TWO new conversations have been published on the Back-Chat Collection website.

The audio archive was launched by local historian Carlo Harrison and has been recording the stories of people from Aireborough and beyond.

The project has been proving a hit since it was launched in November 2018, and now Carlo has published the 50th and 51st interviews in the collection.

The 50th interview is that of Julie Cecere, of Willow Cottage, an award winning Grade II listed bed and breakfast in Yeadon. . Visit https://back-chat.org.uk/julie-cecere/ to find out more.

Carlo said: "The conversation with Julie lived up to my expectations, I know her to be an outgoing and bubbly person who never seems to have a free moment. What I didn’t know is that Julie had a hard start in life - nothing was handed to her on a plate, in fact just the opposite. And being a single parent of two boys - one of which had a childhood illness- just adds to the struggles in her life.

"However, Julie has forged ahead and is now the proud owner of Willow cottage a 1750’s grade II listed building and luxury guest house in Yeadon which is now her hometown.

"Julie tells of her connection with the Brayshaw family of caravan builders; working as a nanny in the USA; supporting local businesses as well as her views on Brexit, Boris Johnson, climate change and Prince Harry."

He added: "I was so pleased when Judith Penny agreed to be interviewed for The Back-Chat Collection -https://back-chat.org.uk/judith-penny/

"Judith was in the year above me at school, but I had known her name and that of the family’s farm in Carlton, (Penny’s Farm) from way back.

"Judi moved from Abbey Garth in Carlton to Carlton Hall - a rather grand establishment. She now lives in the hall’s mistle (cow shed), but I suspect that it has been extensively renovated from its original days.

"Family life on the farm when she was younger included milking the cows on freezing Yorkshire winter mornings.

"Hairdressing, modelling and teaching form the backbone of her working life as well as becoming a verifier for BTec/Edexcel and then, at 64, she went off back packing across the globe with a friend."

The Back-Chat Collection was launched by Carlo to record the lives of ordinary people.

Speaking soon after its launch he said: “My intention is to build an historical archive in an audio format that will appeal to followers of history now and become a fascinating insight into history spoken by the people who have lived it to be listened to in say 50 to 100 years’ time.”

The archive has continued to grow despite the pandemic, with interviews from around the world.

The Back-Chat website is accessed by people from 19 different countries across the globe, has over 6,000 regular followers each week and has had more than 31,000 page hits.