Robbie Shepherd

“Craiginches", screiv’t bi former prison officer Bryan Glennie alang wi near neebor an freen Scott Burns.

Bryan kent weel the soun o the bell at ‘Craigies’ haein lived an breath’t life ere for the feck o twinty fower eer. That bell alang wi the clock an a plaque celebratin the hunner eer anniversary, bi some mischunce, his seemingly been tint in the taakin doon o the jile, mairs the peety, for the bell sent oot its ain tellin tones for 123 eers.

Noo Bryan wis weel kent in earlier days as a postie at Insch afore he jyn’t the prison service, an accordin tae a freen o oor’s fa play’t aside him, – ‘a nae bad fitba player’. It wis the posties’ strike in 1971 at gaur’t him look for a mair secure job an wi his enthusiastic smeddum he brocht that passion an sense o rural community speerit intae ‘Craigies’ wi the efforts tae mak life mair comfortable for baith staff an inmates.

I ken o at first haun, as he reca’s the Annual Burns Suppers I enjoy’t bein a pairt o an fit a stammagaster yet sae hairt-warmin tae be ere. Bryan thocht es wid be a good idea an got the support o the governor, Bill Rattray an the kitchen staff. I took een or twa musians alang wi’s includin Esma on piana an some members o the local St Fitticks Aul Age Pensioners Association were invitit tae jyne in. Fit a rare sicht tae see the umman bodies up duncin wi the young inmates – community speerit at its verra best – bit myn ye, ere were restrictins like the pensioners tell’t nae tae bring ony hanbags an valuables wi them. The staff even dress’t up a wullin prisoner in wi a fite goon, candle an bible ana, tae recite ‘Holy Willie’s Prayer’ an he gaed doon a storm.

On a serious note the aathor tell’s o the last hangin tae tak place in Scotland an that at Craiginches on August 15 1963. It caas’t sic an ootrage ootside the prison bit think on the effect on the staff in ere wi aa inmates lockit in their cells. ‘Twis weel documentit wi a hale chapter o’t in the beuk.

Syne in lichter mood he tell’s o comin across twa gallon containers aneth a compost heap in the prison gairden as some enterprisin prisoners hid been makin hame brew an thocht the heat fae the heap wid ferment their beer. ‘Gyad sakes’, wis the verdict.

We learn tee o the gweed wark deen bi the prisoners ootside the jile, like tidyin up Pittodre efter a match, an biggin the walkways oot at the moo o the Don doon tae the beach. Staff and prisoners syne took wheelbound patients oot fae the City Hospital an on tae the beach tae show them the results o their eident labours.

The hale beuk lat’s us see life inside an oot at Craigie an gies sic a fine balane atween gweed an evil.

Publish’t bi Black & White Publishing, “Craiginches” is available at £9.99.

See ye neist wikkeyn.