The Zoologist

Natural history expert and broadcaster, Dr George McGavin, has a forensic approach to dissecting his life and the objects that have passed through his hands from all around the world. He starts with a classic Scottish item - his boyhood sporran that he wore over his kilt for Sunday best whilst being utterly bored in church. This is not someone who wishes to be contained or follow convention, as you hear throughout his podcast. His delight in his own death planning is a perfect example of that individuality. 

He has spent his life articulating and sharing his passion and fascination for the natural word. In spite of being a conversationalist, somewhat surprisingly he explains that words did not always come easily to him.

For all his scientific pragmatism he is an old romantic when he talks about his wife. Listen to discover how he clinched their marital deal and why that is represented by an old silver teaspoon.

This is a memorabilia box full of life and joy and curiosity – and a smattering of mimicry as George recalls funny tales from his life.

Useful links

https://www.zoo.ox.ac.uk/people/dr-george-mcgavin

George McGavin (@georgecmcgavin) · Twitter

https://twitter.com/georgecmcgavin

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000696j

https://melanomafocus.com

https://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/covidrecovery

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahakala

some of his documentaries:

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06fq03t

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08g4rpf

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01mv2rj

 https://edencms.uktv.co.uk/shows/expedition-borneo/

Who or what inspires a young girl growing up in social housing in London in the 1980s? Grace Jones, of course! Children's author Jasmine Richards still thinks her icon's star is just as outrageously bright today, which is why the 1985 album Island Life is one of Jasmine's keepsakes. Losing herself amongst the pages of books, Jasmine read her way through childhood, bucked the stats and got to where she never dreamt was possible. Being a published author isn't enough, she's now busy changing the literary landscape for children and other authors. That once bookish girl recounts her own chapters as she opens up her memorabilia box.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxslhFjgano&feature=youtu.be interview with Oxford University

Black History Month top 100 [find Jasmine at number 93]

https://medium.com/oxford-university/the-oxford-bhm-100-7af54c5b2764

https://vimeo.com/29614663 Animation about Jasmine and the importance of libraries

https://www.thebookseller.com/rising-stars/2020 Bookseller rising star 2020

Author website www.jasminerichards.com

Jasmine's creative social enterprise: www.storymix.co.uk

Twitter jrichardsauthor

Instagram writeonauthor

@storymixstudio

https://www.philip-pullman.com

https://www.hayfestival.com/home

https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org

https://www.gracejones.com

https://www.walker.co.uk/contributors/Jill-Murphy-1566.aspx

https://www.lmh.ox.ac.uk

https://www.booktrust.org.uk

https://scenicregional.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Mirrors-Windows-and-Sliding-Glass-Doors.pdf

https://ehe.osu.edu/news/listing/rudine-sims-bishop-diverse-childrens-books/

The Performance Artist

Carran is all about family in this episode. Childhood diaries, secret boxes, hidden pasts, extended family, the unspoken sorrows and devastation, and memories of a father who described himself as a “handsome bugger”.

Carran has curated her own box of memorabilia for years before this podcast; expressing her past, especially childhood, through writing plays and performing on stage.

Having a cup of tea is an English institution; Carran's memories where the not so posh and the posh in her family met and shared a cuppa, served from the posh china tea set, are wonderful.

The story of her "Nana in Hospital" is one of hardship and mental ill health that lead Carran to uncover her Mum's subsequent adoption papers...one of many family stories she shares.

and ...as for the false teeth ...you'll have to listen to the very end to know what laughs she gets from those.

You can view all of Carran's treasures and read more of her stories on our website www.perstellas.co.uk. or view even more of her photo collection on our social media instagram @per_stellas and Facebook @perstellas

If you would like your own family memories to be recorded as a podcast, per stellas uses professional broadcasters to produce a bespoke episode that can then be listened to and shared on a private platform with up to 100 friends and family.

other useful links for Carran's episode:

https://carranwaterfield.co.uk  

https://triangletheatre.carranwaterfield.co.uk

https://www.belgrade.co.uk

https://www.visitcoventry.co.uk

https://www.spinabifidaassociation.org

https://www.coventrysociety.org.uk/coventry-neighbourhoods/bell-green.html

https://www.countyasylums.co.uk/st-audrys-hospital-woodbridge/

https://ninaandfrederick.carranwaterfield.co.uk

https://twitter.com/littlebluemannw

https://www.suffolkarchives.co.uk/collections/st-audrys-hospital-melton-id407/

https://royal-naval-association.co.uk

https://rtalbot9.wixsite.com/ludicresearch/about to find out more about the clown Kurt Zarnico and the seriously funny work he undertakes

https://www.salford.ac.uk/our-staff/richard-talbot

Being the custodian of a sizeable family Scottish country estate is hard work. Angus Gordon Lennox is busy breathing new life into his family's estate and it's no small task. He and his wife are carving out a new future for their clan and their community in North East Scotland, alongside local traditions.

Angus' memorabilia box takes us back to memories of a formidable but kind grandfather; as a child eating raspberries from the overgrown walled garden which they have now transformed; to salmon fishing on the famous River Spey; then to stories of spies and KGB sympathisers in Berlin during the Cold War; and by no means least, the love of his children.

