After working in industry, I undertook an MA in European History at Birkbeck, part of the University of London. My dissertation focused on the influence of exiles from the 1848 revolutions on British political thought and culture.
I was so impressed with the experience that I subsequently studied for a Masters in Research ( MRes). The dissertation constituted a greater proportion of the degree and required further development of the research skills acquired during my MA. This time my dissertation concentrated on the development of socialism in mid-Victorian Britain. I examined the development of Working Men’s Colleges in Sheffield and London. It was a rewarding experience with my supportive supervisor Sean Brady.
The period following the completion of my second masters was somewhat anticlimactic, but an association with the Wimbledon Museum has enabled me to continue developing my research interests. Over the past year I have been investigating how two middle-class women utilised their considerable capabilities to transform society. As with the students who attended the Working Men’s Colleges and many of the exiles from Europe, it was the ordinary people who effected extraordinary change. Indeed, it is this topic which fascinates me and which is the focus of this blog.
My aim is to reflect on my past research as well as to post future work. I intend it to be research-based but accessible. I will continue to write about a history from below (or at least below-ish). In a world dominated by egotistical and power-hungry leaders, I believe that change occurs through the endeavours of ordinary men and women.
Although my research to date has focused on Modern British history, I am particularly interested in the Early Modern period. This is a area that has been extensively studied by more experienced historians. However, I can contribute my other skills. I hold an MSc in Supply Chain Management from Cranfield University. I have decided to combine the two areas, history and supply chain management, through a study of late 16th and early 17th-century music publishing. This is a work in progress but I hope it will develop into a longer piece of work.
Conducting historical research outside the academy presents its own challenges. However, as my colleagues at the Social History Society have pointed out, the growing number of independent scholars should not be underestimated. So here goes …..
I can be contacted at info@londonhistorian.com