Student searches for his father's voice

A student who uses text-to-speech software to communicate is searching for a new voice so he can share the same accent as his late father.

Christian Wilson, who studies at the University of Worcester, is hoping people will submit recordings of their voices so they could become his voice.

The student said to share an accent with his father, who died suddenly from an aortic aneurysm, would be a dream come true.

He is looking for someone with a Birmingham accent with a Warwickshire twang as he said his dad was from Warwickshire and a Birmingham City supporter.

"I can’t remember my dad, but to have his voice would mean he could live on through me," said.

Mr Wilson has verbal dyspraxia, a difficulty in placing muscles in the correct position to produce speech.

"I'm from Bromsgrove and was born in Birmingham, I want to sound like a person from Birmingham and not a character from Star Wars or Cyborg from Doctor Who," he said.

"When I was younger I used to get jealous of all my friends because they all had what I wanted but if I found my voice it would be a dream come true."

People with a Birmingham or Warwickshire accent are being encouraged to submit recordings of them reading the words: “Hello, my name is Christian and it’s great to meet you. I study at the University of Worcester, and I live in the Midlands".

Once two favourite voices have been chosen, known as voice donors, the software at Speak Unique will combine them into a unique voice to replace the one he currently uses.

The voice donor will be expected to record themselves reading aloud 150 sentences.

Anyone who can help should email [e-mail].