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 talented blind opera soprano singer Denise Leigh, winner of Channel 4’s Operatunity opera competition semi-finalist in Britain’s Got Talent 2024 who has performed on many stages over the year’s  including the London Coliseum and patron of a number of charities too.

Denise’s Tracks of My Life musical journey will start with a great sounding Northern Soul track from her early life growing up in Crewe.  

To a track dedicated to Denise’s cousin Andy who sadly passed away in 2013 and a track that they would duet together on over the noise of the hairdryer while Andy was styling Denise’s hair.

Then to one of Joni Mitchell’s tracks from the album The Hissing of Summer Lawns which came out in 1975 which Denise says is a great example of story telling and showing Joni’s voice too. 

We will then have a track that has mixed emotions for Denise taking her back to school and also a moment in the garden in the sunshine during the Covid lockdowns in her family bubble with her son playing this track too. 

Before we hear Denise’s final track we have a couple of tracks relating to the time when Denise won the Channel 4’s Operatunity competition a piece from Verdi’s Rigoletto and a track for Chris, a close friend who helped Denise out with some of that physicality and presence needed for the filming of the competition and also for performing on stage too.

If you would like to find out more about Denise’s singing career and much more do visit her website - https://www.deniseleigh.com

(Image shows Denise and Stefan on stage at the Britain's Got Talent semi-final)

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 actor, theatre maker and access consultant Benjamin Wilson, who was the Ramps on The Moon Agent For Change at Sheffield Theatres. He is also the Co-Founder of creative audio description company Hear The Picture and the theatre company Brick Wall Ensemble.

Ben has worked with many theatre companies and performed on many stages over the years including Leeds Playhouse, The Globe and the National Theatre to name just a few. 

Benjamin’s chosen tracks start with one to his Dad who passed away when he was only 10 years old and one that when he hears it he feels a real connection with his Dad again.  

Then to a track from his favourite band Arctic Monkeys and seven years in Sheffield and working at Sheffield Theatres.

Next to the religion that is following your chosen football team through thick and thin with a true football song that has a 70s feel for Leeds United.

Theatre and football merge in Benjamin’s next chosen track with one from his own production of Henry 5 which he starred in and a track that all the cast sang and danced too.

Before we come to Benjamin’s final track we will have one for his partner Laura and one from road by Jim Cartwright a theatre production that he worked on as Audio description Consultant. 

For more about Benjamin Wilson’s audio description company Hear the Picture do visit - https://hearthepicture.co.uk

You will also find Benjamin Wilson posting on X too - https://x.com/BenjaminEWilson

(Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

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 those tracks that mark important moments in their life which bring back treasured memories to them.

Their chosen tracks might include the first track they can remember hearing, the first track they bought, more tracks that mark  other memorable moments in their life with the final track being a track that they would like to pass on that might give people hope for the future or just inspire them.

In this trimmed down podcast version of Tracks of My Life Toby is joined by former Paralympian Jonathan Ward who won a number of Paralympic medals as a visually impaired athlete including Gold in the Shot Put, Silver in the Discus and Bronze in the Pentathlon out in Seoul in 1988, Bronze in the Shot Put at the Barcelona games in 1992 and another Bronze in the Shot Put at the Sydney 2000 Games.

Jonathan’s Tracks of My Life journey starts with a wonderful piece of classical music by Tchaikovsky which seems to appear in the background when something life changing is happening in his life and definitely well before the invention of the smart speaker. 

Then to a track for Jonathan that marks a safe family place for him and a springboard to try new things too.

We then have a snap shot of life at boarding school for Jonathan with a great Jam track from 1979 that brings back fond memories of school life and those school discos too. 

Jonathan then reflects on his Paralympic athletics career from competing in his first games in Seoul in 1988, a track more for his daughters coming back from the Atlanta games in 1996 and then to the Sydney 2000 games and a track for Jonathan from his wife that featured on a cassette tape that she had given him with some good luck messages on it too. 

Before we come to Jonathan’s final track he looks bak on how the covid pandemic affected him as an athlete with a piece of music that represents a moment of clarity for him during all the restrictions and lockdowns.

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 seven tracks that mark important moments in their life which bring back treasured memories to them.

Their chosen tracks might include the first track they ever heard or the first track they bought to other tracks that mark important memorable moments in their life with their final seventh track being one that they might like to pass on to others that may give people hope for the future or just inspire them.

In this trimmed down podcast version of Tracks of My Life Toby is joined by Sir Robin Millar CBE an internationally renowned British Music Producer, Businessman, Campaigner for vulnerable people and the current Chair of disability equality charity Scope. Robin produced and arranged the legendary Diamond Life album by Sade.

Robin’s Tracks of My Life journey starts with him at the age of 17 a year after he had been told he was going to lose his sight, finding and being inspired by the music and lyrics of Joni Mitchell along with learning to play every track of her Ladies of the Canyon album.

