Gregg Avery
02.11.2011 Gregg Avery has been released today!
Gregg was remanded in May 2007 and sentenced in January 2009 to 9 years for conspiracy to blackmail in connection with the SHAC campaign.
Birthday: 5th December
Letter from Gregg Avery, 8th July 2010
Of all the photos on my wall the ones that make me smile the most are the ones of my dog Bonnie. In them all she is waiting to rush off, never looking at the camera, a dog always on a mission. You didn’t own Bonnie, you were simply an associate of hers. Sadly, Bonnie passed away a few weeks ago, and I’m proud to have been an associate of hers for fourteen years.
When I think of her I don’t feel sad, I think of all the places she’s been – mountains, beaches and forests and the great life she had. She once ran off into the garden, and in the gloom ran straight into a bird table, knocking it flat down. She just picked herself up and shook herself and carried on running as if nothing had happened. I’m not talking about an Alsation here, but a little terrier. What incredible strength and spirit.
Whilst I think of Bonnie I also think of the dogs at Consort Kennels (now closed). 800 beagles bred to suffer and die. At 6 weeks old they would weed out any dogs that weren’t cosmetically right. Did they rehome them? No, they would take them round the back of the unit, grab them by their back legs and smash their heads against the wall until they were dead. Then their tiny bodies were simply slung in a bin. All perfectly legal and of course cheap. Gone at 6 weeks old. Where was her chance to be on a mission in a forest or on a mountainside? Stolen from her at only 6 weeks old. And amongst all this murder, torture and mayhem I am the one who is condemned whilst those who take life so easily walk free. What a mad sick world.
Albert Einstein once said “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”
My rock over the past 3+ years is my darling wife Natasha. I saw her for 1 ½ hours 8 days ago, she looked amazing because she is amazing. We’ve always done everything together and this sentence is no exception, we’ve done it together every step of the way. How can I ever express just how much I love, worship and adore her? Needless to say our visit was brilliant, it was like we’d only been apart for 2 minutes.
Here are two numbers for you. I’m on letter number 2,747 to Natasha and I can run 3 miles in 17:49. By the time you read this, the letter number will have gone up, and hopefully the running time will have come down. All in all I’m in the shape of my life and very strong.
So when you hit problems in life, just think of Bonnie, pick yourself up, shake yourself down and carry on as if nothing has happened.
Lots of love
Gregg
Letter from Gregg Avery – 5th November 2009
Well, time marches on. I’m in my tenth month here, and over 2 ½ years overall. I know Christmas will have come and gone in the blink of an eye too.
A memorable line in the film “The Shawshank Redemption” sums up prison life for me; when he says (of being in jail) “you either get busy living or get busy dying”.
In jail I act just as I do outside, having a keen interest in what’s going on in the world, getting as much fresh air and exercise as possible, and keeping the same interests as before. Amazingly here only about 10% of the population go out for exercise (walking) in the fresh air, instead they just stagnate and take drugs on the wings, what madness.
As for my fitness, I’m really smashing my running times and can now do 1.5 miles in under 9 minutes; 3 miles in 18:38; 4 miles in 26: 26 and 5 miles in 33:53 and by the time you read this they will probably have come down even further. I also do quite a lot of circuits.
The food standard here has remained constantly good with fresh salads 6 days a week which also helps with my fitness. I always explain to people it’s vegan power.
I would join the vegan runners when I get out, but I don’t suppose they’d be too chuffed with all the cops running along behind; still, with the Keystone Cops chugging along behind, people would think it was a charity fun run.
Some of you may be wondering why there is a new group and what’s happened to the VPSG. Simple, the VPSG are working harder than ever and the formation of ARPS has freed up more time for the VPSG to do what they were formed for – to deal directly with the prisons, and us vegan prisoners. The results aren’t abstract, they are real and I see the VPSG’s hard work at every meal time and every week when I get my canteen sheet. (Nuttolene added next week)! So please continue to support them.
In the 14+ years I’ve dealt with the VPSG I can honestly say they are working harder and making more progress than ever……..
The centre of my universe as always, is my beautiful, brilliant wife Natasha. Living for me is always centred around her, her love, her strength and her inspiration. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve kept myself going whilst running, by thinking “come on, let’s speed up so I can tell Natasha later.” I’ve got a photo at home of her doing an impression of a tiger waiting to pounce on me (scary is not the word!) and the thought of that look makes me go faster too (so would you, if you saw it!). She is on my mind every second of every day and I miss her so much. You’d think we were after a record as I’m on letter number 2,080 to her.
Thanks for all your letters and support, they mean the world to us all. Like the saying goes “A movement that forgets its prisoners is a movement that’s lost.”
Lots of love Gregg xx
P.S. Am I the only one who doesn’t have a clue what Jonny is talking about? Ha ha…
Letter from Gregg, 16th August 2009
We’ve been at Coldingley over 6 months and now I’m over half way through and will shortly dip under 2 years left. The prison service have really dragged their feet over giving me and Natasha an inter-prison visit. Pretty disgusting when you think we’ve only seen each other ‘socially’ once in over 27 months. They initially refused and only backed down once we got a solicitor involved. Even then they’ve shamefully dragged their feet. We were meant to have one on the 10th August but it was cancelled on the day. It is now meant to happen late August. So fingers crossed. (Ed: Gregg and Natasha had two interprison visits shortly after this)
All of this just makes me stronger and more determined. It also just brings myself and my beautiful wife Natasha ever closer. To this date I’ve written 1854 letters to her whilst we’ve been inside. I miss her so much, she is my strength and total inspiration.
The food here has gone from strength to strength. It’s fresh and nutritious, and they have altered the menu sheets to include quite a few recipes out of the VPSG Prison Cookbook.
I’m keeping super fit and this morning ran 3 miles in 19.52, and can run 5 miles in under 35 minutes now. Thanks to everyone who’s written, it makes such a difference.
I apologise for my slowness in replying. A short while ago one of my dogs, Laddie, died. Anyone who knew him will know why we nicknamed him Bear. Because he was a cuddly black bear who loved to playfight. When I was told on the phone, I came back up to my cell, kissed his photo on my wall, looked up to heaven and said ‘goodnight Bear.’ He was tormented as a puppy, then rescued and he never looked back. I think of the amazing life he had since, he loved to swim and when he wasn’t diving into rivers, he was disappearing under the waves in the sea. He will be greatly missed. I also think of all the animals who haven’t had such a great life as Laddie.
When all is said and done, when all the talking is over, that is the only thing that really matters. That’s why I’m in prison and why we all are fighting against animal suffering so that one day all animals will live their lives like Laddie.
Thanks for all your support
Lots of love
Gregg xx