Over the weekend I had the pleasure of listening to two of Britain's most famous historians. Niall Ferguson is notable for his book and TV series entitled Civilisation and David Starkey is well known for his work on Henry VII and his appearances on Jamie Oliver's TV series Dream School. Both men performed with real passion and were outstanding communicators.

Listening to the way they made the past relevant to the present, I was struck by the thought that the 'past' was the 'present' for our ancestors. And that the uncertainties we feel today in what appears to be a highly uncertain world were present in the past. That only by appreciating this fact can we hope to learn from history.

In the hands of Ferguson and Starkey, history is not only a wonderfully enjoyable subject, it also provides a real insight into our present world.