Catherine Etienne

My Dad has talked for years (and years!) about organising the family photos and putting a storyline against them. But things are always busy – even when you are retired!

Hearing about All Your Own Words was amazing – at last, a chance to change the ‘I really want to do this’ into a fun and meaningful project for my Dad as a Christmas present (which incidentally solved another problem – what to buy ‘the man who has everything’!). I will never forget the look on his face and his reaction to his gift “how wonderful, you don’t know how much this means, I’m knocked off my feet” (or words to that effect!). As well as being able to relax in the knowledge that his precious memories will be preserved, my Dad is appreciating Kate’s professional, friendly and respectful approach to communication. She’s being incredibly flexible to fit around my Dad’s other commitments and making his memories feel so valued.

Margaret Sands

Talking to Kate was fun as well as interesting. It was good to have someone really listen. She prompted me when necessary, and guided the talk when it seemed to wander.

By the end, I felt that I had revisited my early years, and that the process of thinking, planning and talking had allowed me to shed new light on them. Later, she offered me complete freedom to edit what she’d written, so I was able to add bits I’d missed.  The end result is exactly what I wanted: a beautifully written brief history of me.

Read an extract of Margaret’s book, ‘The Beginning’.

Martin Holt

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share with you my life story: for your skill, professionalism, patience and your ability to listen, to question at the right moment, and so to enable me to record for the first time the events, people and places which have influenced my life.

Read an extract of Martin’s book, ‘Master of my fate’.