New blog post for the Unity Theatre Archive Project! Over the next year LJMU SCA will be working with the Unity Theatre to catalogue and digitise its archives. If you are interested in volunteering you can apply via the link in this blog. Closes Sunday 19th October. ljmuarchives.blog/2025/10/14/i...

Some images from my visit to the Vivienne Westwood exhibition in Liverpool, would highly recommend!

BBC Almost Grown Music & Culture Northern Soul 1990 - www.soul-source.co.uk/videosdirect... Broadcast around 1990, includes clips from previous BBC programmes - Something Else - Skelmersdale and Omnibus (1978) #northernsoul #video #soulsource

Whilst on my holiday in Milan, I got to visit the Giorgio Armani Museum, and wow those dresses were dreamy! #fashion #museum #giorgioarmani #armani

Unintentionally taken my cat’s LinkedIn headshots this morning

Started my research trip this week with a visit to @queerbritain.bsky.social a powerful, thoughtfully curated space. Inspiring and essential, it centres voices too often left out of the national story. The exhibitions offer rich insight into the UK’s LGBTQ+ history, activism, and everyday life.

My theory that I can write no matter the circumstance is being tested by brain fog caused by heat

Masculin Féminin (1966)🧡

I have had the most amazing time at my first @batw.bsky.social conference for the last three days! My project, Soulful South Yorkshire: Tracing African American Influence in Rotherham's Northern Soul Movement looked at the transatlantic connection of African American music in the movement #batw2025

There is something about being on a train at golden hour that soothes the brain

I might be getting a bit paranoid in my middle age but are the seagulls gone absolutely demented over the past few days or is it just me?

more crime in america

Great to attend the ‘Difficult Histories’ conference at the University of Liverpool yesterday, hosted by @livunihss.bsky.social and @ihr.bsky.social. It was great to hear about the many ways to approach history, from oral testimonies and natural specimens, and the opportunities from the IHR! ✨

Look at that filing system, this image is my office inspiration photo!

Been diving deep into Northern Soul lately - a northern subculture with serious style. Seen loads of ads for “baggies”: ultra-wide trousers (think 36-inch hems!) made for spinning on the dancefloor. Yesterday I wore my first pair. Felt like I time-traveled straight back to the ’70s! 🕺✨ #northernsoul

This week I completed my first solo research trip to London (as someone terrified of public transport this was a personal victory) - I split my time between Bethnal Green, a little trip around Parliament and a fascinating look at The Face exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery

At what point are we going to define what a man is?

abolish-sex.ghost.io/why-do-i-say... Why do I say Abolish Sex

Ducks are cool.

Liverpool ONE has teamed up with our LJMU Fashion Communication students for a special headwear exhibition on Paradise Street. From flat caps to fascinators, explore Liverpool’s iconic styles through the ages—on display until the end of May. Read more ➡️ www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/new...

They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made. -FS Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, published 4/10/1925.

This is fascinating!!

This afternoon I have my one year review for PhD - am I nervous? Yes. Have I done as much prep as I can? Yes. Have I had a good breakfast? It's a big yes now! The Anglican cathedral is an underrated spot if you're ever in Liverpool!

Rit Dye (1968)

Had a wonderful time presenting at the @ljmuofficial.bsky.social APSS PGR Conference on Wednesday this week! The theme was on space, and through the case study of Soho, I looked at how important the urban space was to queer communities in the 1970s and 1980s :)

On Friday I went to two fascinating events - the first a panel on the most current research in decolonisation and the second a book launch for J.P Maxwell and his new historical thriller based in Liverpool! @rilch-ljmu.bsky.social

Great to attend the Centre for the Study of Crime, Criminalisation and Social Exclusion seminar today! It looked at policing in 1980s London and its relationship with lesbian communities. It was really interesting to listen to a talk adjacent to my topic, but in a completely different field!

This weekend I had the opportunity to visit my home town’s archives in preparation for my Britain and the World Conference paper. Whilst there I also picked up some new skills, like how to handle microfilm!

Little bit of a different exhibition this weekend, but managed to get get across to Leeds to visit the Miffy exhibition, who’s celebrating her 70th birthday! It was wonderful to see some of the original drawings and figures used in the tv series!

This has been rather fun, including a visit to @ljmu-sca.bsky.social and a windy trip up the Anglican Cathedral (followed by coffee and cake!) with @ljmudoctoral.bsky.social :)

happy birthday gromit 🐾

Another day of researching! I’m a year in now, and luckily still not out of the honeymoon phase with my PhD!

An excellent chapter title imo from Joseph McBrinn’s book “Queering the Subversive Stitch: Men and the Culture of Needlework” !!

Really great visit to The Walker Art Gallery to see their “Conversations” exhibition, which shows the art of 40 Black women and non-binary artists!

Deleted Twitter and made the move to BlueSky. I’ll be sharing updates about my PhD journey here from now on!