Veronica's Bird: Thirty-five years inside as a female prison officer

by Veronica Bird, Richard Newman

Veronica Bird was one of nine children living in a tiny house in Barnsley with a brutal coal miner for a father. Life was a despairing time in the 1950s, as Veronica sought desperately to keep away from his cruelty. Astonishingly, to her and her mother, she won a scholarship to Ackworth Boarding School where she began to shine above her class-mates. A champion in all sports, Veronica at last found some happiness until her brother-in-law came into her life. It was as if she had stepped from the frying pan into the he took over control of her life removing her from the school she adored, two terms before she was due to take her GCEs, so he could put her to work as a cheap option on his market stall. Abused for many years by these two men, Veronica eventually ran away and applied to the Prison Service, knowing it was the only safe place she could trust. This is the astonishing, and true story of Veronica Bird who rose to become a Governor of Armley prison. Given a 'basket case' in another prison, contrary to all expectations, she turned it around within a year, to become an example for others to match. During her life inside, her 'bird', she met many Home Secretaries, was honoured by the Queen and was asked to help improve conditions in Russian Prisons. A deeply poignant story of eventual triumph against a staggeringly high series of setbacks, her story is filled with humour and compassion for those inside.

290 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Sandra "Jeanz" · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW

This book was brought to my attention when I was asked by Rachel at Authoright Publicity if I would be interested in reading this book and when I read the blurb it really captured my attention as the Ackworth School mentioned in the book is not far from where I currently live. The area I live in was also known as a pit town and I also have a rough idea where certain streets/areas are in Barnsley too so I thought that this prior knowledge would really help me envision the area's being talked about.


The cover has a grey background, perhaps as a subtle nod to the dirt and dust from the coal miners featured in the book. The central item on the cover is a cage with a bird within it. This cover represents the book and Veronica's life so well. I love the play on words of the title, as Vernonica's surname is Bird, and at one point of the book draws attention to the irony of prisoners referring to being in prison as doing their bird. The byline reinforces the blurb immediately telling potential readers that Veronica Bird has worked as a prison officer for thirty-five years. Though the cover being grey gives the cover a simplistic look I think the cage and the bird within would make me pick this book up in a bookstore to learn more about it. 


I have seen non-fiction and memoir which totally fit the book, as this is Veronica's own life story. the book is co-wrote by Richard Newman, however as you read the book you can hear that it is Veronica's voice telling us, the reader, where she came from, what her life was and what she has achieved in her life. 

I couldn't help but immediately like Veronica as a person through reading this book, she comes across as a down to earth woman who "calls a spade a spade". Some of the area's she mentions in the book were areas I had some knowledge of but you don't need to know the area's Veronica is talking about as her detailed descriptions allow you to visualise these places quite easily. I actually live about a fifteen minute drive away from the school in Ackworth that Veronica attends. My ex-husband came from Barnsley so I have a little knowledge of that area too both Barnsley itself and Carlton on the outskirts. I also have extended family who worked at pits local to where I live and can remember the strike well when best friends were set against each other when one father returned to work whilst the other remained on strike. As the blurb states this book begins with Veronica as an eleven year old, her parents neither read nor write and as Veronica is quite far down in the pecking order of the family being a younger sibling. Because of this by the time Veronica gets the hand me down clothes they are almost always threadbare. There never seems to be enough food to go around, with Veronica finding herself hungry on many occasions. Her father isn't opposed to striking his children with a belt either. The area Veronica and her family live in is situated in the always present stench and dirt of coal dust. 

I loved one quote that Veronica uses in the book "Never mind Fifty Shades of Grey, Barnsley had a thousand shades of black" I think it fits the area at that time perfectly though of course it could be applied to other pit towns too. 

Veronica's eldest brother was epileptic and was becoming worse every month, and no signs of anything to make him any better. Veronica would dream of getting away from this dark, dismal life. Even when her drunken father would threaten to send her to a children's home, Veronica would think it would probably be an improvement on her current life if he did! As I have said neither of her parents could read or write so it was left to Veronica to do the reading for the family. So filling in a scholarship form was a daunting task for Veronica but with her mothers encouragement she did it and even better she impressed when she went to visit the school, so much so she returned home from school one day to her mother and her brother Gordon waiting for her to open and read a letter. The letter was telling her she was accepted and had a scholarship for the Ackworth school. Of course there was a school uniform to be ordered and paid for. The uniform could only be purchased at a specialist uniform supplier in Leeds. Veronica's mum told her not to worry, that she would find the money. Her mum made sure that the uniform would last and bought large enough to be taken in and then let back as Veronica grew. Veronica thrived at the Ackworth school and in the book it seems she had some of her happiest days there. For the first time in her life she had new clothes and enough food to eat too.

