Bernard backs Life Histories project

Reporter: Lucy Kenderdine
Date published: 23 October 2014


OLDHAM-BORN actor Bernard Cribbins is joining older people’s charity Anchor to help children learn about the elderly residents in their community.

Life Histories is a nationwide schools initiative to encourage youngsters to discover more about the older people in their lives - including those in Anchor’s care homes and retirement housing.

Bernard (85), well known for his work as the narrator of The Wombles, the Carry On films and more recently Doctor Who, said: “Everybody has a story to tell, and children love to listen to stories.

“It’s so important to encourage new generations to spend time speaking with their seniors.”

The move follows a survey that showed nearly half of Manchester’s older residents felt “disconnected” from children and felt young people weren’t interested in them.

Over a third of Manchester children didn’t know what job their grandparents had done, and 37 per cent had no idea where their grandparents grew up.

The initiative will send 15,000 schools packs and a teaching guide for children aged nine to 11.