THE former Governor of HMP Berwyn spoke of his surprise at receiving a top recognition for his decades of public service.

Nick Leader joined the Wrexham prison in April 2019, before retiring in September last year.

He was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2024 New Years Honours list, for public service.

He said: "It was a complete surprise that I was being recognised when I was told - to the extent I couldn’t believe it until the final announcement was made. 

"I also fully recognise the award would not have been possible without the support I have received from so many others that include, but are not limited to, Caroline Jones, my PA, staff, managers and unions. 

"As Governor you represent the sum of the different parts of the prison and I was fortunate to receive support from a fantastic staff team - not just prison and probation staff but also our partners from Betsi, North Wales Police, Novus Cambria, DWP, Samaritans, Banardos, Amey and the third sector. 

"I should also recognise my wife Sue for all her support over the past 40 years.

"Staff families are the unsung heroes of so many, as they put up with the domestic challenges of working in a 24/7 organisation.

"I would not have been as able to do my job without the support of Sue."

The Leader: HMP BerwynHMP Berwyn (Image: Staff)Mr Leader, 59, joined the Prison Service in September 1985 as a prison officer at HMP Birmingham.

During his almost 40-year career, he has Governed seven prisons; five in the public sector (HMP Reading, HMP Long Lartin, HMP Pentonville, HMP Whitemoor and HMP Berwyn) and two prisons whilst working for Sodexo Justice Services (HMP Peterborough, the only dual gender prison in the UK, and HMP Northumberland).

He also spent a short period reorganising Sodexo probation services whilst the Regional CEO for CRC services in Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

He continued: "There were many things I was proud of that staff achieved at Berwyn - it was better organised, safer, we achieved our operational capacity and most recently made significant improvements in a number of resettlement outcomes that were probably best illustrated by employment outcomes improving from 7 per cent in 2020 to about 30 per cent now. 

"Giving prisoners a job on release gives men a chance not to reoffend and the prison made real inroads to achieving this despite all the other challenges they had to deal with. 

"There were other external agencies and people that worked together, along with our outstanding Head of Reducing Reoffending Norah Keller, to transform employment outcomes including John Murphy, CEO of Murphy’s construction, our local MP Sarah Atherton, the local Camber of Commerce and others.

"Now I’ve retired the memories of people I’ve worked will always be important to me.

"I know the prison still has challenges to deal with but it is a better place to achieve this. 

"It is fortunate that a new experienced Governor, Becky Hayward, has taken charge and I wish the whole team well as they take the prison to the next stage of its development. 

"So often all people hear about is the difficulties staff have to deal with but it has been a great organisation to work for and remains so for people wanting to make a difference in peoples lives."