Chris Fairweather

An Interview with My Grandfather Chris Fairweather

I have developed the questions in this book to draw out the stories and memories of your grandfather's life. There are three easy ways to interview a loved one. You can write your grandfather's answers into the spaces provided in the book. You can use recording equipment or the voice recorder app on your phone, to create a series of audio files. Or, you can give the book to your grandfather to fill in. Interviews can take place in person, over the phone, or via programs like Skype and Facebook. They can be done in special sessions or combined with outings and family events. I found a mixture of methods worked best. Shopping trips and visits became much more interesting when combined with the questions from this book. I've tested and refined these questions on my grandfather and other family members. Initially my main goal was to archive some family history, but I gained so much more than that. Long buried stories rose to the surface which gave me insights into my grandfather's life. Learning about my grandfather's past helped me understand the man that raised me and the person he is today. Often only one or two questions were needed for him to start talking freely about the past. When other family members were around, we all got talking. My connection to my grandfather deepened as I worked on his history, and that is my wish for you too. Unless someone archives the details of your grandfather's life, they will be lost to future generations. Unfortunately, everyone's memory suffers as we age, so time spent now, will be invaluable later. To view more of Chris Fairweather's books, click on the author's name at the top of the page.