Discover The Stories StoryTerrace Help Share.

Brian Lewis was 12-years-old when he beat an international chess Grandmaster at the game. But it wasn't just his age that made him exceptional, or even the fact that he had only been playing for four years.

Part of the first Windrush Generation, Brian hails from one of just eight Black families in Micklefield Council Estate, High Wycombe.

"As kids, we didn't know why our parents made us walk together, it was only when we got to school that we saw the name-calling and the jokes, and realized that we were different and that we were going to have to learn to defend ourselves or just take it," he tells VT of the implicit racism and bigotry within the town.

However, this all changed when an imposing new teacher, named Mr. Green, formed a chess club. As Brian describes it, "there was no Black or white — we were just a chess team".

The impact that this had on him, and other Black children within the school, was lasting.

Brian, now 55, says that he and his peers probably would have not known what chess was if it wasn't for Mr. Green.

The teacher, who was white, was more tolerant than the other educators within the school — and the chess club quickly became a place where Black children could integrate with white kids.

"We became a team and those racial barriers broke down eventually as we continued to play each other," he recalls. "It was probably the only interaction we had with white people outside of school because we couldn't go to their homes or play on the streets with them. Our parents realized that the club was a good chance to engage with someone from the white race outside of the classroom."

For his part, Mr. Green was keen to make sure the team bonded — he instilled in them the conviction that they together were 'Micklefield', a council estate school, who stood together when they went to play "posher" schools.

"When other schools played us, it was a shock, especially because there were black kids in the chess team. He told us that it was a middle-class game, but that we need to take our working-class values, and work hard, strive hard, and not be intimidated. We did it.

"The hostility wasn't obvious, but I would be stared at by the students and the teachers. You could tell that it was the first time that some of them had even shaken a Black boy's hand."

Eventually, the team produced five of High Wycombe's chess champions in four years — of which Brian was the most notable.

He won the local championships, and then he beat the man who had taught him the very game, Mr. Green — who pointed him in the direction of a local chess club.

It was there that Brian started to establish himself as a competitive player amongst adults. He was 12-years-old when he was chosen to play an International Grandmaster, who came to High Wycombe to play 20 members.

Speaking about that day, Brian tells me, "He had beaten everyone, and then there was just me left. You could see that there was whispering, but I was just focused on the game. Finally, he resigned, and I couldn't believe it. He looked at me, said 'Well done son,' and shook my hand."

"There was just elation that a 12-year-old Black kid had beaten a Grandmaster, who was in his 30s, and had earned his spurs by beating some of the best in the world. I thought it can't get any better than this. There was so much pride because I had not only become established in Micklefield, but in High Wycombe too."

Brian became somewhat of a local celebrity, and he says that the fame he accrued through newspaper articles and being stopped on the street helped ease racial tensions at his school. "I didn't know at the time that becoming a chess champion as a Black boy would get so much coverage, and that it would help other Black kids."

Soon afterward, he was made the first Black prefect of his school, which gave him "establishment". "The racism became less prevalent, and it definitely made it easier for the Black boys who followed me, because we weren't just 'Black' now, we were just normal kids who played football, chess, and cricket, so the hostility subsided quite rapidly."

Decades on, Brian acknowledges that this points to another issue — that is, the burden placed on Black and minority ethnic children to overachieve in order to be accepted. "Without chess, I don't know, the hostility may have continued all the way through. Our parents always told us that we had to overachieve and do better than the white person if we wanted to get ahead. It wasn't a level playing field and they made that very clear."

"I've met some Black students who said that my becoming a chess master helped them. We were all facing the same challenges, but the fact that I was an emblem of the school took away from all those stereotypical notions people held about Black kids."

Ultimately, Brian's chess journey ended on a high: on the day that he beat the International Grandmaster.

He explains that his secondary school didn't have a chess team, and that his parents split up. This resulted in him becoming a caregiver for his younger brother while his mother worked night shifts at the hospital. "Life just took a different direction, and I became a parent, really," he adds. "Chess was placed on the back burner because other things were going on in terms of family dynamics, and moving to secondary school. I just changed, really."

Brian does have one regret — seeing how far he could have gone. "If at that age, I could beat a Grandmaster, where could I have got to?" he questions. "That's when the book ended for chess and me, it ended when I was 12."