You can see the photos of his boxed collections at https://www.perstellas.co.uk/the-memorabilia-box-podcast/ and on facebook @perstellas or instagram @per_stellas

you can also commission per stellas to create your own private podcast programme along this format or other ideas, either by yourself or with a family group.

other useful links:

https://www.gordoncastle.co.uk/

https://www.gordoncastle.co.uk/our-story/history/

https://www.gordoncastle.co.uk/fish/fishing-gallery/

https://www.visitscotland.com/

https://www.speyfisheryboard.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/fochabers/

https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/grenadier-guards/

Jon - ever generous - shares a treasure trove of his favourite items with us. Some of his items didn't even make the cut: the telescope and camera he uses for all his outdoor photography, his logbook of British Isles bird watching, and hundreds of model aeroplanes, because other memorabilia were more important!

Teacher, naturalist, geographer, photographer, Londoner, his father's son; he shares all of those aspects of himself with his carefully curated box of memorabilia. If anyone remembers owning Britains zoological model toys then you'll enjoy the nostalgia of Jon's bath time toys. Subscribe and listen as Jon's box of delights takes him back.

To see more photographs from this episode please log on to www.perstellas.co.uk or view it on instagram @per_stellas or Facebook @perstellas

You can follow Jon and his natural world photography @theearlybirder on instagram

other useful links

https://www.zsl.org/london

https://www.stpauls.co.uk

http://britainsfarmtoys.co.uk

http://www.antiques-info.co.uk/new/pdf/May12/2.pdf

https://www.visiteastbourne.com

https://www.gosh.org

https://ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Boxer, advocate, student, refugee, Muslim, and survivor. Shabir is a born fighter. Out of the ring it's hard not to admire his humility. On the flip side Shabir has an unshakeable self belief in his ability to make it as a professional boxer. Quiet, gentlemanly, smart, utterly focused and determined to achieve and make the most of life. He's undoubtedly been shaped by early teenage years, fraught with human tragedy as he survived a journey on his own from Afghanistan to England at just twelve years old. His box of meaningful personal history is a reminder of what really matters in life.

log on to www.perstellas.co.uk to view Shabir's chosen items in his box of memorabilia or our Facebook page @perstellas or instagram @per_stellas

Other useful links:

www.garas.org.uk

www.fightfactoryboxing.co.uk

https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/

https://www.englandboxing.org/

Daredevil, adventurer, guide, climber, expedition leader, survivalist - accurate descriptions for one man's job and passion in earth's extreme climates.

Steve Jones wears his responsibilities lightly and with a preternatural calm. Maybe that phlegmatic approach to life is how he survives in the face of danger. This longer episode is a reflection of his endless box of personal objects and stories as he takes us on journeys from a childhood in Guernsey, to the aftermath of bomb, alpine climbing - and falling - , crossing continents and from pole to pole.

His items are riveting - all connected to seeking the next big thrill.

If you want to see his object photos check out his episode page on www.perstellas.co.uk under The Memorabilia Box or look at even more of his personal photos on instagram @per_stellas or Facebook @perstellas. You can also find out more about Steve's exploits and motivational speaking on his website www.stevejones.world

Madi's objets d'art are a fitting description for her life of interest in the arts, as well as representing her memories and her chosen items.

A bronze sculpture, a random oddity linked to playbills for the stage, and a book that classifies art - an eclectic collection littered with stories. What was going on behind that quizzical look in her kindergarten picture in Japan? Her photo depicts a small face with an intense stare in a sea of classmates.

Madi describes being shipped across continents as a child and never quite knowing where she belonged or what category she fitted in to. This is in contrast to Madi's adult knowledge as a taxonomist where she categorises international art - one of many strings to her bow. Talking of strings and music, she also introduces her beloved musical instrument.

Log on to www.perstellas.co.uk if you want to view what is in Madi's box of memorabilia.

Other links

www.dotsmusiccamden.co.uk

www.thehandlers.tv

Professor Smith is used to teaching ancient history but for this episode it is his own modern history, growing up in Dublin then travelling to the United States as a young man, which captures the imagination.

His leather jacket is a time portal taking him back to a time of youthful idealism. A dinky car toy is brought out of his memorabilia box as he shares how he saw Ireland through a child's eyes. What does a miniature set of Russian doll type tools have to do with his mother? Why is a newspaper article framed on his wall? Why has taken to rowing, like a duck to water, in his more mature years?

Find out about a man who says he looks forwards , not backwards, and yet who discovered a more reflective side through his box of chosen items.

View the photos of Brendan's objects on our website www.perstellas.co.uk and find out a little bit more behind his stories.

Celia’s eclectic mix of memorabilia reflect her busy family life and as a paper conservator for Oxford University. Her box is overflowing with items which reflect her skilled hands; from the tools of her trade, handmade Advent bags, a cook book bound with vellum to an old paintbox.

For someone whose vocation is to handle and preserve ancient items with great care, Celia doesn't apply that rule to her own life. She isn't careless with her chosen items but, ever the pragmatist, she is a great believer that things we own should be used, even when they hold important memories and are never to be casually discarded.

Celia's wonderful collection of items can be viewed and enjoyed at www.perstellas.co.uk and on instagram @per_stellas

useful links:

www.chantrylibrary.org

www.williamcowley.co.uk

www.seat61.com/Trans-Siberian.htm

www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35569281