Lock 'em up for night!
(Hemel Hempstead Gazette 7/12/2005)
Prison prank - hospice dreams up crazy caper to raise funds

CRIME WILL PAY: for MPs Mike Penning, left and David Gauke, who will spend a night behind bars to raise money for the Dig Deep Campaign.

THIS January two local MPs, the Chief Executive of Dacorum Borough Council and the editor of The Gazette will all be sent to jail.

Fortunately it isn't the long arm of the law catching up with them all, but a desire to support the Hospice of St Francis.
Forty of the community's finest will find themselves locked in for the night on January 19 at The Mount, Bovingdon - all in the name of the Dig Deep campaign.

Roger Sharp, community appeals manager at the hospice said: "We approached the Governor of the Mount Steve Rod-ford, about hosting it and he agreed. There'll be 40 of us going in. I don't know if I can say I'm completely looking forward to it, but it'll be good!
"It is a working prison of course, but we are going to be kept separate from the other prisoners. It's not going to be the most comfortable night."
Roger will be joined by, among others, Mayor of Berkhamsted Cllr Geraldine Corry, Cllr Gbola Adeleke, hospice CEO Dr Ros Taylor and MPs Mike Penning and David Gauke.

Mr Gauke said: "The hospice is moving site and needs £2.5 million to fund the development. By taking part in the sponsored night in jail we hope to be able to raise funds."
Mike Penning has made the hospice his annual charity and said he was looking forward to doing his bit.
He said: "The new building project is a really worthwhile cause as it brings together all the hospice's services in one specially designed building. I have been impressed by the way that people from all over Dacorum have been motivated by this project and have come together to help raise money. I am more than happy to do my part -even if it means a night in jail!"

David Robinson, of The Mount, said they were pleased to help raise funds for the hospice.
He said: "It's a cause that almost every adult can identify with and everyone's got time for the hospice. We have got a unique position in the county as the only prison and it seemed like the right thing to do."