Three generations work together + new memoir in making
English zookeeper Sarah Blake helped her great uncle Hedley record his autobiography when she was a teen and was struck by how much joy the process brought him.
While Hedley and his wife Barbara started the project it was Sarah and her mother who helped them finish the book for family and friends.
Years later Sarah has been inspired to write about her own life experiences.
She is in the middle of writing a memoir about the 15 months she travelled around the world using wild animals as her guide.
Today Sarah shares more about Hedley’s autobiography to inform and inspire fellow life-story writers.
Family comes to great uncle’s aid
My great uncle Hedley lead an honest life which he started writing down as he got older.
His health was deteriorating so much so he couldn’t write anymore.
So we bought him a dictaphone, taught him how to use it and he recorded the last chapters.
His life involved time served in the Royal Air Force during World War II and many years learning how to farm and work the land during peacetime.
I wanted to help my great uncle write his story because he wanted to leave his memories for us all to enjoy.
And reminiscing made him very happy as his physical health began to fail.
Book process brings generations together
Hedley and his wife were very happy for the help and the opportunity to have their lives remembered.
My mum also loved learning more about her family and the traits that she shared.
I can’t remember how long it took as it was many years ago now but I remember (as a teen) it feeling like forever.
Great uncle’s memories amaze
The hardest part of the project was deciphering Hedley’s words.
His handwriting was very sloped, beautiful to look at on paper but difficult to read easily.
Once we switched to the dictaphone his speech and very strong East Anglian accent could make things tricky too but we got there in the end.
The most rewarding part was learning from Hedley’s past and experiencing his world.
Sharing in the memories clearly brought him much joy.
My favourite part of the story was his farming escapades and how different things were back then.
Barrels of fuel he needed to power the tractor would freeze so he would actually light a fire underneath them to warm them up again!
Very different to this health and safety era.
Final say
Hedley’s autobiography is a great example of generations working together to preserve memories.
Even though Sarah was a teen at the time she obviously got a lot out of the book process, notably realising she and Hedley enjoyed caring for animals.
“I loved all his stories of the horses he used to work with too as that related to my own career working with animals today,” the zookeeper said.
Sarah’s upcoming memoir has a strong animal theme.
“My own story is completely different and one I am currently trying to turn into a book,” she said.
“It follows the true story of myself and my partner as we quit our jobs as zookeepers to travel around the world guided by our love for animals.”
This sounds like another great life-story in the making.
Happy writing Sarah!
Free gift!
Want to help record a loved one’s memories like Sarah did for her great uncle? My Your Family Stories system shows you step-by-step how to do this. You can try the first few sections of the Your Family Stories system for free by filling in the form below. Or sign up here.
Your say
What’s one memory shared by a relative that sticks in your head? I always love hearing from readers. Drop me an email or leave a reply in the comments section at the end of this article.
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This article first appeared on the website Forever Young Autobiographies.com.
