History Archives and collections Oral history We are interested in collecting memories from individuals who have Paralympic stories to share, from the humble beginnings at Stoke Mandeville through to the present day. It may be that you were involved yourself as an athlete, volunteer, Games maker, or spectator, or perhaps you have a family member with a connection. Whatever your involvement, help us bring our collections to life and preserve Paralympic heritage for future generations by sharing your experiences. Our friendly volunteers are waiting to record your story! If you have memories you would like to share of the Stoke Mandeville or Paralympic Games then please contact [email protected] Oral history interviews Please get in touch if you would like the transcripts in a different file format. Margaret Anne Aldous - medical photographer at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in the 1950s. Kevan Baker OBE - Paralympic athlete and advocate for those with disabilities, competed at 4 Paralympic Games from 1984-1996. Mike Brace CBE, DL - Paralympic skier and leader of disabled charities. Margaret Bullivant - widow of Les Veale, wheelchair fencing coach from the 1960s to the 1980s. Paul Cartwright - Paralympic athlete competed at the Stoke Mandeville 1984 Paralympics in the first ever wheelchair marathon achieving a British record. Colin Evered - lived at the family run Elm Farm, the location of where Stoke Mandeville Stadium is now built. Ernie Guild MBE - Paralympic athlete competed at 3 Paralympic Games; Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996. Lora Fachie MBE - gold winning Paralympic cyclist, competed at the London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games. Allen Feldman - Para weightlifter for Team USA at the Stoke Mandeville 1984 and Seoul 1988 Games. Ron Foster & Paddy Moran - friends and Paralympians who competed in wheelchair basketball in the 1950s and 60s. Dave Gollop - spectator and volunteer at the Stoke Mandeville Games and national para sporting events. John Harris - Paralympic athlete competed in multiple athletic events at the Games in the 1980s and 90s. Angela Hendra MBE - Paralympic athlete represented Ireland in table tennis at the 1972, 1976, 1980 Paralympics winning bronze at each and in lawn bowls at the 1984 Paralympic Games winning a gold, silver and a bronze. Mike Hendra - Paralympian competed in sailing at the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games. Ali Jawad - Paralympic powerlifter, competed at the Bejing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Roger Jefcoate - developer of the POSSUM technology and campaigner for severely disabled people. Jane Johnson-Booth - volunteer at the Stoke Mandeville Games in the 1980s. Eva Loeffler OBE - physiotherapist, supporter of the Paralympic Movement and daughter of Professor Sir Ludwig Guttmann. Baroness Masham - Paralympian, campaigner and Westminster’s longest-serving life peer. Mike Parkin - competitor at the early Stoke Mandeville Games and founder of RYA Sailability. Tim Reddish CBE, DL - Paralympic swimmer, competed at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Paralympic Games. Rick Rodgers - founder, coach and athlete at Paracheer International. Anita Templar - disability coach and volunteer at the Paralympic Games. Dot Tussler - Head physiotherapist, National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville. Dick Thompson & Alan West - Paralympic athletes who attended multiple Games in the 1960s and 70s. Joe Thompson - competitor at the early Stoke Mandeville Games. Monica Vaughan - Paralympic swimmer, competed at the Toronto 1976 and Arnhem 1980 Paralympic Games. Caz Walton OBE - Paralympian competed in multiple events in the 1960s, 70s and 80s and has worked tirelessly for disability sport. Terry Willett - wheelchair basketball player and fencer competed at 4 Paralympic Games from 1968-1980. Doug Williamson - Paralympic swimming coach and founder of Sport Ability. Tahra Zafar - Head of Costume for the London 2012 Paralympic opening and closing ceremonies. Margaret Anne Aldous Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall with Helen Phillips, daughter of Margaret Anne Aldous, 6th October 2020. Margaret Anne Aldous (née Bennett) was a medical photographer at Stoke Mandeville hospital in the 1950s, capturing images at the National Spinal Injuries Centre and of the early Stoke Mandeville Games. Learn more and download the transcript here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Helen Phillips Kevan Baker OBE Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 23rd September 2020 Kevan competed at the Stoke Mandeville 1984, Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games in the Men’s Discus Throw. Here he talks about advocating for those with disabilities, as Chairman of WheelPower - British Wheelchair Sport (1995-2018) and founding member and CEO of the Patient User Group for Spinal Cord Injury (SPINE) at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. Learn more and access the transcript here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Kevan Baker Mike Brace CBE, DL Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 10th August 2020 Mike Brace CBE, DL, is a former Paralympic skier and leader of disabled charities. In this interview, he discusses his early life, sporting career, and his involvement in disabled sports associations, from his own London sports club, Metro, to the British Paralympic Association and London 2012. Learn more and access the transcript here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Mike Brace Margaret Bullivant Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 11th November 2021 Margaret talks about her husband, Les Veale, wheelchair fencing coach from the 1960s to the 1980s. Les helped pioneer the development of the sport including