When I ask whether this has anything to do with privilege, he concedes that, yes, he would have been more likely to pursue the game if he had been born under different circumstances, and if he had attended a private school, which would have had the time and resources to push him.

Now, Brian is an accountant.

It's rather serendipitous, he laughs: "They do say that people who play chess are good with numbers. And I am good when it comes to retention and strategic thinking."

Brian did introduce his teenage son to the game, and it's a talent that clearly runs in the family as he went on to play for the county. Ultimately, however, his love of chess now boils down to pulling up an app when he's on a long journey, and playing against a computer.

But he still credits Mr. Green for his great achievement. He tells me that after leaving for secondary school, Mr. Green left Micklefield himself — and that they've had no contact since. Understandably, the 55-year-old wants to go back to where it all began, take the book he penned about the experience, Check Mate, and see if anyone has his contact details.

"If he's alive, I'd really like to thank him," he says.

This original article appeared on VT.co and is reproduced with kind permission. You can buy Brian's book on Amazon.

Contact StoryTerrace to learn more about how you can bring your - or a loved one's - story to life.

Have you ever wondered how dating began?

Here at StoryTerrace, we definitely have — after all, we’ve written countless beautiful stories about love, courting, and marriage.

So we decided to look at the history of dating and its progression into modern day. What we found made our hearts all warm and tingly.

In the Beginning

Ancient Societies Weren’t So Lovey-Dovey (3000 BC – AD 500)

Most marriages in ancient times weren’t by choice, but by capture. After the founding of Rome, there was a shortage of women. So, the Roman men abducted women from other nearby cities, with the intent to increase their population.

Arranged marriages were also the norm. Rather than matters of the heart, those couplings were more like business arrangements related to economic stability, property, and political alliances.

The Middle Ages Ushers in Chivalry (500 to 1400–1500 CE)

As a response to arranged marriages, civilised courtship and chivalry blossomed in medieval times. With love as their guide, suitors enticed the object of their affection with songs, poetry, and dinner — which they learned from lovelorn characters in plays.

It’s also during this time that a well-known phrase was created. When a knight was competing in a jousting match — a popular sport among nobility — he could dedicate the event to a woman he loved by tying something to his shirt sleeve that belonged to her. Usually, a handkerchief. This is how the saying "He wears his heart on his sleeve" came to be.

The Victorian Era Feels the Love (1837-1901)

Courting became even more formal among the upper classes, with romantic love recognised as an important factor in marriage. At events, men and women first had to be introduced — they couldn’t approach each other without proper introduction. Then, men gave their card to the lady if they were interested in walking her home. At the end of the event, the ladies reviewed their options from all the cards they’d received and chose the man they wanted to escort them home.

Courting was definitely not private. Couples were usually only together while a chaperone — often the young woman’s parents — watched. Back then, marriage proposals were typically delivered in writing.

Modern Dating

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The word “date” came to be rather unintentionally. In 1896, a Chicago Record columnist, George Ade, wrote that the girlfriend of a man named Artie had lost interest in their relationship and began courting other men. When Artie asks his soon-to-be ex-girlfriend about her intentions, he says: “I s’pose the other boy’s fillin’ all my dates?”

See, before the early 1900s, courting was for the benefit of family and community interest, but by the time a new century began, courting had fully transitioned to a private matter for couples. Finally, in 1913 the American government formally recognised marriage in law, and by 1929, all states had laws regarding marriage licenses.

In the Roaring Twenties, the word "dating" officially entered the American language. But the act of dating was actually frowned upon by police, politicians, and civic leaders because they viewed it as enabling women to become more independent of their fathers and husbands.

We’ve come a long way since then!

Free Love

In the 1960s and 1970s, free love became a social movement — one major aspect of which meant that people could be sexually active with many casual sex partners and little or no commitment.

But another aspect involved certain laws and specifically working to remove state regulations from decisions about marriage, divorce, birth control, age of consent, abortion, adultery, and homosexuality. These changes reverberate throughout modern society today.

Digital Dating

Believe it or not, online dating has been around for nearly 30 years! Kiss.com was the first digital matchmaker to arrive on the scene in 1994, followed by Match.com in 1995. Since then, online dating sites and apps have exploded.

The pandemic, of course, only boosted the use of those innovations. With the entire world in lockdown, membership for dating sites and apps increased at unprecedented rates. What used to be thought of taboo or looked down upon is now the new norm in dating.

