Tracks of My Life is a show on RNIB Connect Radio presented and produced by Toby Davey where he invites a guest to take us on a journey through their life, sharing the tracks that mark important moments which bring back memories to them.
Their chosen tracks of their life might include the first track they can remember hearing, the first track they bought, a number of tracks that mark moments in their life and the final track, a track that they would like to pass on which might give people hope for the future.
In this trimmed down podcast version of Tracks of My Life Toby is joined by Guide Dog owner Paul Fuller who recently joined Scope as their Executive Director of Partnerships after a long career as a graphic Designer working for the BBC and then Sky.  
We start Paul’s Tracks of My Life journey with a track from his parents record collection which he has on permanent loan that takes him back to early childhood memories growing up in Kent and the start of his love of drawing and painting.
After school Paul went to Art College and on graduation at the age of 21, he landed a dream job as a graphic Designer for the BBC. It was only a week after Paul started at the BBC that his parents rang him up and invited him home for supper to tell him that he had choroideremia a hereditary eye condition that would lead to blindness sometime between the ages of 30 and 70.
Paul continued working at the BBC for a while before moving to Sky and it was at Sky that Paul met his wife Jackelyn and within a very short period of time they got married and started a family.  
Sadly during 2012 and around the time of the London Olympic Games Paul was diagnosed with cancer and spent quite some time at the Royal Marsden Hospital and it was a certain Bob Marley track that Paul would play every morning to help him get through the day. Thankfully with the treatment and care from the Royal Marsden hospital Paul battled through the cancer and decided on his return to Sky that it was time for him to leave Sky after a very successful and wonderful time working for the broadcaster.
It was around this time that Paul’s eye sight started to deteriorate even more and he and his wife decided to go travelling around the world and it was on his return from their travels that Paul was matched with his first Guide Dog Bolt who has been life changing for Paul.
Having taken early retirement from Sky for a number of reasons Paul thought about becoming a Trustee for either the RNIB or Guide Dogs but he did not feel that this was the right thing for him and maybe there was something else he could do in the 3rd sector and it was a recruitment firm that had aligned Paul to a Trustee role at Guide Dogs who asked him if he had really retired as they thought he might be the right person for a role at Scope. After a Zoom interview and meeting during the early stages of the Covid Pandemic Paul decided to take up the role of Executive Director of Partnerships at Scope.
Finally Paul will reflect on his very positive glass half full outlook on life  and like the title of one of his Tracks of My Life tracks - life is what you make it!
You can catch the hour-long version of Tracks of My Life with Toby’s guest’s music tracks in full by tuning in to RNIB Connect Radio every Tuesday at 7pm, repeated on Thursday at 1pm and Sunday at 8pm. 


(Image shows Paul sat on a wooden bench stroking his guide dog Bolt and smiling at the camera. He is outside surrounded by grass and wearing a dark grey hooded jacket, blue shirt and light grey trousers. A path passes past the bench and in the background there is a medium sized cascading waterfall flowing into a small lake or pond and behind that, a red brick wall with an archway built into it)

Tracks of My Life is a show on RNIB Connect Radio presented and produced by Toby Davey where he invites a guest to take us on a journey through their life, sharing the tracks that mark important moments which bring back memories to them.
Their chosen tracks of their life might include the first track they can remember hearing, the first track they bought, a number of tracks that mark moments in their life and the final track, a track that they would like to pass on which might give people hope for the future.
In this trimmed down podcast version of Tracks of My Life Toby is joined by visually impaired Chef Jo Parsons, who has worked in many professional kitchens over the years, now running her own catering business 'Jo’s Kitchen' from her home in South Devon as well as passing on her cooking skills to other visually impaired people through her 'Cooking with Confidence' classes.

