A question of perspective

Sir, – Regarding Michael Mulford’s letter (Letters, December 16), defending the Christmas menu for inmates against criticisms of it being lavish, I cannot comment on prison conditions, having never been in one.

However, having spent the first nine years of my life as a son to a war-widowed mother, sleeping rough and nearly starving to death on many occasions, save for my maternal grandmother’s sacrifices, I can empathise with those who sleep rough and rely on foodbanks. Believe me, the prison fare Mr Mulford describes is lavish to them.

Even now, my daily diet is: tea and toast for breakfast, cuppa soup for lunch and perhaps black pudding and sausage for my main meal. Black pudding and sausage for breakfast – that is lavish where I come from!

Mr Mulford noted: “Prisons are sombre places.” No need to cry into your porridge, Mr Mulford. Think how bleak a Christmas must be for the loved ones of a murder victim, with an empty seat at their table? I lost my wife last year and if prison is as sombre as my Christmases are now, there would be no crime!

No, I do not begrudge prisoners their festive fare. I merely wish to point out to the obviously well-fed, well-heeled Mr Mulford that lavish is a relative term, and I rather think those he berates were speaking from the point of view of the less well off in our society.

Leslie Milligan. 18b Myrtlehall Gdns, Dundee.