A Lifetime’s Work on BBC Radio London Robert Elms show

Thank you to the lovely Robert Elms for having me on his BBC Radio London show and for the opportunity to let listeners learn more about my A Lifetime’s Work project and exhibition which is part of Brent 2020, London Borough of Culture.

Also on the show with me was Ricka from the Umeria family who are featured in the project and exhibition.

The Umeria family are the owners of Kensal Rise shoe repairers Brown Edwards, a long-established north west London local business that opened its doors in 1914 and since 1984 has been owned and operated by Ricka’s family.

It was a real delight and honour to talk with Robert and share the importance of family businesses and to have Ricka talk passionately about the craftsmanship and skill that goes into their work.

In my project and exhibition A Lifetime’s Work, it’s about showing what family businesses like Brown Edwards are doing and have done and what they can still do in a post Covid-19 society.

We need to support them as they live in our communities – they are our neighbours, our friends, our community and are open for us.

This makes the project and exhibition an important statement on how we as a society need to support our local businesses.  In these difficult times, we need to be there for them so they will be here for us.

Click below to listen to Robert Elms talking to myself about A Lifetime’s Work.