Hugo Elwes Extraordinary Ordinary People

I want to interview everyday people that I find extraordinary.

Not the celebrities we often hear interviewed who, following the death of a parent, went on to make millions setting up a start-up of some kind or another.

But ordinary, relatable people. My friends.

Losing a parent is surely one of the hardest things any of us will have to deal with in life. And yet, it is one we will all experience at some point.

I want to talk to those who experienced this all too soon. Those who lost a parent in their early formative years.

How has it changed them?

What are they doing now?

And most importantly what was the best thing their friends or family said to them during this time? How should we react on hearing a great friend of ours has suffered such a loss? There isn’t a guide book for this and many feel at a loss as to know how to react. Should I encourage them to talk about it? Or would they rather speak about anything but it? How do I not treat them differently whilst showing them that they have my full support?

In short what helped and what didn’t help them?

I am not coming at this from the angle of a psychologist. And I understand the incredibly sensitive and personal nature of the interview. I am approaching this from the angle of a friend trying to encourage the interviewee to share their experiences and give some helpful advice both to those going through the same thing and those trying to help their friends.

Our second episode of the series sees me sit down with the beautifully honest Hugo Elwes who talks me through his experiences concerning the loss of his father.