Telling stories

A few years ago I spent many months working with older people in nursing homes and community settings to help them put together their life stories; some chose to do it pictorially, others in written form. It was a fascinating and a humbling experience, to be taken into the confidence of people as they re-lived their lives, the good and the bad days, the happy and far from it.

Sandra and Tony Jeans from the Charlton Kings Community Players have used similar material collected from older people living in Cheltenham to put together a play currently running at St. Edwards School Performance Hall and for which I'm doing Front of House. "Some Sunny Day" is based on the lived and recounted experience of many people from the years around the Second World War, and covers both the everyday occurrences and the outstanding moments. With songs from the war years to join in with and an extensive exhibition of memorabilia to browse, audiences have thoroughly enjoyed the production, the proceeds from which are all going towards two local charities, the Great Western Air Ambulance and Severn Freewheelers.

How important it is that people have the opportunity to tell their stories - and how important it is that these are recorded. There is so much that is extraordinary in ordinary lives - and what a tragedy if that is lost to future generations. I'm hoping to resume work with older people in care settings later this year - and I know that I'll get as much from hearing and writing their stories as they will from telling them.