Ey-up!
I'm a Yorkshire based Public Historian and media maker. At age 11, I made a film with my mate about a singing competition, in which I played an old man - and won! From there, my friend and I continued to make mini films for YouTube, making our own characters, doing our own filming, and then our own editing too. It was all for fun, but that's where my love for film making came from.
Raised in a former mining town, the history was all around you. At 16, in a large crowd, I witnessed the closure of our mine and the collapsing of our pit tower. It was a sad moment, but also one where I felt the whole community come together.
History was my favourite subject at school by far. What we were taught was fascinating, and felt so important - plus I also enjoyed going home and telling my family about the stories I had learned. More than this, however, my passion for history came from my teacher, Mr. Cobbett. He had an infectious enthusiasm for the subject - one that he passed onto me.
He is one of the main reasons I took history at Sheffield Hallam University. I commuted there from my hometown, While studying there, I learned more about the study of Public History. Comprising my love of film making and history, it was in my first year I realised this was the route I wanted to take. It was here I realised I wanted to make historical documentaries.
In 2019, I completed my Master's in Public History at Royal Holloway, University of London. A far different setting to my hometown, but I love the city - all the hustle and bustle. It was during my Master's I made my first documentary, on the nearby village of Wentworth. I also completed an internship as a research assistant on the BBC Sounds podcast, You're Dead to Me! Since then, I have become a trained oral historian, trained presenter, trained videographer, and have my own equipment. I have also made documentaries not just for YouTube, but for local charities, trusts, councils, stately homes, and museums. ​