Philip Loveday, age 16, has been recreating the same photographs of London landmarks that his grandmother, Scilla, took when she was the same age. Seventy years ago, Scilla was bored and decided to take photographs of the city. Now, her grandson is retracing her footsteps in an effort to jog her memory.
Scilla was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, a disease that causes memory loss, five years ago. Philip from Barnet, north London, is attempting to refresh her memory as a gift by visiting the same locations and taking photographs.
Philip has visited several of London’s most famous landmarks, including Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and the Houses of Parliament. He also visited the Royal Albert Hall, where his grandmother’s 1963 wedding took place. After visiting each location, Philip compares his photographs to those of his grandmother to determine how London has changed over the past seventy years.
Philip explained his motivation for completing this project by stating, “I wanted to repay my grandmother.” The similarities between his photographs and those of his grandmother “amazed” him, and he hopes that viewing them will jog her memory.
Philip’s project has touched the hearts of many people, including those he met on his journey. “Everyone I’ve met along the way has been so kind and generous,” he said. One guard at Buckingham Palace even snapped a picture of me holding my grandmother’s photo alongside my own. That was a memorable occasion for me.
This uplifting tale of a young man determined to honour his grandmother has captivated the attention of people worldwide. Without a doubt, Philip’s story will be remembered for many years to come, and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours.
