Back-Chat Forum

01/11/2023

It has taken a long time, 5 years to be exact but here we have the first few interviews that will be archived forever (80 to follow). Its been a long but very worthwhile journey.

This website is a platform for us to showcase some of our digital records. We take in records created in digital format as well as paper records. If you wish to discuss depositing records with us please contact us

03/09/2023

We have some terrific news,
West Yorkshire Archive Services https://www.wyjs.org.uk/archive-service/ have welcomed the Back-Chat Collection into their archives calling it a "great resource"
This means that we don't need to worry about technology in the future as they will update as technology evolves and your interview won't be saved for 80 years but for hundreds of years.

I asked how they would archive the interviews. This is what they said:
"For a bit of information on access to our digital archive collections – we have a digital archive access computer at our Wakefield office where people can book to see / listen to material [assuming there are no access restrictions due to content]. We have also recently bought a management system called Preservica that manages digital material and has a public access front end using WordPress. Our public access page is not yet live, but it will be fairly soon and content that has no restrictions can be viewed / listened to from this site"
This is more or less the same as our own website access.

More news to follow.
Carlo Harrison

04/07/2023

Good morning everyone, sorry for the long absence.
Where are we, well a provisional date has been set for the 7th October to have the Time capsule put in place in Yeadon Town Hall.
Lots of things going on, I will try and update you as we go.
The first thing was to find a medium that would carry the interviews and still be readable in 100/200 years time. With some very helpful advice from Steve Roberts (BBC Archiving) we have chosen an M-Disc which has a guaranteed shelf life of 200+ years. I know what you are thinking, who will be able to claim if it doesn't last that long? I think if the BBC trust the M=Disc then we should too.
More to follow.
Look after yourselves
Carlo Harrison

18/03/2023

This very exciting 5 year project is coming to an end with the help and my thanks to Jamie Hudson.
If you remember the Back-Chat interviews were always intended to go into a Time Capsule which will now be sealed in September.
More details later as I have them.

25/12/2022

Happy Christmas

02/12/2022

Hi Everyone,
The interviews for the Back-Chat Collection have now come to an end, it is time to store them for the future.
We have 95 interviews which include some that are password protected and not available to the public (well not for 80+ years).
Modern technology means that with the help of Charles Willcock we will be able to put the entire website onto DVDs along with written explanations as to how they have been compiled. Charles has found some DVD,s which have a usable shelf life of 100-200 years if stored correctly.
The original idea was always to put the interviews into a time capsule in Yeadon Town Hall clock tower. I am in discussion with Jamie Hudson at Yeadon Town Hall Theatre to see how we can do this.
I will keep you all informed as to when this will take place and you will all be welcome to attend.
We have had some really good interviews in the 4 years since we started, people in the future will be amazed.
https://back-chat.org.uk/
Carlo Harrison

29/11/2022

I interviewed Sam Kilburn on 30th August 2019, unfortunately Sam was an early victim of Covid and died just 8 months later in hospital on 8th April 2020.
https://back-chat.org.uk/sam-kilburn/

Sam will take you on all sorts of journeys back in time as we chat together, just have a look at the note I received from his daughter Sheila who wrote to me 5 months after Sam's death.

"“I was delighted to be able to hear my dad’s voice again after he died and I would be delighted if you wish to publish his interview again.
I have saved your recording to play to my grandchildren when they get a little older – only Zac, the eldest, ever met him; and now since he died, I have two new ones, Quinn and Isabella, who lives in Melbourne.
I do appreciate being able to hear my dad speaking to you, I remember one of my friends being very envious; her father died before the internet arrived and she had no such legacies.
Kind regards
Sheila

His interview along with 97 others will go into three time capsules for future generations to listen to.
Carlo Harrison

Sam Kilburn Home Guard Royal Navy WW2 Singer Artist Mills Old Age Brexit Smoking Boris Johnson Jeremy Corbyn Insurance Salesman

16/11/2022

I Interviewed Lisa Bourne in May 2019. Lisa has some wonderful memories of junior and secondary school days and also tells us what a Humanist Celebrant is.
Lisa was born in 1984 and has had a life full of memories which she shares with us.
https://back-chat.org.uk/lisa-bourne/

07/11/2022

John Wheatley was featured in a Back-Chat interview in April 2020.
John is an ex Yorkshire boy who emigrated to Australia and with Australian citizenship now considers Rockingham, Western Australia his home.
Some lovely memories in this interview of life in Australia.

