During my student days, I was involved in a number of campaigns around miscarriages of justice. As well as those for the Birmingham Six and Winston Silcott, I was also part of the successful campaign to free the Bridgewater Four, who were wrongly-convicted for the murder of a paper boy.
I used to regularly visit Winston Silcott in prison, and became quite close to his family. On one visit to Winston at HMP Gartree, I also got talking to Jim Robinson of the Bridgewater Four. He was a passionate, honest and amazingly charismatic man. When he staged a rooftop protest to highlight his case, I remember travelling up to the prison with his wife to show our support. It was a really cold day, he must have been freezing up there. A warmer memory is the day he was finally released in 1997, and we toasted his freedom late into the night in north London.
Earlier today I ‘Googled’ his name, to see what he was up to now. I was saddened to learn that he actually died last year, although it was comforting to subsequently discover that he had finally found some peace and happiness in what turned out to be the final year of his life. My thoughts – very belatedly – go to his family, and in particular his sons, who were among the most entertaining people I ever met.
Be active. If you like this post, please click below to show your support.