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I try valiantly to parry their questions, but Mr Marsland and his deputy soon have to coes to how the prison is run, and in particular their coes These all see The officers try to answer their queries without prevarication and both have so obviously given considerable thought to inmates’ problems They often syulations, bureaucracy and lack of money

One prisoner called Tony, who seeures, discusses the £27 ht down to how et the answer to that question – £127 is allocated for three meals per prisoner per day

‘Then the caterersa pound a day off every one of us,’ Tony retorts

The oes on well beyond the scheduled hour, and it’s some time before one of the prisoners, Billy Little who hails fro Do I use my novels to expound any particular political prejudice? No, I reply firer by upbringing and persuasion and argues his case well He finds a great deal of pleasure in givingme feel ill at ease with the other prisoners By the end of a heated exchange, he is at least listening to my point of view

On the way back to the cells, Billy tells me he’s written a short story and so to read them and offer an opinion; a sentence I usually dread when I’round floor, extracts some sheets of paper from a file and passes them over tofor me outside He warnsto the press, and to be wary of saying anything to him

‘Talking to the press?’

‘Yeah, the screws caught hi rate for an exclusive with anyone who has shared a cell with you is five grand’

I thank Derek and assure hi of importance with Terry and never would

When I return toshamefaced He confirms that he has spoken to the Sun, and they’re keen to knohen I’ moved to Ford

‘You’ll be on the front page tomorrow,’ I warn him

‘No, no, I didn’t tell the,’ he insists

I try not to laugh as I settle down to read through another three hundred letters that have been opened by the censor and left on the end of my bed I can’t believe he’s had the time to read many, if any, of them

When I’ve finished the last one, I lie back on e essay I turn the first page I cannot believe what I’ht, and that rare gift ofthat I finish every word, before switching off the light a fewto hear a lot more about this man, and not just from me

Day 9

Friday 27 July 2001