Thank you Bristol Student Union Amnesty Conference

This weekend I was privileged to be asked to go to Bristol and speak at the Student Union Amnesty Conference about Kenny, his campaign and life on death row.

It had been a long time since I gave any sort of talk publicly like this and I was feeling very nervous about it.

HOWEVER, I was made to feel so welcome and special by students, amnesty members and staff and for me this was a very precious and special thing.

Everyone was so kind and giving. It was such a pleasure to be with everyone.

I was to speak at 5pm with Sara MacNeice from Amnesty and Steve, also from Amnesty and sorry Steve I cannot recall your second name:)

The hall began to fill up and there where about 300 people there, which at first was a little daunting but The interview Kenny and I did together with the late John Peel, from BBC was played first, which explained a little of the case and campaign.

That really broke the ice because while it was a serious interview, there was also laughter and joking in there, which let people hear Kenny as a real live person.

It was tinged with some sadness due to the fact John Peel died suddenly recently and was only buried on Friday. But I will never forget his kindness to me and to Kenny and his great concern for Kenny's plight.

Steve spoke for a few minutes, and then it was my turn. I had this huge speech all written out but in the end  decided to follow my mothers advice and talk about what I know and have experienced over the years in the campaign.

I felt at times as if I was talking utter nonesense because when I am speaking pulicly my mouth and brain dont seem able to catch up with one another:)

So I was totally overwhelmed when I had finished, that every single person in that hall stood up and applauded for what seemed the longest time ever, standing ovation for me eh? haha but I was truly brilliant and I will never ever forget it as long as I live.

The students where all so interested in Kenny and his situation and asked many questions. It was so wonderful to know that so many people had now heard of Kenny's situation and it was and is even more wonderful that they all want to do something to help raise the profile of the campaign even more.

There where students and speakers from all over the world. there was even an Amercian lad who was there also.

And a couple from the Congo too.

I was deeply impressed by the way it had all been organised and how smoothly it all went.

We went for dinner, then later the students did a demonstration for the Stop Violence Against Women Campaign. The passion the students have, truly humbles me.

Things just got better and better though.

We went to a club to hear a Columbian Rap Band, who sounded brilliant.

Later on Kenny called, and no Frances I will not tell anyone else where you where sitting when he called:)

What happened next was truly amazing. Kenny is shell shocked and we where both overwhelmed by the events that occured on the spur of the moment.

Kenny spoke to the many, many people who lined up to speak to him for a few minutes on the phone. People where crying and laughing all at the same time.

I lost count of the amount of people Kenny spoke to. We so wish we had, had a loud speaker phone so he could have spoken to everyone but who knows that can be arranged for the next time:)

Then Kenny wanted to know how many people where there, we told him about 350 and he asked Sara to prove it. And she did.

Everyone went silent and then all at once every single person in there yelled HELLO KENNY. I relayed his replies to the people who where all standing so quietly so we could speak.

Suddenly though everyone began chanting REALLY LOUDLY, KENNY !! KENNY!!! KENNY!!! over and over. I felt like crying, as it was so wonderful and emotional.

Kenny didnt know what had hit him and for once was stuck for words .........well for a wee while he was:)

Kenny thanked everyone for their love and support, which now I think he really knows he has, because he has NEVER heard support like that for him and he knows that people really really do care about him.

We think that this is a first for an Amnesty Conference to have the inmate actually take part in a small way in person. It was just so wonderful and Kenny said, "the block was totally rocked by the noise."

I cannot thank people enough for what they gave to Kenny and to me.

It gave me such hope that there are more people out there who are willing to fight vocally for Kenny and it showed me human beings at their very very best.

I do not think anyone who was there realises just what they did last night.

Trust me when I say that WE got more than you will ever realise or could even imagine.

When wonderful things like this happen, it gives Kenny more hope and makes him feel that yes this fight against the injustice inflicted upon him for all these years is worth it.

For me, it validates all the years of hard work and campaigning.

We did get many pictures taken and I will add them to the website when I get them.

I do not know what else to say except THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO MADE THIS DAY SO VERY MEMORABLE AND SPECIAL.

THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE FOR ME TO REMEMBER ALL THE NAMES BUT EACH OF YOU IS A GIFT.

However as I close I think I will say that I might not try being a teenage student again well not for a while at least:)

I cannot believe some of us sat up till 6am talking.....................but we did and I enjoyed every single moment of it.

Thank you Bristol and God Bless.