In Jo’s Tracks of my Life we will start with Jo as a three-year-old little girl living in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham and Helping her mum to clean the  beautiful large pram ready for collecting her 8 week old baby Brother Simon. Who was being fostered by Jo’s Parents. Like Simon Jo was also adopted by her very loving and caring Mum and Dad Joan and Jim.
We then move to school days for Jo with happy memories of infant and junior school but not so happy times at senior school apart from Jo’s close group of friends.
Jo will then share some of the happy memories she had at senior school with her friends listening to the latest pop records on the steps outside the music room and not forgetting the mad dash on a Tuesday evening to get home for 4.25pm to catch the Bay City rollers TV programme Sangalang.
We will then move to Jo’s time at Catering College, forging good friendships again and of course the Classic French cookery training from Chef Bill Cahill. Joe will Then share some of the great catering jobs she  has had over the years including time running the catering at a large private golf club in Birmingham and working as both Chef and Manager at the RNIB concept conference centre in Birmingham which was both very rewarding for Jo and lots of fun too.
We will then hear from Jo about the first time she met her husband Brett back in 1980 in a Birmingham nightclub, dating for a while before they both went their own separate ways. Then meeting up again many years later, getting married, moving to South Devon and now enjoying their life together along with their four dogs.
Finally Jo will talk about the pleasure that comes from passing on her cooking skills to other visually impaired people through her bespoke  'Cooking with Confidence' classes. 
Do visit Jo’s Facebook page for more details of some of her fabulous dishes and bakes - https://www.facebook.com/joskitchendevon

You can catch the hour-long version of Tracks of My Life with Toby’s guest’s music tracks in full by tuning in to RNIB Connect Radio every Tuesday at 7pm, repeated on Thursday at 1pm and Sunday at 8pm. 

(Image shows Jo sat in front of a yellow/golden curtain at a brown table with her arms folded wearing a long sleeved navy blue top with navy blue flowers embroidered around the neck and half way down the sleeves. Her fingernails are painted burgundy and she is wearing a pearl necklace with matching earrings and smiling at the camera)

Tracks of My Life is a show on RNIB Connect Radio presented and produced by Toby Davey where he invites a guest to take us on a journey through their life, sharing the tracks that mark important moments which bring back memories to them.
Their chosen tracks of their life might include the first track they can remember hearing, the first track they bought, a number of tracks that mark moments in their life and the final track, a track that they would like to pass on which might give people hope for the future.
In this trimmed down podcast version of Tracks of My Life Toby is joined by Nigerian born, London-based singer and acclaimed Soprano, Victoria Oruwari who has performed on many stages across the world.
In Victoria’s Tracks of my Life we will begin by joining Victoria as she boards a plane from Nigeria to New York as a six-year-old with her sister and the last time for Victoria as a partially sighted child. The trip to New York was for eye surgery which sadly did not save Victoria’s sight.
Then a family holiday in the Caribbean and the sounds of nature as Victoria woke up to the wonderful bird songs of the dawn chorus which was very different to the sounds of the city back home in Nigeria.
In her mid-teens Victoria moved to the UK to study for her A Levels at New College Worcester with great support for her musical studies from the College as Victoria started to realise her full musical abilities, both with singing and playing the piano. Victoria then continued her musical studies at Trinity College of Music with a performance in her final year that changed her life for ever.  
Victoria will then reflect on the power of music not only to paint pictures in your mind and take you to other places but how music has helped Victoria battle through some of those curved balls that life throws at you from time to time.
If you would like to find out more about Victoria and hear some of her wonderful singing do visit her website - http://www.victoriaoruwari.com
You can catch the hour-long version of Tracks of My Life with Toby’s guest’s music tracks in full by tuning in to RNIB Connect Radio every Tuesday at 7pm, repeated on Thursday at 1pm and Sunday at 8pm. 


