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Click here for our Covid-19 Promise. For other important travel information visit our safety and support area.
“If ever there were proof that it pays to be looked after by a full team both at home and abroad, rather than the DIY of the internet then this was clearly it”
The Anglia team consists of dedicated Tour Coordinators and administrative staff who, with more than a hundred years of experience in travel between them, are there to support you throughout your tour from inception to conclusion. Our team of expert and highly experienced guides, each selected not only for the depth of their historical knowledge but more importantly for their ability to engage and inspire your students are there to ensure they gain the maximum educational benefit from the tour and to deal with any problems that may arise – no matter how serious.
So whether you book a day school battlefield trip to Ypres, a 3 day residential history tour in Berlin or 6 days in the USA……
You really couldn’t be in safer hands.
The Role of the Anglia Guide from Anglia Tours on Vimeo.
Bethany Moore
Fields of Expertise:
Bethany has had a keen interest in military history since first being introduced to the topic as a teenager. Initially interested in WW2, she developed a passion for the study of WW1 after going on several battlefield tours whilst attending secondary school.
Although not from a military background, Bethany’s knowledge has been developed through her academic background allied to a personal appetite for self-directed study. She read History and War Studies at the University of Wolverhampton and has recently embarked on her Master’s Degree on the History of Britain in the First World War.
Bethany’s aim is to inspire the next generation, particularly young women, to have a passion for all aspects of history, as she was inspired by her teachers and those around her.
Andrew Lock
Fields of Expertise:
As the son of a former History teacher, Andy came in to conflict history at a young age, before graduating in Modern Languages and working in hospitality management. Andy’s experience covers a range of subjects and conflicts, including Waterloo, Napoleonic naval conflicts, the Normandy landings and tours in London and Copenhagen, but he specialises in the Great War battlefields of the Western Front. Lately, Andy has studied for a Masters in the British History of the First World War and since February 2019 has been licensed to guide at the Sachsenhausen Memorial.
Steve Roberts
Fields of Expertise:
Steve spent 12 years as a regular soldier serving with the Royal Military Police in a variety of operational theatres. On leaving the Army, he joined the Metropolitan Police and served for a further 23 years. Following his retirement he established himself in a second career, as a Military Historian and researcher and in this capacity has worked on a number of TV productions including, “Who Do You Think You Are”, “Find My Past” and “The One Show”. He was also one of the panel experts on the “BBC WW1 Roadshow”
For the past twenty years Steve has been involved in archaeology on the Western Front and in this capacity both as historian and archaeologist has been involved in a number of television productions on the subject.
As a battlefield guide Steve has been leading groups of all types to the battlefields of WW1 and WW2 for over 25 years. He has been guiding for Anglia since 2003 and is licensed to guide at the Sachsenhausen Memorial.
Simon Gregor
Fields of Expertise:
After graduating from the University of Cambridge, Simon worked for 15 years as a senior civil servant, latterly as a government communications director.
In 2011, he left to pursue his love of history and set up his own business as a tour guide and freelance photographer. Simon is currently studying for a PhD in WW1 history and guides regularly on the battlefields of France and Belgium as well as offering private tuition in history and photography.
Nathalie Harty
Fields of Expertise:
From Bournemouth in Dorset, Nathalie studied History at Southampton University before completing a PGCE in History at Oxford University. She has 16 years teaching experience, 13 of which have been as Head of the History Department as well as extensive experience of running residential school trips.
Having been inspired by Anglia guides since 2003, she is delighted to have the chance to join the Anglia team and start working with other schools.
Andrew Wallace
Fields of Expertise:
Andy graduated in History from London University. After 15 years in ‘the City’, he trained to teach History. Andy taught for 17 years, becoming a Vice Principal of a large secondary, and completing a Masters in Educational Leadership. He has now returned to a deeper study of his passion – History, and wishes to share the exploration and experience with those who visit the battlefields and historic sites. In particular, he is keen to develop understanding of the First & Second World Wars and the Cold War. This keenness was ignited when Andy’s school went on one of Anglia’s first tours! Since February 2019 Andy has been licensed to guide at the Sachsenhausen Memorial.
Ian Coyne
Fields of Expertise:
Ian led his first tour for Anglia back in 1998, since which he has guided more than 400 groups on tours to the First World War battlefields, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands. Ian is also licensed to guide groups at the Sachsenhausen Memorial.
Ian combines his guiding commitments with the role of Product Development Manager for Next Generation Travel. He works closely with teachers, educationalists and exam boards to ensure that each of our products supports key learning objectives whilst also providing every student with an unrivalled educational experience that will engage, inspire and motivate them.
Sean Cripps
Fields of Expertise:
Sean graduated with a History degree from the University of London, taught history in secondary schools for 14 years and holds a Masters degree in Education. Combining a passion for history and travel, he has visited over seventy countries. A qualified Expedition Leader Sean has led nearly 500 educational visits – he is also licensed to guide at the Sachsenhausen Memorial.
