My friend Michelle Proby has recently had her book 'Leave My Bed Untidy' published and has give me permission to advertise for her on my blog.
Michelle was twelve years old when she was picked up by the police in her home town of Hull due to what she had been doing under the influence of her undiagnosed autism and schizophrenia. She was sectioned and housed in Rocroft. Rocroft has since been shut down due to ninety percent of the staff being found guilty of physical and sexual abuse of the inmates. My friend Michelle was one of the case studies that helped provide the evidence to shut the place down.
After that her case was reviewed and it was decided that she was too institutionalised for her to go straight into supported housing so she was moved to the low security St Luke's Hospital near Attleborough. She was allowed escorted leave, which is when I met her at the church on Sunday mornings.
A year later her case was reviewed again and she was moved to Garrow House in Yorkshire, which is the half way point between low security and supported housing. Part of her rehabilitation there has been the publishing of her poetry book, written over the years of her being on the inside. However, she is not allowed to sell the copies of her book on the grounds of Garrow House but she is allowed to send the copies to me and if I sell them in her name I can then send her back the money. How strange is that?
If anyone would like a copy please flag up a message on my blog or come to meet me at the Assembly House every first and third Tuesday of the month, 7.30pm, at the Norwich Writers' Circle.
Review of 'Leave My Bed Untidy':
"A deeply moving collection that speaks of the pain, rage, sorrow and love that exists behind closed doors. The looking into the mind of someone who has suffered much but who will not be silent. Written in a language that reaches towards breaching the barriers and crossing the gulfs that cannot be approached in normal conversation. A brave and powerful work." V. J. Bartlett
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