https://back-chat.org.uk/john-wheatley/

01/11/2022

All of the lovely people interviewed for The Back-Chat Collection
talk about their parents, childhood and their school days.
Parents are always talked about fondly, school days maybe not always a good memory but on the whole childhood brings back warm memories.
Here is a young guide who went on in life to become the Head Teacher of Pool-in-Wharfedale C.E Primary and Middle School (which became Pool-in-Wharfedale Primary School following re-organisation).
Some lovely memories in this interview with Marjorie Emsley.
https://back-chat.org.uk/marjorie-emsley/

25/10/2022

All of the lovely people interviewed for The Back-Chat Collection
talk about their parents, childhood and their school days.
Parents are always talked about fondly, school days maybe not always a good memory but on the whole childhood brings back warm memories.
Here is a young man with his sister Alison in 1965 at Kirkstall Abbey. This youngster grew up to become an armed police officer.
Click on the link and have a listen to Ian Wray https://back-chat.org.uk/ian-wray/

21/10/2022

All of the lovely people interviewed for The Back-Chat Collection
https://back-chat.org.uk/ talk about their parents, childhood and their school days.
Parents are always talked about fondly, school days maybe not always a good memory but on the whole childhood brings back warm memories.
Here is a young lady who had a very happy childhood and became a senior figure in UK Guiding. She also went on to administer and set up Guiding in Papua New Guinea.
It is of course Judith Emsley you can hear all of Judith's memories by left clicking this link.
https://back-chat.org.uk/judith-emsley/

16/10/2022

All of the lovely people interviewed for The Back-Chat Collection talk about their parents, childhood and their school days.
Parents are always talked about fondly, school days maybe not always a good memory but on the whole childhood brings back warm memories.
Here is a young man who rescued and reared Olly the owl and went on to do great things and save lives as the Founder of Public Access Defibrillators UK.
https://back-chat.org.uk/brian-firth/
Carlo Harrison

08/10/2022

All of the lovely people interviewed for The Back-Chat Collection talk about their parents and their school days.
Parents are always talked about fondly, school days maybe not always a good memory.
Here is a young lady who was very well known in Rawdon. Her family business Riggs Butchers boasted some very tasty pork pies, the shop being the first port of call for many expats visiting the area. It is of course Marion Nichols nee Rigg.
Marion sadly died in September 2020 at the age of 95, I interviewed this lovely lady in May 2019.
Marion is seen here on the North Bay, Scarborough with Henry, Maggie, Frank & Tom Rigg.
https://back-chat.org.uk/marion-nichols-nee-rigg-riggs-butchers-rawdon-born-1925-isolation/
Carlo Harrison

04/10/2022

All of the lovely people interviewed for The Back-Chat Collection talk about their parents and their school days.
Parents are always talked about fondly, school days maybe not always a good memory.
Here is a little chap who you could be forgiven for not recognising.
It's Arnie McCann who I interviewed on 22nd March 2019.
Arnie is still going strong and if my maths is correct being born in November 1926 he is 95 years old not far off 96.
https://back-chat.org.uk/arnie-mccann/

29/09/2022

All of the lovely people interviewed for The Back-Chat Collection talk about their parents and their school days.
Parents are always talked about fondly, school days maybe not always a good memory.
Would you guess who this is, her dad John owned the Handy Man Stores down Kirk Lane, Yeadon and her mum Eileen ran the store.
Here she is with her sister Carol.
Of course Fiona Quinton who I interviewed on 6th May 2020
https://back-chat.org.uk/fiona-quinton/

24/09/2022

All of the lovely people interviewed for The Back-Chat Collection talk about their parents and their school days.
Parents are always talked about fondly, school days maybe not always a good memory.
When choosing the photographs for their page there is always at least one of them as a child.
Here is Jackie Watkinson who I interviewed on 10th March 2019, now who wouldn't recognise this lovely young lady with her parents.
https://back-chat.org.uk/jackie-watkinson/

21/09/2022

All of the lovely people interviewed for The Back-Chat Collection talk about their parents and their school days.
Parents are always talked about fondly, school days maybe not always a good memory.
When choosing the photographs for their page there is always one of them as a child.
Here is Stephen Allinson with his Mum & Dad
https://back-chat.org.uk/stephen-allinson/