David McCullough wrote: “History is who we are and why we are the way we are.” – that sums it up perfectly for me.

In much the same way as the other History Times Writers, my fascination with the events of the past and the manner in which they are interwoven to produce the complex fabric that is today’s society began at school. Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield was founded by Royal Charter in 1591 and has an interesting history of it’s own, having produced old boys such as John George Haigh (“The Acid Bath Murderer”), and John Radcliffe the eminent 17th century physician after whom a number of landmark buildings in Oxford are named.

But more than this, it was the energetic teaching of one man (I can still see his watch flying across the room after getting particularly animated on one occasion!) who seized my imagination. His lessons certainly weren’t what you might call “typical”, but were so engaging thanks to the manner in which he drew parallels with the present. I wasn’t surprised when an old classmate told me recently that there is a fan club for him on one of the social networking sites, which has over 100 members!

More recently, it’s been brought home to me just how pertinent the past is to each and every individual – and not just on a global scale. Having found out only a couple of years ago that my great grandfather was killed in action on the Somme, and that another relative was one of Churchill’s chauffeurs it’s reinforced to me that history isn’t just dates and events, but it’s about people, lives and emotions.

The opportunity we have to create a wonderful community with the History Times is unheralded. I’ll certainly be looking to ask some searching questions and I’m relishing the prospect of enjoying your analysis, opinions, and knowledge.