As we commemorate VE Day this week — the day the guns fell silent across Europe and peace was declared in 1945 — I find myself reflecting on the powerful role that sound and storytelling play in how we remember the past.
As a voiceover artist working in the heritage sector, I’m privileged to help bring history to life for today’s audiences. I’ve narrated many stories over the years, but some stand out more than others — like the project where I gave voice to the words of Second World War prisoner of war, George Hollings. Reading from his diary was a moving experience; his reflections, hopes, and resilience became real in a way that only the human voice can convey. (You can find a link to this project on my website).
That experience reminded me just how important it is to preserve and share these personal stories — not just dates and battles, but the everyday lives behind them.
I’m soon to be working with the National Emergency Services Museum in Sheffield on a new exhibition about The Blitz — a chapter of the war etched into our national memory. It’s another opportunity to lend my voice to the past, helping visitors connect emotionally with those who lived through such harrowing times. We are going to be bringing to life some letters written by children in Sheffield at the time, and I’ll be working with some school children to do this – it’s so important that younger generations continue to commemorate these events, especially now that there are so few people left who witnessed them first hand.
And today, there’s a personal connection too: my son, a tuba player with the Band and Bugles of the Rifles, is performing at the VE Day celebrations in Paris. Knowing he is helping to mark this historic occasion through music is incredibly special. It’s a reminder that remembrance takes many forms — whether it’s the music of a military band on the Champs Elysees or a softly spoken voice in a museum corner.
As we remember those who gave so much, I feel proud to play a small part in continuing their stories. Every word spoken, every note played, helps keep history alive for future generations.