"47 Years Alone: The Robert Mawdsley Letters"

“WHY THIS MATTERS TO ME”

I’m Gavin Robert Mawdsley—named after my uncle, Britain’s longest-serving solitary confinement prisoner. For over a decade, I’ve been one of only three people allowed to visit him. These visits, and the 70+ letters he’s sent me, along with 150+ previously unseen letters to his brother Paul form the most complete record of long-term solitary confinement ever shared and reveal a story that challenges everything we think we know about punishment and rehabilitation.

After years of hesitation, I’m sharing this because the world needs to understand what 47 years in isolation actually does to a person. This isn’t just about my uncle—it’s about the thousands still suffering in solitary today.

“FOR MY FATHER TOO”

This book isn’t just Robert’s story. It’s my father Paul’s and my uncle Kevin’s. Men who watched their brother disappear into the system, saving every letter as proof he still existed. The hundreds of letters between them show what prisons do to families left outside.

For 50 years, my father carried this grief quietly. Now, with his blessing, we’re using these letters to honour three brothers: one who endured solitary, and two who endured watching it happen.

Your support will directly fund:

✔ **Professional ghostwriter** (£30K) To ensure Robert’s words are presented with psychological and ethical accuracy.

✔ **Legal vetting** (£5K) – To protect all parties and comply with prison policies.

✔ **Publishing costs** (£3-5K) – Editing, design, and a 5% donation to prisoner reform charities.

By backing this project, you’re not just funding a book—you’re forcing a conversation about whether solitary confinement is torture. Every share and donation brings us closer to that reckoning.