11/09/2026
25 years ago today my life changed direction in a way I could never have imagined.
I can still remember so much about that day and the days that followed, and although it came from the most unimaginable tragedy, that time in my life also brought friendships and relationships that have stayed with me ever since and that I will always be incredibly grateful for.
Earlier this year I completed a photography project where I photographed people holding something that was significant to them, something that held a memory or told a little part of their story. So today it felt fitting to think about what I would choose if I were standing on the other side of my own camera.
It would be this, my Freedom Quilt.
It was made for me and gifted to me by the family I worked for in America when I eventually left, as a symbol of love and thanks. I brought it home to Yorkshire with me and I’ve treasured it all these years. It holds so many memories of that time, of a family I loved, of loss and friendship, but also of kindness, love and connections that have somehow continued across 25 years and thousands of miles.
September 11th 2001 will always be a date that changed so many lives forever, including the direction of mine, and today I’m remembering Bob and all those who lost their lives, and thinking of the families and friends who have carried that loss with them ever since.
Thank you too to BBC Yorkshire, BBC Radio Leeds and Look North for inviting me to share my story 25 years on. It’s not always an easy story to tell, but it feels important to remember. ❤️
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3d7pmxgrz5o
