Lesley 'history' Smith

I accidentally sent these questions to Lesley, forgetting she was in my email address book However, she took the time to answer and send them back - and here are the answers!

1. WHO WERE YOU NAMED AFTER?

Lesley means “From the Grey Fortress” in Scotland – which is a bit odd as my fortress is grey. I was not named after anyone.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

I cried last night – release of tension.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?

I do quite like my handwriting as I do calligraphy and I used to earn a bit at school writing out cards and gift tags for grown ups. I use black ink and an italic pen.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LUNCH MEAL?

My favourite lunch is scallops

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?

I have a little boy called “Henry” – what a surprise that name is eh? >6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?

Yes, I probably would be friends with me as I am drawn to eccentrics - they are more colourful than most

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?

Sarcasm is the refuge for the uneducated – yes, I use it a lot – I have a dry humour

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?

My tonsils were removed when I was seven

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?

Bungee Jump -? No I sodding wouldn’t – I would rather hand feed a snake and I hate snakes

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE CEREAL?

Swiss Bircher Museli – sort of fruity porridge with yoghurt sounds like hell but tastes wonderful

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? '

Yes, I untie my elizabethan shoes when I take them off – attention shoes fetish types

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?

I am physically fairly strong and in a crisis very strong but afterwards go to bits – privately

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ICE CREAM?

Pecan and Toffee Ice Cream

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?

I notice eyes first

15. RED OR PINK?

Red

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVOURITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?

Round face and not tall enough to look remotely elegant

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST

My Father

18. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?

My secretary asking me why it is taking me so long to do this

19. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOUR WOULD YOU BE?

Yellow

20 FAVOURITE SMELLS?

Sweet Peas

21. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?

Gareth Williams at the British Museum

22. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?

She is a bit of heaven from Pendle Hill

23. FAVOURITE SPORTS TO WATCH?

Hate Sport

24. HAIR COLOUR?

Blonde

25. EYE COLOUR?

Brown

26. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?

No

27 SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?

Happy endings

28. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?

Last Harry Potter

29. WHAT COLOUR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?

Red Dress

30. SUMMER OR WINTER?

Summer

31. HUGS OR KISSES?

Both

32. FAVOURITE DESSERT?

Ice cream

33. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?

“My Heart is My Own” by John Guy

34. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?

Blue

35. FAVOURITE SOUND?

My son calling my Name

36. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?

The Beatles

37. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?

America

38. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?

I can do impressions – some – pretty badly

39. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?

London

I would firstly like to say what an honour it is to write about such an amazing woman. I am lucky enough to have been acquainted with Lesley Smith primarily through her profession and also as a personal friend.

Lesley is a historian and specialist in sexual practices and conception in reformation England. In her work, she is dedicated to a level not met by many. The hours she puts in to her performances and lectures are astonishing, with 2-300 public performances a year (often in full costume as historic figures such as Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth 1st)

Alongside this she is the historian for Living TV’s Most haunted and has appeared in TV and radio for 10 years. Lesley is also the curator at Tutbury Castle and is currently a postgraduate student in the centre for the history of medicine at the University of Birmingham, where she is developing a PhD.

An excellent public speaker, whose mere presence in a room is felt like a shockwave, often leaves audience members in tears through the emotion of her re-enactments. As a lecturer, she talks with such a passion that you can not help but cling to her every word and see the real importance of learning about our history.

She is a personal inspiration and I have a great deal of respect for her, She has greatly encouraged me to get my head back into books and left me breathless many times from her words of kindness and enthusiasm. Always ready for a laugh and abound with tales to leave you roaring, you can rely on her to cheer you up and inspire you on any given day.

know that my life has been changed for the better and have spoken about her to many a fan who have given similar accounts of her kindness and influence. I wish Lesley all the best for the future.

Emma, editor of Fuzemag.co.uk