However she still had to endure the school holidays when she had to work on her brother in laws fruit and veg stall. She was expected to lift the same heavy potato sacks and other vegetables as the men that worked for him did. She was paid but not as much as someone else would have been paid for doing what she did. In other words she was cheap labour and a free babysitter whenever her sister and brother-in-law wanted one. This brother-in-law would play a pivotal roll in Veronica's life and in fact affect her schooling too.

In later life Veronica becomes a prison officer, she works hard, doing the various training first at Risley, or Grisley Risley as it was and still is referred to for three weeks. Then another eight weeks at Wakefield before she was even given a uniform. I think the idea of throwing new recruits in at a notorious prisons such as Risley and Holloway are to sort out those who cannot cope working inside a prison. Veronica does see some sights in her job as a prison officer, she meets both Myra Hindley and Charles Bronson. Veronica also came in to contact with Dolours and Marian Price who were part of an IRA unit. Veronica worked at lots of different prisons both male and female prisoners and was a great advocate for improving standards within the prison environment. When Veronica became a Principal Officer there were only around thirty in the whole of Britain! She got used to different styles of prisons such as Styal Prison having houses, separate blocks which kept the different types of prisoners apart. These houses held between twelve and sixteen women. For example, one house would contain those considered to be dangerous lifers such as Mary Bell the child killer and Carole Richardson connected to the IRA. Another house would be specifically for mothers and babies, short termer's in another and those considered mentally ill all together in one unit too. Veronica worked in the most modern and the most decrepit prisons. Veronica was firm and fair and had the respect of workmates and inmates alike.
Veronica was often moved on to a different prison to see if she could "sort it out", she even went over to Russia to see how prisons and prison life compared over there. Then hosted visiting Russians to come over here to view our prisons and how they work. 

I have tried to reveal enough about different parts of the book, to pique your interest without speaking about every detail of the different parts of Veronica's life. This really is a great read. Veronica does not want you to feel sorry for her, she searches and saves what pittance she earns to obtain a job away from her family and still her brother-in-law is obsessed by what she is doing, where she is doing it and with whom. He seems to think she should be at his and his wife's beck and call. In fact he makes her take his children along to one of her job interviews. When Veronica does escape, he always manages to find her and turn up, causing her to move on time after time. I love Veronica's determination to better herself. I also adore the way she may be working away from her family and not get on with her brother-in-law and sometimes her sister either but she never forgets to send Christmas gifts to their children with whose bringing up she was instrumental. Veronica has been to Buckingham Palace on more than one occasion and given various well deserved awards. Veronica is now retired and as it says in the "About The Author" section is living in Harrogate. 

There are sections in this book that will make you gasp, smile, maybe a little chuckle as well as tear up too. I highly recommend reading this memoir, I found I really didn't want to put it down! It is a very interesting informative book from Veronica's not so great early life, to gaining a scholarship and being on the cusp of taking exams, to being removed from this beloved new way of life for no reason but she would provide slave labour for her family. Finally escaping her family and a life of servitude to getting a job unconnected to her family, moving away, becoming a prison officer and on-wards and upwards. 

My immediate thoughts upon finishing this book were Wow! What a roller-coaster ride Veronica's life has been. From a life where someone told Veronica she was like a little slave, and her being trapped in what looked like a life of drudgery. To her becoming a trusted prison Governor that is sent to problem prisons to "sort them out".

[Marie’s Book Boutique · Rating 5 out of 5]

To check out full review here mariesbookboutique.wordpress.com/2018...

The cover to this book is on a grey backing which looks like a concrete wall. A black bird-cage sits to the left side of the cover and houses a blue bird inside. The blue continues in the title; which goes round the curve of the bird cage. The author names are on the top left, which I think the text could have been a bit bolder in my opinion. Very striking cover, which had I seen in a book shop I would have defiantly pick it up to read the blurb.
Veronica's bird is a true account of a woman who comes from a bleak and abusive family, namely by her coal mining father and her brother-in-law. She try's to get away by applying for a scholarship at a boarding school; until she is pulled out to work for her brother-in-law for pittance. Veronica is constantly looking for a way out and to some place safe and joins the police force; only that isn't enough to keep her safe. So then she decides there to put some much-needed space between her and her family and joins the prison service; which comes with accommodation meaning she would finally be safe.
Once in the prison service she see's how the prison is run and the conditions in which the prisoners are living, and wants to help prisoners less fortunate than herself. The only way she will be able to do so will be to work her way up the career ladder.
As she works her way up in her career Veronica works in a number of prisons across the UK and in that time she comes across some extremely dangerous inmates like; Myra Hindley, Dolours and Marian Price, Charlie Bronson and Carol Richardson. In a bit a bid to change the system she is helped by numerous people lie Frank Bruno and a number of Home Secretaries and Roger Kendrick.
I have to say this book intrigued me from the first page till the last, simply because Veronica's journey through her life was so interesting. What an astonishing lady she is, finding sheer determination in the darkest of times and dedicating 35 years of her life to the UK's prison service. Veronica was well liked by both the staff and the prisoners; which very helped her in her quest to stay safe and to keep the prison system up to the standard it should be. I think she is one amazing lady and should be immensely proud of all that she has achieved in here working life. However it was sad she never got to have a family of her own.
Veronica's Bird is a highly thought-provoking and sad but shows a woman with sheer strength and determination in a very bleak start. I highly recommend this astonishing book, it's really an eye-opener.