the international fencing rules used at the Paralympic Games from 1976. Learn more and access the transcript here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Margaret Bullivant Paul Cartwright Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 3rd November 2020 Paul talks about his early life and how his parents encouraged him, how he got involved in sport and went on to compete in wheelchair racing. Learn more and access the transcript here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Paul Cartwright Colin Evered Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 31st August 2022 Colin talks about farming life and how the family run Elm Farm was farmed by his Dad and Grandad. Part of the farmland is where Stoke Mandeville Stadium is now built. The stadium was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the 2nd August 1969. Learn more and access the transcript here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Colin Evered Lora Fachie MBE Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 28th January 2022 Lora Fachie MBE has competed for Great Britain at the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Paralympics in cycling, winning gold medals at the last two Games. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Lora Fachie Allen Feldman Interview by Amia Griffin, 18th November 2021 Allen talks about how he got into Para-weightlifting and his experience of competing at the Stoke Mandeville 1984 and Seoul 1988 Games. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Allen Feldman Ron Foster & Paddy Moran Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 28th October 2021 Memories of Ron and Paddy by their wives Pat and Mary and friend Glyn Jones. They met when they had beds next to each other on the ward at Stoke Mandeville hospital and were soon encouraged to take part in the sports on offer, including table tennis, javelin and wheelchair basketball. They went on to compete in the early Stoke Mandeville Games and won numerous medals throughout the 1960s at four Paralympic Games and seven Commonwealth Paraplegic Games. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript. You can read Ron Foster's story here and Paddy Moran's story here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Pat Foster, Mary Moran and Glyn Jones Dave Gollop Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 1st September 2021 Dave Gollop was a spectator and volunteer at the Stoke Mandeville Games and national para sporting events from young boyhood; here he shares his memories of the early Games. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript. Paralympic Heritage · Dave Gollop Ernie Guild Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 27th October 2021 Ernie Guild MBE competed in athletics for Great Britain at 3 Paralympic Games; Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996. Learn more and access the transcript here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Ernie Guild John Harris Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 15th April 2022 John remembers his time at the National Spinal Injuries Centre following his accident, his experience of competing at the Stoke Mandeville Games and Paralympic Games in the 1980s and 1990s, and then his role as the Team Manager for the Welsh disabled squad at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. Learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with John Harris Angela Hendra MBE Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 17th September 2022 Angela remembers her time as a patient of Sir Ludwig Guttmann at Stoke Mandeville Hospital and what he was like. She talks about having a go at different sports as part of her rehabilitation and then competing at the Paralympic Games. All the people she's met at the Games including members of the Royal family and celebrities. Angela and her husband Mike are founding members of Disability Sports Northern Ireland. Learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Angela Hendra MBE Mike Hendra Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 17th September 2022 Mike Hendra was a keen sailor winning the British National Championships in 1965 when he developed a spinal tumour and during his rehabilitation spent time at Stoke Mandeville as a patient of Sir Ludwig Guttmann's. He went on to compete in sailing at the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games. Mike and his wife Angela are founding members of Disability Sports Northern Ireland. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Mike Hendra Ali Jawad Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 10th February 2022 Ali talks about how he got involved in powerlifting, competing at the Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympics and his battle with Crohn's disease. Learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Ali Jawad Roger Jefcoate Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 18th November 2021 Roger talks about his work at Stoke Mandeville Hospital with Dr Guttmann and developing the POSSUM technology. Also, his support of health care charities and tireless campaigning for severely disabled people. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Roger Jefcoate Jane Johnson-Booth Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 10th September 2021 Jane talks about growing up next to Stoke Mandeville hospital, her time as a volunteer at the Stoke Mandeville Games in the 1980s and her experience as a spectator at the London 2012 Paralympics. