History Archives and collections Oral history The National Paralympic Heritage Trust (NPHT) holds the copyright to the recordings and transcripts used on this website. By continuing on this page you agree to the terms in the user agreement. Permission must be obtained for publication of any material beyond that which might jeopardise the integrity or value of the whole copyrighted work. Read more on our copyright information and user agreement by clicking on the link below. Copyright and User Agreement Collecting your stories We are interested in collecting memories from individuals who have Paralympic stories to share, from the humble beginnings at Stoke Mandeville through to the present day. It may be that you were involved yourself as an athlete, volunteer, Games maker, or spectator, or perhaps you have a family member with a connection. Whatever your involvement, help us bring our collections to life and preserve Paralympic heritage for future generations by sharing your experiences. Our friendly volunteers are waiting to record your story! If you have memories you would like to share of the Stoke Mandeville or Paralympic Games then please contact [email protected] Thank you To The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players, and AIM Hallmark Tackling Equality Grant, for their financial support to this work in 2022 to 2024. To Coventry University for their support with the project Don't Dis My Ability where we have trained new oral historians and completed16 oral history interviews. Oral history interviews We hope you enjoy listening to our Oral history interviews below. Please get in touch if you would like the transcripts in a different file format. You can also access snippets of these interviews by theme by visiting our Oral history mini-library here: Paralympic Voices Interviews by name A to E F to J K to O P to T U to Z Margaret Anne Aldous Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall with Helen Phillips, daughter of Margaret Anne Aldous, 6th October 2020. Margaret Anne Aldous (née Bennett) was a medical photographer at Stoke Mandeville hospital in the 1950s, capturing images at the National Spinal Injuries Centre and of the early Stoke Mandeville Games. Listen to the interview below or learn more and download the transcript here. Kevan Baker OBE Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 23rd September 2020 Kevan competed at the Stoke Mandeville 1984, Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games in the Men’s Discus Throw. Here he talks about advocating for those with disabilities, as Chairman of WheelPower - British Wheelchair Sport (1995-2018) and founding member and CEO of the Patient User Group for Spinal Cord Injury (SPINE) at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. Listen to the interview below or learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Kevan Baker Robert (Bobby) Barrett Interview by Ben Laferlla, 8th March 2024 Bobby describes his early love of rugby before losing his leg in an accident, and the challenge of continuing with sport at a time when the available technology and prosthetics were limited. He shares his journey to becoming a sprinter via rugby and athletics, representing Great Britain at the 1988 Games in Seoul, and reflects on the Paralympic legacy. He also discusses his recent role in reviving the sport of sitting volleyball in the UK. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Robert Barrett Mike Brace CBE, DL Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 10th August 2020 Mike Brace CBE, DL, is a former Paralympic skier and leader of disabled charities. In this interview, he discusses his early life, sporting career, and his involvement in disabled sports associations, from his own London sports club, Metro, to the British Paralympic Association and London 2012. Listen to the interview below or learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Mike Brace Margaret Bullivant Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 11th November 2021 Margaret talks about her husband, Les Veale, wheelchair fencing coach from the 1960s to the 1980s. Les helped pioneer the development of the sport including the international fencing rules used at the Paralympic Games from 1976. Listen to the interview below or learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Margaret Bullivant Paul Cartwright Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 3rd November 2020 Paul talks about his early life and how his parents encouraged him, how he got involved in sport and went on to compete in wheelchair racing. Listen to the interview below or learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Paul Cartwright Mark Chamberlen Interview by Simon Stiel, 28th February 2024 Mark talks about growing up partially sighted and how he got into downhill skiing, competing at the 1984 Winter Paralympics and the 1990 World Championships and later advising Channel 4 in preparation for the London 2012 Games. He reflects on the evolution of Paralympic sport and its media coverage. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Mark Chamberlen David Clarke OBE Interview by Mark Chamberlen, 25th April 2024 David talks about his childhood and how he got into sport, playing goalball and blind football for England and Great Britain from 1996 to 2012. He describes his business career, working for the Royal National Institute of Blind People and the British Paralympic Association. Image ©Getty Images. Listen to the interview below or learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with David Clarke OBE Colin Evered Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 31st August 2022 Colin talks about farming life and how the family run Elm Farm was farmed by his Dad and Grandad. Part of the farmland is where Stoke Mandeville Stadium is now built. The stadium was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the 2nd August 1969. Listen to the interview below or learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Colin Evered Lora Fachie MBE Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 28th January 2022 Lora Fachie MBE has competed for Great Britain at the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Paralympics in cycling, winning gold medals at the last two Games. