Individual results

Interviewee: Jonathan Rhys Palmer
Interviewer: Helen Whitcombe

*NB: Sound of a house alarm going off in the background throughout Tracks 1-5*


Track 1
Born 18 May 1988 at Walsgrave Hospital. Family from Wales and Ireland. One brother, Ryan, age 8 years. Get on Ok, but he can be a real brat. Goes to Nanny's house a lot. On Thursdays goes to a cookery club after school, cooks lots of different things. Does Irish dancing and swimming. Has been dancing for four years. His team is very successful.

Track 2
Would like to carry on with Irish dancing, join a big show like Michael Flatley. Gets on well with Mum and Dad, but argues with Dad sometimes. Family spends a lot of time together, Christmas is a special time. Uncle has a pub in Tonbridge Wells. Birthdays. Visits his Nan and Great Nan. Holidays - Spain, Paris, Ireland.

Track 3
Travelling around for dancing competitions. Would like to go to Australia to visit Auntie who has two houses there, and to New York, because he likes shopping. Likes spending money on designer sports labels and CDs. Likes The Corrs and Gabrielle, thinks they are very talented. Gets nervous before dancing competitions. Went to Wyken Croft Primary School, remembers arriving late on first day but teacher was nice. Now goes to Lyng Hall Secondary School. Got bullied in first year, but getting on much better now.

Track 4
Doing well at school gets on better with pupils and teachers now. Has to do exams next year, does maths, French and science exams during the year. After school wants to set up his own businesses, cooking and selling cakes. Or wants to take a year out after college and do Irish dancing. Wants to go to Henley College to do cookery training. Will try to stay near to Coventry, but would like to live in America in a big house and have a swimming pool. Would hope to be based in Las Vegas. Hopes to get married and have children, this will fit in well with pub and catering businesses.

Track 5
Plans to shut his pub at 9pm. Important to have his life planned out, then he knows what to concentrate on in school. School pushes him hard. Dream for the future would be to have a big house, lots of money and his family close by. Not really a Coventry person as he is 'free spirited'. Would like to live in Ireland with best friend. Irish connection is important, Irish dancing takes up a lot of his time. Grandad is Irish, been over to visit family. Thinks he has a sense of identity, he has got good street credibility. Thinks he got bullied because of his designer labels.

Track 6
Labels quite important, more likely to get noticed with designer labels on, he likes to get attention. Has girls who are friends, but isn't interested in going out with them. His female friends tell him secrets. Friendships are important, wouldn't want to spoil his friendships by going out with the girls he is friends with. Enjoys living in Coventry, likes the historical parts. Thinks child abuse and childhood diseases are big issues. Worries about asthma and eczema and sex offenders. Doesn't worry about drugs.

Track 7
Knows he would never take drugs, or smoke, or drink. Would never get completely legless, Grandad is funny when he gets drunk, but Mum doesn't like feeling drunk. For future he hopes to set up his businesses and have the family close. Thinks friends and family are really important, important to have people supporting him. Fears - would hate to be burgled, or have his house burned down. Wishes future generations to be safe and have a happy life.

Coventry Lives Oral History Project, date of birth: 18/05/1988