Interview with Bridget Phillipson, 8 April 2010

Abstract

Bridget Phillipson comes from a Labour Party background. She attended a Roman Catholic comprehensive school in Washington, Tyne & Wear, during the 1990s. She describes the history she learnt as 'quite traditional' but it did include the interpretation of sources and imaginative written work. She pays tribute to her 'fantastic' history teachers. She especially enjoyed learning about social issues, including the industrial revolution and women's suffrage. She discusses whether the Catholic ethos of her school influenced the way topics such as the Reformation were taught. She was inspired to take history at university. She discusses her perception of what it means to be British and the influence of history on her identity. Interviewed by Dr Nicola Sheldon