In three days five people learned to tell stories, write a script and record it for BBC Radio Leicester and right here on the BBC Leicester website. The 'Telling Lives' storytellers tackled a range of topics such as; the changing face of home, living with Cancer and hitting rock bottom after a business failure. Listen to real stories about real peoples lives here... Whatever you've been through in your life, everyone has a story to tell and here at BBC Leicester we want to hear it! Angela's story...  | | My Story - Angela Thody |
Angela keeps herself very busy in her spare time making greeting cards, writing text books and morris dancing! She is a retired university lecturer and her 'Telling Lives' is about her first lecturing tour in India 15 years ago. "We end by dancing a congo round the mini railway lines of the old Maharajah's toy train as lions roar from his zoo next door... It was just a magical night!" She hopes it hi-lights the fun of trying something new and how you should always seize your opportunities in life... Lynne's story...  | | My Story - Lynne Barkworth |
Lynne's moving 'Telling Lives' story is about how a parent copes with the loss of their child. Her teenage daughter Natalie went through cancer treatment and died of her illness. Lynne says the last few years have changed her life and given it new meaning. "I remember the day when Natalie said, 'Mum I don't want to die, people will forget me'. I replied, 'that will never happen as you have touched so many lives'. With tears in my eyes and my heart breaking, I tried to be composed." Lynne now acts as a befriender for the Bereaved Parent Network, which is part of Care for the family... Neil's story...  | | My Story - Neil Barkworth |
Neil is a born again Christian from Melton Mowbray. His story is about how the collapse of his business sent him to new lows and how you can come out the other side. He says he had to survive for three years without signing on and with hardly any money. "I had poured my life into the business; which had been good to me, enjoying the big car, and foreign holidays. But who was I now? Who would employ me at 58?" It's made Neil re-evaluate his life and hopes others can learn that there is a way through... Roger's story...  | | My Story - Roger Stewart |
Roger was born in Yorkshire and travelled around a bit before settling in Melton Mowbray in the early 70's. He has cancer, but is now three years in remission. He enjoys attending concerts and is an avid supporter of Leicester City. "Why do people shave their heads? Perhaps to stand out from a crowd, as a fashion statement or to make themselves look tough. "Well, life can deal out a varied hand and my story may be typical of many who are now living with cancer." Roger hopes his 'Telling Lives' story gives people an idea of what it's like to live with the disease and that people do survive and return to a near 'normal' life... Simon's story...  | | My Story - Simon Edwards |
Simon has lived in Leicester for two years and works at the University. He enjoys drawing cartoons for a local paper and is a member of the RSPB. His story is about his childhood, moving from the Midlands to the Isle of Wight. "There was always loud music playing over the PA, but you couldn't hear it, over the bells and whistles of the one armed bandits and pin ball machines. The constant flow of pennies was music to someone else's ears no doubt!" It's a look back at a place which held so much magic for him years back and how redevelopment has changed the face of the British seaside... For more information on our Telling Lives workshops email joanna.bostock@bbc.co.uk | 
