Royal visits Thorn Cross

2:01pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

Comments (4)   Have your say »

YOUNG offenders at the Thorn Cross Institute performed in front of royalty this morning.

A group of nine budding musicians played the Rocky theme tune and The Great Escape to The Princess Royal at the Arley Road, Appleton Thorn centre that homes prisoners between the ages of 18 and 25.

“She was really very pleasant and down to earth.”

Ged Breen, senior officer.

The group of young offenders have been working on a 12-week project organised by Ewan Easton, music instructor from the Halle Symphony Orchestra.

The programme that started in 2004 teaches offenders how to play a brass instrument, read music and perform a repertoire through a one-hour weekly lesson.

Ewan said: "I got involved because my family was affected by crime and the reality being that they will come out and they will have skills that they can share."

He said that his students learn from a strategy that is based around knowledge, attitude and action - if any one of the elements is missing they fail.

He added: "At first if they make a mistake they want to give up but they learn to shut their mouths and listen. We make them work for it."

Ian Robinson, prisoner at the YOI, said: "I was nervous before but it went all right. She (Princess Anne) spoke to all of us individually and she asked if I wanted to carry on playing when I got out- I said yes. She also asked me if I had done anything musical before prison- I learned when I was in primary school."

The Princess Royal then met with staff and businesses who work with the prisoners at Thorn Cross.

Ged Breen, senior officer said: "She asked how long we have been working here, for and the differences from this prison and other local prisons.

"She was really very pleasant and down to earth."

The brass band have been asked by The Princess Royal to perform at the Halle in Manchester.

The project is the second to have been supported by Princess Anne. Earlier this year she presented Thorn Cross staff with awards for their commitment to a Prison and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service programme that teaches prisoners the benefits of citizenship.