I am very pleased to say that the West Yorkshire Archive service have accepted the Back-Chat Collection interviews into their permanent archives thus ensuring their accessibility to the public for many generations to come.

You can hear this interview by simply clicking the West Yorkshire Archive Link where you will find all of the Back-Chat Collection interviews listed in alphabetical order along with captioned photographs.

If you would like to contact The Back-Chat Collection please do email me at carloharrison1947@gmail.com.

To listen to the interviews which are now hosted on the
West Yorkshire Archive Service click here.

Richard Clarke

Born

March 1958, At Home In Cheltenham

Background

Grew Up In Cheltenham, Now Lives In Ealing, London.

Date of Interview

10th August 2021

“Just wanted to let you know I’ve listened to it all the way through and I’m happy with it. Occasional sound glitches my end but seems ok.”

Richard Clarke (17th August 2021)

I have known Richard Clarke for the best part of 40 years. Considering that he was a biochemist working with one of our top universities and a senior investigator for the Inland Revenue, when ‘off duty’ we have had some crazy times together.
Richard truly came from humble beginnings – he admits his parents had very little money but did everything they could to ensure their boys received a good education.
Unbelievably, Richard was best man at his wife’s wedding! You’ll have to listen to find out why. 
He tackled the epic Wainwright Challenge in the Lake District – a task he completed over a few years.
Technology dictated that we had to try three times to complete this interview but in the end we made it. Richard is a nice chap and this interview was a pleasure to record. 
 

Interviewer: Carlo Harrison

Cataloguer: Fiona Quinton


HTML5 Audio Player

You can listen to the entire recording by clicking the start arrow or, you can move the slider to one of times shown for the headings opposite, they are a guide to the many things we chatted about.
Health – Spinal Injection
00.35
Hill Walking – Wainwrights Challenge, Lake District
02.00
Working Life – Biochemist – Animal Testing
13.20
Inland Revenue
18.30
Early Life – Irish Parents – Cheltenham
23.40
Parents – Eric (Builder & Quarryman) – Ellen (Cleaner & Carer)
27.10
Brothers – Gerald, Business Man (Deceased) & Denis, School Teacher
29.50
Married Life – Sarah
31.20
Education – School In Cheltenham Then Bradford University
32.25
Childhood Holidays – One holiday To The South Coast
37.20
Childhood Christmases
38.15
Marriage & Honeymoon – Best Man Carlo Harrison
40.15
Children – Michael (Civil Servant) – Georgina (Civil Servant) – Natalie (Sales)
43.30
Working Life – Scientist – Inland Revenue Investigator
45.25
Crossword Compiler
51.20
Grandchildren
53.20
Global Warming
53.50
Music – Films – Stream Or buy – Phones – Mobile Or Landline
56.50
Racism
59.15
Coronavirus
1.02.25
Message To The Future
1.05.55

 

Please take into consideration when listening to these interviews that the meaning of language changes over time and that interviewees have not intended to cause offence by anything said which now may be thought to be unacceptable.

Recording this social history, chatting to different people about a whole host of subjects has been a real pleasure, such an interesting and I think worthwhile project for people to listen to both now and in years to come.

Thank you for visiting this website.

Carlo Harrison