About Me - Andrea

A short little bio about me... 

Firstly welcome to an all new History blog, remodeled and rebranded from my old one, this one is bigger and better. With the added help of my cousin Tom and the odd input from my partner Jordan, we want to help spread our fascination on history and to teach people along the way. There will be many topics covered let alone time periods. Like the name of the blog suggests we will be Wondering Through The Ages....

Since I can remember I've had an interest in history, I remember lessons at school on the Romans, Egyptians and Victorians, my parents got me the books so I could carry on when not at school. But becoming a proper nerd didn't happen till I was about 9 and had to do a Tudor history project in year 4 at school. I still have that project which I keep adding to and have had to transfer it from an A4 ring binder to a A4 lever file. 

Since that point I started a 6 year journey to gain a degree in history, in which I am in my 5th year of. In 2019 I did a Tudor history qualification with the university of Roehampton. Then in 2020 I did 3 diploma courses in Medieval history, Tudor history and Henry VIII wives. My next steps will be to gain my masters and then my PhD, after that I have no idea what I want do. But Lucy Worsely's and Tracy Borman's job looks like a nice one to me.

If I had to go on Mastermind, my specialist subject would be the Tudors. I've spent the last 16 odd years pouring my heart in to studying that time period, reading what I can and visiting were I can. Another favourite subject of mine is Jack the Ripper, again I first found this while at school about 10 years ago and have just carried it on. I used to get little notes from my teacher wondering how I came to an answer as he hadn't said it. 

As a young kid I remember my mum taking me wherever she could during the school holidays, the amount of day trips to London on the train, I've lost count. Every family holiday was planned around what there was to see and nearly every day had at least one castle or historical site in it. To this day I couldn't honestly say all the places that I've been to, but I'm always up for going back or discovering somewhere new. 

I've ran all over places like Porchester Castle and Fort Nelson exploring and just wanting to know more about the building, what it did and the people that would have been there. Since then I now wander round places looking taking my time looking and learning. 

The first historian I remember was David Starkey, but now I have made my net wider and now follow and use so many more. In 2019 I went to the BBC History weekend in Winchester and had the opportunity to meet Dan Jones, who is one of my all time favourites. Many years ago I got to meet Alison Weir, I know not an historian, but she is an amazing author and a lovely lady. 

Throughout all my years of studying history I always pick out my favourite people and figures that have an effect on me. These people are also what make me carry on and help me when I need an extra push. Most of these are obviously women, so expect some posts about my favourite strong willed, intelligent women including Elizabeth Woodville, Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I, Lady Jane Grey and Marilyn Monroe. 

There is more to me then just me love of history. I love my rock/metal music which me and my co-editor also have in common and have been to many gigs together. But when I try to study I'll put on a bit of classical music to help me concentrate. As you will learn from this blog I am a massive book worm, I have been since I could first read. I have at least about 6 books on the go at any one time. I'll read whatever I can get my hands on and what interests me. 

Another random fact about me is I am a big follower of motorbike racing especially the BSB and Road Racing. I want to break the typical image that people have of historians, glasses, bookworm and stuffy. In some ways I am the same, but at the same time I am different. I want to be someone that people remember and not just blend it. 

So enough about me, I'll hand over to my co-editor so you can get to know him and then get ready for a full throttle journey of wondering through history.