Save your family’s personal stories from unhappy ending

The oral tradition of storytelling has been around for as long as humans have been able to talk to each other and for centuries stories have been passed down through the generations. In the past, our ancestors will have gathered around the evening fires describing heroic feats or recounting funny stories, whereas nowadays such tales are more likely to be told sat around the kitchen table, or in the pub.

If they’re told at all, that is. According to research published today by the world’s leading self-publishing platform, Blurb, the endless distractions of modern life and our unwillingness to listen to what older people have to say means family stories are in danger of being lost forever.

The study, based on a poll of 2,000 people, suggests that almost a third of children find their grandparents’ old stories “boring” and would rather play computer games or talk to their friends on the phone. A similar proportion of parents that were questioned admitted their children frequently “tune out” when personal and family stories are discussed at the dinner table or at family gatherings.

This might sound a familiar story, but families are the guardians of some of the richest stories never written and unless these personal histories are saved in some shape or form, they, and the people whose lives they describe, will simply slip from the memory.

Which is why a new campaign, called Nation of Storytellers, is being launched by Blurb to encourage people across the UK to share and record their stories for the benefit of their families and also to make sure the contributions of past generations is appreciated and remembered.

Eileen Gittins, chief executive and founder of Blurb, feels some people perhaps don’t realise the importance of these family stories.

“Unless these personal histories are captured in some shareable form, our children and their children will never understand or appreciate the contributions our relations made to events both large and small,” she says. “Great Britain, in particular, was at the epicentre of some the most seismic events of the 21st-century. In my own family we have the American clan and the British clan and our grandfathers on both sides served in the First World War and knowing that really brings that chapter in history to life in a very personal and meaningful way.”

She says that over the last 100 years, ordinary men and women have found themselves embroiled in significant historical events, from the sinking of the Titanic and the raising of the Mary Rose to two World Wars and from Royal coronations to the departure of the “ten pound Poms” to Australia.

Gittins points out, too, that many families are also guardians of specialist skills, such as rural crafts like thatching and dry stone walling, or have memories of adventures from the past, which are also at risk of being forgotten.

Which is where the Nation of Storytellers comes in. The campaign hopes to uncover treasured stories from across the UK and people with have stories to share can visit www.nationofstorytellers.com and submit a short synopsis. A panel will then choose the 20 most inspiring stories that will be included in a book to be published later this year.

Parenting expert Liz Fraser, who is working with the campaign, believes it’s important to record these family stories before they disappear into the mists of time. “With so many things now competing for our children’s attention – whether that’s computer games, mobiles or watching TV – it’s really important that as parents we carve out some time to properly engage with them about our family stories and history.

“Much of the trick is turning these family narratives into compelling stories and even physical books, so kids are as excited about what grandad did in the ‘old days’ as they are when hearing the latest Harry Potter or other favourite books at bedtime,” she says.

“It’s also hugely important to provide our children, and even ourselves, with the knowledge of who we are, where we came from and what our ancestors did, so that we can help instil a sense of identity and pride, which we hope will then aid in future development.”

For more information visit www.nationofstorytellers.com