Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
An experienced, versatile, and self-motivated writer, historian, and qualified counselling helper. My passion is for telling Canada's wartime stories, from the Halifax Explosion to the Dieppe Raid to the the Battle of the Scheldt and more. These tales have been published in Britain at War Magazine, History of War Magazine, The Armourer Magazine, and Canada's Legion Magazine. I also write about other historical events from countries around the world. Meanwhile, outside the world of history, I write health and wellness articles for Breathe Magazine. Having recently moved from the UK to Nova Scotia, Canada, I would like to take my years' worth of knowledge in the industry and develop my skills further with greater responsibility. More space to utilise my creativity, too, would be ideal for my next career opportunity.
This is the third history magazine I've written for on a freelance basis. I reached out to the team wanting to branch out from British history to cover topics from around the world. A feature especially close to my heart, published in the August 2021 issue, focuses on the wartime disaster known as the 1917 Halifax Explosion. Rarely discussed outside of Canada, it was the largest human-made blast prior to the 1945 atomic bomb detonations, leading to the tragic deaths of approximately 2,000 people.
This food, drink and lifestyle PR agency hired me to write press releases for Kent-based companies and restaurants. I have created numerous such pieces, including one on behalf of "Produced in Kent” and “Visit Kent", discussing how these local organisations plan to bolster the hospitality industry during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Through Sharp Relations, my writing has supplied copy to Lost Sheep Coffee, OGGs, Macknade, The Kentish Soap Company, Paley Farm, the Michelin star restaurant Thackeray’s and more.
Each monthly issue of Breathe Magazine aims to spark a vast multitude of discussions, from health and wellbeing to travel, environmental conservation, and life hacks. A piece I am particularly proud of, entitled "The Lord Birds", raised awareness for the plight of the kākāpō, an endangered flightless parrot endemic to New Zealand. Another example of my work called "The Curious Traveller" made a case for taking holiday recommendations with a pinch of salt and instead charting your own course.
To have the opportunity to write about military history for a reputable magazine was a significant milestone in my career. Despite its name, Britain at War includes stories from the Commonwealth – an area I like to consider one of my specialities. My favourite article, known as “Their Sacred Duty”, discussed the outstanding contribution of the 28th Māori Battalion during the Second World War. I was also given a frequent series dubbed “Fingerprints of War”, where I brought to light buildings in the UK that still carry the scars of conflict.