Sean combines guiding on Great War, Weimar and Nazi Germany, Holocaust and Cold War tours with the role of Product Development and Safety Management System Coordinator with Anglia Tours.
Alain Chissel
Fields of Expertise:
Alain is the founder and former Managing Director and Chairman of Anglia Tours, a company he set up in 1997. He is now its Head Guide and he continues to visit schools, give evening presentations and of course guiding. As a former soldier, he can emphasise with the men whose stories he tells, with a passion that makes his audiences feel they were there. His areas of expertise are WW1 and Germany, where he spent time serving during the height of the Cold War.
Dr John Greenacre
Fields of Expertise:
John spent 24 years in the British army as a helicopter pilot and staff officer during which time he developed a professional interest in military history. He was awarded a PhD in history by the University of Leeds and has authored and contributed to several books on Second World War subjects. John’s chief interest is in the development of warfare from the First World War, through the Second World War to the Cold War. Hence he is familiar with Twentieth Century battlefields across Europe; from Malta to Berlin and from the Somme to Monte Cassino.
Richard Knight
Fields of Expertise:
Since 1984 Dickie has been involved with military history after listening to many WW1 stories from his grandfather who served in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers from 1913 – 1919. In 1986 he joined the Royal Anglian Regiment TA. Dickie runs a military Living History group who portray the British Soldier of WW1 and WW2 participating with educational displays to the public and schools.
Dickie is a Specialist Military Extra for TV / Films and has participated in many productions, eg. ‘The Somme, from Defeat to Victory’, ‘Private Peaceful’, ‘Downton Abbey’, ‘The Sainsbury’s WW1 Christmas advert’ to name but a few.
Julian Humphries
Fields of Expertise:
Julian joined Anglia Tours in 2015 after a long career as a Chartered Accountant retiring in 2013 as a Partner in a national practice. Julian is a graduate in Modern History from the University of Oxford and his passionate interest in Twentieth Century History stems from his student years.
In the Second World War his father served with the RAF and his uncle with the Welsh Guards but it was his grandfather speaking about his First World War service with the Devonshire Regiment that sparked Julian’s interest in that conflict. His grandfather returned to France and Belgium in 1974 and he was featured in a newspaper article which Julian has kept to this day.
Mark Brennan
Fields of Expertise:
Mark is a retired Army officer who flew helicopters for the Army Air Corps and saw service around the world. A survival expert and alpine mountaineer, he has a passion for the outdoors and still leads Army ski mountaineering expeditions. He also has a passion for history and in particular World War One. Although he is often found treading the battlefields of the Western Front, he has also gained experience touring the Gallipoli peninsula.
Closer to home, Mark has developed an interest in Irish History and events surrounding the ‘Easter Rising’ and the Irish Civil War. He particularly enjoys working and engaging with student groups.
Roger Lye
Fields of Expertise:
Roger has had a lifelong interest in history and has a degree in History from Warwick University. There is a strong military tradition in his family. His grandfather served throughout the First World War, his father served in the 8th Army in the Second World War whilst his brother spent 30 years in the Royal Navy.
Roger has regularly visited the various battlefields of the Western Front over the past twenty years and now holds a licence to guide at the Sachsenhausen Memorial. Roger has a passion for the subject and a keen desire to inspire another generation.
Dave Morrison
Fields of Expertise:
Dave converted to teaching from engineering in 2000. He has a BA in History from Birkbeck (London) and an MSC in the History of Science Technology and Medicine. PGCE from the Institute of Education. He has just retired from teaching after 12 years as Head of History. Dave has guided for Anglia since April 2006 and has taken school groups to the First World War battlefields, Berlin, Auschwitz, Normandy and Hastings.
He is married to Anne and has twins at university.
Sam Noble
Fields of Expertise:
Originally from Poole in Dorset, Sam has been a professional tour-guide in Berlin for four years while working towards his PhD in history at Humboldt University. His academic focus is eighteenth century British history, especially political caricature and Thomas Paine. Sam has delivered tours for a variety of age-groups and nationalities about a wide range of topics primarily concerning German history.
Andrew Pennington
Fields of Expertise:
Andrew retired from the RAF as a group captain in 2005 after 36 years service, over 30 of which were in the intelligence specialisation. He is a graduate of the RAF Staff College.
He has worked in Northern Ireland, the Falkland Islands, the Gulf and Germany, including six years in Berlin and East Germany at the height of the Cold War. He has a particular interest in World War 1, driven by his two grandfathers who served then in the Gloucesters and the Yorkshire Regiment. Berlin in World War 2 and the Cold War remains Andrew’s main interest and he been licensed to guide at the Sachsenhausen Memorial since February 2019.
