A New Journey

Since this blog journey began a long time ago it's changed, adapted, responded and developed in a number of ways and certainly kept me engaged, amused, enlightened and massively informed. It was never intended to be about me, but to the astute or regular reader it will have inevitably revealed much of my character, interests and core beliefs. Along the way the audience has changed as has the way it's physically viewed and inter-acted with. My initial scepticism of Twitter was quickly dispelled and is now vital both for information-gathering and two-way debate and discussion. 

Regular readers will recall the blog was unmoderated for many years, but the character, quantity and quality of contributions has changed dramatically, as a consequence and reflection of the probation workforce and indeed it's disastrous enforced takeover by HM Prison Service and the dead hand of civil service control. Moderation now sadly has to routinely discard much that is deliberately inflammatory, conspiratorial, libellous, boring or seriously off subject, which is a shame because I'm pretty liberal as far as topic areas are concerned.

Many times packing it in has been actively considered, but every time something significant happens and probation gets in the media and the thing takes off again. And lets be honest, I've got a lot invested emotionally to happily rise regularly at silly o'clock to knock something out. But, at the beginning of the year it began to dawn that it would be sensible to be at least considering how it might gently coast to conclusion, and that would be a shame without adding something of my probation journey, not least because it has shaped me as a person enormously. 

Some may be aware that earlier in the year I was very kindly invited to effectively 'come out' and speak to my old Napo branch at an open meeting. Thankfully it was 'hybrid' with some colleagues in the room and many more online. Many in the audience were fairly new to the profession and some not in Napo, but the enthusiasm and energy that soon became apparent was truly inspiring as many began to realise things used to be very different and they could be again if people started doing something about it. I came away feeling much more confident in knowing how to proceed and in particular how I might start talking more of my own probation journey and before it is too late. 

That first public outing and very kind positive feedback subsequently led to being invited to address a London Napo branch meeting and although of necessity online only, nevertheless led to a lively and stimulating discussion. I've enjoyed both experiences enormously and as I say, gives me renewed hope that the probation ethos still resonates, has a future and we must continue to keep that flame burning, particularly in light of significant impending changes in the domestic political landscape. I'm very much looking forward to attending the forthcoming Bill McWilliams lecture in Cambridge on 27th June and the Napo AGM and conference when it returns to that great city of Newcastle in October.

But this isn't the only new journey on the cards. I wanted to share that quite unexpectedly I find myself in the wonderful care and treatment of our fantastic NHS as I start a course of chemo. I'm hugely lucky in having had no obvious side effects so far, beyond increased need for rest and naps, but it serves to remind me that normal service may be interrupted on occasion.

I'll end this by mentioning a book I'm currently reading 'Life On Air - A History of Radio Four' by David Hendy. 'Revelatory' says a review, and indeed it is. I suspect like many people, and as confirmed within the book, people grow into Radio Four and only in later life begin to realise what a very special life-enhancing institution it is - but boy I had no idea of the behind-the-scenes battle for it's survival. A battle that continues right to the present day of course under sustained political pressure and cuts from successive governments and parties. 

I'm on the final stretch of the book, but this struck a particular chord with me, discussing as it was the constant internal BBC battle to ensure that Radio Four retained its rich mix of content:-

"But the one all-encompassing idea that drew these various arguments together was that the 'rich mix' was somehow the quintessence of the Reithian ideal - and that to dismantle it would be a betrayal of the founding mission of the BBC."  

"....'broadcasting', he told colleagues, 'meant scattering widely' - and an assumption 'that some of the seed would take root and grow'. In broadcasting, just as in gardening, quality emerged not from rapid change and zealous assaults, but from a steady, organic growth nurtured with patient care. 'It was extraordinary, the Editor of 'Woman's Hour' once pointed out, 'how good gardeners were always good broadcasters.'  

What a wonderful probation metaphor I thought.