Precious Stones

"Some losses feel seismic. The ground shifts, familiar landscapes tilt, and nothing is the same. Dad’s death changed our world. But it also left us with a distinctly geological conundrum. What on earth are we going to do with his rock collection?"

Three years after the death of Jenny Hill’s father, the family are still coming to terms not only with their grief - but a cumbersome inheritance. Arthur Hill, a much‑loved and somewhat eccentric chemistry teacher, spent a lifetime collecting rocks, minerals, fossils and gemstones. Hundreds of specimens now fill the corners and cupboards of the family’s small semi‑detached house in Jersey.

This edition of 'Illuminated' is a journey through stone, memory, and the traces we leave behind. Jenny - a former BBC foreign correspondent - returns home to explore the collection, wondering what these objects might reveal about the man who gathered, labelled, and studied them - but who never quite persuaded his family to share his passion.

Presenter: Jenny Hill
Producer & Sound Designer: Phoebe McIndoe
Exec Producer: Jack Howson
A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Radio 4