Dear Bruce
Thank you so
much for your letter dated 8th September 2001.
I received it
today, 26th September 2001 via the prison you addressed it
too. As you will see from
above I am now at HMP Lowdham Grange, where I hope to spend at least
the next 18 months to two years.
A similar prison to Dovegate but I think slightly closer to
home.
I really
appreciate the kind words in your letter and was flattered by the
praise bestowed upon me by my LSW friends.
Please pass my
best wishes on to everyone and express my sorrow, yes sorrow at miss
your visit to HMP Bullingdon. I was so much looking forward to seeing you all again and
taking part in the work that we had been rehearsing.
Unfortunately, I was moved to Dovegate at a time was was of
great importance to me. I
was doing O.C.N. Art & Music exams which as you’re all aware
play a big part in my rehabilitation.
Not to worry
though as no matter where I may be I will always have a pen and paper
to record my feelings and thoughts which are many.
I consider your
request to utilise my writing skills as an honour and I shall eagerly
await the materials you send me that you’re working on for the
television broadcasts.
Dame Judi Dench
is, in my opinion, a great actress and I would so much like to meet
her one day! It is
probably a sign from the heavens that your letter arrived today as
well as a coincidence. The
reason being, as I am writing this letter to you, I am watching the
film Chocolat on video in which Dame Judi plays a great part.
The part of Armand Voizin.
Have you seen the film yourself?
Bruce, I will
definitely be coming to London upon my release, although at present I
do not know where I’ll be staying as I am currently labeled with the
tag ‘no fixed abode’. The offer of sponsoring me in a drama or writing course is
something I would never have dared to hope for, but I would be willing
to grasp at the offer with both hands!
I have so many ideas for plays/films as well as my passion for
poetry and it would be great to be able to share these ideas with
others who share my desire to use the power of acting to express
themselves and to put across to a wide audience stories that would
move them to search the very depths of their souls.
There is so much sadness in this world of ours, yet even out of
this, joy, beauty and love blossom.
To say that I
would be interested in the Angus Pope Award would be an understatement
of huge proportion. I
would be absolutely delighted to be even considered for something of
this worth, and I can only say from reading your letter that I would
have been honoured to have met Angus Pope of whom you talk in such
praising tones. I have no
doubt that he was a truly great man to receive such accolades from
someone with your wealth of experience in the world of theatre.
I would certainly
consider taking on any course that would help me to enhance my writing
skills and give me the tools necessary to become the person that has
been buried for so long.
It is time to grow
and I need all the encouragement and help that comes my way.
Bruce, as for your offer to join yourself and friends at one of
your LSW Workouts for the professional community upon my release,
well, just try keeping me away.
Now that I am at
HMP Lowdham Grange I shall pass on your details to the Education
Director and, hopefully, sometime in the near future we could reach
out across the miles and be feet apart performing such tales to make
the soul glow with joy!! I
will close for now and hope that this letter finds you all as it
leaves me, in good health and spirit!
Bruce, I so much
look forward to hearing from you again very soon.
If only you know how much hope and joy your letter has brought
me. I feel I have been
blessed with a new lease of life for which I will be eternally
grateful. Please pass on
my very best wishes to all my friends at LSW whom I met at HMP
Bullingdon and let them all know that should any of them wish to
correspond with me, I’d be happy and grateful to do so!
Take care, Bruce,
and write soon. All the best to you all.
Stephen.