To my mind, the BBC programme Extraordinary Portraits is worth its weight in gold.
Pictured above are two individuals brought together to celebrate life and art. On the left is Christian Lewis, an ex-paratrooper who struggled to fit back into civilian life and sprawled into a cycle of depression and debt. He took what you could call a mighty risk, left home with only £10 in his pocket and two days’ worth of rations. His goal – to walk the entire coastline of the UK including all the islands, a journey of 19,000 miles. With incredible fortitude he completed the walk with the help of his faithful dog and raised half a million pounds for SSAFA, a charity helping ex-service personnel.
On the right is Hywel Pratley, an eminent sculptor with a royal pedigree based in Italy and London, who works in clay and bronze and is a master in studying and recreating the intricacies and proportions of a human face, and celebrating individuality and life. He wears his considerable skill with the lightest touch.
Once Bill Bailey introduces the two, their encounter truly begins. Christian, having lived only outdoors for a long time, feels confined inside; undeterred, Hywel joins him in a Welsh field, sculpting his face on a stick in clay for two days and getting to know him. Later Christian visits Hywel’s studio and the pair clearly like each other.
What I love about this programme is its sheer exuberance. Both men have a passion. Hywel, the artist, is in love with the process of sculpture. What happens in the encounter though is that both men appear to be changed by the other’s passion. Hywel is humbled by Christian’s grit, his determination to bring something beautiful to life through terrible struggle, and in awe of his magnificent and far-reaching achievement. Christian in turn is amazed by the gifts that life has bestowed upon him on his journey, meeting his soul-mate on the path, then having a baby with her; and now becoming a model for an acclaimed sculptor. A quiet man, he just keeps going as he has on the path, and reveals all that has come his way.
Life force is a wonderful thing. We know when we have met another whose exuberance and passion is infectious. Sometimes we wish they might bottle it! Someone I’m close to gave me a ring with the words ‘Keep Going’ inscribed on it when I was going through a tough time. Maybe our life force can be found when like both of these men we just keep going and be open to what happens next that might surprise us.
Human rights campaigner and former hostage Sir Terry Waite, who wrote the foreword to my book 20 Ways to Break Free from Trauma still talks to hostages in far-flung parts of the world, some who have been unjustly detained and humanly have very bleak situations. One such man told Terry he was going to give up on life and stop eating. Terry’s response will always stay with me. He said: ‘You could do that I can quite understand why you might. But I would recommend you consider not doing. Because if you do that you may not find what life might have in store for you next.’ What an extraordinary connection. I wonder what life might have in store next.