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The Recipe Book That Sustained a Life: Mary Allott’s Victorian Story of Abandonment, Scandal, and Survival
In 1860, a young woman with a newborn opened a blank notebook with an A-Z index and began to write. Mary Allott, née Hopkinson, was about twenty-four years old, a mother of two. A few days before she gave birth, her husband Charles had sailed for New Zealand, leaving their two-year-old son with his mother…
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A video introduction to ‘Yet’
Have you ever wondered about the hidden stories that shaped our families and communities? The ones often left untold, buried under stigma and silence? In my latest video, I share the extraordinary journey of my father, Harry Drabble, whose life was transformed by childhood trauma, disability, and the choices he made. This story, captured in…
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What We Inherit Beyond Genes: Uncovering Our Emotional Ancestry
Sometimes, the patterns we repeat in relationships have less to do with conscious choices and more to do with heritage. Some families keep their distance emotionally, while others feel entangled in each other’s lives. The reason may lie in what I describe as our ‘emotional DNA’ – the unseen inheritance that carries forward the echoes…
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British Society for the History of Medicine Reviews Yet — A Moving Story of Childhood Illness, Resilience, and Hope
I was moved to tears to see ‘Yet’: A Story of Triumph over Childhood Separation, Trauma, and Disability reviewed by the British Society for the History of Medicine (BSHM). Seeing my father Harry’s story recognised by such a respected organisation means a great deal. ‘Yet’ tells of Harry’s childhood battle with bovine tuberculosis in 1930s Sheffield — a…
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12 Powerful Themes from ‘Yet’: A Story of Triumph over Childhood Separation, Trauma, and Disability
Discover Yet: A Story of Triumph over Childhood Separation, Trauma, and Disability—a deeply moving disability memoir exploring resilience, trauma recovery, and the power of the human spirit. Inspired by my father Harry’s experiences, this book traces his journey through childhood separation, disability, and social exclusion in post-war Britain. Blending social history with psychological insight, Yet…
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Dear Dad
Writing Dad’s book has kept him close since his death in 2022, but I’m entering another phase of my grief. I miss our conversations so much that I decided to write him a letter. How do you manage your own losses? Dear Dad, I want to tell you why I’ve chosen to publish your story…
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‘Can’t Do to Can Do … Yet’: Harry Drabble’s Journey Through Disability, Work and the Fight for a Livelihood in 20th Century Britain
Harry Drabble’s story of resilience, from being written off as a child with a disability to building a successful life, highlights the fight for inclusion in 20th-century Britain. Shared for UK Disability History Month, his journey inspires us to challenge prejudice, reframe limitations, and strive for true equality.
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Hidden Wounds: How Adverse Childhood Experiences Shape Family Stories
Understanding adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) transforms family history research beyond names and dates. These hidden traumas—war, abuse, neglect, long-stay hospitalisation—ripple through generations, shaping behaviors and relationships. By recognising ACEs in historical records and family patterns, we gain compassionate insight into our ancestors’ struggles and the emotional legacies they passed down.
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Unlocking Ancestors’ Psychology with Attachment Theory and Adverse Childhood Experiences
Family history goes beyond names and dates to explore ancestors’ inner worlds, enriched by psychological insights. Attachment theory and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) reveal how early bonds and traumas shaped personalities, behaviors, and intergenerational patterns, deepening empathy and understanding of family legacies of trauma and resilience.
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From Harry Drabble to Diddly Squat Farm: The Lasting Impact of Bovine Tuberculosis
The recent bovine TB outbreak at Jeremy Clarkson’s farm highlights the disease’s emotional and economic toll. Harry Drabble’s 1937 battle with TB, detailed in Yet by Helen Parker-Drabble, echoes today’s struggles. His resilience and mantra, “I can’t… yet,” inspire hope amidst the enduring challenges of illness and adversity.
