I am a historian, writer and teacher. I have worked at Sheffield Hallam University for most of my career, teaching and researching in various fields in C19th and C20th history, especially local/global history; empire, missions and abolition; women, diaries, autobiography and travel; Edward Carpenter/history of sexuality; public and community history & 'creative history'.

I grew up in the East Midlands, but have lived in Sheffield for many years. I love the city’s lack of pretension, its history of independence and radicalism, its greenness, the proximity of the Peak District. I’m a reader, gardener, walker, learner-sewist, a music lover, telly watcher and football fan. I love to travel and am very enthusiastic about daughters who move to beautiful places and invite me to stay. Dog person, though sadly this gorgeous girl (below, right) is no longer with us.