As a radio host, Robert Scott has always understood the power of a good story. But with his latest project, The Breeze star is gathering his most important tales yet as he works with his father John to record his life story to keep for generations to come.
“People get to a certain age and they pass away, and there’s a lot of family history that you never learn about,” tells Robert. “My dad has always been a good chatterer, so I thought I’d record him.”
For the past few years, Robert has slowly been building a collection of recordings of John telling stories from across his life.
“Whenever I get the recorder out, he’ll say, ‘Oh, no, not again,’ but he’ll quickly be back telling me stories,” he tells with a laugh.
The project became more important than ever this year when John had a couple of health crises and Robert feared his recordings would be all he’d have left of his beloved dad.
At the beginning of the year, John was hit hard by Covid and Robert’s only relief was that he didn’t end up in the hospital. But a few months later in July, when the family gathered to celebrate John’s 90th birthday, it was clear he’d been struck by something much worse.
‘Dad’s always been a good chatterer, so I thought I’d record him’
“We went in to wish him a happy birthday and he was just not with it,” recalls Robert. “The next day, I went to see him and I got the shock of my life when I saw him lying flat on his back with an oxygen mask.”
Two days later, he was admitted to hospital with pneumonia and pancreatitis, and doctors warned there was a high chance John wouldn’t make it. For a month, Robert spent almost every day at the hospital, sitting by his father’s side, not knowing if he’d still be alive by his next visit.
“We’d have the same conversation every day, thinking it was the last time I’d see him,” tells the 56-year-old. “He’d say, ‘I love you, you’ve been a great son,’ and I’d say, ‘You’ve been the best dad.’ It was pretty harrowing.”
Miraculously, in August, John’s health started to improve and by the end of the month, he was back in his care home. Though he’s still recovering, Robert reports John is perkier with every visit.
“He’s lost a lot of weight and he’s got to regain his core strength before he can walk again, but the colour has returned to his face and he’s got his sense of humour back.”
Robert says dad John perks right up after a visit from furry mate Charley
Another regular guest at the care home is Robert’s wheaten terrier Charley. “When Dad was pretty much next to dying, I’d tell him, ‘If you get out of here, I’ll bring the dog to see you every week.’ And he’d woof in response! Now I take Charley to see him every week and she loves him. She’s a relatively big dog, but she’ll run and jump on his lap.”
Now that John is brighter, Robert’s excited they get to finish their project. While he knew many of the stories, he has loved filling in the missing pieces of his father’s life.
From his childhood in London during World War II, watching his city be destroyed by bombs, to joining the Royal Air Force as an engineer and seeing the globe working on planes, John has lived a full life.
Some of Robert’s favourite stories are from John’s time working at Heathrow, servicing the private jets.
“The likes of Paul McCartney and Led Zeppelin would walk past him, and he wouldn’t have any time for them. As far as he was concerned, they were just scruffy, long-haired louts,” he laughs.
John moved his family to New Zealand for a fresh start in the ’70s
In the ’70s, John and Robert’s mum Marion, who sadly passed away 10 years ago, moved their young family to New Zealand in search of a better life for their kids.
Robert, who shares Sam, 25, and Molly, 21, with wife Carmel, was only eight when he had to say goodbye to his home and friends. During his conversations with John, he realised he’d never shared with his dad just how hard he found the transition to New Zealand.
“When we first moved here, there was a radio announcer who started a campaign called Punch a Pom Day and the bullying at school was pretty bad,” Robert shares. “My dad never knew about it, so I feel good that I’ve told him.”
Robert never told his dad he was being bullied
As he heads into the Christmas season, Robert is delighted he gets to spend another holiday with his father by his side and has a renewed appreciation for the wonderful life he’s been given.
“We came to New Zealand for a better life. My mother struggled being homesick for years, I was bullied, it wasn’t easy. But here we are, 48 years later and we have a better life. I’m happy Dad gets to see that it was the right thing to do.”
