'Irene': An Impact Documentary

For nearly 20 years, Irene Perrin has welcomed visitors to St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, helping thousands learn about one of the UK's most historic buildings. The chapel has maintained a royal connection for more than 700 years and is the final resting place of 11 monarchs, including Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth II.

A lifelong educator and former headteacher, Irene has always been driven by a passion for sharing knowledge. When Motor Neuron Disease caused her to lose her voice, she faced the loss of a core part of her identity and her ability to teach.

Working with Richard Cave, Irene recreated her voice using ElevenLabs technology. Today, she continues to guide and educate visitors at St George's Chapel using her ElevenLabs voice.

Documenting Irene's story

To show what is possible, Richard partnered with Ben Hanson and Simon Frost at Witness to document Irene's experience. The project was produced pro bono, with support from the team at St George's Chapel, who granted permission to film inside the chapel.

Over three days, Witness filmed Irene, both at home with her husband Martyn and at St George's Chapel, capturing how she continues educating visitors using her ElevenLabs voice.

The resulting film captures Irene's dedication as an educator, her commitment to public service, and the support she and Martyn provide each other while navigating difficult circumstances.

More broadly, it demonstrates how AI can help people continue contributing their skills, knowledge, and experience when health conditions affect their ability to speak. For Irene, technology has not replaced her voice - it has helped preserve it.

To learn more about our Impact Program and our commitment to giving back 1 Million Voices to individuals with permanent voice loss, visit our Impact Program page here.