Digital dating has opened up singles to the entire world. A man in America can now “date” a woman in England, getting to know each other through video chats before deciding to meet in person. A divorced lady in Australia can easily “meet” a South African fellow through texting, voice notes, and emails.

How’d You Two Meet?

Photo Credit: PeopleImages

When’s the last time you thought about your own love story? Or maybe your parents’?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to capture those beautiful memories and experiences in a stunning book? You don’t have to be famous or have a Hollywood-style meet-cute to make your story worth telling. We’re sure it’s already amazing and definitely worth sharing — just like Alex and Barbara Lutkus did with their StoryTerrace book.

So the next time someone asks, "How'd you first meet?" you'll have it all ready to go in a terrific book that'll last for generations.

Have you been inspired to write your own love story? We're here for you! Just contact StoryTerrace or sign up for our newsletter to learn more about capturing your story for future generations.

We all know the saying: With age comes wisdom.

If we add a little arithmetic to those words, you could say that people who are 100+ years old can offer up loads of powerful, time-tested wisdom. Think about it — those who have been blessed to become centenarians undoubtedly have lived long enough to corral a vast supply of advice from lessons learned, life experiences, happy occasions, distinct memories, and even perhaps a stop in the "School of Hard Knocks." Maybe that even describes you.

This year, the United Nations says about 573,000 centenarians are living worldwide. That’s up from 450,000 just two years ago. The U.S. has the highest number of centenarians on the planet with 97,000; Japan is #2 with 79,000.

More fun facts:

The world’s oldest person is a 117-year-old woman named Kane Tanaka, living in Japan. She actually gets the title of supercentenarian, since she’s older than 110. And the world's oldest man, Saturnino de la Fuente of Spain, just turned 112.

Researchers believe that if the U.S. population of centenarians keeps increasing at its current rate, there could be nearly 1 million people who are 100 years or older by 2050 in the United States.

At 95, Queen Elizabeth II of England knows just how remarkable it is to reach 100 years old. Her Majesty is one of the few heads of state who actually sends personalized 100th birthday wishes to anyone who requests it.

Here at StoryTerrace, we happily scoured our resources to pull together some thoughtful advice from people across the globe who are 100 years or older.

Sitting Still Is a No-No

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Of course, we know that working out, being on our feet as often as possible, and using our brain is good for our health and well-being. And these folks can prove it, which is likely why they shared this centenarian advice:

“You must keep active, or you will just wither away. Always be involved in some activity.” — Miriam Henson, 105

“Get involved. You’ll find pleasure and sometimes disappointment, but there is a sense of achievement if you participate in a successful undertaking, whether it is organizational or professional.” — Murray Shusterman, 100

“It is very important to have a widespread curiosity about life.” — Irving Kahn, 106

“Be good, don’t complain — just get up and do.” — Jennie Cascone, 100

“Do things that you’ve never done before.” — Lillian Modell, 100

“I’ll never retire as long as I live — that’s like retiring from life! I’ll never stop writing, teaching, lecturing. If you’re in good health, living is exciting on its own.” — Bel Kaufman, 101

They Talk, We Listen

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The power of positivity isn’t just a pithy phrase. These happy old-timers remind us that a good attitude and mindset can take you very far. It certainly worked for them!

“I try not to make a big fuss over things. I always said, ‘This too shall pass.’” — Barbara Brody, 102

“Think positively, enjoy your children, enjoy your life.” — Anne Lamont, 100

“If it can be fixed, fix it!” — Anne Lomedico, 104

“Don’t fight the day, just let it be. Get up and be positive.” — Gussie Levine, 100

“Sow good seeds for your children. Teach your children to give.” — Winifred Thomas, 101

Getting There Is Half the Fun

So how did these amazing humans get to 100 years old — and then some?

As you can see, many centenarians have happily doled out wonderful advice about anything you can think of. When it comes to their longevity, their suggestions run the gambit too — and some just have no idea!

When Alexander Imich was asked at age 111 how he lived so long, he replied: “I don’t know, I simply didn’t die earlier. I have no idea how this happened.”

“Ain’t no secret, just keep in touch with God and do the right thing, that’s all I know,” 110-year-old Agnes Fenton noted.