(Image shows a head shot of Victoria with long wavy brown hair, a black sequinned dress and a diamond necklace with matching earrings. Her eyes are closed and the is smiling)

Tracks of My Life is a show on RNIB Connect Radio presented and produced by Toby Davey where he invites a guest to take us on a journey through their life, sharing the tracks that mark important moments which bring back memories to them.
Their chosen tracks of their life might include the first track they can remember hearing, the first track they bought, a number of tracks that mark moments in their life and the final track, a track that they would like to pass on which might give people hope for the future.
In this trimmed down podcast version of Tracks of My Life Toby is joined by Guide Dog owner Tommy McInulty who had a very enjoyable career in the Merchant Navy before losing his sight overnight back in November 1983. Tommy has just retired after a very successful and fulfilling career in the sight loss sector first with Open Sight in Hampshire and then 12 years as Senior Regional Manager at the Macular Society. 
In Tommy's Tracks of My Life we will go on a journey from childhood memories in Clydebank growing up with his Brother in a very loving and caring foster family. Then at the age of 16 joining the Merchant Navy, with a very enjoyable and happy life at sea working on the cruise ships until that night in November 1983 when Tommy lost his sight overnight.  
We will then hear from Tommy about how he coped with losing his sight, time at Manor House in Torquay for rehabilitation and training before starting his successful and fulfilling career in the sight loss sector.
Tommy will then of course talk about the confidence and independence all his Guide Dogs have given him over the years and how their characters have maybe started to slightly influence his own character too.
Tommy will then reflect on how much his life feels complete now after meeting his partner Paul back in 2012 and how his career in the sight loss sector has been a way of giving back to other visually impaired people the support, advice, and kindness that he received from many organisations and individuals when he lost his sight overnight back in November 1983.
You can catch the hour-long version of Tracks of My Life with Toby’s guest’s music tracks in full by tuning in to RNIB Connect Radio every Tuesday at 7pm, repeated on Thursday at 1pm and Sunday at 8pm.


(Image shows Tommy wearing a white polo shirt with blue and green hoops and denim shorts, kneeling down next to his guide dog Toby. They are both facing towards the camera and they are on a patio with flowers and potted plants behind them)

Tracks of My Life is a show on RNIB Connect Radio presented and produced by Toby Davey where he invites a guest to take us on a journey through their life, sharing the tracks that mark important moments which bring back memories to them.
Their chosen tracks of their life might include the first track they can remember hearing, the first track they bought, a number of tracks that mark moments in their life and the final track, a track that they would like to pass on which might give people hope for the future.
In this trimmed down podcast version of Tracks of My Life Toby is joined by Lloyd Coleman, visually impaired and hearing-impaired musician, composer, and Associate Music Director of the Paraorchestra. .
Through Lloyd’s chosen tracks we will go on a journey from early life growing up in South Wales, at the age of 14 while at comprehensive school completing his Grade 8 in the Clarinet and gaining a scholarship to go to Cheetham’s School of Music in Manchester.
We then move to London as Lloyd continues his music education at the Royal Academy of Music, then in 2012 Lloyd joins the Paraorchestra to play alongside Coldplay at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.  
We then take a trip to Worthy Farm in Somerset as Lloyd and the rest of the Paraorchestra perform the Hero's Symphony by Philip Glass on the Park stage at Glastonbury 2016 the same year David Bowie passed away.
Lloyd will then reflect on the support and help he received from the late musician, arranger, and orchestrator Larry Ashmore, who became a good friend while mentoring Lloyd when he was commissioned by UCAN Productions to write a piece titled ‘Breaking the Wall’.  
And finally there are fond memories for Lloyd of a trip to Uganda as a young musician and a magical performance of Mozart’s Requiem with a  choir made up of young Ugandan voices which will stay with Lloyd  forever. 
To find out more about the Paraorchestra do visit - https://paraorchestra.comAnd for more about Lloyd do visit his website - http://lloydcoleman.net

You can catch the hour-long version of Tracks of My Life with Toby’s guest’s music tracks in full by tuning in to RNIB Connect Radio every Tuesday at 7pm, repeated on Thursday at 1pm and Sunday at 8pm. 


