Marie Carie outpatients relive past with unique keepsake boxes

Marie Carie outpatients relive past with unique keepsake boxes

15 June 2022

A STUDY to capture the memories in a nostalgic keepsake box of people who attend Marie Curie outpatient services has been welcomed by two Downpatrick men.

Michael Hynds and Dominic Quinn agreed to take part in the ‘From My Perspective’ project devised by Queen’s University student Isaac Gibson.

The men are supported by Marie Curie’s Community Outpatients Service and were among 10 people who agreed to participate in the study.

Isaac, who is studying for a PhD in Creative Arts for Palliative Care at the Sonic Arts Research Centre at Queen’s, recorded sound interviews with the group, encouraging them to speak about their early lives, school days, hobbies, family and milestone events such as getting their first car.

He then created a beautifully presented wooden box complete with old-style transistor radio controls, music clips, sound effects and interview chapters.

Clare Magilton, Marie Curie’s manager of Outpatient Services, said: “Many of us have photos and memories but few of us have captured the sounds of such times where family members are transported back to those days.”

For 74 year-old Michael, the memory box has given him a precious opportunity to share his life and family history with his wife Olga, and daughters Kirsty and Michelle.

“When my daughters first listened to my stories, they laughed as they said it was typically me,” said Michael. “They loved it. My sister and her children never knew as much about my father and their grandfather, Hugh Hynds, and their two uncles until they listened to it, so it has a much wider family interest than my own children.

“I was so impressed by Isaac and how he brought it all together. For me, I think it’s something that will be listened to and enjoyed as you can leave a diary but who really would read it? This is something that will last and be listened to time and time again.”

Michael, a former plasterer and tiler, believes it’s important to pass on family history to one generation to the next. He is also very grateful for the weekly meetings of Marie Curie’s Outpatient service.

He added: “Going to those meetings literally changed my life. We never talk about death, everything but that and I made some close friends through it.

“It’s meeting with other people who are going through the same thing as you that gives you the support as nobody else can really understand what you are dealing with unless they are also facing it.”

Dominic (74), who has known Michael since they were young boys, talks about his time working as a baker in his own business, Quinn’s Bakery in Downpatrick’s Scotch Street, in his memory box.

“My family really appreciates the memory box as I give information about the background of the family and growing up in the country,” he said.

“It also gave me a chance to talk about my own mother and father and aspects of my life, such as part-owning an Austin A40 car with my cousin and another friend for the price of £5 when I was a teenager.

“It was a job for us to get the price of it together, even though it was only £5. We did it up and painted it blue and it became forever known as the Bluebird after that.”

Dominic is thankful to have the memory box for his wife Doreen, twin children Simon and Sinead, grandchildren Jessica and Jennifer and great-granddaughter Ziyah.

He added: “It was a great project to be involved in and I would only hope that everyone could leave a memory box like this behind. 

“As a wood turner myself, I must admire Isaac’s beautifully made wooden box. It’s a wonderful thing for me and my family to have.”