In our December series, members of the department reflect on the books, films, TV, music, art, exhibitions and experiences that shaped their year. Today we reflect on the ‘best of the rest’ – games, exhibitions, visits, and time spent with loved ones.

Jeremy Burchardt

Visit Southwold Museum in Suffolk if you ever get the chance – full of eccentric curiosities – including a huge Viking steering oar, the largest yet found – Oslo weeps!

Matt Worley

This year’s highlights were many. Exhibitions on/by: Pauline Boty, Barbara Kruger, Andy Warhol in Berlin, Helmut Newton in Berlin, the surrealism exhibition at the Pompidou, Penny Slinger, Dali in Porto, David Hockney, William Blake, Women in Revolt at the Tate and Cutie at Somerset House. Gigs by: Depeche Mode, Goat (x 2), Steve Ignorant doing Crass, Peter Hook and the Light doing Joy Division/New Order, Forest Swords, Cranes and Slowdive. Book launches for: Jamie Reid (RIP) and Crass with Steve, Penny and Gee. The Halluminatti meeting in Norwich to eat cheese, drink beer and summon demons from below.

Abbie Tibbott

It was great to get back to Gibraltar. I did the Mediterranean Steps, which is a 2km climb up some horrendous steps, although we were rewarded with some great military history at the top. St. Michael’s cave is also an incredible spot to visit if you’re ever there – it’s crazy to walk in the footsteps of where prehistoric man is evidenced to have lived. Gibraltar is full of history, great food and a warm climate, I am lucky to always have a reason to visit.

Ben Bland

A trio of incredible festivals this year: Roadburn in Tilburg, ArcTanGent in the Mendips, and Supersonic in Birmingham. My partner and I went to Prague right at the end of last year – a beautiful city that still has lots of spots where you can avoid the tourist crush, and (no less importantly) where there is tank-fresh Pilsner Urquell around almost every corner. When in the US for work over the summer I found some rare inner peace in the botanic gardens, lakes, and waterfalls by Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. I admit it’s out of the way but, on the off chance you are ever there, I would *really* recommend spending a good few hours exploring the beautiful plants and landscapes.

David Stack

In spring the National Portrait Gallery staged an exhibition featuring the work of the pioneering Victorian portrait photographer Julia Margaret Cameron (1815-1879). Portraits to Dream In paired Cameron’s work with that of an American photographer, Francesca Woodman, who worked a century later in 1970s New York, and in doing so muddied the proper historical appreciation due to both women. Despite this, the exhibition was a reminder of just how mesmerizing many of Cameron’s portraits are.

Liz Barnes

I’ve been playing a lot of Overcooked 2 with friends this year, which is a great way to determine how long you might survive in either a professional kitchen or a marriage (my answer is very briefly in either, it would seem). Mario Kart is a much better way to keep the peace. Some friends took me to Power Up, the Science Museum’s interactive exhibition on the history of video gaming. It was an absolute riot, despite the fact I spent a large portion of time getting slaughtered by children on Halo. As for history, I went on a lovely day trip to Winchester for a wander round the cathedral (and to see Jane Austen’s grave) and I popped along to Basildon Park in the summer to explore their exhibition about filming on the property.

Won a few pub quizzes and lost a few more. Watched my club, the Northampton Saints, win the Premiership at Twickenham.

Jacqui Turner

As I am an exhibition junkie, I had to go and see the ‘Six Wives’ exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery which endeavoured to present the wives of Henry VIII on their own terms rather than just in relation to the king, including the most modern incarnation of their story in the musical ‘The Six’. I also popped in to the ‘Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography’ exhibition to see the Cecil Beaton works.

Eva Van Herel

Last spring, I visited the William Morris Gallery to see the Art Without Heroes – Mingei exhibition. Within this, seeing one very specific coat was my goal. Why see a coat? About 4 years ago I learned the ancient craft of Sashiko Stitching from an online teacher called Atsushi who comes from a Japanese Sashiko family. It was quite a journey. More than just learning a fun type of embroidery, I discovered new tools and patterns, and the rich cultural background for this fascinating and useful technique. I was taught to ‘appreciate the fabric’, that worn-out needles should be honoured and how difficult it is to preserve the heritage and history of ancient arts or crafts. Sashiko stitching started out as a way to provide for others suitable clothing for cold harsh winters. Sashiko stitching, now appreciated for its beauty, was once a way to add a bit more fabric to a worn out garment so it could be worn a while longer. Sashiko is steeped in care for each other, care for material, and working quickly and lovingly. Mindset is as important as technique, and technique, when learned and practised, will become quick and easy. Beyond stitching, I learned about cultural appropriation and how difficult it is to fight against this when people speak over authentic voices rather than listen and interact respectfully.

We were talking about visiting a coat though. There was an expensive course I didn’t attend. I was a little jealous. The people who graduated from the course were offered the opportunity participate in an art project. Each were provided fabric, thread and a pattern to stitch. The completed pieces were sent to Atsushi’s mother Keiko and she put the pieces together and made a coat from the fabric. This coat was displayed in the William Morris Gallery. I regard Atsushi as my teacher as much as these graduates – the coat was made by my creative siblings. Mingei is, as far as I have understood, work made by hand that feels like art but that’s not signed. They had examples of very old pieces alongside very new ones. Keiko’s coat, with stitching by many hands, was one of the modern pieces. I had to go see it! My head full of stories like how Atsushi can tell by looking at stitching who stitched it, and sometimes even what mood they were in while working on the piece. I wanted to get a close look at the stitching to see if I could identify individual stitching ‘hands’ – I could! I wanted to appreciate the way the coat brings together ambassadors of an old craft, who have learned the cultural background and stories along with their craft. It was a little magical, that I was able to look at this coat which was only one step away from a teacher I have built the greatest respect for. Mingei. Art without Heroes. Steeped in relationships and care for other people and the way they interact with their environment. The coat made by many hands, symbol for working together and providing for others. Wish I could have tried it on. Wish the world had more of this mindset.

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That’s all for our recommendations – stay tuned for more traditional historical content! Cheers from us all in History.