Lesley 'history' Smith

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