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Review of The Silent Scream
Topic Started: 30 Mar 2009, 08:37 AM (156 Views)
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Britains most notorious prisoner Michael Peterson alias Charles Bronson has written and had published a book entitled `The Silent Scream`which concerns his time spent in prison which has mostly been served in Solitary - cut off from all human contact. Bronson was transferred to Rampton in 1978 and describes the treatment that he received there .It is requested that reviews of the book be submitted and as yet no one has reviewed the book and so I thought from the basis that I served for six years on the staff of Rampton Hospital from 1956 -`62 that my comments on my time there might be valid and so I have submitted my review which is as follows :-
I served on the male nursing staff at Rampton Hospital and I have read about Petersons comments on his and others treatment there and can comment only on what I saw there in the years between 1956 and 1962 and can confirm that much of what he says is the absolute truth and most of what went on was not disclosed and never came to light as a result of the investigations which the disclosures that Sir Norman - Dodds uncovered when he visited Peter Whitehead and Len Mills.(Inmates )
I witnessed brutal beatings and wet towellings and `throttling outs`
I know of one murder committed and actually attended the post mortem .
I knew and was friendly with the `Mad Axe Man` Frank Mitchell.
It was a completely closed shop where staff nearly to a man lived on the Hospital estate Woodbeck and just started to seep in from the surrounding villages by the mid `50`s. They were all members of the POA (Prison Officers Association}.
I remember `John Boy` who Peterson talks of and his name was Johnny Frieston and he had a head like a block of wood and used to repeat the same phrase over and over again There were also a couple of other `well known` characters but had probably died before Peterson arrived there. Pussy Unwin who used to eat live wasps which he picked off the windows much to the amusement of the `staff` and `Rabbit`Noonan who could run down the corridor taking out the ceiling lights by throwing his leather slipper up at them . He was very good at it.
Another character who Peterson mentions in another article of his that I`ve read - is `Gyp` or `Jip` Carter in Rampton who spent the whole of his life on Drake ward which in my day was called D1 - He refused to move off. It says much for Peterson that he got to know the contents of Gyps little suitcase which he guarded so secretly and took with him whereever he went (Even to the weekly cinema.)
I returned to Rampton Hospital at age 75yrs.(50 yrs) after enrolling on the staff there and I was amazed at the changes which had occurred.
D1 was now Drake Ward and a carpet had been laid on the top of the shiny concrete floor from the `office` to the Day Room.This floor was `scrubbed` daily by at least a dozen `patients` on the bucket who had been `sentenced` by the Doctor for minor offences such as stealing cigarettes or fighting.
They were issued with a bucket and a scrubbing brush , a cloth and a `kneeler` and started scrubbing at the day room end and finished at the office end and then got up and went back to the `top` end and scrubbed down to the office again - this operation was repeated over and over again - day after day ,week after week, month after month and year after year . That floor was scrubbed until it was like a mirror and I had to put on shades when the sunlight glinted through - that is under that `carpet` now. Cliff Charlesworth. RGN.RMN.RNMH (Rampton)

I am concerned about this prisoner who has served his sentence but has remained in prison and in solitary and his case has come up for review this month which finds that he should remain in prison.
The ` Free Bronson` campaigners have set up a Web Site and are very vociferous and active in obtaining Bronsons release . Now that he is approaching old age he has mellowed somewhat and is less active in developing his physique and is devoting more and more of his time to writing and the arts .
His books are written in the crudest vernacular and nobody as yet has reviewed his whole published book `The Silent Scream.` I wonder whether I should read and review the whole book.
With my little knowledge of criminology , psychology and psychiatry I wonder if my review would be pertinent and valid.
I consider Bronson to be grandiosed and is affected by a condition known as Malignant Narcissism and will be a danger to the public at large for some years to come.
Bunky / Cliff or whatever.
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Cajunbug
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Bunky Where was this book posted at? Is that Charles Bronson the same as the actor?
Thank you for that great review and another awesome chapter in your life. I am going to look for that book for sure to read it.
Is it revealed in the book what was in that little suitcase? Do you know what was in it?
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Caj - The book was originally printed in 1999 . It`s author is Charles Bronson who is Britains most violent and dangerous prisoner.
He was born Michael Peterson and lived his childhood in Luton . He became a violent criminal at an early age and has spent most of his life in prison but has been so violent and dangerous that he has spent many years in solitary confinememnt where he developed his physique until he has huge physical strength and is a fearless fighter. He was at an early age impressed with male screen heroes and villains and changed his name to Charles Bronson after the legendary screen `tough guy`
Now that he is older - 57yrs I believe -he has `mellowed quite alot and spends much of his time writng ,sketching etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaVMuEqaMZI
He has committed the most violent crimes ,terrorised people and taken them hostage and firmly believes that he has done no wrong and all the wrong that has been done is against him by the penal system.
Think what you will - but I consider him to stiil be a danger to society and should be kept behind bars until he is no longer a threat.
Bunky /Cliff




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Caj - The book `The Silent Scream`is available from most publishers and book stores and may even be available at your library if you ask.
The little suit case that Gyp Carter carried about with him wherever he went and was locked in his locker at night contained personal family photographs as far as I know.
We as `screws` didn`t bother Gyp much at all , as he never bucked the rules and was obedient and respectful. He had been on D1 , or Drake Ward as it was later known more or less since his admission to Rampton and refused to be moved on to another ward where there were more amenities for a more comfortable existence and according to `Bronson` later died on D1.
`Bronson` gained the confidence of Gyp to an extent that no other person did and Gyp revealed to him what was in his little suitcase.
Gyp Carter was a very quiet and humble person who did no wrong whilst I served on the staff there but he had a way of making his feelings known about any situation that occurred and he had a permanent contemptable sneer on his face ,if you know what I mean and when any violence took place ,as often happened within sight and hearing of the `inmates` he would be the loudest to jeer the staff involved and cheer on the inmate who was on the receiving end.
He would never offer to help in any work and just was content to be a model inmate getting into no mischief or sculduggery.
Cliff/Bunky
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Oh my goodness but he sounds very scary and I agree with you that he should not be let loose.
That Gyp sure sounded like one that I would not want to meet up with either.
Thank you for all the info and I will see if the library has the book next time I go in there.
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