Tim Saunders MBE MA
Fields of Expertise:
Since retiring from the Army Tim has become a full-time military historian. A lifelong enthusiast, over the years he has taken the opportunity to visit the battlefields across Europe and some far-flung locations. Tim is author of over twenty books and guides, covering the Peninsular, First and Second World Wars. This portfolio is complemented by over twenty-five years’ experience of conducting military and civilian battlefield tours and studies. From his early TV appearances, including ‘Time Team’, Tim is now Director of Production for Battlefield History TV and has worked on documentary films from Vikings to Korea
Moray Treadwell
Fields of Expertise:
Moray Treadwell is an actor who has appeared in Eastenders, Wuthering Heights, 2.4 Children, Pirates of the Caribbean II and Downton Abbey, amongst others.
In recent years he has toured as a member of the cast of ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’, worked with the Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, and most recently appeared as Capulet in Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ at the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds. As a young man he was a member of the National Youth Theatre and went on to train at the Guildford School of Acting where he graduated with the ‘Actor’s Cup’.
His interest in the battlefields stems from his own family experiences as ‘warriors for the working day’ in both world wars. His acting skills bring alive the battlefields for students, especially during the Christmas Truce tours, when he portrays Unterofficer Jozef Wenzl. Moray also guides Anglia’s Holocaust tours to Poland.
Ed Church
Fields of Expertise:
As a co-founder of Anglia, Ed has worked for the company as a guide and Tour Leader for over 15 years.
A keen amateur historian, he has long held an interest in military history and in particular the equipment and dress of WWI. Ed is able to impart his knowledge to young people and to help students understand how, when and why events happened. Since February 2019 Ed has been licensed to guide at the Sachsenhausen Memorial.
Kathryn Evans
Fields of Expertise:
Kathryn is originally from Bournemouth, Dorset, but has been based in Berlin on and off for five years. Kathryn originally studied Theology, and then History of Art at undergraduate level and then moved into youth work, teaching English and advising University students. She has been a tour guide in Berlin for a few years and has found it combines a two of her passions: talking about the rich, compelling history of Berlin, and education. Kathryn focussed on the role of history education in her Master’s thesis, and is particularly interested in Second World War history and genocide studies. She also hold a licence to guide at the Sachsenhausen Memorial.,
Frank Toogood
Fields of Expertise:
For nearly 3 decades Frank has had a successful career within the creative industry as a designer – he created Anglia’s ‘Student Great War Aide-Memoire’, which has been a great success.
He also served 10 years in the 70th (Essex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron, part of 71st (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment (V), and had the distinction of having been the youngest qualified tradesman in the regiment at the age on 18.
Frank has been a guiding since 2006 and is a badged member of the Guild of Battlefield Guides. In 2011, Frank received the Richard Holmes’ Award for services to the Guild and in 2019 he was licensed to guide at the Sachsenhausen Memorial.
Robert Webb
Fields of Expertise:
Rob gained a Masters degree from the University of East Anglia. He has taught history to ‘A’ level in England and New Zealand and worked as a post graduate tutor for Buckingham University. He is fascinated by modern European history and the history of Germany in particular. He is licensed to guide at the Sachsenhausen Memorial and his interest in the Great War was sparked by a visit to Ypres on Armistice Day 1984.
Rob enjoys helping young people to engage with and gain a deeper understanding of some of the conflicts that have torn Europe apart.
Richard Burgess
Fields of Expertise:
Richard (aka Burge) has worked covertly at national and international level within the intelligence community and on covert serious and organised crime investigation and disruption. He is qualified in Christian Studies through Chelmsford Cathedral (graded exceptional).
Richard particularly enjoys delivering holocaust studies to students and, if asked, can present a theological perspective on the subject. He is equally at home in Germany (WW2), on the Western Front (all theatres) or in London teaching Crime and Punishment or leading ‘Jack the Ripper’ investigations. As a career detective he can offer unique insight into the subject.
Richard is accredited with the International Guild of Battlefield Guides (#83).
Dr Kate Vigurs
Fields of Expertise:
Dr Kate Vigurs joined Anglia tours early in 2014. She is a professional freelance historian who is an acknowledged specialist in 20th century conflict – especially resistance activity in Occupied Europe, the Holocaust and the Cold War. Kate has first-hand knowledge of living in Berlin at the height of the Cold War.
Kate is the author of ‘Mission France- the true story of the women of Special Operations Executive’ for Yale University Press. She also works as a consultant for various museum projects including a recent exhibition at the National Memorial Arboretum for the anniversary of D-day.
Kate runs the historical interpretation company ‘History’s Maid’ producing and performing scripts for English Heritage, National Army Museum and the Royal Armouries, as well as lecturing on a variety of subjects. She regularly appears on national and local news and radio on a wide variety of topics.
