Wendy Micklethwaite made such an impression on colleagues and inmates at a Bicester prison that they have put themselves through a series of physical challenges to raise money in her memory.
Wendy was a prison officer at Bullingdon Prison for about 18 years, but sadly died in May this year after she was diagnosed with cancer. During her treatment she was supported by Bicester-based cancer support centre the Hummingbird Centre, and her wish was for people to raise money to support its important work across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.
Prison officer Zena Rose said: “Wendy was a one off, a rare breed. No matter who you were or what was going on, Wendy was always there to help. She had a knack of noticing someone in need, even if they didn’t show it. “Wendy made some amazing friends and worked extremely hard at a job she excelled in. Wendy brightened any room she entered with her cheeky but infectious personality. “She made a lot of people feel at ease, both staff or prisoners, and was well liked and loved by many.” And so, earlier this month a team of nine prison officers got on their bikes to tackle a one-day, 100-mile cycling tour taking in prisons in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. What should have taken 9 hours ended up taking 11-hours because road closures forced a 13-mile diversion.
The riders Di Taylor, Phil Dyer, Grant Cross, Laura Willis, Sean Reck, Jackie Thomas, Phoebe Williams, Dan Olteanu, Josh Wainwright started at HMP Bullingdon at 7.45am, on July 11, and then rode to HMP Huntercombe, Henley-on-Thames; HMP The Mount in Hemel Hempstead; HMP Aylesbury; HMP Grendon and Springhill prisons and returning to HMP Bullingdon. The support drivers were Lisa White and Zena Rose.
Afterwards Phoebe Williams said: “One of the best parts of the day was passing the halfway mark because we knew all the biggest hills were completed.
“It was an amazing experience, really tough, but after crossing that finish line, we felt a great sense of achievement.”
Not to be outdone, a group of prisoners, who knew Wendy and had themselves been impacted by cancer, did their own fundraiser. In the prison gym, on July 18, they completed a 10-station circuit-training course for 10 hours continuously – 40 minutes on followed by 20 minutes’ rest. Although staff and prisoners actively work together and often play team sport together, fund raising for the same charity was a first. Zena said: “After chatting to some of the prisoners it was apparent that most of them had been effected by cancer, either personally or through a loved one, and when they heard about the work at the Hummingbird Centre, the prisoners quickly decided that they wanted to do something.”
So far, the two fund raisers have raised nearly £2,000. Anyone who would like to donate can view HMP Bullingdons fundraiser for The Hummingbird Centre
Separately, the staff and prisoners in the Farms and Gardens Department at the prison, made bird boxes, insect houses and planters and donated them to the Hummingbird Centre to brighten up its garden courtyard area.
Article written by Sam McGregor PR Correspondent for The Hummingbird Centre