As We Grow Up, Others Grow Old | Harry Petty | TEDxWestminster School
This talk will feature Harry reading four original poems that explore the profound influence of grandparents on our upbringing. ‘Bill’s Cufflinks’, is about the cufflinks Harry inherited from his grandfather, Bill, which he wears on important occasions; ‘Christmas, 2024’, examines his grandmother Nettie’s decades-old tradition of a readings and music evening – a practice that resonates across all the generations that have taken part; ‘Autumn Leaves’, uses the metaphor of a tree shedding its leaves to depict his grandmother Mim’s battle with Alzheimer’s; ‘In the Back Seat’, looks forward to the future while observing the generational interplay within another family. Collectively, they reveal how the love, wisdom, and traditions passed down through generations shape who we become. Harry is an English teacher at Westminster School, where he also serves as Head of Remove. In addition to these roles, he co-organised this TEDx Westminster School event. Before joining Westminster, Harry taught English at Trinity School in Croydon, where he coordinated the Festival of Ideas. During his tenure at Trinity School, he gained recognition for his poem “Another Hour,” which he recited on ITV London News during the lockdown. Prior to that, he wrote and directed plays performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and last year, his poem “Caterpillar” was highly commended in the Kellogg College Kafka Writing Prize. He is currently studying for a master’s degree in Literature and Arts at Oxford University. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
