Prisoners at HMP Stocken give a big thumbs up for Gypsy, Roma, Traveller History Month – and the TT Magazine!

Prisoners at HMP Stocken, Leicestershire, have given a big thumbs up to the prison’s Gypsy, Roma Traveller History Month – and also to the Travellers’ Times Magazine, which gets delivered to the prison.

In a letter to the TT Editorial Team, Mr Smith, a prisoner at HMP Stocken, says that there were events, meetings, art displays and discussions about Gypsies, Traveller and Roma taking place earlier this year all through June and half of July.

An issue of the Stocken Library Newsletter was also devoted to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture, history and also about the discrimination they often have to face.

Three stories from the TT Magazine were also of interest to the prisoners and provided a basis for debates and discussions in meetings in the prison library. The articles included ‘The Power of Words’, Raine Geohegan’s poem ‘Gypsy camp at Auschwitz’, and ‘Meet the Smith family’ (not online).

Mr Smith adds that Prison Library Services, Rutland Council, Prison Education Trust, Milton Keynes College, and the Shannon Trust were all involved in making sure that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month was enjoyed by all prisoners.

“For many a picture speaks a million words – a logo – the wheel – sky blue and the green of the soil,” writes Mr Smith.

“Unlike many in society living on the streets in the UK and Europe, the food here is good and most of us have work in the prison so we can afford luxuries like bottled spring water, a big choice of sweets, cakes, fizzy pop and cooking spices.”

“The prison community consists of all faiths and many nations. If only society and community was as well run!”

Too true Mr Smith! All the best from The Traveller's Times Team.

TT News