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Jane Johnson-Booth Eva Loeffler OBE Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 8th October 2020 Eva talks about her work as physiotherapist, her support of the Paralympic Movement and disability sport and memories of her father, Professor Sir Ludwig Guttmann. Learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Eva Loeffler Baroness Masham Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 18th September 2020 Baroness Masham, Paralympian, campaigner and Westminster’s longest-serving life peer talks about her spinal cord injury; competing at the Paralympic Games in the 1960s; founding the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) in 1974; and disability, health and penal reform. Learn more and access the transcript here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Baroness Masham Mike Parkin Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 16th September 2020 Mike Parkin competed in events such as table tennis, swimming, athletics and wheelchair fencing at the Stoke Mandeville Games. He was also active in the sailing community and was a founding member and trustee at RYA Sailability. He discusses his experiences at Stoke Mandeville, meeting Dr Guttmann and other memories. Learn more and access the transcript here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Mike Parkin Tim Reddish CBE, DL Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 12th November 2021 Tim talks about how he first got involved in disability sport in the community, then elite sport where he went on to have a 13-year international swimming career. He competed in three Paralympic Games, three World and five European Championships, winning a total of 43 medals including three silver and two bronze Paralympic medals. Learn more and access the transcript here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Tim Reddish Rick Rodgers Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 21st November 2021 Rick talks about his experience as part of a cheerleading team and what led him to found Paracheer International where he is a coach, athlete and performer. He hopes that cheerleading will soon become a Paralympic sport. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Rick Rodgers Anita Templar Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 18th November 2021 Anita talks about her love of sport, her disability sports coaching and how she got involved in the Paralympic Games. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Anita Templar Dot Tussler Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 13th November 2021 Dot talks about her role as a physiotherapist at the National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville and classifier for wheelchair basketball. Dot's husband was Nigel Smith, Paralympic wheelchair basketball player and coach. Learn more and access the transcript here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Dot Tussler Dick Thompson and Alan West Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall with Diane West, 6th November 2020 Diane talks about her godfather, Dick Thompson and father, Alan West, who both represented Great Britain at the Paralympics. Dick competed at 4 Paralympics from the Rome 1960 to the Heidelberg 1972 Games, winning a total of 7 gold, 2 silver and 5 bronze medals. Alan competed at 3 Paralympics from the Tel Aviv 1968 to the Toronto 1976 Games, winning a total of 2 gold and 4 silver medals. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript. You can read Dick Thompson's story here and Alan West's story here. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Diane West Joe Thompson Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall with Clare and Sandra Chamberlain, granddaughter and daughter of Joe Thompson, 12th September 2021 Clare and Sandra talk about 'Grandad Joe', his spinal injury, being the first resident of the Duchess of Gloucester House, and competing in the early Stoke Mandeville Games. Learn more and access the transcript here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview about Joe Thompson Monica Vaughan Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 11th August 2020 Monica Vaughan, Paralympic swimmer, competed at the Toronto 1976 and Arnhem 1980 Paralympic Games winning 9 gold and 1 silver medals. In this interview Monica talks about her early love of sport, her athletic and nursing careers, her work for the BSAD, and changes to the Games in her lifetime. Learn more and access the transcript here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Monica Vaughan Caz Walton OBE Interview by Amia Griffin, 28th October 2021 Caz remembers Professor Sir Ludwig Guttmann and her time at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. The earlier Paralympic Games in the 1960s and how disability sport has changed over the decades. Learn more and access the transcript here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Caz Walton OBE Terry Willett Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 11th May 2020 Terry talks about his memories of Lodge Moor and Stoke Mandeville and the earlier Paralympic Games. Terry competed in wheelchair basketball and fencing at the Tel Aviv 1968, Heidelberg 1972, Toronto 1976 and Arnhem 1980 Paralympic Games. Learn more and access the transcript here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Terry Willett Doug Williamson Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 7th October 2020 Doug was a ParalympicsGB swimming coach at the New York 1984 Paralympic Games as well as a technician and classifier. He is the founder, creator and inspiration behind Sports Ability, an inclusive games programme. Learn more and access the transcript here Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Doug Williamson Tahra Zafar Interview by Dr Rosemary Hall, 30th November 2020 Tahra Zafar talks about her role as Head of Costume for the London 2012 Paralympic opening and closing ceremonies. Listen to the interview below or download the transcript. Image ©Thomas Skovsende. Paralympic Heritage · Play the oral history interview with Tahra Zafar Manage Cookie Preferences