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Lora Fachie Allen Feldman Interview by Amia Griffin, 18th November 2021 Allen talks about how he got into Para-weightlifting and his experience of competing at the Stoke Mandeville 1984 and Seoul 1988 Games. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Allen Feldman Ron Foster & Paddy Moran Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 28th October 2021 Memories of Ron and Paddy by their wives Pat and Mary and friend Glyn Jones. Meeting on the ward at Stoke Mandeville hospital they were encouraged to take part in table tennis, javelin and wheelchair basketball. Competing in the early Stoke Mandeville Games, four Paralympic Games and seven Commonwealth Paraplegic Games. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript. You can read Ron Foster's story here and Paddy Moran's story here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Pat Foster, Mary Moran and Glyn Jones Dave Gollop Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 1st September 2021 Dave Gollop was a spectator and volunteer at the Stoke Mandeville Games and national para sporting events from young boyhood; here he shares his memories of the early Games. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Dave Gollop Ernie Guild Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 27th October 2021 Ernie Guild MBE competed in athletics for Great Britain at 3 Paralympic Games; Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996. Listen to the interview below or learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Ernie Guild Jamie Harris Interview by Simon Stiel, 14th June and 9th August 2024 Jamie talks about his career as a member of the archery GB World Development Program, winning gold and silver medals in the European Cup Championships and reflects on the significance of para archery in the history of the Paralympic Games. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Jamie Harris John Harris Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 15th April 2022 John remembers his time at the National Spinal Injuries Centre following his accident, his experience of competing at the Stoke Mandeville Games and Paralympic Games in the 1980s and 1990s, and then his role as the Team Manager for the Welsh disabled squad at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. Listen to the interview below or learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with John Harris Sally Haynes Interview by Robin Surgeoner, 25th April 2024 Sally recalls her ambition to become a show jumper before she became paraplegic following a horse racing accident and receiving treatment from Sir Ludwig Guttmann at Stoke Mandeville. She talks about her participation in table tennis, archery, and fencing, and representing Great Britain in the 1960 and 1964 Paralympic Games. She also describes establishing the Finmere Show, which raised funds for over 50 years. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Sally Haynes Angela Hendra MBE Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 17th September 2022 Angela remembers her time as a patient of Sir Ludwig Guttmann at Stoke Mandeville Hospital and what he was like. She talks about having a go at different sports as part of her rehabilitation and then competing at the Paralympic Games. All the people she's met at the Games including members of the Royal family and celebrities. Angela and her husband Mike are founding members of Disability Sports Northern Ireland. Listen to the interview below or learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Angela Hendra MBE Mike Hendra Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 17th September 2022 Mike Hendra was a keen sailor winning the British National Championships in 1965 when he developed a spinal tumour and during his rehabilitation spent time at Stoke Mandeville as a patient of Sir Ludwig Guttmann. He went on to compete in sailing at the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games. Mike and his wife Angela are founding members of Disability Sports Northern Ireland. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Mike Hendra Andrew Hodge Interview by Mark Chamberlen, 7th May 2024 Andrew talks about his early life and how he first got into disability sport. Competing in wheelchair racing at the British Sports Association for Disabled Games and then three Paralympic Games, Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta in 1996. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Andrew Hodge Peter Hull Interview by Robin Surgeoner, 8th March 2024 Peter shares his early memories of his schooling and learning to swim. He tells the story of his sporting career, from winning his first ever race at Stoke Mandeville aged 9 to achieving three gold medals at the Barcelona Paralympic Games in 1992. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Peter Hull Ali Jawad Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 10th February 2022 Ali talks about how he got involved in powerlifting, competing at the Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympics and his battle with Crohn's disease. Image ©Getty Images.Listen to the interview below and learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Ali Jawad Roger Jefcoate Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 18th November 2021 Roger talks about his work at Stoke Mandeville Hospital with Dr Guttmann and developing the POSSUM technology. Also, his support of health care charities and tireless campaigning for severely disabled people. