100 Before 100
Preserving the wisdom of those who have already travelled the road ahead.
If more of us are fortunate enough to live into our nineties or beyond, who better to learn from than the people already there?
Throughout our lives we receive advice from parents, teachers, colleagues, authors and experts. Yet some of the most valuable perspectives often arrive too late, after a lifetime of experience.
100 Before 100 is a long-term project to record one hundred conversations with people aged 90 and over.
Not celebrities. Not necessarily famous people. Just people who have lived long lives. People who have loved, worked, succeeded, failed, worried, celebrated, adapted and kept going through extraordinary periods of history.
Their experiences deserve to be remembered. And perhaps, by listening carefully, we can all make a few better decisions today.
The world is changing faster than ever.
Artificial intelligence can summarise books, answer questions and generate endless information. But it cannot recreate a lifetime of lived experience.
Every person in their nineties carries a unique story. A childhood without smartphones. Decades of work. Family life. Loss. Friendship. Retirement. Changing technology. Changing society. Changing priorities.
Many of those stories are never recorded. When someone dies, an entire library of experiences often disappears with them.
This project aims to preserve a small part of that wisdom before it is lost.
Why this project?
Why 100 Before 100?
Why one hundred?
Because one conversation tells one story.
One hundred conversations begin to reveal patterns.
After speaking to one hundred people aged ninety and over, we hope not only to preserve individual lives,
but also to discover the lessons that emerge again and again.
The Questions
Each conversation will be different, but everyone will be asked a common set of questions. Questions such as:
Looking back, what has been the happiest period of your life?
What worried you that turned out not to matter?
If you could give one piece of advice to your 50-year-old self, what would it be?
What would you encourage younger generations not to leave too late?
What makes a life well lived?
There won't be right or wrong answers. The value will come from hearing one hundred different perspectives.
How you can help
Do you know someone aged 90 or over with a story to tell?
Perhaps it's a parent, grandparent, neighbour, family friend or someone in your local community. They don't need to have climbed Everest, built a business or changed the world. Simply living through nine or ten decades gives people a perspective that deserves to be heard.
If you know someone who might enjoy taking part, we'd love to hear from you.
FAQ
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We're looking for people aged 90 or over from all walks of life. They don't need to be famous or have achieved anything extraordinary. Every long life has experiences and lessons worth sharing.
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Absolutely. If you're aged 90 or over and would enjoy taking part, we'd be delighted to hear from you.
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Wherever participants feel most comfortable. That might be at home, in a retirement village, care home, community venue, or online if appropriate.
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Yes. Many participants may feel more comfortable with a family member or friend nearby, and they are very welcome to join the conversation.
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Most interviews are likely to last around 60 to 90 minutes, although there's no rush. We want the conversation to feel relaxed and enjoyable.
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Yes, with the participant's permission. Recording allows us to accurately preserve each person's memories and words. Interviews may be transcribed, lightly edited for clarity and, with permission, shared through the 100 Tomorrow website and related projects.
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Yes. Before anything is published, participants (or, where appropriate, their family) will have the opportunity to review the interview and request corrections to factual errors or remove anything they would prefer not to share.
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No. Taking part is completely free.
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We hope to speak to as many people as possible, but unfortunately we won't be able to interview everyone. We'll carefully consider every nomination and will be in touch if we're able to arrange an interview.
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Initially, we're focusing on people living in the UK. As the project develops, we hope to expand further afield.
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Because every long life contains experiences that can help the rest of us. We hope these conversations will preserve wisdom that might otherwise be lost and encourage people of all ages to think differently about living a long and fulfilling life.
A Living Archive
100 Before 100 isn't intended to be completed quickly.
It's a long-term project to preserve the wisdom of people who have lived through extraordinary decades of change.
Each interview will become part of a growing archive, helping future generations learn from those who have already travelled the road ahead.
Every nomination helps build that archive.
Every long life has a story worth preserving.
Editorial Principles
Independent
100 Before 100 is an independent oral history project recording the experiences, reflections and advice of people aged 90 and over.
Respect
Participants are invited because of the lives they have lived and the wisdom they are willing to share—not because of any professional relationship with the interviewer.
Choice
Participation is entirely voluntary. Interviewees may choose whether they are identified by their full name, first name only or anonymously.
Accuracy
Interviews may be lightly edited for clarity and length, while preserving each participant’s voice, meaning and perspective as faithfully as possible.
Approval
Before publication, participants—or, where appropriate and properly authorised, someone acting on their behalf—will have the opportunity to review their interview, request factual corrections and identify information they would prefer not to publish.
Privacy
Personal, confidential or sensitive information will not knowingly be published without the participant’s clear and specific consent. Participants will also be told how their information, photographs and recordings will be used.
Independence from Financial Advice
100 Before 100 is entirely separate from Scott Gallacher’s work as a Chartered Financial Planner. Interviews do not involve financial advice or discussion of participants’ personal financial arrangements.
A Living Archive
The project is intended to grow gradually over many years. Each published interview will contribute to a growing archive preserving the experiences and perspectives of people who have lived long lives.
No Endorsements
Participation in 100 Before 100 does not imply endorsement of Scott Gallacher, Gallacher Group Ltd, Rowley Turton (IFA) Ltd, or any financial product or service.