Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Victims Commissioner for England and Wales, known for advocating for victims of crime following her husband's murder.
On the island
Eight records
I loved the movie and Gary and I both watched it and I have Irish family background and it's about working class and people with talents.
it just melts me even now. And I could see his smile. I was swooning.
reminds me of my next stage in life when I met Gary, and also, even now, looking down at the title, it reminds me of the fun side of Gary.
John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
I just wanted to be Olivia Newton-John.
This makes me upbeat, think about them times. This is the real thing and you to me are everything.
They were the heart of what we used to do on Christmas Day with family.
In conversation
Presenter asks
2:05What concrete things are different since you began campaigning and your role?
I think once I began my [role], it was getting that voice for victims heard. We heard the line they're in the centre of the criminal justice system. They are not. The system isn't in favour of the victims, it's more about the rule of law and right to a fair trial, which I totally agree with. But at the same time, every victim I speak to, they just want somebody to listen.
Presenter asks
3:32How far have we come in the years you've been campaigning for justice for victims, particularly regarding parole hearings where victims have to apply to attend and can only read prepared statements – is that good enough?
Well, just recently there's been a huge case, [Worboys], about victims, and they've had to crowdfund for the Supreme Court judgments. … And it's sad that the victims had to crowdfund for it on social media. But they've really changed the landscape. So for me, it has to be more open and transparent, which now is the this government has said they're going to do. And I'm still working with the Secretary of State for Justice.
Presenter asks
9:06Did you talk to anyone about the bullying at school?
The keepsakes
The book
Leo Tolstoy
It can provide our toiletry needs, it's because there's plenty paper.
The luxury
I always think lipstick makes you feel good. You can put a pout on where you're lippy. And so I'm going for my lipstick.
No, in them days you didn't. You it was one of them, you know, chin up, get on with it. And as my daughter say today, it's twenty four seven in them days you you just waited for the weekend, you could get silence. And I and my mum and dad, it wasn't that they weren't interested. It was just something that you didn't bring home like you do today.
Presenter asks
21:45How do you think the legal system treated you and your family at the time of the trial?
Without the family liaison officers who were there from day one in fact, they were there at the hospital when they said they'd arrested so many people. … I think without them, I would have thought the criminal justice system is appalling for victims and families. I used to work in courtrooms and I had the utmost respect, so I didn't expect to feel like I did all them ten weeks.
Presenter asks
29:49What is your answer to people who criticise the Tory Government for cutting youth services?
I think we had to make cuts. We were in trillions of debt. But I don't think I'm the typical politician because I'm not a yes minister and I think my face shows that I'm not one of them that could pretend. And when you're on the front line of, you know, there's nowhere to go and no safe spaces, if you're cutting youth services and the local authorities are cutting down as well, where do young people go to feel safe and have a future?
“His sense of humour actually I've never laughed so much in all my life. My jaws were aching.”
“Little did I know that this would be my husband Gary.”
“I call them my heroines today, because to have to work on your father on the ground, to pull his tongue out because he was choking on his blood.”
“I wanted them to have fun and feel safe. For me, it was a pure celebration of Gary and not a murder victim.”
“I'm actually just Helen Newlove, brought up by two wonderful parents and a good sister. And that's all I see myself.”