[Hayley Galpin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Veronica’s Bird is the true story of Veronica Bird navigated through three parts - her challenging childhood, her time climbing through the ranks in the prison service and the final part as a reflection over why we send people to prison.

Throughout the book, you learn more about Veronica’s career in the prison service across 35 years and the perspective from the inside. I sometimes struggle with non fiction reads but this has the perfect balance between heartbreaking and hilarious and I could not put it down.

The book is written so charismatically that you really get a feel for Veronica as a person. I was captivated through her shared experiences both before and during her time in the prison service and was particularly fascinated by her time at Thorn Cross and Armley. Her ambition, determination and unwavering commitment to the job was clear but what I particularly loved was how passionate she was for both her colleagues and prisoners. I also loved how it felt that Veronica was very much in control with the book in keeping some bits private but giving us an equally honest insight into her experiences.

I wholeheartedly loved this book and it is brilliant in how it captures a hugely inspirational woman taking the lead in a traditionally male dominated environment. It is a motivating and amazing biography that really makes you think!

[Kalliste · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and learning about Veronica Bird and all the struggles and accomplishments life involved.

It was a story/life worth reading about but I have lowered the overall rating because of the way it's written. There are so many unrequired commas. They are a little jarring and take you out of the story because you have to think "what are they trying to emphasise here?" because in many cases they were in the wrong spot.

There was also a tendency to repeat things in some instances in the very next paragraph.

I learnt a lot from reading this and I think gained more empathy for those locked up.

[Terry Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first met Veronica at a men's forum, was really impressed by her style. Having learned a little about what she had done, I bought her book. I found it thoroughly absorbing and now feel disappointed that I have finished it. She is a remarkable woman given her dreadful start in life. Everything she achieved is down to her and her alone. And the difference she made to those less fortunate than herself is a wonderful testimony to her values. In the postscript to the story, Robert Duncan asks what might be done to try to avoid locking vulnerable people up. I suggest a good start would be to give every new offender a copy of her book. Read it. You won't regret it.

[D M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and gives food fore thought.

I'll get the negative out of the way: numbers written in letters sometimes and digits at other times, the repeated use of ' "x" and "y" come to mind', and sentences that needed reading because they didn't make sense.
I couldn't put the book down. I saw Veronica on Look North, bought the book on Kindle and read it in two sittings. The impact this woman had on prisoners and the Prison Service is something to aspire to. Her life was not rags to riches (well not riches anyway), it was hard work and determination. She is an amazing woman.

[amelia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can’t rate this book higher than 2 stars because the writing is truly awful. However, Veronica’s story was impressive and interesting and I felt like her personality really shined through.

I wish Richard Newman hadn’t spent so much time asking why Veronica hadn’t gotten married. Who cares, she has an OBE, consulted on human rights in Russian prisons, and transformed the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the country!!!!! Her life is complete as it is.

[Sheri L. Paddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Empowering and inspiring to read about Veronica's will to get out of poverty with little education.

I am in awe that kids were deprived of education not long ago. We are spoiled in 2025 and probably take for granted the abundance of education and work skills that are now available. I found d it incredible how she would transform prisons to give offenders skills and knowledge to make a better life once out.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

A pack of lies. Shes my mums auntie and we visited her house all the time as kids and she was at all the family events. It could easily be disproved by anyone who can be bothered. The ghost writer clearly didn’t do any fact checking and was happy to sully my grandparents names to help her make a quick buck.

[Juli Szenki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great recorded history of an amazing lady

A rags to riches story without the money factor. Veronica is rich in values and compassion, many have benefited from her determination to push beyond the challenges of her beginnings.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think if I went to jail, I would want Veronica at the helm. Her attitude towards inmates is the same as mine towards students. Always knew there is a close connection between incarceration and education.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazingly good read

I went through a range of emotions reading this story, an inspiration to people that have been down trodden. Amazing

[Robyn Creighton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found veronicas childhood story really interesting, but as she got older I just got bored with the book, I tried finishing it but couldn't.

[Richard Craven · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read, from a harsh background to one of the UKs female prison governors. An interesting journey she had, a demonstration of what sheerness determination can achieve.