Life Behind Bars

From the Borstal system of the 1970s, to riots and ultimately being taken hostage on a Caribbean Island, Life Behind Bars is the story of a life of hard work with hardly a dull moment. 

This is not the story of a life of crime, but rather the memories of a former prisoner officer as he recounts the experiences and challenges of a working life behind bars. 

Born in 1941 and with his home destroyed during the Blitz, Gordon Culpin's family moved to the seaside town of Folkestone. As soon as he was able, he was working, either in the seaside guesthouse owned by his parents, as a "non- Christian" choir boy, or as errand boy at a local shop. When he left home at 15 with no qualifications he had the idea to learn a trade in the Army. A military career as a mechanic in the REME saw service in Germany, Borneo and Australia. His trade then took him to the coasts of Cameroon, the deserts of Oman and the North Sea oil fields before he decided to settle down and find a new career. 

Over the next 25 years, Gordon worked in prisons, both in the UK and overseas. Army life, and his subsequent travels, provided a wealth of life experience but more importantly, an ability to communicate with others, regardless of their background. He used these skills to support prisoners and colleagues alike, always focused on individuals achieving their potential regardless of the challenges they faced.