Springhill Anniversary

At the 21st annual celebration of the Buddha Grove at Springhill Prison. This was probably the largest attendance we have ever had, with no less than 15 monks, and 400 people sitting down to a splendid meal provided by the Thai community in the prison canteen. This was the first and most splendid Buddha Grove of the many that now grace the prison system, built by the prisoners themselves under the leadership of the inimitable Sam Cutler, then doing nine years. The governor Tim Newall had the imagination to encourage the project and his successors have welcomed many distinguished guests to the annual commemorations such as the late prisons Minister Lord Williams of Mostyn and the then Director of the Prison Service Martin Narey. It is also an opportunity of celebrating the valuable work of the Buddhist Prison Chaplaincy and its Spiritual Director, the Ven Khemadhammo Mahathera (Chao Khun Bhavanaviteht) OBE