Tracks of My Life with Victoria Claire

Episode 44,   Aug 29, 2022, 02:00 PM

Tracks of My Life is a show on RNIB Connect Radio presented and produced by Toby Davey where he invites a guest to take us on a journey through their life, sharing the tracks that mark important moments which bring back memories to them.

Their chosen tracks of their life might include the first track they can remember hearing, the first track they bought, a number of tracks that mark moments in their life and the final track, a track that they would like to pass on which might give people hope for the future.

In this trimmed down podcast version of Tracks of My Life Toby is joined by visually impaired Professional Artist, Contemporary Sculptor and sight loss charity Ambassador, Victoria Claire, who was first diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at the age of 19. This autumn will see a final exhibition of her work in Ireland as Victoria retires from the art industry to start a new chapter in her life.

We will start Victoria’s Tracks of my Life journey with Victoria at the age of 5 or 6 with the theme to that classic film and subsequent TV series from the early 1980s Fame, which was all about wanting to make it in the performing arts and to live forever with memories of the clothes style from that time including the leg warmers! 

Then we move to Art College time for Victoria with fond memories of college life with a track from her favourite movie from those days, Top Gun. At the time Victoria and her best friend from college who also loved the film, gave each other nicknames from the film, Victoria was Maverick and her friend was Goose. Although having been diagnosed with RP at the age of 19 at this time Victoria was still able to drive and they both used to boo bomb their cars along with Danger Zone blaring out of their car stereos. 

Next we will come to a track which is definitely a bit of a club anthem to mark those days of club life for Victoria with memories of going to clubs with a good group of friends during those College days and also dancing the night away at the Ministry of Sound and other clubs in London.

Then it is off back packing around America for Victoria with one of her best friends and a trip to do while Victoria had some good useful vision to take in all that was visually on offer from that trip.

Before we come to Victoria’s final track, the one that she would like to pass on to others. We have two very powerful tracks for Victoria one that helped Victoria get through quite a difficult time in her life when she felt lost and alone and another dance track that reminds Victoria that even in her darkest of hours music can lift her and make her want to get up and dance.

To find out more about Victoria do visit her website - https://www.victoriaclaire-beyondvision.com


(Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)