Michelle Knight; The Henrietta Hutton Research Grant; Inherited Possessions

On the 23rd August 2002, Ariel Castro persuaded Michelle Knight to enter his house in Cleveland, Ohio. She didn’t leave until May 6th 2013. During the eleven years that Knight was Castro’s prisoner, she suffered unimaginable cruelty which included almost daily rape and being chained up in the basement for months on end with a sock in her mouth and a motorcycle helmet on her head. Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus were also kidnapped and imprisoned by Ariel Castro. Gina was only 14. Amanda Berry had Castro’s child. Michelle has now written a memoire of her time in Ariel Castro’s house. She talks to Jenni about the experience and how she managed to survive the ordeal.

Photograph courtesy of Deborah Feingold.

Finding Me: A Decade of Darkness, a Life Reclaimed’ is published by Weinstein Books.

This year, the Royal Geographical Society celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Henrietta Hutton research grant which supports students undertaking field research overseas. Before 2012, the grant was only awarded to women and this week, some of the 133 recipients met to remember Henrietta Hutton and to share the experiences they were able to have as a result of the fund established in her name. Two of these intrepid women are in the Woman’s Hour studio. Dr Rita Gardner – now the Director of the Royal Geographical Society – spent 9 months climbing down into deep wells in India in the late 70s as part of her research into climate change. Professor Katie Willis experienced a complete culture shock in the early 90s when she travelled to southern Mexico to research gender roles there.

A poll this week commissioned by Dying Matters found that discussing dying and making end of life plans still remain a taboo for many people. Over half of the public (51%) who have a partner say they are unaware of their end of life wishes. ‘What is Left?’ is a new exhibition by artist Ellie Harrison and photographer, Roshana Rubin-Mayhew . It features 50 photographic portraits and audio recordings of people holding a meaningful object inherited from a lost loved one. The work explores the relationship between loved ones that have passed away and the possessions they leave behind. To discuss the importance of the objects we leave behind Jenni is joined by Ellie Harrison and Amber Dowell, Manager for Helplines & Online Support at Cruse Bereavement.

Cruse Bereavement Helpline 0844 477 9400

The Grief Series: What is Left’

LANCASTER: 19th May - 16th June,

BARNSLEY: 21st July – 15th August,

PORTLAND: 5th September - 14th September 2014,