During our visit to Bangkok we were able to spend a morning at Bangkwang Prison, in Nonthaburi, a town just north of the city. We just turned up and asked to see the Foreign Liaison Officer. She gave us the name of two Scottish men and we booked in to see them with no trouble at all.
We were priveleged to meet Brent Stirling, who is serving 100 years, and Jimmy Callender, serving 43 years.

As we sat down and waited for Jimmy and Brent to be brought to the visiting area, we were shocked to see prisoners walking through the yard in shackles.
The visit itself was a bit tricky. The visitors and the prisoners have to shout across a four foot space, separated by bars on either side. Imagine trying to shout at the lions in the zoo whilst everyone else shouts at them too.

Brent is in his early thirties and he is hoping to come home to finish his sentence in a British prison, he misses his family who can only get to see him twice a year. He is articulate and intelligent and it was strange to have to leave him behind when we left, but I promised to call his family when I got back to Britain, which I did. Joe had a visit with Jimmy, who is in his fifties and originally from Glasgow. He doesn't think he will ever get home, and has little family support. He was pleased to have a visitor, but it was hard work for him as his hearing isn't too good.
After our visit, we were able to leave some t-shirts and shorts for the guys. At the prison shop we bought the guys some cigarettes, coffee and tuna, they hadn't asked for anything but we were in a position to help out a bit.
We left the prison in somber mood, but were very glad that we had been. If we are ever in Bangkok again, we will do our best to get back there. We hope that having read about our experiences you may be inspired to do the same.