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Roger Jefcoate Jane Johnson-Booth Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 10th September 2021 Jane talks about growing up next to Stoke Mandeville hospital, her time as a volunteer at the Stoke Mandeville Games in the 1980s and her experience as a spectator at the London 2012 Paralympics. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Jane Johnson-Booth Eva Loeffler OBE Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 8th October 2020 Eva talks about her work as physiotherapist, her support of the Paralympic Movement and disability sport and memories of her father, Professor Sir Ludwig Guttmann. Listen to the interview below or learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Eva Loeffler Martin Mansell PLY Interview by Mark Chamberlen, 13th September 2024 Martin talks about his childhood holidays that led to his love for swimming and winning three gold medals at the 1984 and 1988 Summer Games. His role as Chair of the BPA Athletes’ Commission, and coaching Sarah Storey and Sascha Kindred, and the importance of focusing on ability rather than disability. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Martin Mansell Baroness Masham Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 18th September 2020 Baroness Masham, Paralympian, campaigner and Westminster’s longest-serving life peer talks about her spinal cord injury; competing at the Paralympic Games in the 1960s; founding the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) in 1974; and disability, health and penal reform. Image ©Alamy. Listen to the interview below or learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Baroness Masham Kim McCluskey Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 15th October 2024 Kim McCluskey was born in Coventry and contracted polio at 18 months old. While attending special schools, she competed in swimming at Stoke Mandeville during the 1960s. She also competed in volleyball and wheelchair slalom. After leaving Lancaster Polytechnic with Arts and Design and City and Guilds, she ran the Great Eastern hotel and had a career in the catering industry while raising a family of two children. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Kim McCluskey Martin McElhatton Interview by Mark Chamberlen, 29th February 2024 Martin describes rebuilding his life after an accident left him paralysed from the waist down at 18. He shares his sporting career at Stoke Mandeville, from rehabilitation to representing Great Britain in wheelchair basketball at the 1984 Games. How he came to work for the British Paraplegic Sports Society (later WheelPower), and becoming Chief Executive, and the experience of receiving his OBE. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Martin McElhatton OBE Jayant Mistry Interview by Simon Stiel, 16th August 2024 Jayant shares his journey in wheelchair basketball and tennis, from his first Junior Games at Stoke Mandeville in the late 1970s to winning Wimbledon doubles in 2005 and representing Britain in the 1992 Barcelona Games. This interview was conducted just before the Paris 2024 Games, where Jayant was guest commentator for Channel 4. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Jayant Mistry Mike Parkin Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 16th September 2020 Mike Parkin competed in events such as table tennis, swimming, athletics and wheelchair fencing at the Stoke Mandeville Games. He was also active in the sailing community and was a founding member and trustee at RYA Sailability. He discusses his experiences at Stoke Mandeville, meeting Dr Guttmann and other memories. Listen to the interview below or learn more and access the transcript here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Mike Parkin Clare Piddington Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 26th April 2024 Clare talks about her childhood, her journey into sport and the competitions she participated at including the Special Olympics. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Clare Piddington Tim Reddish CBE, DL Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 12th November 2021 Tim talks about how he got involved in disability sport in the community, then elite sport where he went on to have a 13-year international swimming career. Competing in 3 Paralympic Games, 3 World and 5 European Championships, winning a total of 43 medals including three silver and two bronze Paralympic medals. Image ©Getty Images. Listen to the interview below or learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Tim Reddish Naomi Riches MBE Naomi shares her journey to becoming an athlete and Paralympic rowing champion at the London 2012 Games. She describes growing up with visual impairment, the challenges she faced from bullies at school, and the ways she overcame setbacks of all kinds by never taking ‘no’ for an answer. Naomi reflects on the evolution of Paralympic sports from early days to the present. Image ©Getty Images. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Naomi Riches MBE Rick Rodgers Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 21st November 2021 Rick talks about his experience as part of a cheerleading team and what led him to found Paracheer International where he is a coach, athlete and performer. He hopes that cheerleading will soon become a Paralympic sport. