It’s interesting how many people have stories about Cuba. When my eldest sprog was a mere 6 months, I dragged the family off to Cuba, staying in Havana and then heading down to the Isla de Juventud (a largish island off the south coast) specifically to visit the prison, Presidio Modelo, in which Castro had been kept in the early, pre-revolution days.
Why visit that specific prison, you may ask. Well, it was of the few surviving example of a true panopitcon prison in existence. Based on the principles laid down by Jeremy Bentham and his brother, and beloved of Michel Foucault, it is an incredible example of panopticonism turned reality and a real sight to behold. Even the mess hall and showers were built on panopticon principles. Didn’t stop Castro formenting revolution though, did it…?
I’m sure our resident philosopher, Mr T could tell us a lot more about Bentham and Foucault…
He was really good as Genial Harry Grout. He stated in interviews that he was always a bit puzzled that it was the role everyone associates him with as he was only in three episodes. Must say that surprised me, but i suppose Porridge is repeated so often it seems like more. He was a fine character actor, brilliant as the head of a South London crime family in ‘Fox’, also superb in ‘Our Friends in the North’. Was a working actor for seven decades, and in a profession where a lot of the time is spent “resting”, he stated that the only time he spent "resting’ was when he chose to. Which speaks volumes for his abilities.
