Whilst you might recognise local resident and Westfield Parish Councillor for B&NES Council, Robin Moss, some might not know that he is an avid collector, of what he admits to be, ‘stuff’.

For many years, Robin has been scouring car boot sales and auctions for things that spark his interest, and in doing so, has amassed a collection of fascinating material that he now hopes to share with others.

He says: “Whether it be a boot sale, an auction, a jumble sale – I’ll be there, looking for ‘stuff’ (to use the technical term) – and the more unusual, the older, the quirkier; if it’s unique – all the better.

“Over the years, what I have noticed is that families will treat their histories in different ways.

“Most of us will keep treasured mementos, keeping people ‘alive’ into the future through their pictures and the stories they told. But some will discard the past after a death – often, I will see the remnants of a life in a box, all jumbled up and for sale for just a few pounds.

“I find it very hard to let these things go. Over the years, this has included diaries, letters, journals and more recently, some poetry, and I wondered what to do with it.

“I have thought for a while about publishing, and eventually got around to doing something. I am now just a few weeks away from reproducing the first volume of poetry that I found in the bottom of a tatty old suitcase.

“So, this is my new project, to type up these written records, these ‘Forgotten Voices,’ and publish them.

I have tried where possible to track down the families concerned, but (as yet) without success.

“I will be publishing initially online, probably via e-readers such as Kindle. I’m no judge of what is good or bad, I’ll let readers decide that; but at least some forgotten voices will be heard once again.”

Robin will be publishing the poems first, followed by diary entries and letters, which he says have been fascinating. One pile of letters were written during wartime between a couple, and he is trying to put them all in order, so that he can work out a sequence of events and follow the lost conversation.

As well as love letters, there are old newspapers which provide a snapshot in various points in time, and a huge pile of old film reels. Robin would be keen to hear from any Journal readers who have ideas or a resource to see what secrets they reveal, if any.

There are also hundreds of photographs, some with names on the back; mostly unknown smiling faces – some of weddings, some holding favourite pets, or on days out. All untold stories.

To keep up-to-date with Robin’s project, readers can visit: www.facebook.com/ForgottenVoices2019/