Then there’s 106-year-old Edith Atkinson Wylie who ate her favorite food every single day: Cheetos. She says it’s those crunchy bright orange snacks and her good genes that helped her live a long — and tasty! — life.

Food seems to be a common idea when answering the question of longevity.

Susannah Mushatt Jones, who lived to be 116, had a hearty breakfast of bacon, eggs, and grits every day — and she’d swipe an extra piece of bacon to enjoy later. She loved it so much, there was even a sign in her kitchen that read: “Bacon makes everything better.” For Susannah, that sure does seem to be true!

When a doctor asked Elizabeth Sullivan if she was following a healthy diet, she said, “Certainly not, I drink three Dr. Peppers a day.” Concerned for her health, her doctor told her that was too much sugar and she’d die if she continued drinking so much soda. Well, she got to be 104, and it was her doctor who passed away years before she did. “So I guess the sugar in the Dr. Peppers has kept me alive all this time,” Elizabeth quipped.

Oh, What Fun

Susannah Mushatt Jones, the bacon lover, also had another unexpected response — she loved pretty underthings and wore them regularly. Her family shared a story that when she was undressing in a doctor’s office for an EKG, the doctors and nurses were surprised to see her wearing her Bloomingdale’s lingerie. To which Susannah responded, “Oh sure, you can never get too old to wear fancy lingerie.”

And finally, perhaps the advice we can all relate to is from centenarian Gertrude Weber, who died at 116. One of the secrets to her “happy life was an ability to nap whenever the urge to sleep” came around.

Photo Credit: JupiterImages

Your Turn

If you’re like us, all of this wisdom has us thinking that we, too, have some advice to share. We’re pretty sure you do, too.

There’s no better way to impart your thoughts to your children and grandchildren than by capturing your very own life story and wisdom in a StoryTerrace memoir. It’ll be a treasure for you and your family when you’re 100 years old — and hopefully even longer.

Have you been inspired to write your own biography? We're here to help! Just get in touch with StoryTerrace or sign up for our newsletter today. You and your family will be glad you did.

Are you a silent reader or a noisy one?

Alone or together? Paperback or Kindle? Silently or aloud? No matter what rituals you choose, reading is a powerful habit that improves your vocabulary, enhances your imagination, and reduces stress. These benefits extend further when you turn that lonely activity into a social one, so break the silence this August 9 and share your fascination for reading on National Book Lover's Day.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Between the covers of your book lie exciting stories and dialogue just waiting for someone to bring them to life. If you’re a voracious but silent reader, try reading aloud for a change of pace. Narrating isn’t just for parents and children; it also has vital and fascinating benefits for adults.

Break the Silence

There was a time when reading was largely a social activity. In ancient times, storytelling was all oral, as gifted poets memorized entire epics to share with rapt audiences. As printed books became popular, people used to gather and switch roles between readers and listeners and immerse themselves into poems, novels, or performances.

Despite our modern predilection for curling up alone with an e-reader, some people still strive to keep this habit alive. If you’re a proofreader, literary agent, professor, parent, or student, you’re likely to be among the lucky group that practices the art of reading aloud. Kids usually read along with their parents, but once they’re old enough to read by themselves, this habit slowly transitions into a solo activity that no longer generates a conversation with loved ones.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents interact with their children through books as early as infancy. Increased vocabulary, listening skills, curiosity, and memory are just a few of the advantages of sharing a book.

But what happens to adults? Do these benefits expire once you hit a certain age?

Good Mental Exercise

It turns out that the dual action of speaking and reading to yourself — or to others — helps with verbal recall. Research suggests that pronouncing the words of a book improves your memory of what you’ve read. Being a reader and a listener boosts imagination, sharpens focus, and helps with comprehension.

The benefits of reading aloud are particularly helpful for seniors. According to research conducted by Colin MacLeod, a psychologist at the University of Waterloo in Canada, "People consistently remember words and texts better if they read them aloud than if they read them silently. This memory-boosting effect of reading aloud is particularly strong in children, but it works for older people, too.”

How Do You Consume Information?

No doubt about it: Technology has changed how people read. You can store hundreds of books on small devices, connect instantly to libraries, and listen to audiobooks. While convenient, these fast, interactive tools cause constant disruptions in the reading process. It's easy to wander among websites and lose track of the story you were reading or find yourself struggling to find the exact minute of a quote with an audiobook.