(Image shows Lloyd sat on a flight case for musical equipment against a black background. He is wearing glasses and a brown/green knitted jumper with a colourful blue and pink collar. His hands are clasped in front of him and he is smiling and looking in to the camera)

Tracks of My Life is a show on RNIB Connect Radio presented and produced by Toby Davey where he invites a guest to take us on a journey through their life, sharing the tracks that mark important moments which bring back memories to them.
Their chosen tracks of their life might include the first track they can remember hearing, the first track they bought, a number of tracks that mark moments in their life and the final track, a track that they would like to pass on which might give people hope for the future.
In this trimmed down podcast version of Tracks of My Life Toby is joined by Mike Brace MBE.
Mike is a former Paralympic skier, former Chief Executive of Vision 2020 and he was also part of the team that brought the Olympics and Paralympic games to London in 2012.
In Mike's Tracks of My Life you will hear him chatting about his school days, forming, and playing in a couple of folk bands, what life was like in the lead up to London 2012 and what sport and music really mean to him.

Do visit Mike’s website for more about his sporting achievements work with the Paralympics, Vision 2020, his writing and of course his Guide Dogs too - http://www.mikebrace.co.uk

Please note Mike’s Tracks of My Life was first broadcast on RNIB Connect Radio on Christmas Eve 2020.
You can catch the hour-long version of Tracks of My Life with Toby’s guest’s music tracks in full by tuning in to RNIB Connect Radio every Tuesday at 7pm, repeated on Thursday at 1pm and Sunday at 8pm. 

(Image shows Mike competing in a ski marathon wearing a purple ski suit with a red pattern, a knee brace, sunglasses and a headband holding a ski pole in each hand. There appears to be a Norwegian flag flying in the background)

Tracks of My Life is a show on RNIB Connect Radio presented and produced by Toby Davey where he invites a guest to take us on a journey through their life, sharing the tracks that mark important moments which bring back memories to them.
Their chosen tracks of their life might include the first track they can remember hearing, the first track they bought, a number of tracks that mark moments in their life and the final track, a track that they would like to pass on which might give people hope for the future.
In this trimmed down podcast version of Tracks of My Life Toby is joined by legally blind American artist and Arts Educator Elizabeth Castellano-Busnel, who was one of the blind artists featured in the recent documentary film Straight Off The Canvas. Elizabeth had to give up her teaching work due to a work accident although this has given Elizabeth more time to concentrate on her art work and family.
Through Elizabeth’s Tracks of My Life we will go on a journey from early days at a mainstream High School where Elizabeth was one of only three other visually impaired students at the school, how Elizabeth took her first steps into art after being inspired by watching one of her close friends drawing and painting. We will then move to Elizabeth’s time studying art at Manhattanville College in New York and time out here in the UK at Lancaster University which was a slightly better experience for Elizabeth than her time at Manhattanville College. We will then hear all about Elizabeth’s time as an Arts Educator helping to encourage and inspire students to fulfil their creative dreams and ambitions through art. Finally we will hear from Elizabeth about the work accident that forced her to give up her Arts Education work although this has given Elizabeth more time to concentrate on her art and spend time with her family.
To find out more about Elizabeth and view some of her art work do visit her website -https://www.castellanoart.net 
You can catch the hour-long version of Tracks of My Life with Toby’s guest’s music tracks in full by tuning in to RNIB Connect Radio every Tuesday at 7pm, repeated on Thursday at 1pm and Sunday at 8pm. 

