The Last Laugh

A Memory of Stanhope.

So what, you got the cane, you deserved it, you were a baben. The locals semed to hate us, the school was hated by most of the local villagers, we brought them crime, burglary, theft, the lot. Was I glad when I left, too right. Bye bye Stanhope, hello freedom. How many of the lads who were in Stanhope re-offended, I bet you there are loads locked up right now, in HMP Durham or other prisons in the UK. I think Stanhope was a training place, you got told about other things like burglary, shoplifting, TWOC, and you were told how not to do, say, robbery, because other people told you how they got caught, so you did not do the same mistakes. The ones who went on to do Borstal and YP were the really bad crooks because they got caught, and if you did any of the prisons, ie Durham home house, you were just a mug for getting caught. Oh yes, I mean me too, but not now, I don't get caught because I don't do any crime. I'm not saying I'mi a goodie gumshoe because I'm not, well not yet anyway. Got to go now, hope you read this soon. Oh yes, shall I put my name on this article? (Answers on a postcard to .. oh dear not telling you nowt yet! If you know who I am, send an email to the page by the 16th December).