Photo credit: Aleksandr Kichigin

That doesn't happen with a book in your hands and the power of your voice, though.

Audiobooks are great for commuters and for people with little time to sit and read. However, after long periods of listening, you can get bored with that distant, faceless narrator’s voice.

Beth Rogowsky, an associate professor of education at Bloomsburg University, studied how well students absorbed material by changing the way they consumed the information. Her research suggests that electronic devices reduce learning and comprehension compared to old-fashioned books. Also, with audiobooks, it's easy to lose track of the narrative because it’s difficult to go back to a specific quote.

With physical books, the reader usually focuses solely on the text and follows the narrative with no internet disruption. By pronouncing the words and sharing them with someone else, you not only get better retention and focus, but you also get the benefit of bonding with others, sharing thoughts that can lead to meaningful conversations.

In 2017, Story Terrace commissioned research to explore the impact of the Digital Age on the art of storytelling and found that the United States is becoming a nation that no longer shares genuine, face-to-face conversations because of the increase in screen time. Back then, Americans spent 23.6 hours online each week and could go months without an authentic conversation.

That’s why sharing experiences like reading to a loved one or sharing a story with a friend or relative is crucial to keeping bonds and meaningful relationships in this fast-paced digital age.

Books Bring People Together

Reading aloud is a social activity that strengthens emotional bonds among people. It’s an opportunity to connect with your loved ones by sharing both fiction and non-fiction ― or even your personal memoir. Imagine the fun of a Read Out Loud Party where your friends and family take turns reading a chapter from a book about your life!

Photo credit: Getty Images

No matter what book is in your hands, reading aloud provides incredible benefits for your well-being. It’s also a very pleasant way to pass the time! So let your inner voice out to play, and give yourself and your loved ones the gift of reading out loud. It might change the way you read forever.

If you’d like to tell your story aloud to our professional writers, contact StoryTerrace to get started on your memoirs. You can also sign up for our newsletter to learn more about how to bond with others through books.

Senior Writer

As a former history teacher, Michele Vrouvas knows how to tell compelling stories of the past.

Michele began her writing career as a beat reporter for a major New Jersey publisher in the United States, where she was assigned to cover local politics and education in nearly a dozen towns at once. She has also worked as a litigation paralegal for over 20 years. Michele brings her keen eye for the human experience and serious writing chops to all of her work with StoryTerrace clients.

Michele lives in Pine Brook, New Jersey, where she can be found reading, writing, and practicing her cooking skills.

Photo of Michele in second grade at a Catholic school.

ST: What is the most memorable story you’ve told as a writer?

It was the story of a man who overcame decades of addiction by remembering his father’s dying words. He was in his forties and realizing that life isn’t so bad.

ST: Why do you enjoy writing for StoryTerrace?

It gives me the chance to write the books I’ve most enjoyed reading: Biographies were a favorite since childhood. I enjoy listening to clients as they slowly unfold their life stories.

ST: What surprised you most about working for StoryTerrace?

How quickly the interview time goes by! Especially when a client, like the one I have now, is for the first time sifting through old family documents and feels as though she’s “discovering” the people she’d known for years.

ST: What is your biggest fear?

Putting a loaf of bread in the oven to bake and realizing I forgot to add the salt.

ST: What's something that people would be surprised to learn about you?

I used to sell Electrolux vacuums and absolutely loved it!

ST: What trait do you admire most in others?

Courage, because it strengthens you to think for yourself, tell the truth, and avoid corruption.

ST: If you hadn't become a writer, what career would you have right now?

I would’ve stayed a teacher, preferably a reading specialist.

ST: Who are your favorite writers?

Ernest Hemingway, Elizabeth Strout, Abigail Thomas, Rick Bragg, Larry McMurtry.

ST: What is your motto?

Winston Churchill said that we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

ST: What bit of writing advice has helped you most as a StoryTerrace writer?

It was in a book by Adair Lara: “Writing is turning your thoughts, abstractions, generalizations, and opinions back into the experiences you got them from.”

The Lightning Round!

ST: Salty or sweet?

Salty.

ST: Morning lark or night owl?

Morning lark.

ST: Paperback or e-reader?

Paperback.

ST: City or country?

City.

ST: Summer or winter?

Summer.

If you’d like to work with a professional writer like Michele to write your life story, contact StoryTerrace to get started now, or sign up for our newsletter to read more about our writers and client stories.

