I recently visited The National Portrait Gallery, which re-opened in June 2023 to much fanfare - and it is duly deserved. It was apparent whilst viewing the rooms that more women across the centuries were featured. Before the gallery's closing in 2020 for refurbishment, exhibits and images of women were approximately 20% of the collection; now, it is 48%!

The word ‘leotard’ is used to describe a one-piece stretch garment in various colours and styles and is commonly used in dance, sport, and exercise. Leotards allow flexibility of movement and are worn by dancers, gymnasts, and fitness fanatics. The name is referred to without thought for its origin, but it is interesting to learn that a young Frenchman, Jules Léotard, who wanted to show his acrobatic skills in mid-air, created this functional garment which continues to provide comfort for those who wear it.

I was once asked to do a walking tour of Croydon, my borough in London and also where the composer Samuel Coleridge Taylor lived for most of his life. He was a man of mixed heritage who studied music and composed the Hiawatha Wedding Feast inspired by Hiawatha, written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

October is Black History Month in Britain. It is a great opportunity for everyone to learn more about people, places and objects that help tell the story of the Black presence in Britain - those whose names are not well known, and events that included people from Africa and the Caribbean who can help to inform the narratives of British history.