Prisons across Scotland fall silent on Remembrance weekend

In HMP Low Moss, two new poppy displays have been created. Made from recycled plastic bottles which have been spray-painted and tied to garden netting, the impressive creations were installed by the Estates Team.

Staff from HMP Barlinnie were led to the prison war memorial, by bagpipes, played by Offender Outcomes FLM John Patrick. A remembrance service was held by Rev Jill Clancy with the local schools and community representatives. A two minute silence was observed and wreaths were laid by both HMP Barlinnie staff and those in our care.

In HMP Dumfries, 16 Veterans in custody and staff attended the Memorial Garden in the establishment for a short Remembrance Service led by VISCO Steve McMullan. A further service was held on Remembrance Sunday where 66 individuals in custody and staff attended for the main Remembrance Service, led by Chaplain Neil Campbell. Officer Andy Boyd brought in his bagpipes and piped The Lament.

Individuals at HMP & YOI Grampian have also been working hard to create poppy displays, which were exhibited around the establishment.

In HMP Greenock a number of services for all residents were held. Representatives from the staff group attended the Remembrance Service in Inverclyde and laid a wreath on behalf of the establishment.

HMP Glenochil held two remembrance services on Friday 10 November in their award-winning memorial garden. They were delighted to be joined by the Provost of Clackmannanshire Council Donald Balsillie and John Barret from the British Legion. A short service was led by Chaplain Philip Hacking, and readings given by some of the men, many of them veterans, as they gave their respects. Wreaths were lain at the memorial and many of the men planted an individual memorial cross in the memorial garden. The services were sombre and poignant as they remembered those who fought and died for or freedoms. One of the men presented an art piece to the Governor as part of the ceremony. It reads ‘We will forever owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women who lost their lives on the battlefield from the first war until now and that’s why this picture was dedicated to them’.

In the Bella Centre, a remembrance service was held for staff and women to attend and poppy wreaths were laid within the establishment.

HMP Edinburgh held a remembrance service and laid wreaths in their memorial garden. Officer Stewart Watson played the bagpipes.

In HMP Inverness, Head of Operations Gary Goddard, attended the laying of the wreath at the Cenotaph in Inverness with some of the staff group who served in the armed forces. Learners in the education centre also delivered a taught project on the subject of Remembrance, by their own request.  Video/audio recordings of ex-forces officers were taken, talking about some of their experiences and answering learners' questions.  These were then used to generate discussion and activities and from this, a range of literacy qualifications were achieved.

In addition to the Remembrance Service held within the establishment, staff from HMP&YOI Polmont laid a wreath at Polmont’s Cenotaph.

HMP Perth held two remembrance Services and at each, a Veteran laid the wreath in the Memorial Garden outside the Chaplaincy Centre. A new wicker Piper figure made by local Artist June McEwan   has been placed as a permanent reminder alongside the wall mural depicting scenes of battle. The establishment’s clock tower was also lit up in red to mark the weekend.

At the Lilias Centre, Minster Margaret Shuttleworth conducted a short service in the sunshine while Daniel Nevans played the bagpipes. Nina Dainese a serving Prison Officer and former Sergeant of 71 Engineer Regiment kindly attended to assist in laying the poppy wreath.