Podcasts - Living Assessment - Research at Kent

Growing Up Spotlight Series

Guests share their childhood memories from various parts of the world, from WWII to the noughties.

Sara, born in 1985, grew up in Deal, UK

Happy early years followed by horrible secondary school years with bullying all around in a school that didn't care. Luckily Sara loved sports and found friends through drama class and air cadets

Riccardo, born in 1953, grew up in Margate, UK

Riccardo's parents came from Italy - his father became a famous comics artist. Riccardo's memories include being diagnosed with a lung condition, going to Catholic school, and his father's most interesting method to get his children to behave!

Rosalind, born in 1961, grew up in Gravesend, UK

Beautiful private school and fab holidays abroad, then also burnt roast and Angel Delight. Rosalind describes how she and her sister were affected by their parents' stress and volatile emotions. Plus going clubbing on Wed nights taking its toll.

Karu, born in 1947, grew up in Siripella, Sri Lanka

Karu loved books and studying. He had a difficult relationship with his father and dreamed to escape. Ironically, his father's cruelty and lack of understanding gave Karu the determination to rebel and follow his dreams.

Tepa, born in 1948, grew up in Ojakylä, near Pyhäjärvi (Finland)

Tepa grew up in a farm in Finland, 500 km north of Helsinki: school life and play times in a remote rural area in 1950s Finland.

Huda, born in 1959, grew up in Khartoum, Sudan

Huda soon saw that girls were not equal to boys. She started on her journey to empowerment, with the support of her grandfather, her education-loving parents, and her own love of maths and school.

Ray, born in 1938, grew up in Hirwaun, near Aberdare, Wales, UK

Ray grew up in a coal mining community where he was destined to go down the mine. And he did. So young. Ray describes his near fatal accident at the age of 5, his difficult childhood in a small Welsh village and how he ran away from it all

Eunice, born in 1937, grew up in Romsford, UK

A childhood during and after the war. Eunice describes running to the Anderson bomb shelter; school life and "bitchy" girls, Billy Graham evangelist crusades, mum's lengthy stays in hospital with pneumonia and how to cheat to visit her.

Doreen, born in 1937, grew up in Erdington, near Birmingham, UK

Doreen tells us about her childhood in Birmingham during WWII, including the financial and emotional problems following her parents' divorce and her father's absence from the children's lives. However there were good times, very much so.

Sue, born in 1952, grew up in Sydney, Australia

Sue tells us about her childhood in Sydney. Everything started fine but how does a child cope with grief? How did Sue and her family carry on after a family tragedy? Hear what happened and where young Sue found solace and motivation to go on.