Of course Robin has chosen some great music tracks and a couple that have brilliant intros too, including Jimi Hendrix’s cover of Bob Dylan’s All Along the Watch Tower and Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones. 

It was being on stage watching the Rolling Stones perform at Knebworth behind Bill Wyman’s bass speaker and seeing 60,000 people waving their lighters in the air that really lit the fire for Robin to become a great musician, producer and want to make records that would sell millions too which he did achieve with many albums including the legendary Diamond Life album by Sade.  

We will then have an insight into the time in the seventies when Robin was working as an apprentice audio engineer at the Le Chateau Studios in Paris while Bowie, Elton, the Grateful Dead and the Bee Gees were recording a number of classic albums and his one day a week studying for a post grad in music arranging at the Sorbonne being taught by Georges Delerou who arranged and recorded the theme from Robin’s favourite film Le Mepris.

Before we come to Robin’s final track we will hear how a visit he made with the UN to a refugee camp, meeting people who had nothing at all made him look outwards rather than inwards and start to give something back through getting involved in charity records, Live Aid, Oxfam and much more. Robin found the rewards from trying to improve other people’s situations was better, more important and more rewarding than making records that sold millions.

You can catch the full hour long version of Tracks of My Life with Sir Robin Miller CBE on RNIB Connect Radio, Good Friday, 29 March 8pm repeated Easter Saturday, 30 March 6pm and again on Bank Holiday Monday, 1 April 8pm. 

To find out more about sir Robin Miller CBE do visit his website - https://www.robinmillar.org.uk

Image shows a black and white head shot of Robin wearing dark glasses, a shirt, tie and jacket

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 those tracks that mark important moments in their life which bring back treasured memories to them.

Their chosen tracks might include the first track they can remember hearing, the first track they bought, more tracks that mark other memorable moments in their life with the final track being a track that they would like to pass on that might give people hope for the future or inspire them.

In this trimmed down podcast version of Tracks of My Life Toby is joined by Ken Reid, a long-time volunteer and fundraiser for the RNIB and a number of other sight loss organisations.

Ken’s Tracks of My Life musical journey starts with him talking about his school nickname ‘Hank’ which was because of his glasses which were very similar to the famous ones worn by Hank Marvin from The Shadows although Ken only needed glasses at that time for correcting his sight.

Ken then will reflect on the time when he was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa and how he then began volunteering and fundraising for a number of sight loss organisations including his mammoth tandem bike ride to raise funds for the RNIB Talking Books Library.  

Not forgetting the pleasures of reading for Ken whether it is listening to an audio book or reading a book in Braille with a track that brings both his love of music and books together named after a character from one of his favourite books too.  

Before we come to Ken’s final track we will hear about what it means to Ken being able to be out in the countryside, walking in the Scottish hills with his partner and how good it is to be out on the hills in all weathers enjoying the fresh air, the sounds of nature and sharing that experience too.

You will be able to hear the full hour long version of Ken’s Tracks of My Life on RNIB Connect Radio, New Year’s Day at 3pm and then repeated on Tuesday 2 January 2024 at 7pm. 

Image shows Ken in the RNIB Connect Radio studios wearing a pair of headphones and talking into a microphone with the RNIB logo on it and red tinsel wrapped around the stand.

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 those tracks that mark important moments in their life which bring back treasured memories to them.

Their chosen tracks might include the first track they can remember hearing, the first track they bought, more tracks that mark other memorable moments in their life with the final track being a track that they would like to pass on that might give people hope for the future or inspire them.

In this trimmed down podcast version of Tracks of My Life Toby is joined by Dr Amit Patel, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant, Motivational Speaker, Author and Broadcaster. 

Amit’s Tracks of My Life musical journey will begin with happy memories of school life for him and then to his first real experience of racism when he was in his late teens at college in London.

Then Amit will look back on the impact of the massive explosion of Asian music on main stream radio with the release of Cornershop’s Brimful of Asha and maybe a time when it was cool to be Asian in the UK too.

While working as an A&E Doctor Amit started to lose his sight and he will reflect on his life as an A&E Doctor from both sides of the hospital bed.

Before we come to Amit’s final track we will hear how losing his sight also made him lose his love of music too for a while but his love of music did come back and going to his first Asian gig as a visually impaired person was just as exciting and fun as it was when he had his sight. 

You will be able to hear the full hour long version of Amit’s Tracks of My Life on RNIB Connect Radio on Christmas Day at 11am and again on Boxing Day at 1pm. 

Image shows Amit smiling towards the camera with his guide dog in the park with trees 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 those tracks that mark important moments in their life which bring back treasured memories to them.

Their chosen tracks might include the first track they can remember hearing, the first track they bought, more tracks that mark other memorable moments in their life with the final track being a track that they would like to pass on that might give people hope for the future or inspire them.

In this trimmed down podcast version of Tracks of My Life Toby is joined by Selina Mills, award-winning Journalist, Broadcaster and Author of ‘Life Unseen - A story of Blindness’’ which was published by Bloomsbury in the summer of 2023.

