Buzzing around Yorkshire, our columnist’s days are never the same…
I’m often asked who is the ‘ best’ person I’ve interviewed. Honestly, that’s impossible to answer. I’ve been lucky to meet so many interesting people, from world-famous celebrities to prime ministers, even royalty. On one occasion, I interviewed a talking noodle carton! That may be for another column...
If I really had to single some out, my 10 minutes with Dolly Parton when she visited Yorkshire stands out – she was so generous and fun. I had shivers watching music legend Gloria Gaynor belt out I Will Survive in our studio and I loved the firecracker that is singer Lulu (yes, she looks just as good with wet hair and no make-up, as I found out when I met her in the make-up room. She really is older woman goals).
There was also the funny moment when I was due to interview Dame Edna Everage on ITV Calendar. I encountered her creator/ alter ego, the late genius Barry Humphries in the corridor. I introduced myself, saying: ‘I’m looking forward to chatting to you later,’ only to receive the reply: ‘Oh no, dear, you’ ll be interviewing Edna, I’m Barry, her manager. I’m afraid Edna isn’t here yet.’
However, most journalists would agree that a privilege of this job is to meet the so-called ‘ordinary people’ with extraordinary stories to tell and there are a number (far from ordinary!) who have welcomed me into their lives at their most difficult times and allowed me to tell their stories. The lovely thing is that I’ve stayed there... and we’ve become good friends.
It’s International Women’s Day this month and these three are all inspiring women. By chance each of them is also facing a milestone anniversary this year. They include Jackie Roberts, who suffered the loss of her student daughter, Megan, who drowned in the river in York 10 years ago; Joan Lawrence marks 15 years this month since her 35-year-old daughter, Claudia, disappeared; and Claire Throssell faces the 10-year anniversary of the day her two young sons, Jack and Paul, were killed by her estranged husband during a custody visit in October 2014.
I was lucky they trusted me to report their stories and that has led to them all becoming treasured friends. I’ve now watched their journeys at first hand as they have shown me, and the rest of the world, how a person faces the reality of their worst nightmares. It’s impossible to imagine, but they have all done it with courage, dignity and determination, sometimes even humour, in the face of adversity.
Joan Lawrence has never stopped fighting for answers about what happened to Claudia, whose disappearance is now a North Yorkshire Police murder enquiry. Despite several arrests, no one has ever been charged.
