Michael Oke - Write Your Life Story

Dorothy had always harboured a desire to write. As a child she was forever sending snippets to the Yorkshire Evening Post for inclusion in Uncle Macs column some even being accepted. Sadly, her mother did not share Dorothys enthusiasm, and whenever she caught her with a pencil in her hand, would tell her to Do something useful go and help Dad in the garden.

Looking after a husband and four active children meant that, in her middle years, Dorothy never had the time to write, but after John died she took the opportunity to sit down and write a tribute to him. Initially she recalled the special times they had together, but then she started to write about her childhood and of the years bringing up her own children. It was a proud day when Dorothys lifelong ambition of writing a book was realised The Gospel According to Johns Wife.

How many times do we look at boxes of old photographs and wish we knew something about the faces before us? There may not even be any names on the back to identify the people.

As time passes so there are fewer people who have memories of those from a previous generation. You might be the only person who still remembers your grandparents. If you do not record what you know of their lives these precious details will be lost forever.

Interestingly, as you write about your parents and grandparents , you may well spot patterns which you and perhaps your children have repeated.

This might be by a family member, perhaps a child, grandchild , nephew or niece, or maybe a friend has been nagging at you to put pen to paper.

It is now part of the National Curriculum to seek eyewitness accounts, so perhaps a neighbours child has sown the seed for this autobiographical adventure.