When I was at school, history was one of my favourite subjects. I suppose because it was easy to study, not like physics or chemistry, where you actually had to do things to find out stuff. After I finished school, I went to college and pleased to have history as a subject was not happy at encountering probably the most boring history teacher in the world. That really kind of blew it for me.
There are though, different kinds of history, that from the long past which is interesting to learn about. Then there is the history that you are part of, where you always remember where you were. I cite as two very recent examples, the fall of theBerlin Wall and 9/11. Both of these events, one remembered with affection, the other with absolute horror – where were you, and what were you doing? You are a part of that history.
More recently, especially living in Gosport, a town, which I never tire of saying is absolutely stuffed with history. My interest in history has been resurrected. Partly that came about through my reading of Gombach’s History of Art, I’d never really associated art with history, but periods such as the Reformation and Renaissance had significant effects on the work of artists. But then I can walk down almost any street in the town and find some historical reference.
When you live in a place like this, you can easily pick up that interest. It’s excellent, because you can get really into it. Fascinating stuff.
