📢 Justice Alert: The boy in the cowboy outfit – my tribute to Erwin James 1957 – 2024

Many have seen the small black and white photo of a young boy in his favourite play outfit, an image that was etched in the memories of a once happy young boy.

But circumstances and a grief-stricken father destroyed all chances of returning to that happy place for Erwin. At the age of seven, with the loss of his mother in a car accident and his father turning to drink, put Erwin on a pathway he never thought imaginable.

Sent from pillar to post, never settled anywhere for very long, his childhood was abruptly curtailed.

His life cascaded from petty thieving to the care system and from homelessness and drunkenness to serious crime.

Wanted for murder he fled the country and joined the French Foreign Legion. Attracted by a sense of belonging and a new disciplined lifestyle was then to encompass him.

But it was short lived.

Two years later Erwin was sent back to England to face a trial with his co-defendant which resulted in a life sentence for the murder of two men. Straight to prison, a daunting prospect but he was relieved that the life he had been living was over.

“Big Jim” as he was referred to, began a new journey with the help from a psychologist, a lady called Joan, who encouraged him to get an education. There were hurdles to climb but Joan’s words “you owe it to your victims to be the best you can be with the life you have left” propelled him to passing his first exam in English.

As a natural writer, his skills initially helped to compose letters for his fellow inmates.

After many years in prison Erwin was asked by the Guardian to be a regular columnist. His stories of life on the wings became so popular that these articles were published in his first book “A life inside”.

On release, Erwin became a sought-after speaker at book festivals, events and academic conferences, and that is where I first met him, at Cambridge University. By that time, he had published his third book ‘Redeemable: A Memoir of Darkness and Hope’ and had become the editor in chief of the Inside Time newspaper, his dream job.

He loved writing and he passed on his passion to so many including myself. I can still hear his voice in my head,

“Narrative, Description and Dialogue”

Three years ago, Erwin sent me a draft copy of an insightful article he was writing and asked what I thought. It was a refreshing change as I was usually the one seeking his opinion on work. He wrote:

“I’d been adrift on my own sea of time for so long, living the same day over and over for weeks, months and years – trying to endure the psychology of just ‘doing time’ – amidst an environment awash with death, self-harm, violence and human corrosion. Like many long termers I never really knew where the prison journey was going to take me, or if I’d ever make it. But twenty years to the day, I walked out of those prison gates a better man because of books.”

Believing in prison reform but never saw himself as a prison reformer yet advocating for prison education at every opportunity. He had many roles over the years encouraging the Arts within the justice sector.

I had the opportunity to interview Erwin in The National Portrait Gallery, London where I wanted to introduce art as our common ground alongside prison reform. I pointed to a painting of a man with his books commenting on whether he was showing himself as an educated man, Erwin immediately responded:

“Books for the educated people? No. Books are for everyone, to me Faith books are a great leveller. If you can read, you can be King”

When the interview was published, he wrote this:

“I’ve known and admired Faith for a number of years. We haven’t always agreed on prison reform issues, but I’ve always respected her integrity, which shines in her writing, her passionate crusade for a more humane and effective prison system – and above all her indomitable spirit. I’m just glad we’re on the same side.”

Under the surface there was always the inward battle of feeling undeserved of any praise for himself or any of his writings. I believe this inner turmoil was always there ready to bubble up to the surface.

His death, so sudden sent shock waves through the prison community, his many friends, colleagues and acquaintances. He will be missed.

May his legacy remain, that education in prison will continue to greatly enrich all those that are given the opportunity to participate in the future.

Erwin James died on 19^th January 2024, today marks the 1st Anniversary of his death.