Knowing your grandfather's story makes you realize just how lucky you are.

Days before the World War II announcement, John Gibson — a 9-year-old boy with a typical childhood — had a curveball thrown at his life. In 1939, London evacuated over 3 million children to protect them from air raids and the emotional scars of the conflict. John left his home with his siblings, Bill and Violet, leaving behind the life he knew, the city he enjoyed, his house, and his parents.

Even though he didn’t understand the hostility and tension of the war, he savored the scenic views of the countryside in Reading. He quickly adapted to his foster family’s routines and started school. Over the years, he went back to London, rejoined his parents and other siblings, but ended up separated from them again and again. Yet these challenging circumstances didn’t bear him down; instead, he cultivated gratitude, sought achievement, and made things right.

Richard Keeley, John’s eldest grandchild, gave him the gift of preserving those memories in a book named Our Grampa. The hardback memoir represents gratitude for the past, appreciation of the present, and achievement for the future. “It was around my grampa’s ninetieth birthday, and I came up with the idea of the book. This gift is an appreciation to someone that went through a lot. He wanted to do better for his family, and I think that is one of the messages of the entire book,” Richard explained during a delightful conversation with StoryTerrace.

John and Ann holding their daughter, Siân, days after buying their first home.

Growing Up During the War

Richard discovered how hard life was in the 1940s when his grandfather was just a child. Back then, children packed gas masks with their suitcases and had to duck under their school desks when a warning sounded. That’s how his grandfather, John, grew up during World War II, amid air raids, near-constant evacuations, and intermittent reunifications with his parents.

Being an evacuee taught young John to adapt to complicated circumstances and to make rational decisions.

In Our Grampa, John reflects on how he has endured difficult situations: "Richard, my son, believes some of our ancestors must have been Stoics. We Gibsons are certainly a stoical lot, and this particular philosophical stance has often helped me to get through life.”

Until the end of the war, John and his brother lived across different villages and small towns in the countryside. His education was also in turmoil. He joined a temporary school and enrolled as a scholar in a fee-paying institution named Emanuel School, where he met Trevor Jennet, his long-time friend.

Emanuel School Boat Club, 1948.

Pursuing a Career in Accounting

After the war, the only thing that John wanted to do was to straighten up in the future, so he did National Service and studied to become an accountant.

When he finished his service and got back to London, he had to split from his family yet again. His father, John David Gibson, who had run pubs most of his life, had lost his job and was in poor health. He didn’t receive compensation, and he couldn't provide housing for his children because, for the past 12 years, he’d lived on two pubs' premises.

John and his brother Bill in 1956.

John was a chartered accountant and halfway through his training. During his family’s difficulties, he found help through his friend, Trevor. Trevor's mother, Margaret Jennet, took him in and treated him as a son. John never forgot the kindness. “Trevor got a copy of the book and read it weeks before he passed away. It’s comforting that he got the chance to read it and see how he appreciated them,” Richard says, describing the impact of Our Grampa.

Life wasn’t easy, but John pushed through. He met Ann Edwards, a teacher who later became his wife and mother of his two children: Siân and Richard. Together, they achieved their biggest goals. He became an internal auditor, and soon they bought their first house.

Grandson Richard emphasizes that the book’s cover photo is his favorite because it represents an achievement. “It represents going from nothing to something big. That’s a picture of success,” he says.

John reached the peak of his career when he was in charge of Financial Planning at Black and Decker. There he would do what he enjoyed most: advising people on what they could do right.

After buying their forever home, John and his wife raised their kids and later enjoyed their grandchildren. “That house has positive energy. You go there and think: ‘I’m going to have fun, have lots of sandwiches and cake!’" says Richard with a big smile.

After reading Our Grampa, Richard described the impact of the book on his life: “His priority was to do better for his family, for his children. It’s the drive to do better for everybody else, to offer them a good life, and that comes back to my point of appreciation because you get to a place when I realize how lucky we are, and this book was a realization."

The Drive to Keep a Family United

John’s story is rooted in Ireland, in a fishing village called Dalkey. His father, John David Gibson, was a “virtual orphan” who lived across institutional homes in his later childhood, a man who worked in pubs and also dug and installed Anderson Shelters.

