I am a Professor of Medieval and Early Modern History at Queen Mary University with wide historical interests. My research has ranged across the period 1100-1600, through the exploration of themes in the religious culture of Europe. I am interested in inter-disciplinary encounters, and these have animated my work. I also enjoy disseminating history to diverse audiences all over the world. See a list of my publications and research output. 

I joined the JHSE in November 2019 as Honorary Secretary and became Chair of the Board of Trustees in April 2020. My background is in Compliance and Governance which complements the many other skills of my fellow Trustees. The lecture programmes provided by the Society are so varied that I always find a topic of interest and I am proud to be associated with the research the Society supports and education it provides furthering our awareness of anglo Jewish history.

Michael Crook, chairs the Sussex branch, and represents the branch chairs on the Board of Trustees. He is a retired Chartered Surveyor, who specialised in Town Planning work for major companies, Local and National Government for over 45 years. His family history in Brighton and association with the town’s Middle Street Synagogue goes back over 125 years. He was co-editor of the Anthology of the Brighton & Hove Jewish Community 1766-2016, published by JHSE to celebrate 250 years since the first record of a Jewish resident in Brighton.

I have been responsible for communications, corporate partnerships, marketings and sales activity for a variety of not-for-profits since 1997. Over the past few years, I have managed communications and related strategy for a variety of healthcare associations, medical societies and Royal Colleges. I also help to run campaigns and related fundraising drives for two charities on a voluntary basis.

I am an alumnus of the Hebrew and Jewish Studies Department at UCL, a former Curator at the Jewish Museum London and now a PhD student at Birkbeck College, University of London. I currently work with the JHSE on maintaining their website.

I am an Executive Committee Member of the JHSE and Professor in the Parkes Institute for the Study of Jewish/non-Jewish Relations and History Department at the University of Southampton. I've has written widely on the British Jewish experience, especially social history and comparative migration. My most recent books are The Battle of Britishness: Migrant Journeys since 1685 (Manchester University Press, 2012) and Journeys from the Abyss: The Holocaust and Forced Migration from the 1880s to the Present (Liverpool University Press, 2017). I am currently working on a study of a Jewish triple murderer and, with Dr Aimee Bunting, Co-Presents to the Holocaust. I am co-editor of the journal Patterns of Prejudice and deputy editor of Jewish Culture and History.

I have been a trustee of the JHSE since 2018 and bring to the Executive the skills acquired in a long corporate career in economics, finance, strategy, governance and planning. I am a member and warden of Belsize Square Synagogue and was previously a trustee of the Bishopsgate Institute, an educational and cultural charity in the City of London. I have a PhD in medieval Jewish history and have written a book and articles on the subject of the Jews of the medieval crown of Aragon in Spain. I also teach Spanish history at the City Literary Institute.

I’m the Archives and Heritage Manager at the Board of Deputies of British Jews where I lead on a project called Hidden Treasures; celebrating Jewish archives in Britain which showcases archives which tell the Jewish story in this country. I also look after a number of disused Jewish cemeteries in parts of the country where there was once a flourishing Jewish community.

‎After studying economics at the University of Manchester, I qualified as a Chartered Accountant with one of the Big 5. I subsequently spent most of my working life working for multinational companies - British, American, Dutch, French and Italian employers.

Over the years I have held various financial positions ending as Finance Director of a major captive motor vehicle finance company.

Since retirement, I have held various roles on the trustee board of our local Citizens Advice as well as being a trustee director of a major pension fund.

Since university days, I have been actively involved in Jewish communal affairs and am currently a member of the Hertsmere Forum of Faiths, and am also a Deputy at the Board of Deputies.

Sadly, my only history qualification is an O level although the abdication crisis of 1936 is my fascination.

I am a Professor of Modern British History at Manchester Metropolitan University where I also serve as Head of the School of History, Politics and Philosophy.  I have also held positions at the University of Birmingham including Head of the School of History and Cultures, Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Director of the College of Arts and Law Graduate School.

I am co-editor of the Journal of Migration History, I sit on the Editorial Board of the journals Patterns of Prejudice and Immigrants and Minorities, and I am also an Honorary Fellow of the Parkes Centre for Jewish/non-Jewish Studies.

My research focuses on race, ethnicity, and immigrant histories.  My most recent book, An Unorthodox History: British Jews since 1945, examines evolving Jewish cultures in Britain with a particular focus on voices that are sometimes considered as marginal within the community. My research also looks into wider aspects of Jewish history, the social history of modern warfare, the history of the Birmingham Pub Bombings, and the history of comedy.