Art & Literature
A Year on the River Itchen at Martyr Worthy ~ A dayby-day account in words and pictures
New Exhibition And Book Reveals Life Behind The Walls Of Winchester Prison Doing Time launches in Hampshire this Summer. Doing Time - a thoughtprovoking exhibition supported by Hampshire Cultural Trust sharing the stories of the people who live and work at Winchester Prison launches this summer, touring libraries and civic venues across the county. The exhibition and an accompanying book tell the story of 175 years of Winchester Prison history, the harsh prison regimes of the past and today’s focus on education, training and reform. Prison life is revealed in a series of interviews with staff including Governor James Bourke who shares the challenges of supporting prisoners with complex social, mental and physical needs. The impact of what often can be life-changing education and training, healthcare and counselling is told in the words of prisoners who have turned their lives around at HMP Winchester. The book and exhibition were written by Winchester Magazine editor Liz Kavanagh who spent over six months visiting the prison before, after and during the pandemic when prisoners were almost permanently locked in cells. The exhibition was curated by Leonie Mountney. Photography by award-winning Winchester photographer Javaid Akhtar features throughout, revealing the stark reality of prison life. Liz Kavanagh comments: “Each year, 2000 men pass through Winchester Prison,
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on remand, awaiting release and serving sentences. “The book and exhibition provide an overview of the many individuals who make up the prison – from teachers and prison officers to the prisoners themselves. Their stories have been written as they have been told - without agenda. “They reveal the huge challenges that the prison faces operationally as well as the dedication of the people who work there. They also highlight the pitfalls of a criminal justice system where reoffending is far too common. The stories told by prisoners are particularly insightful, revealing how debt, drug addiction and lack of family support can all lead to crime.” Deborah Neubauer, Director of Community and Impact at Hampshire Cultural Trust says: “The exhibition and book have provided real insight into what life is like behind the walls in one of Winchester’s most prominent landmarks. The stories that have been shared are both challenging and inspirational.” Doing Time will be at the following venues: Westbury Manor Museum, Fareham (25/6 to 24/7) - Red House Museum, Christchurch (10/9 to 16/10) - Winchester Law Courts, Winchester (10/9) - The Great Hall, Winchester (17/9) - Willis Museum, Basingstoke (12/11 - 17/12) - Allen Gallery, Alton (21/1/23 - 26/2/23) The book Doing Time is available for £7.99 from P&G Wells. www.pgwells.co.uk Organisations interested in booking the exhibition with an accompanying talk (if required) should contact Leonie Mountney at leoniemountney@btinternet.com For further information and media enquiries please contact Liz Kavanagh liz@winchestermag.com 01962 881422
Can you imagine being lucky enough to spend every day on a 1 km stretch of the River Itchen to study the flora and fauna? George Mann was fortunate enough to do so in 2008 at Martyr Worthy and has just published a limited, 368-page, colour, hardback edition: A Year on the River Itchen at Martyr Worthy ~ A day-by-day account in words and pictures. Birds, plants, insects, fish, snails, animals, landscapes and water temperatures, plus the last remaining artefacts relating to the old water meadows were recorded, sometimes at 5am in the morning or into the fading light, whatever the conditions, for 366 days. Monthly galleries of 450+ photographs illustrate the daily, hour-by-hour notes, expressed in the present tense with the freshness of being ‘in the moment’. It also provided an opportunity to display a gallery of Marilyn Bechely’s wonderful wildlife drawings. Photography hints and tips are included, plus some reflections regarding the study and the lessons learned. Crossreferences show the occurrence, frequency and activity of species throughout the year. The diary was the basis for and is a companion volume to, The River Itchen at Martyr Worthy ~ Wildlife and Riverkeeping Observed published in 2019 and supplements the 1500+ photographs presented in that edition. It provides a more detailed insight into the extent of the study.. More importantly, it helps to think more deeply about the flora and fauna than a single photograph, or passing glimpse, can provide. It is a question of observing as opposed to looking. Find further information at: www. riveritchen.co.uk. Copies are available from George Mann (georgemann@gmp.co.uk Tel: 01962 779944), Laurence Oxley Bookshop, Long Barn, P&G Wells. A Year on the River Itchen at Martyr Worthy ~ A day-by-day account in words and pictures, 2022, ISBN 9781907640247 (£30). The River Itchen at Martyr Worthy ~ Wildlife and Riverkeeping Observed, 2019, ISBN 9781097640162, (£35).
