Film Student Captures Her Grandad’s Final Days Battling with Cancer in a Heartbreaking Video Diary

Leah Sharpe, a film student in the UK, has put together this emotional video documenting her grandfather’s last few days battling with prostate cancer.

The moving five minute video (featured above) was filmed at her grandad Raymond Sharpe’s home and reveals some of the more refelctive moments of his life as he and his family share some of his best and funny memories with a sing-song along the way.

One scene that particularly stands out is when Raymond’s wife Marion takes a moment to look after her husband’s hair and face in what can only be described as simply poignant. The couple had been married for 64 years.

“It was all completely unscripted and unplanned” said Leah speaking to The Daily Mail, “We’ve always said in our family we’re a bit like the Royle Family and the film captures that pretty well.”

“It’s happy and poignant at the same time but I’m proud of how it came out. My grandparents were completely natural on the film - I did a project before where I filmed us covertly and they were exactly the same whether they knew the camera was there or not."

“My grandad had a great sense of humour, that’s just how he was - even though he was in a lot of pain he never let on. My grandma watched it and she got a bit upset but she found it as funny as anyone else, too."

Leah gained a first from Derby University for her photography work and we admire her for putting together such a reflective piece of film which we’re sure had a great emotional impact on her. The video is now being showcased in an exhibition of young film-makers in London.

“As hard as it was it ended up being a memorial to him and a very fitting one which made it worth it” said Leah, “I know he would be pleased with it.”

Raymond Sharpe passed away peacefully at his home at the age of 84 last April. May he rest in peace.