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‘Why?’ asks Mr New, as he lights a cigarette

‘His father collapsed yesterday afternoon and was taken into Canterbury Hospital He’s been diagnosed with a brain tumour and the doctors think he may not survive the week’

‘Right,’ says Mr New, stubbing out his cigarette, ‘sign hiet him off to Canter-bury as quickly as possible’ ,

Mr New tellssuffered frorandmother a feeeks later This all took place soon after he co sent to prison for fifteen months

Matthealks in

Mr New and Mr Gough could not have been ned with unusual speed, and Matthew is even allowed to use the office phone to arrange for his girlfriend to pick hirees with Mr New that the boy (I think of Matthew as a boy because he’s even younger than my son) must be shipped out as quickly as possible Then the problems start to arise

Mattheho only has four weeks left to serve, doesn’t know anyone in Canterbury, so he’ll have to be locked up overnight in the local jail, despite his girlfriend and herat a hotel near the hospital But worse, because Matthew is only alloenty-four hours compassionate leave, he will have to travel back froht at NSC, after which he will be released on Fridayfor weekend leave, when he need not return until Sunday evening ‘Why not just let the boy go and be with his father, and return on Sunday night?’ I ask Both Mr Berlyn and Mr New nod their agreement, but tell ulations

1030 am

Matthew’s girlfriend arrives at the barrier, and he is driven quickly away I pray that Matthew’s father doesn’t die while they are on thethatmy trial Mr Justice Potts wouldn’t allow me to leave the court to be with her, as he didn’t accept the doctor’s opinion that she only had a few hours to live I eventually arrived at her bedside an hour or so before she died by which ti me

1100 am

Three prisoners who arrived yesterday check in for their induction talk They pepperto answer theht hours and still on induction o I

hand out a booklet e prisoner whispers in my ear that he can’t read HELP I tell him to come back and see me if he has any further problems

1215 pm

Mr New appears, and runs through e cupboard craanizing He lights up another cigarette

200 pm