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Michelle Knight; The Henrietta Hutton Research Grant; Inherited Possessions

Michelle Knight talks to Jenni about her 11 year ordeal at the hands of Ariel Castro. Some of the women who have been awarded the Henrietta Hutton Research Grant. The meaningful possessions we leave behind when we die.

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58 minutes

Chapters

  • Michelle Knight

    Michelle Knight talks to Jenni about her 11 year ordeal at the hands of Ariel Castro.

    Duration: 20:16

  • Female explorers of the Royal Geographic Society

    Dr Rita Gardner and Professor Katie Willis on the Henrietta Hutton research grant.

    Duration: 08:20

  • ‘What is Left?’

    Ellie Harrison and Amber Dowell discuss the possessions we leave behind when we die.

    Duration: 12:20

Michelle Knight

On the 23rd August 2002, Ariel Castro persuaded Michelle Knight to enter his house in Cleveland, Ohio. She didn’t leave until May 6th 2013. During the eleven years that Knight was Castro’s prisoner, she suffered unimaginable cruelty which included almost daily rape and being chained up in the basement for months on end with a sock in her mouth and a motorcycle helmet on her head. Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus were also kidnapped and imprisoned by Ariel Castro. Gina was only 14. Amanda Berry had Castro’s child. Michelle has now written a memoire of her time in Ariel Castro’s house. She talks to Jenni about the experience and how she managed to survive the ordeal.

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Photograph courtesy of Deborah Feingold.

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Finding Me: A Decade of Darkness, a Life Reclaimed’ is published by Weinstein Books.

Female explorers of the RGS

This year, the celebrates the 50th anniversary of the which supports students undertaking field research overseas. Before 2012, the grant was only awarded to women and this week, some of the 133 recipients met to remember Henrietta Hutton and to share the experiences they were able to have as a result of the fund established in her name. Two of these intrepid women are in the Woman’s Hour studio. Dr Rita Gardner – now the Director of the Royal Geographical Society – spent 9 months climbing down into deep wells in India in the late 70s as part of her research into climate change. Professor Katie Willis experienced a complete culture shock in the early 90s when she travelled to southern Mexico to research gender roles there.

‘What is Left?’

AÌý poll this week commissioned by found that discussing dying and making end of life plans still remain a taboo for many people. ÌýOver half of the public (51%) who have a partner say they are unaware of their end of life wishes. ‘What is Left?’ Ìýis a new exhibition by artist Ìý and photographer, . It features 50 photographic portraits and audio recordings of people holding a meaningful object inherited from a lost loved one. The work explores the relationship between loved ones that have passed away and the possessions they leave behind. To discuss the importance of the objects we leave behind Jenni is joined by Ellie Harrison and Amber Dowell, Manager for Helplines & Online Support at .

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Cruse Bereavement HelplineÌý 0844 477Ìý9400

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:ÌýWhat is Left’

LANCASTER:Ìý19th May - 16th June,

BARNSLEY:ÌýÌý21st July – 15th August,

PORTLAND:Ìý 5th September - 14th September 2014,ÌýÌý

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Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jenni Murray
Interviewed Guest Michelle Knight

Broadcast

  • Fri 16 May 2014 10:00

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