In the book, John’s son Richard explains that “The fragmented nature of his own family is why he is so keen to bring us all together. ... He is incredibly generous with both his time and with money, but spends very little on himself.”

That desire to keep his family united above all led him to find an uncle called Jim that emigrated to the United States long before he was even born. “They didn’t know each other until they were so much older. Suddenly, they became best friends in their forties or fifties,” says Richard.

John and uncle Jim on the Lakes.

The Resilient Grampa

Eventually, John retired from work and has enjoyed seeing his six grandchildren grow up and pursue their own goals.

He’s a resilient man who gives the benefit of his wisdom to his family. After many rises and falls, he has taught his relatives the life skills that helped him through his journey, like the ability to adapt to whatever comes your way, being responsible for yourself, and above all, returning your gratitude to others.

John with his family in Spain.

One of John’s skills is his logical thinking, which has set a strong example for his family. In Our Grampa, he describes it like this: “The human mind is like a computer ... it has a storage system and a processing system. A lot of people don’t engage the processing system ... people do not bother to think things through before acting.”

Grandson Richard loves this quote because it sums up his grandfather’s worldview: “This is what he’s like. He looks at people, he’s calm, he would take a step back, and he would say: you just need to cool off, recollect, regather, and try again. He’s right regarding this, and I liked that quote.”

When Richard Keeley highlights the significance of the title of the memoir, he happily explains: "That’s the idea of the book. To share with them [future generations of the Gibson family] who he is. It isn’t just this old grampa who sits around and watches the BBC all the time. Ironically, it is more than just a grampa; he’s Our Grampa."

Watch Richard explain the importance of sharing his grandfather’s story with younger generations: Watch Video

If you’d like to honor a beloved grandparent by preserving their life story in a book, contact StoryTerrace or sign up for our newsletter to read more uplifting stories like John's.

Everyone knows a hero of the pandemic.

Whether it meant delivering groceries to elderly neighbors, running food banks to help those in need, or working tirelessly in hospital wards, many people stepped up to help others when they needed it most. Yet despite their incredible efforts, most of these individuals went unappreciated by people outside of their immediate family.

Last spring, we decided that these everyday heroes should be applauded. After receiving over 300 nominations for our Unsung Heroes initiative, we’re proud to announce the publication of our book about these outstanding helpers.

On June 1, we launched a new book, "Unsung Heroes," which showcases the inspiring stories of 25 individuals who made a real difference during the pandemic. We wanted to commemorate their acts of selflessness during such a difficult period and shed light on those who gave up their time and resources to help others.

A Sneak Peek at 3 of Our Inspiring Stories

1. The Selfless Veteran Who Delivered Medicine

A 22-year veteran with the Royal Engineers, Paul Wilkie suffers from severe PTSD and has formed an incredible bond with his service dog, Irma, who helps him cope with his condition. Despite his symptoms, Paul and Irma picked up vital medication for elderly or unwell people in his local community and delivered the prescriptions on a daily basis to help those who were unable to leave their homes during the pandemic.

2. The Team GB Canoeist Who Became an NHS Support Worker

Chloe Bracewell was all set to compete at the 2020 Olympic Games as a canoeist for Team GB. But when the games were postponed, Chloe signed up to become an NHS support worker instead.

Chloe and her mother Jackie also provided support to a local mother and her autistic daughter, who lost her father during the pandemic. The pair provided daily meals, shopping, and reassurance, all while caring for their own families.

3. The London Bus Driver Who Kept Everyone Moving

London bus driver Moe Manir set up Facebook and WhatsApp chat groups of over 20,000 TfL workers to help other drivers communicate safety problems, report passenger needs, and pass information on workers' rights. He was also responsible for suggesting a number of the hygiene and safety protocols such as cab screens and closing off the front door of the bus, which are still in use today.

How to Get Your Copy of "Unsung Heroes"

Our book officially launched on June 1, and you can order your copy on Amazon. When you purchase your copy, we’ll donate a portion of the profits to two great charities: Maggie’s, a UK organization that provides free cancer support, and Unity Unlimited, a US non-profit dedicated to providing educational activities and resources that foster unity and harmony within local communities.

The past year has been hard on everyone. As the pandemic turned life as we knew it on its head and put a temporary pause on our everyday lives, we felt isolation and loss on a scale larger than we could have ever anticipated. However, times of adversity also make us stronger, which was made clear by the special people who pulled together to help others through these difficult circumstances. From simple acts of kindness to saving lives — and everything in between! — our unsung heroes showed that a bit of compassion can change the world.

