Toby Davey Audio

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 Sharon Schaffer, who in July 2021  joined Saffron Walden  based sight loss charity, Support 4 Sight as their Chief Executive Officer.
Sharon’s work in the sight loss sector began with managing the London Visual Impairment Forum, working with eye health networks across the East of England with the England Vision Strategy, and before joining Support 4 Sight Sharon was Service Manager for Sight Concern Bedfordshire. Prior to her work in the charity sector Sharon was touring the country as an Actor and running a very successful theatre company.

Through Sharon’s Tracks of My Life we will go on a journey from early teenage life with her best friend Ant and being in their minds the first teenagers to discover and listen to artists from the late 70s and the early 80s.  
Then off to studying the dramatic arts, joining White Horse Theatre Company.  And 8 months of life in a van Touring around Southern Germany performing English shows to German schools and colleges.
Then back to England with  a period of time resting before performing with and setting up Kaos UK Theatre Company with her husband, and touring productions around England, Ireland and internationally including a very memorable performance of The Importance Of Being Earnest.
Then a trip that took Sharon and her husband miles away to the Pinnacles in Australia for a pre wedding honeymoon before getting married on stage at His Majesty’s Theatre in Perth.     
Finally we come to the time when Sharon moved into working in the sight loss sector with fond  memories of the London Visual Impairment Forum meetings which brought people from the Greater London sight loss sector together to share information and news with  the Christmas gatherings   always including   a bit of festive cheer and live music to get everyone in to a festive mood ready for the seasonal  holiday.

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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.

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 blind music producer, audio engineer and accessibility consultant Jason Dasent who has over 20 years in the music industry originally from Trinidad and now based in London.
Through Jason’s Tracks of My Life we will go on a journey from his early life out in Trinidad and one of the first tracks he heard which he as a music Producer comes back to time and time again when producing lush harmonies for his music. Tracks
WE will hear from Jason about how he got into music and music producing while still at school as a teenager.  His fascination with the sound of early 80s Synthesizers including the Roland Jupiter-8 and Yamaha DX-7 which formed the sound of many early 80s electronic bands.
We will also hear a track by a certain Scottish singer whose career started out from a TV talent show who’s voice tics all the boxes for Jason as a music producer. 
Then there is a track that both Jason and his wife Sara sang at their wedding out in Trinidad during a hurricane which thankfully did not end up spoiling the day for them and their friends and family. 
Jason will reflect on his music producing career so far and his thoughts and plans for the future. 

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.

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.

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.

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 borne, 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.  As 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.

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.

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 Chetham’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.

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 CBE.
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.

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 full fill 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.

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.  

how inspirational Andrea’s Aunt Philomena Begley - The Queen of Country Music’ as she is known in Ireland - has been to Andrea on her musical career.


And we will of course hear from Andrea about her time on The Voice, as well as good times going to concerts and nights out with her friends and family.
Why not visit Andrea’s website to find out more about her music and listen to some of her great tracks -https://andreabegley.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.