On Monday the 22nd March we had the pleasure in welcoming Chris Duffin. This meeting produced our highest attended Zoom meeting with 443 Cheshire Federation members attending.
As the first female governor into HMP Strangeways and the notorious Dartmoor Prison, Governor Chris Duffin was a ground-breaker. She recounted some of the many stories and incidents from her twenty-year career both as a lowly ‘screw’ and as a prison governor. These tales will amuse, entertain and definitely change your view of what it’s like doing ‘porridge’. Unfortunately she didn’t get around to telling us about flying out of the UK with a briefcase full of class A drugs, talking to the BBC’s John Humphries in her nightie or having MYRA HINDLEY as her tea-lady.
The evening was full of wonderful examples of working in the prison service and the prisoners she encountered including our local HMP Styal and Strangeways. At the time that Chris joined the service women could only work in women’s prisons, however, that all changed with the Equal Opportunities Act. She was both compassionate and interesting with her insightful observation. She said that last year some 1,700 children were placed in care due to a parent being placed in custody. Did you know that Dartmoor is the only circular prison – built by the Napoleonic builders – in France their prisons are circular.
Ann Luckock of Great Moor and District thanked Chris and Jean Harding, Federation Chairman thanked both Chris and the members for attending.
What did the members think? We have over 90!
“We need more like Chris in the prison service today”
“One of the best speakers I have heard for a very long time – brilliant choice, many thanks.”
“Thank you Chris for a very interesting & thought provoking talk.”
“Would you stand for PM? Your common sense and compassion would put the country back on track”
“Thank you for such an informative and interesting talk. I totally agree about the lack of youth clubs, sports facilities etc for young people. Thank you also to the organisers, another brilliant and engaging talk.”
You may be interested in reading and hearing more…….
Chris Duffin – Radio Interview – Coastway Hospital Radio interview including the Myra Hindley story.