(Image shows Elizabeth wearing a black and white knitted jumper and silver leaf earrings, smiling and sat in front of one of her paintings; a greenish-blue female figure with shades of yellow and red, kneeling down in front of blue and orange triangular shapes. The figures hands are over her eyes and her long, swirling turquoise hair covers part of her body and sprawls into the background)

Tracks of My Life is a show on RNIB Connect Radio presented and produced by Toby Davey where he invites a guest to take us on a journey through their life, sharing the tracks that mark important moments which bring back memories to them.
Their chosen tracks of their life might include the first track they can remember hearing, the first track they bought, a number of tracks that mark moments in their life and the final track, a track that they would like to pass on which might give people hope for the future.
In this trimmed down podcast version of Tracks of My Life Toby is joined by Andrea Begley, visually impaired Irish singer / song writer and disability advocate who in 2013 entered the BBC talent show The Voice and after wowing the judges at the blind auditions went on to be crown winner of the second series of The Voice UK.
Through Andrea’s Tracks of My Life we will go on a journey from her first performance aged 11 for a Children In Need event at the Ulster Hall, time at University in Belfast which took her early musical playing and performing down a different route, as Andrea picked up the guitar and started to write her own music and songs.  


(Image shows Andrea in front of some stained glass windows wearing a floral dress, singing into an old fashioned 50's style microphone with an acoustic guitar by her side)

Tracks of My Life is a show on RNIB Connect Radio presented and produced by Toby Davey where he invites a guest to take us on a journey through their life, sharing the tracks that mark important moments which bring back memories to them. Their chosen tracks of their life might include the first track they can remember hearing, the first track they bought, a number of tracks that mark moments in their life and the final track, a track that they would like to pass on which might give people hope for the future. In this trimmed down podcast version of Tracks of My Life Toby is joined by Historian of the Ottoman Empire and disability consultant Yusuf Osman. Through Yusuf’s Tracks of my Life we will go on a journey from school days at Dorton House School for blind and partially sighted children, feeling slightly out of place, being one of the only pupils at the school whose parents came from a different country. To then listening to cassette tapes of Turkish artists from his homeland on family car journeys including trips to and from boarding school at Worcester College with his Dad. Then we will come to a couple of rock tracks, one marking A level time at Worcester and the other a very powerful track that means a lot to Yusuf when he was going through a slightly difficult time while studying at Harvard. And finally to a track about a 9th century Greek Orthodox Abbess whose life still has meaning and relevance for us today.  You can catch the hour-long version of Tracks of My Life with Toby’s guest’s music tracks in full by tuning in to RNIB Connect Radio every Tuesday at 7pm, repeated on Thursday at 1pm and Sunday at 8pm. 


(Image Shows Yusuf sat in a tree in a park, wearing a red jacket, walking trousers and boots and a red Manchester United cap whilst smiling happily at the camera)

Tracks of My Life is a show on RNIB Connect Radio presented and produced by Toby Davey where he invites a guest to take us on a journey through their life, sharing the tracks that mark important moments which bring back memories to them.
Their chosen tracks of their life might include the first track they can remember hearing, the first track they bought, a number of tracks that mark moments in their life and the final track, a track that they would like to pass on which might give people hope for the future.
In this trimmed down podcast version of Tracks of My Life Toby is joined by Kirin Saeed. Kirin is a blind actor, activist and trainer, who in October 2020 with all the many Covid restrictions in place, put on her own play ‘Crossing care’ all about the relationship between a blind person and their support worker.  
Through Kirin’s Tracks of My Life we are taken on a journey from early school days at Chorley Wood College for visually impaired girls, watching 1970’s science fiction TV shows and life as a young Asian teenager growing up in the early 1980s. Then to Kirin moving in to her first flat as an independent young woman in her early 20s.

Kirin then reflects on her life in London and Scotland with her late husband Sandy who sadly passed away in 2014, and her life now on her own in Edinburgh where Kirin feels very much welcomed as an English woman in Scotland.
Please note Kirin Saeed’s Tracks of My Life was first broadcast on New Year’s Eve 2020. 

You can catch the hour-long version of Tracks of My Life with Toby’s guest’s music tracks in full by tuning in to RNIB Connect Radio every Tuesday at 7pm, repeated on Thursday at 1pm and Sunday at 8pm


(Image shows Kirin wearing a red-brown dress and leaning on a chair holding a white cane, in front of some large windows with sunny, out of focus greenery behind her)