published":"2019-10-24T18:00:00.000+01:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/e8385925-3f6e-4d31-830c-64f1e9422b2b.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":9683526,"duration_in_seconds":821}]},{"id":"0fc85b88-bd95-4854-8785-a056878147b2","title":"Episode 5: The Glass Ceiling","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/5","content_text":"A while ago, I was asked on twitter whether or not i thought that there was a glass ceiling for those of us who are ex-prisoners who work within the criminal justice sector.\n\nFrom my heart to yours. ","content_html":"A while ago, I was asked on twitter whether or not i thought that there was a glass ceiling for those of us who are ex-prisoners who work within the criminal justice sector.
\n\nFrom my heart to yours.
","summary":"Is there a Glass ceiling in the criminal justice sector for ex-prisoners?","date_published":"2019-10-10T14:00:00.000+01:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/0fc85b88-bd95-4854-8785-a056878147b2.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":19876431,"duration_in_seconds":992}]},{"id":"6543d45a-7bda-4d1f-91e4-da5f5552e99c","title":"Episode 4: Talk To Us Not At Us","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/4","content_text":"The one where I rant about the lack of ture engagement with ex-prisoners. (Yes, that's right, I don't use the \"Lived Experience\" thing!)","content_html":"The one where I rant about the lack of ture engagement with ex-prisoners. (Yes, that's right, I don't use the "Lived Experience" thing!)
","summary":"Just a good old fashioned Rant ","date_published":"2019-10-01T15:00:00.000+01:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/6543d45a-7bda-4d1f-91e4-da5f5552e99c.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":8744737,"duration_in_seconds":745}]},{"id":"009d0212-178e-4495-bfa2-bf22a8a0abc6","title":"Episode 3: A Speech Given at HMP Swinfen Hall - The Importance of Induction into Custody ","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/3","content_text":"At an event held at HMP Swinfen Hall earlier this month, I was asked to give a speech on the importance of induction into custody. I was asked to be brief. I failed. ","content_html":"At an event held at HMP Swinfen Hall earlier this month, I was asked to give a speech on the importance of induction into custody. I was asked to be brief. I failed.
","summary":"A recording of the speech I was asked to give at HMP Swinfen Hall earlier this month.","date_published":"2019-09-26T19:00:00.000+01:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/009d0212-178e-4495-bfa2-bf22a8a0abc6.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":23731663,"duration_in_seconds":926}]},{"id":"78809c7f-608a-4509-a450-5badf7423d17","title":"Episode 2: A Rare Chance to Answer Back","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/2","content_text":"After being interviewed , i thought i would take this chance just to give you a bit more background.","content_html":"After being interviewed , i thought i would take this chance just to give you a bit more background.
","summary":"A few minutes to put the record straight","date_published":"2019-08-29T11:00:00.000+01:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/78809c7f-608a-4509-a450-5badf7423d17.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":15222254,"duration_in_seconds":1117}]},{"id":"1ea784ca-faaa-4f9e-95f7-0f1a86f69173","title":"Episode 1: Hidden Heroes","url":"https://thetartancon.fireside.fm/1","content_text":"This is a recording of the speech that I had the honour of giving at the Annual Summer Symposium, hosted by the wonderful Butler Trust at Keble College, Oxford. ","content_html":"This is a recording of the speech that I had the honour of giving at the Annual Summer Symposium, hosted by the wonderful Butler Trust at Keble College, Oxford.
","summary":"Butler Trust Summer School Symposium at Keble College, Oxford.","date_published":"2019-08-09T13:00:00.000+01:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3ef40916-90ab-4a34-9d8a-15eaf555d338/1ea784ca-faaa-4f9e-95f7-0f1a86f69173.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":5665833,"duration_in_seconds":525}]}]}