20/05/2026
Here is part 2 of my chat with The Human Collective and this one is very personal as I talk about my Dad.
"With the life story recording stuff, Dad was the first person I recorded, he was the test. It was one of those things where I never really spoke to him about his life so it was the perfect opportunity to get him to talk and to see if it would work.
It went well, it's evolved since then but it taught me what I needed to fix. Initially he'd wrote it down but it didn't come across right but bullet points help, it's daunting knowing you're being recorded so having it in front of you makes it easier, I also recorded my Mum and my grandparents.
Last April, my Dad died in a motorbike accident. It took a few days for me to remember that I had his life story in a recording, the sole reason for doing this, to preserve a story was suddenly in front of me. It took me a few days to listen to it, it was like he was still here. I was going to do a shortened version at his funeral but it was too soon for many of the family. Having it's a comfort and I've listened to it a few times, but now at a year since it happened, it became harder to listen to.
Initially it was like he was here, chatting away. But through the passage of time since then, it's that reality that he's not and that he's gone. As part of all this, I go into schools and discuss the "D word" and we talk about death and the recording of these memories and just how important it is. I had clips of my family talking and suddenly I hear his voice and I'm fighting back tears in a classroom full of young people.
I'm glad I've got it, and my stepmum who had only married my dad a few weeks before said she listens to it all the time. I'm just so happy that we have it, this is why I do it now, this it what it means to me. People will get in touch after listening to the recordings I've done for them and they'll tell me how emotional it is for them. I did one and not long after, the gentlemen sadly passed away. He got to listen to it as well and she said she'd cherish that forever.
My Dads name was Ian and people called him Toby, his friends called him that. He was always up for a laugh and he liked a beer. He enjoyed fishing too. He was a mechanic and so any time he could use his skills, he would. When we did his recording, he noticed how flimsy the microphone stands were so he took them away and fixed them, so they were better for the next one. He was just always helpful and I know I've said it already but this is why it matters to me"
Please support my friends venture, what we do is similar but so different, for Lewis it's more work, more editing. If you can give this a wee share incase anybody wants to tell him their story. Thanks 🫶🏻
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