LETTER FROM ALAN AND NATALIE RAYMENT -  25 February 2007

VISIT TO CHARLIE IN HMP WAKEFIELD

I had last visited Charlie in November so we had a lot to catch up on. This was to be my wife’s first visit as she had only been passed in December after a three month wait.

We got to Wakefield for 12.15 we were greeted with two friendly smiles by the Prison Officers, we took our ticket as usual and took our seat in the waiting area. We booked in then it just seemed ages before we could go up to the main prison. Once we got there we went through all the usual searches Natalie had to hand her belt in as it had a big buckle on it.

We got through to the canteen and got a few bits for Charlie, we filled the flask up with tea and got a few cakes ready for our visit. We then started our journey to get to Charlie, you have to go through a few locked doors and out into the yard through some more gates and then you are into Charlie’s section, the (cage) Charlie was waiting for us he said hello to Natalie and me and then it was down into the visit room we were greeted with a big smile by Charlie he was so pleased to see us.

The visit takes place in two separate cells, us in one and Charlie in another, with bars in-between us. There is a table and three chairs in our cell all bolted to the floor. I gave Charlie a handshake and so did Natalie then Natalie put the tea and cakes on the window ledge and Charlie made us a cuppa, Natalie said it was a better brew than I make. Charlie told Natalie to tell her friends Charlie was her tea boy, this made us laugh.

The visit seems to fly past we had loads to catch up on, we told Charlie about our wedding in December we spoke about our little lad. Both of us are interested in fitness we spoke about that, I told Charlie all about my events coming up. We spoke about Solitary Fitness book what came out in January, football loads of stuff. We had a cracking visit just a pity we were not all in the same room enjoying a drink, surely The Home Office need to look at these visits, Charlie has no intention of taking any of us hostage, that’s in the past, even the Prison Officers were saying how bad it is.

Charlie has given me plenty of support from his cell, he has inspired me to take on challenges I did not think I could do. I would like to say thanks Charlie you are a true friend keep boxing it clever brother your time will come.


Alan & Natalie
www.alanrayment.co.uk