Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE – Christina Noble, charity founder, was surprised by Michael Aspel at a fundraising fashion show and auction in central London.

Christina, who was born in the slums of Dublin, was abandoned as a child after her mother died and her alcoholic father could no longer care for her and her siblings. She suffered years of physical, emotional and sexual abuse in orphanages and on the streets and would later suffer a traumatic marriage and several health problems.

She dreamt one night about war-scarred Vietnam, where the streets were littered with abandoned and needy children, and the memories of her own situation as a youngster fired her to take action. Overcoming numerous cultural and political hurdles, she set up the Christina Noble Children's Foundation in Ho Chi Minh in 1989, offering much-needed medical, educational and care facilities. In 1997 the foundation was expanded to include Mongolia, and, at that point, her centres had helped almost 200,000 children.

programme details...

• Edition No: 1102
• Subject No: 1078
• Broadcast date: Thu 2 May 2002
• Broadcast time: 8.30-9.00pm
• Recorded: Sun 24 Feb 2002 1.00pm
• Venue: Teddington Studios
• Series: 42
• Edition: 23
• Code name: Dream

on the guest list...

• Androula - daughter
• Helenita - daughter
• Tom Sweeney
• Andy - brother
• Philomena - sister
• Michael - brother
• Ray Dafter
• Nghia
• Dr Harry Beauchamp
• Dr Vincent Kenny
• Thomas - grandson
• George - grandson
• Savva - granddaughter
• Anna - niece
• Hong Wing Sheeran
• Suzanne Sheeran
• Kieran Sheeran
Filmed tributes:
• Francesca Annis
• Clive Wedderburn
• Darren Ramsay
• Nicolas - son
• Sean - brother
• Betty Boothroyd
• Madame Le Thien Huong
• Bertie Ahern
• Sunshine School Children's Choir

production team...

• Researchers: Kate Greer, Jo Grant
• Writer: Ian Brown
• Director: John Gorman
• Associate Producer: Helen Gordon-Smith
• Executive Producer: John Longley
• Series Producer: Jack Crawshaw
• Producer: Sue Green

A Charitable Life

the unsung heroes

Screenshots of Christina Noble This Is Your Life - and Christina Noble photographed at her home with her big red book in March 2012