I’m not really sure where my interest for all things historical came from, but suspect it was mostly rubbed off on me from my mother.
Then it got fed by the fact that I grew up in Dorchester, Dorset (otherwise known as Durnovaria) which is stuffed to the gunwales with Roman (particularly) connections/archaeology. I was a member of the Young Archaeologists club based at the museum long before such things were fashionable. Sometimes we met at the museum and had speakers or looked at (and handled) some of the Museum’s aretfacts, sometimes we went out in the field. I particularly remember walking round a DMV and finding it a very moving experience. The highlight of mytime at the Club was joining a real dig for a week – it was run by one of the local colleges whose students returned to the same villa year after year and it was the most amazing experience.
Unfortunately the Careers Adviser at school ignored this in my interview and focused on my enjoyment of Scouting/Guiding and so I ended up pursuing teaching – the one thing in my life which I wish I had done differently.
I now work as a primary teacher in Whitstable, Kent part-time, the remainder of my days spent taming my 19-month old toddler and, whenever I get the chance, feeding my history/archaeology addiction in any way I can – Books, TV and of course the Forum.
Special Interest Areas
Anything historical or archaeological but especially Roman – 1066, reign of Stephen, Wars of the Roses (Richard III was innocent!)