6 minute read
Art & Literature
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.
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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, 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).
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
Mr Mac - Support for Apple & Windows
Apple’s newly announced OS 16 operating system for iPhones has many new features and will be available in the autumn, usually at the same time as this year’s new iPhone, the 14, is announced. It is compatible with many of the phones able to run the current IOS 15, but it is will not be available for some older devices including the iPhone SE, the iPhone 6s, the iPhone 6s Plus, the iPod touch, and the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. FYI, the first iPhone 6 was released in 2014 and the iPhone 7 in 2016. These phones will continue to function normally, they will not benefit from any of the new features available in IOS 16.
It is not just Apple; WhatsApp have just announced that older iPhones, specifically the iPhone 5, will no longer work with their software programme as these models will not be able to update their operating software to IOS 12 or any later version. The iPhone 5 is quite an old phone now having been introduced back in 2012.
Handy Tip. Taking a screenshot on an iPad can be fiddly. It is such a useful feature to be able to share the picture with other people. It is automatically saved into your Photos library and here you can send the whole screenshot or edit it and just send the part you want to share. To make it much easier to do go to Settings > Accessibility then tap on Touch > turn on AssitiveTouch > here you will see a section CUSTOM ACTIONS, the first option is SingleTap > in the list you will see Screenshot, touch this and a small rectangle appears that stays on your screen. Now, when you touch this, it takes a screenshot.
Curtis Museum & Allen Gallery
ALLEN GALLERY -Monsters, Myth And Magic
The story of the first Anglo-Saxon settlers and how many of the myths, legends and beliefs that occupied their pagan world are still with us today. This exhibition offers an opportunity to see many of the incredible objects from the Alton Anglo-Saxon cemetery that are not normally on public display. FREE - Monsters, Myth and Magic is a family friendly exhibition that offers plenty of hands-on activities, dressing up, colouring in, quizzes and games. 16th July to 25th September, Allen Gallery, Alton.
Saxon Storytelling
An interactive story session inspired by Saxon tales. Suitable for age 3+. Saturday 6th August. 11am -11.30. £5 per (accompanied) child. More details from the Gallery 01420 82802 or the website.
Music in the Gallery Garden
Performers include Ancora, Innaccord and Allan Manning & Friends. Saturday 16th July, 1pm -3.30. FREE, donations welcome.
Workshops
Judith Venn Jellyfish Monday 27th July Sachiko Mason paper lilies Monday 15th August. Details from the Gallery on 01420 82802 or the website.
CURTIS MUSEUM
Continuing the Anglo-Saxon theme, we are delighted to welcome back WEOROD, the historical re-enacters. They will be camped on the green next to the Museum, showing us what everyday life was like in Anglo-Saxon times. Afterwards, pop into the Museum to look at the real thing – the Alton Buckle. Saturday 13th August. FREE, donations welcome.
Don’t forget DOLLS’ HOUSE DAY 23 July, 10.30am to 4pm FREE
OPENING TIMES
Tuesday to Sunday - Curtis 10am – 4.30pm. Allen 10.30 – 4pm www.hampshireculture.org.uk/curtis-museum www.hampshireculture.org.uk/allen-gallery
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