Is there an unsung hero in your life whose story deserves to be told? Contact StoryTerrace or sign up for our newsletter to learn more about working with our professional writers to capture your loved ones’ incredible deeds.

What a difference a year makes!

Last year about this time, we launched our Unsung Heroes project to recognize all the good that people were doing to help friends and neighbors through the darkest days of the pandemic. We were thrilled to hear so many stories of kindness and generosity during difficult times.

Now we’ve gathered 25 of those stories to share with the world in our new Unsung Heroes book. But this book didn’t write itself! Two of our Premium writers, Helena Drakakis and Diana Holquist, interviewed the finalists for the project and brought their stories to life.

To celebrate the book’s publication — and the hard work of these talented writers! — we wanted to learn more about the project. I interviewed Helena and Diana to find out more about their work and their feelings about their work on Unsung Heroes.

StoryTerrace’s newest publication, "Unsung Heroes."

ST: What did you enjoy most about the Unsung Heroes project?

Helena: Everybody’s story was very different, and I got to talk to some fascinating people who were trying to make a real difference in a time of crisis.

Diana: The range of people was extraordinary — homeless advocates, healthcare workers, mental health professionals, medical students, and ordinary citizens ready to do whatever they could. There was really a sense of everyone coming together that was so heartening to see. I also loved learning the backstories of all the people — where they came from, why they did what they did. It was consistently inspiring because it wasn’t about multi-millionaires or famous people.

ST: Which Unsung Heroes story stood out to you most?

Helena: Lots stood out, but one that sticks in my mind was a nurse on the frontline called Ali Harris. I found her testimony very powerful. She not only had to deal with people who were critically ill, but also navigate her own family life. It was the small moments of lightness in her story that were really special.

Ali Harris

ST: And for you, Diana?

Diana: Roberto Rodriguez, the respiratory therapist who went viral for putting a giant picture of his smiling face over his PPE, was a great example of an ordinary guy who did an ordinary thing that had extraordinary impact. He called his small act of kindness “one little star” that combined with other stars brought “light in the dark, dark world.” That image felt like a description of what this book was about. His backstory of growing up in Section 8 housing with a single mother and putting himself through respiratory therapy school was just so powerful.

Listen to Diana read an excerpt of Roberto Rodriguez’s powerful story in Unsung Heroes: Watch Video

ST: What silver linings did you find for yourself during the pandemic?

Diana: A lot of people have grown more introspective during quarantine, which has led to interesting book projects. Overall, people have more time to themselves, which leads them to try to write their stories, which leads them to me. So that’s been very gratifying. I’ve also gotten into gardening, have read even more novels than usual, and am working every day on learning German — just for fun!

Helena: I discovered so many different walks through beautiful woodland where I live. There’s something very calming about the natural world.

ST: What do you hope people take away from reading about our Unsung Heroes?

Helena: It doesn’t matter whether what you do is big or small. We are not all swashbuckling heroes saving lives, but delivering seeds to people’s doors or doing fitness classes online or cooking for children can make a real difference too.

Diana: Ordinary people can do extraordinary things. I think a lot of people felt paralyzed to help because they weren’t medical workers or they were scared to leave their homes. But these people managed to overcome their doubts and fears and do what needed to be done. They’re inspiring stories, and I hope people will be inspired. I know I was.

If Helena and Diana’s compassionate storytelling has inspired you to get to work on your own biography, get in touch to schedule a free consultation. You can also use our Writer Search Tool to find the perfect writer for your project today.

You can purchase your own copy of Unsung Heroes on Amazon.

Reconnect with Family This Summer

Life can be busy, but don't let this summer slip away without reconnecting with family. The pandemic highlighted the importance of close family relationships, especially with older generations. Here are some ideas to strengthen those bonds:

1. Barbecue Gatherings: Host a barbecue to share meals and stories.
2. Family Hikes: Plan a hike suitable for all ages.
3. Outdoor Movie Nights: Watch movies outside with pillows, blankets, and snacks.
4. Camping Trips: Enjoy outdoor activities and campfire stories.
5. Share Family Stories: Preserve and share family history.

For more information, contact StoryTerrace or join our newsletter.