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.

Helmut Watson

Born

August 1963, Maidstone, Kent

Background

Grew up in Harlow, Essex.

Date of Interview

3rd February 2022

“Happy to be a part of this interesting and important project. Please feel free to use my random vocal warbling in anyway you see fit.”

Helmut Watson (25th February 2022)

Helmut Watson is a clear-thinking man who has well thought-out views on a wide range of subjects. This is an easy listening chat and we cover a variety of subjects. 

His father Dave, a lovely man, died in the first round of the Coronavirus and his mother, Kikki, who is from Austria suffers from Long Covid. Helmut tells us his views on UK politics; anti-vaxers; the Royal Family; education; Russia and Afghanistan.

We also chat about how he became a marbles champion; Austrian Christmases; meeting his partner Karen at a tiddlywinks’ championship and staying in an ice hotel.


 
 

Interviewer: Carlo Harrison

Recording Editor: Carlo Harrison


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.
Woof
00.20
Kentish Man
02.55
Parents: Dave – Apprentice Compositor, Teacher, Artist – Kikki (Austrian) Housewife, Teaching Assistant
03.40
Parents Eloped
07.55
Father Died in First Round of Covid – Mother Suffers From Long Covid – Thoughts on Anti-Vaxers
10.35
Thoughts on the Government – Lockdown Parties – Free Lateral Flow Tests
19.30
Brothers – Simon – Karli
22.05
Schools – Streaming – Life Skills
25.15
Advice to 16 Year Old Self
29.00
Swansea University
30.45
Childhood Holidays in Austria
33.40
Christmas in Austria
35.30
Met Partner Karen at Tiddlywinks Championships
41.00
Staying in an Ice Hotel
44.00
Computers & Computer Programming
49.20
Dual Nationality
57.05
Marbles Champion
1.00.10
The Royal Family
1.01.55
Russia & Ukraine
1.04.35
Boris Johnson & Keir Starmer
1.05.40
Afghanistan
1.09.40

 

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