Real Stories
Ordinary people with extraordinary stories. We shine a light on some true stories you probably haven’t heard before. From lion-tamers to Bollywood stars, from great journeys to small moments of kindness: each of these stories comes from an older person in Yorkshire, with their own particular take on life.
Rob Milburn was in the Falklands for just twenty-eight days in 1982, but his role in the conflict has come to shape his life
28 DAYS
Rob looks back to his time in the Royal Marines and reflects on what happened in the South Atlantic over 40 years ago.
Arek Hersh’s life changed when the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939. He was taken to Auschwitz, but eventually escaped the Holocaust and came to live in England.
THE LAST STORYTELLERS
Arek built his life in the UK and for the past 30 years he has told his story to thousands of people. We meet Arek and his wife Jean to find out more.
Each tattoo inked on Clarrie Ramsden’s body tells a story.
WRITTEN IN INK
Hers is a tale of pirate queens, ukuleles, apple trees, ladybirds, draughty vicarages and much more.
Trude Silman was born in Czechoslovakia into a Jewish family. After the Nazis occupied the country in 1939, she fled to England.
THE GIRL WHO FLED
Trude opens up about her remarkable story of escape and shares her quest to find out what happened to her family.
THE AMAZING MRS DENVER
She is known as Olga Denver and we find out about her remarkable life.
Not many areas of Leeds can claim to have a retired circus performer, former zoo owner and friend of Elvis Presley in their midst - but Garforth has all three.
Mohammed Rashid lost his fingers in an accident at work when he was 17. Many people thought he would be out of work from then on – but Mohammed had other ideas.
DEFYING THE ODDS
He was determined to make a success of his life and refused to listen to people who told him disabled people couldn’t work for a living.
Susan Hanley is a textiles artist, a business manager and potential MP. She also has Down’s Syndrome.
I'M A HUMAN BEING
Susan tells us why disabled people need a voice and why non-disabled people need to listen.
Eric Smith has lived in the same house in Leeds all his life. But his has been an incredible journey nonetheless.
AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY
Eric tells us of his lifetime fascination with trams, his love for Europe, and his passion for gay equality.
Mir Bostan is well known in Beeston as a photographer, film star and community activist. He’s packed a lot into his 99 years.
FROM BOLLYWOOD TO BEESTION
From Kashmir to Leeds, Mir has made an impact wherever he has lived. We meet him to find out more about his extraordinary life.
Ron Fisher spent his life working with football teams all over Leeds. He’s known by many simply as ‘Mr Football’.
RON OF THE ROVERS
Ron shares memories of his sporting career and reflects on the impact he’s had on the lives of thousands of young people.
Tony started life in Leicester and as a young man found fame as a member of the boy band The Dallas Boys.
LUCKY MAN
He’s lived all over the world, and worked in restaurants and oil rigs.
In 2016, Brian Sugden’s wife Audrey was diagnosed with dementia. Even in the most difficult times he was able to find “a light in the darkness.”
A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
Brian tells the story of their marriage and how he turned a difficult experience into a creative one.
Eileen Taylor came to Leeds in the 1970s. Now she is the city’s first black Lord Mayor.
PASSIONATE ABOUT PEOPLE
We shine a light on the story of how Eileen got to where she is and how she sees the future of Leeds.
Jim Gordon is the grandson of Archie Gordon, an inspirational teacher who helped set up Leeds Children’s Day in the mid-twentieth century.
A GREAT GRANDFATHER
Jim tell us how his grandfather and his wider family have had an impact on his life.
Mary Nelson has lived an eventful life. She came to Leeds from the West Indies in the late 1950s and has been here ever since.
FROM ST KITTS TO ST LUKES
She was kind enough to welcome us into her home for a wide-ranging conversation about her life working in the NHS
Keith Hargreaves, 62, is gay and has been with his partner ‘H’, 57, for 34 years.
LIVING WITH A SHADOW
This is a love story across continents and cultures. However, H is from Indonesia, where homeosexual relationships are less accepted. Read their amazing story.
In the 1950s, life was more black and white – but is that just the memory playing tricks?
IT'S ALL SO BLACK AND WHITE
Photographer John Sherbourne revisits his childhood haunts in Headingley and Burley to see what has changed and what has stayed the same.
Len Biram was born in Poland in 1937. He is now 83 and still working as a doctor in Leeds.
HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE
In between he’s travelled all over the world. His wife Ruth Steinberg tells his story.