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Rick Rodgers Ian Rose Interview by Mark Chamberlen, 6th March 2024 Ian talks about his childhood, how he got into Judo at the age of 7, and competing at five Summer Paralympic Games, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, winning two Paralympic medals. Listen to the interview below or learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Ian Rose Joyce Sheard Interview by Rosemary Hall, 10th April 2023 Joyce tells the story of how she first got involved in disability sport, and her unexpected path to becoming a National Powerlifting referee, officiating at 3 Paralympic Games. She shares early memories of Stoke Mandeville, including the Games in 1984. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Joyce Sheard Robin Surgeoner Interview by Adam Navarro, 7th March 2024 Robin talks about his love of swimming from young childhood, and his early experiences training and competing in Hong Kong and Stoke Mandeville. He describes representing Great Britain at three Summer Paralympic Games from 1984 to 1992, and his subsequent career as a coach and musician. Robin reflects on the changing media profile of the Paralympics and the effects that the Games have had on society. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Robin Surgeoner Anita Templar Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 18th November 2021 Anita talks about her love of sport, her disability sports coaching, volunteering, and how she got involved in the Paralympic Games. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Anita Templar Dot Tussler Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 13th November 2021 Dot talks about her role as a physiotherapist at the National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville and classifier for wheelchair basketball. Dot's husband was Nigel Smith, Paralympic wheelchair basketball player and coach. Listen to the interview below and learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Dot Tussler Dick Thompson and Alan West Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall with Diane West, 6th November 2020 Diane talks about her godfather, Dick Thompson and father, Alan West, who both represented Great Britain at the Paralympics. Dick competed at 4 Paralympics from the Rome 1960 to the Heidelberg 1972 Games, winning a total of 7 gold, 2 silver and 5 bronze medals. Alan competed at 3 Paralympics from the Tel Aviv 1968 to the Toronto 1976 Games, winning a total of 2 gold and 4 silver medals. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript. You can read Dick Thompson's story here and Alan West's story here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Diane West Joe Thompson Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall with Clare and Sandra Chamberlain, granddaughter and daughter of Joe Thompson, 12th September 2021 Clare and Sandra talk about 'Grandad Joe', his spinal injury, being the first resident of the Duchess of Gloucester House, and competing in the early Stoke Mandeville Games. Listen to the interview below orlearn more and access the transcript here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview about Joe Thompson Monica Vaughan Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 11th August 2020 Monica Vaughan, Paralympic swimmer, competed at the Toronto 1976 and Arnhem 1980 Paralympic Games winning 9 gold and 1 silver medals. In this interview Monica talks about her early love of sport, her athletic and nursing careers, her work for the BSAD, and changes to the Games in her lifetime.Listen to the interview below or learn more and access the transcript here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Monica Vaughan Caz Walton OBE Interview by Amia Griffin, 28th October 2021 Caz remembers Professor Sir Ludwig Guttmann and her time at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. The earlier Paralympic Games in the 1960s and how disability sport has changed over the decades.Listen to the interview below or learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Caz Walton OBE Terry Willett Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 11th May 2020 Terry talks about his memories of Lodge Moor and Stoke Mandeville and the earlier Paralympic Games. Terry competed in wheelchair basketball and fencing at the Tel Aviv 1968, Heidelberg 1972, Toronto 1976 and Arnhem 1980 Paralympic Games. Listen to the interview below or learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Terry Willett Doug Williamson Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 7th October 2020 Doug was a ParalympicsGB swimming coach at the New York 1984 Paralympic Games as well as a technician and classifier. He is the founder, creator and inspiration behind Sports Ability, an inclusive games programme. Listen to the interview below or learn more and access the transcript here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Doug Williamson Marc Woods Interview by Mark Chamberlen, 28th May 2024 Marc shares his journey from being diagnosed with bone cancer at 17, leading to the amputation of his left leg below the knee, to his first National Swimming Championships in 1987, his debut at the Seoul 1988 and win at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics. He discusses the evolution of Paralympic sport, advancements in technology like running blades and increased media coverage. His transition to media work post-retirement, and his appearance in the London 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Marc Woods Tahra Zafar Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 30th November 2020 Tahra Zafar talks about her role as Head of Costume for the London 2012 Paralympic opening and closing ceremonies. Image ©Thomas Skovsende. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Tahra Zafar Manage Cookie Preferences