Today in History-August 12
Charlie Wilson was sentenced to 30 years in jail just four months ago1964: Great Train Robber escapes from jail
England have
A massive manhunt is under way across Britain after one of the so-called
Great Train Robbers escaped from Winson Green Prison in Birmingham.
Charlie Wilson, 32, was apparently freed by a gang of three men who broke
into the jail in the early hours of the morning.
They are believed to have stolen a ladder from a nearby builders' yard to
break into the grounds of a mental hospital next to the prison, and then used a
rope ladder to scale the 20ft (6.1 metre) high prison wall.
They coshed one of the two patrolling warders on duty and tied him up
before opening Wilson's cell door and freeing him.
It is still not known how they got hold of the keys to Wilson's cell.
Winson Green is a maximum security prison, and only one member of staff holds
the keys to open cells at night.
At a news conference, the secretary of the Prison Officers' Association, F.
Castell, said security arrangements at the prison should be enough to meet all
normal requirements.
"But," he said, "today's happenings are abnormal. It seems likely that
somehow or other a master key has been obtained which allowed these people to
effect a simple entry to the prison after scaling the wall.
"This is so abnormal that you just cannot cater for it."
The Home Secretary, Henry Brooke, was on an official trip to the Channel
Islands, but returned to London immediately.
He said he was "seriously concerned" by the escape, and ordered an inquiry
to begin straight away.
Wilson is described as one of the masterminds behind the robbery last year.
In the biggest heist of its kind, over 5 milloin pounds was stolen from a Royal
Mail train.
Most of the money has never been recovered, and Wilson is believed to be
the robber who knows where the missing money stolen in the raid is hidden.
He is reported to have told the police who arrested him two weeks after the
robbery: "I don't see how you can make it stick without the poppy , and
you won't find that."
He served just four months of his 30-year jail sentence before his
escape.
Sarah's death has caused a national outrage
2000: Murdered schoolgirl's life celebrated
Artificially 1969: The The family of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne has
been joined by friends and hundreds of members of the public for a memorial
service.
Sara and Michael Payne arrived at Guildford Cathedral with their children,
Lee, Luke and Charlotte, to hear friends and family give readings and sing
Sarah's favourite hymns .
Sarah's naked body was found dumped in a field in West Sussex in July more
than two weeks after she disappeared from fields near her grandparents' home in
East Preston.
The family insisted the service should be open to the public after the
massive national outrage to the eight year old's murder in West Sussex last
month.
Officers from Sussex Police also attended the service at the cathedral.
They included the man leading the murder hunt, Detective Superintendent
Peter Kennet.
Sarah's uncle, Keith Payne, read a poem about his niece, describing "her
warmth, her charm, her indomitable spark".
Her aunt Fiona Crook recalled when Sarah was her bridesmaid.
She said: "Our little Sarah has gone from us, but she will live in our
hearts forever and will always be remembered as `Sarah, our little
princess'."
After the service, Sarah's parents released 12 white doves outside the
cathedral.
Mr Payne, 31, said: "I can't think of words to say. It was fantastic and a
lovely turnout."
Members of the public wept as they formed a queue to offer their
condolences .
A private funeral service is expected to be held for Sarah after her body
is released by the West Sussex coroner.
Vocabulary:
cosh: to hit someone with a cosh or similar bludgeon, usually on the
head(用短棒攻击)
cater: provide what is desired or needed, especially support, food or
sustenance(投合;满足需要)
hymn : a song of praise(赞美诗;圣歌)
outrage : a feeling of righteous anger(愤怒)
indomitable : impossible to subdue(不屈服的)
condolence : an expression of sympathy with another's grief(哀悼;吊唁)
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