Selina’s Tracks of My Life journey will start with an early introduction to the music of Mozart and posters of Classical Musicians and Conductors on her bedroom walls.

Then to time studying in America and a track by a band made up of fellow undergraduates with lyrics that did change Selina’s outlook on life at the time.

After graduating from university in America, Selina moved to Rome and secured her first job teaching English to Italian Journalists which lead to Selina becoming a Journalist too. 

Living in Rome for four years gave Selina the opportunity to hear great music being performed all over the city in churches and concert halls with wonderful choral singing too. 

Before we come to Selina’s final track we will hear a great country music song which is dedicated to her late farther who did encouraged Selina to write ‘Life Unseen - A story of Blindness’. 

You will be able to hear the full hour long version of Selina’s Tracks of My Life on RNIB Connect Radio, Thursday 21 December at 1pm and again on Christmas Eve, Sunday 24 December at 7pm.

To find out more about ‘Life Unseen - A History of Blindness’ by Selina Mills do visit the following pages of the Bloomsbury website - https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/life-unseen-9781848856905/

Image shows a photograph of Selina wearing a black top with a red and white pattern on it and pearl earrings with a bookshelf and a framed picture 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 special RNIB Connect Radio 20th Anniversary podcast version of Tracks of My Life Toby is joined by Jonathan Abro, a Freelance IT Professional who specialises  in accessible technology for everyone. Jonathan is a Trustee of VocalEyes, a Tech for Life Volunteer here at the RNIB and a member of Retina UK. Although being diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa in 1992 this has not stoped Jonathan in his travels, exploring many parts of the world with his partner Annie. 

Jonathan’s musical Tracks of My Life journey starts with life growing up in the South African country side and a move to Durban at the end of school life for him.  

We then follow Jonathan to Johannesburg where he starts out on his career in computer programming and also working nights at the Roxy Rhythm Bar, oh and enjoying the music too.  

Then we will join Jonathan as he travels around the world for the first time before a move to the more independent UK for him as a visually impaired person where he met his partner Annie.  

Before we come to Jonathan’s final track we will hear all about his and Annie’s   adventures as they travel from Antarctica to Los Angeles.  

Image shows Jonathan sitting on the snow and ice of Antarctica with some penguins in the photo and snowy mountains 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 special RNIB Connect Radio 20th Anniversary podcast version of Tracks of My Life Toby is joined by World Blind Sailing Champion and Commodore of Blind Sailing UK Lucy Hodges MBE. 

Lucy’s Tracks of My Life musical journey starts with early life at home growing up as a visually impaired child with lots of support from her parents. It was only apparent to Lucy how different life was for her and her parents when she had a conversation with her Mother when she was in her early 20s. 

We will of course hear all about how Lucy got into sailing, first with her Dad, then to taking part in organised blind sailing weekends and week long trips with fond memories of the occasional sing-a-long with friends at the end of a great days sailing.   

Then to more competitive sailing for Lucy and taking part in her first World Blind Sailing Championships in Miami in 1999, winning many silver medals before winning  her first gold medal in Japan in 2017 with mixed emotions on the winners podium as the closing ceremony of a championships marks the end of a week of great sailing racing. 

Before we come to Lucy’s final track we will hear all about a time when Lucy was recovering from quite a serious illness and then to a happier time when Lucy met her partner Gavin.

If you are interested in getting in to sailing as a blind or partially sighted person and maybe a bit of racing too then do visit the  Blind Sailing UK website where you will find out more about opportunities for you to start sailing and race training too - 

https://www.gbrblindsailing.co.uk

Image: RNIB Connect Radio Bright Green 20th Anniversary Logo

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 special RNIB Connect Radio 20th Anniversary podcast version of Tracks of My Life Toby is joined by Dr Hazel McFarlane MBE, a disability activist and researcher who has worked in and alongside the sight loss and disability sectors for over 30 years.

Hazel’s contribution to the sight loss sector was acknowledged earlier this year when she was awarded an MBE for services to people with sight loss,  in the King’s Birthday Honours List.

Hazel’s Tracks of My Life musical journey starts at home, growing up with her twin sister and two older sisters, going to a mainstream school which was quite unusual at the time.  

Then to a powerful time for Hazel when she was involved in the Disability Movement in the early 1990s, campaigning for disability rights and along with many other disabled people helping to force the government to set up the Disability Discrimination Act.

After a track dedicated to her son Michael we will hear a track that marks the time in 2005 when Hazel gained her PhD and a validation that the education system that Hazel had gone through had got it wrong for her at the time with not the best support for a visually impaired young person.

We will then come to a beautiful piece of classical music that has a bit of a military connection which marks the time when Hazel met her partner.  

And before we come to Hazel’s final track we have a track that holds great memories for Hazel of New Year’s Eve 2019 which her parents got up and danced to. 

Image: RNIB Connect Radio Bright Green 20th Anniversary Logo