The Retirees
The University’s ‘Starting Again’ project invited people from many parts of the UK to record reflections on their retirement, looking back over their careers and forward to the years ahead.
Those interviewed were drawn from all walks of life, including a steelworker, head teacher, shop worker, accountant, civil engineer, nurse, female member of the Church of England clergy, fire fighter, founder of an addiction treatment organisation, cricketer...and many more.
Interviewees talk about the changes they saw over the course of their working lives, how they prepared for their impending retirement and about their plans, hopes and fears for the future.
Instant History
The interviews were undertaken over a weekend at the end of October 2016 by members of the Oral History team and as part of the broadcast of BBC Radio 4 programme Instant History.
Oral History recordings
Click on the drop down list to hear some of the fantastic stories from our interviewees.
-
Andy Ford
Andy Ford interviewed by Carl Tosner
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Angela Hammond
Angela Hammond interviewed by Bradley Melton.
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Barry Needham
Barry Needham interviewed by Bradley Melton
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Chris Clarke
Chris Clarke interviewed by Josh Draper
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Derek Cross
Derek Cross interviewed by Laura de Haan
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Funmi Boyle
Funmi Boyle interviewed by Georgia Hargreaves
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Graham Napier
Graham Napier interviewed by Andrew Green
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Henry Peplow
Henry Peplow interviewed by Adil Hussain
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Janet Wilkins
Janet Wilkins interviewed by Eni Kalemi
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Janis Feely
Janis Feely interviewed by Andrew Green
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Jeremy Tyndall
Jeremy Tyndall interviewed by Andrew Smith
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- John Mentiplay
John Mentiplay interviewed by Helen Carter
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- John Whitehall
John Whitehall, retirement counsellor, interviewed by Andrew Green
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Kathryn Deane
Kathryn Deane interviewed by Jennie Molnar
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Martin Pullen
Martin Pullen interviewed by Bardha Krasniqi
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Mary Jane Boffey
Mary Jane Boffey interviewed by Kathryn Somers
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Pamela McClean
Pamela McClean interviewed by Laura de Haan
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Pat Hawkins
Pat Hawkins interviewed by Beth Goodall
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Paul Vernon
Paul Vernon interviewed by Luke Montgomery
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Pauline Higham
Pauline Higham interviewed by Jennie Molnar
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Peter Watson
Peter Watson interviewed by Anne Murphy
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Stephen Boffey
Stephen Boffey interviewed by Sashane Simon
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Steve Hawkins
Steve Hawkins interviewed by Bret Facey
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Steve McEvoy
Steve McEvoy interviewed by Emma Battell-Lowman
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Steve Readhead
Steve Readhead interviewed by Sammy Sturgess
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
- Susan Houlbrook
Susan Houlbrook interviewed by Ceri Houlbrook
Full transcripts will be available at a later date.
Find out more
Access the full Starting Again playlist on Soundcloud.
Contact Andrew Green for more information.
- Oral History Team
- Starting Again
- Full-Circle
- SAMS Roots
- Stevenage Football Club
- History of the University of Hertfordshire
- Hatfield Aerodrome
- South Hatfield Community Memories
- University of Hertfordshire Alumni Day
- Heritage for Business
- WorldStory
- Handmade Heritage, Three Rivers District Council
- Higgins Bedford: Voices - Different Pasts, Shared Future
- Reminiscence events
- Oral History Showcase
- Watford FC’s Community Sports & Education Trust
- Hertford Choral Society
- Herts Agricultural Society
- Luton Peace Riots 1919 Family Stories
- Society of Radiographers
- BEEE Creative
- Virus Diaries
- No Holds Barred Experiences of Disability
- Angela Hammond