Thirteen people attended the most recent LifeLines London regional group meeting, in the cosy private room of a central London pub on a grey and chilly Saturday afternoon. Conversation flowed, biscuits were passed around and it seemed that those present enjoyed the discussion and found it helpful and reassuring. As always, the member hosting started…
On a very hot June afternoon, eighteen LifeLines members gathered in a pub function room for the latest London regional meeting. We weren’t sure if it was the communal food that had tempted an unusually large group or the promise of a screening of the documentary Fourteen Days in May; it transpired it was neither of…
As a member of LifeLines, you hear some amazing stories. People who’ve been writing to someone on the row for 20 years, who’ve been to visit several times, who consider their pen friend to be a member of their family. You also, unfortunately, hear about a few friendships which haven’t worked out, for all sorts…
Six of us met informally in Room 1 at the Friends Meeting House in Lancaster on Saturday 26th April for the LifeLines Regional Group Meeting for the North West. The Friends Meeting House is conveniently located right next to the train station and has step-free access. After introductions over coffee and after admiring two beautiful…
Last weekend’s LifeLines spring conference was, as always, a fantastic event, bringing together long-time members and relatively new writers in the beautiful and historic city of York. I always look forward to conferences. Not only do we get some amazing speakers, but it’s also great to meet other members and hear about their experiences. Our…
God knows there are few good news stories for LifeLines members writing to prisoners on death row, which is why I want to share something that brought a big smile to my face a few days ago. I’ve been a LifeLines member since 2004 and have been writing to a prisoner in San Quentin continuously…
One day, I decided to write to someone on death row, USA. This wasn’t like one of my usual reckless fripperies (which tend to be more along the lines of ‘shall I risk putting green underpants into a whites wash?’ or ‘if I grate some vegetables into my daughter’s pasta sauce, will she notice?’) No.…
I joined LifeLines as I’ve always been interested in death row and the death penalty and, to be honest, because I thought it would look good on my CV, as I’m a Psychology student. I was a bit apprehensive about joining as I felt almost scared and didn’t know how ‘safe’ it was to write to…
Today I have been pacing, pacing restlessly, my thoughts out of order. There is a hollow place inside of me, and though it feels like hunger, all the cookies and chocolate in the world can never fill it. For today my pen friend has an appointment in the death house, and is waiting to die…
I first heard of LifeLines from my eldest daughter just over twelve years ago now, when she came home for a few days and happened to say that she was writing to someone on death row in the USA and had been doing so for a couple of years. I must admit my first reaction…
LifeLines 