Blog:my Time With The Angels

My Time with the Angels 

My name is Matthew, a 41 year old who fell by the wayside a few years ago after being suddenly discharged from the RAF. I am a serving prisoner at HMP Hollesley Bay (open prison), Suffolk. I have been at Hollesley Bay since June 2011, and I am now coming to the end of my 2-year sentence. Due to the type of prison that I'm currently residing at and the fact that I'm a ‘trusted prisoner', I'm afforded the opportunity to work in the community as a volunteer to prepare myself for my impending release and to get back into a routine of a working practice. The prison tries to prepare prisoners for their release by placing us on community work so we can get used to dealing with the general public and society in a step-by-step manner, rather than just releasing us on the last day of our sentence and expecting us to adjust accordingly without any preparation.

Most of the prisoners at my establishment have their work placements chosen for them depending on their level of security and if there may be any potential risk to those who they may come into contact with during their placement. Certain offenders for instance may not be allowed to come into contact with any vulnerable members of the public or may not be allowed to work in an environment where there may be some cash-handling involved. Due to the low level of risk that I posed to any member of the public or anyone that I may come into contact with in general, I was allowed to put forward an idea for my own work placement. Once my idea was accepted by the prison governors, I then had to apply for the position myself by calling the companies and pitching the idea of a prisoner working for them on a temporary basis...for free. Not an easy task!

I had, some time ago, enjoyed helping out at theatres and appearing on stage in amateur dramatic performances. I wanted to revive those days and so I made a request to the prison governors to work as a volunteer at a theatre in time for the ‘panto' season in December and beyond to my release date of March 1^st. I applied to 3 theatres within the Ipswich area and was successful in managing to find a company who were receptive to the idea and wanted to meet with me. An interview was arranged with Jon Tavener at the Sir John Mills Theatre, Gatacre Road, Ipswich. The interview was successful and I was offered a position as an Eastern Angles ‘Angel' (they don't call their volunteers...volunteers. They call them ‘Angels'). So, on December 14^th, I started work with the Eastern Angles at the Sir John Mills Theatre (SJM).

My work at the theatre at the beginning was quite daunting, as I had to make sure that I made a good impression. I wasn't the only one under the spot-light...I was representing the prison so I had to make sure that I set a good example for them also. I was given various tasks by Mr Jon Tavener, which included selling programmes, selling ice-creams at interval, taking tickets, directing people to their seats, answering any questions that the patrons may have and being on-hand to deal with any problems that may have arose during the evening.  I think by the end of the first night though, my efforts at making a good impression had probably worn Jon out, as I was maybe a little too keen to please. Not that he would ever be rude or direct enough to say anything. I think I omitted during the interview that I actually suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (from my time in the RAF) and that a recent diagnosis of Bi-Polar Affective Disorder had been made on me. It didn't take Jon to realise that there was something entertaining about me and he decided to just go with it. Jon managed to accept my keenness and after a short period of time he realised that he had actually employed the ‘energiser bunny'. This was to his benefit though as I managed to get jobs done quickly and efficiently. Eventually I took on more responsibilities and became indispensible (LOL. Bi-Polar sufferers get ideas of grandeur). Because I was there for most performances, I became vey familiar with what was needed to be done by the staff at the theatre and what was required by Penny Griffin (stage manager). I was tasked with meeting and greeting the patrons, handing out reserved tickets, helping to sell tickets, marshalling a fire exit, making sure the cast had refreshments for the interval, liaising with the theatre staff, directing people to their seats, escorting disabled patrons to their seats. Oh, and playing the part of a gorilla for the last 4 performances. My Equity card has now been applied for!

I worked with other ‘angels' during the performances and met some very interesting characters. They were more used to doing their work and preparing for the interval then taking it easy for a while. Not me though, always looking for jobs to be done. The most memorable angels I had the pleasure to meet were Margaret & Ted, a retired widowed pair who were very good neighbours and friends. What made Margaret even more memorable for me was when she would bring her knitting with her to do while the performance went on inside the studio/theatre. Margaret would bend Ted's ear (jokingly...they were like a comedy duo) while knitting a new scarf for someone. I think Margaret and Ted put on a performance of their own that was highly entertaining. This was a typical example of the type of people who volunteer as Angels at the SJM and for the Eastern Angles.

Although the show has come to its end, I have been requested by Jon (glutton for punishment) to help at the SJM with maintenance work, research, archiving, lifting-and-shifting and general duties. This I will do up until 2 days before I finally get discharged from prison, in just 10 days time. I have enjoyed my time working with all those at the SJM and I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with such a warm and welcoming group of people. For a company to allow a ‘prisoner' into their very personal working space (theatres a are very personal place to work) and be allowed to spend as much time with them as I have, I have renewed faith in people and confidence in myself. Not at anytime did I feel intimidated, un-welcomed or a burden. Jon Tavener has been a good mentor and listener over these past 2 short months and I will be forever in his debt for opening up the theatre to me like he has.

My most grateful thanks to all those who I worked with,

Matthew Cole