Martin Featherstone
Fields of Expertise:
Martin Featherstone joined the Infantry in 1965, after serving 10 years in the ranks, which included several tours of Northern Ireland and a stint as a Sergeant instructor at The Jungle Warfare School, he was commissioned at Sandhurst. Further service as an officer included Northern Ireland, The Falklands, several attachments to African Armies and a tour as a tactics instructor at The Infantry Battle School in Brecon. A total of 28 years service!
He has two married daughters, one of whom served 16 years as an officer in the British Army. He is an experienced a solo Adventure Traveller who was made a Fellow Of The Royal Geographical Society for leading several Amazon Expeditions. Since February 2019 Martin has been licensed to guide at the Sachsenhausen Memorial.
David Winn
Fields of Expertise:
David was commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in 1972 and has seen service in Northern Ireland, Kenya, Cyprus, Germany, Norway and the Dhofar Region of Oman. He is currently employed as the Director of Training for the Institute of Groundsmanship. He is married with two children.
He has had a long interest in military history and has been a battlefield guide since 1996. His particular area of expertise is the D-Day Landings in Normandy.
Andrew Duff
Fields of Expertise:
Andrew Duff was commissioned into the Royal Anglian Regiment in 1967. On leaving the regular army he joined the TA and served as a staff officer with 5th Airborne, 24th Air Mobile and 16th Air Assault Brigades before retiring in 2002. He has always had a keen interest in military history and in particular the part played by the “Poor Bloody Infantry”.
Andrew is a founding Director of Battlefield History TV.
Andy White
Fields of Expertise:
Andy White served in the Intelligence Branch of the Royal Air Force from 1985 to 2011, reaching the rank of Wing Commander. During that time, he saw operational service in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, and Iraq, working closely with UK and Allied air and ground forces. He also worked with a variety of intelligence and special forces agencies, both national and international, at home and abroad. Andy has been a battlefield guide since 2001, with experience in guiding school, adult, and military groups. His expertise areas are Normandy, Arnhem, the First World War and Berlin where he holds a licence to guide at Sachsenhausen Memorial.
Rick Jones
Fields of Expertise:
Rick retired from the army in 2003 after 24 years of service with the Royal Horse Artillery, serving in Germany, Bosnia, Canada and the UK. Recently returned from Afghanistan and the Middle East where he has been working as a civilian contractor for ISAF/NATO in Kandahar and Bastion airbases. His interest in military history and walking battlefields stems from being given a group of WW1 medals as a young child and visiting the areas where they were won. He currently resides with his wife Chrissie in the sleepy village of Shipton Bellinger on the edge of the Salisbury plain. Since February 2019 Rick has been licensed to guide at Sachsenhausen Memorial.
David Barron
Fields of Expertise:
David Barron comes from a family of soldiers of various types and abilities, who have served the Crown, with the exception of Cromwell, William of Orange and the early Hanoverian Kings, since the 17th century. He was commissioned into the Gordon Highlanders in 1979 and served in the army for 35 years, retiring as a Lt Colonel. He has a life long interest in history – as a 5 year old he expressed the opinion that the Second World War was won by Winston Churchill and his father – and is licensed to guide at Sachsenhausen Memorial. His army career fostered a passion for military and regimental history and he hopes that he is able to pass this enthusiasm on to those he guides. Away from the battlefields he is settling in to civilian life and is attempting to do things that he enjoys.
Gareth Davies
Fields of Expertise:
Gareth spent 28 years in the British Army as a tank commander, staff officer, and instructor. He taught at Sandhurst and the Staff College. He has a Masters Degree in Defence Studies from KCL.
Gareth is a keen student of twentieth century warfare and he regularly speaks to groups and leads tours covering many aspects of the First and Second World Wars. His interests include command, learning, and technology; the Great War in France & Flanders, Italy and Palestine; and Second World War combined arms actions. His first book, on tanks in 1917, will be published in 2018.
Bill Hounsome
Fields of Expertise:
Bill retired from The Metropolitan Police this year as a Mounted Branch Officer following 29 years’ service the majority of which was spent within the Specialist Firearms Command.
An Army Reserve Warrant Officer, he has completed operational tours in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan and is currently serving with 144 Parachute Medical Squadron.
Bill is passionate about engaging students of all ages with the incredible history and personal stories of the British Army during the First World War.
Nick Keyes
Fields of Expertise:
Nick read English at St John’s College, Oxford, was commissioned into the Queen’s Regiment, served 16 years in the Regular Army and 3 years in the Reserve in various places including Germany, Belize, Gibraltar, Bosnia and Northern Ireland, and attended the Spanish Army Staff College. He then gained a PGCE, taught English and Classics for 20 years and was until recently Head of Classics at Exeter School. He comes from 5 generations of soldiers, has been fascinated by military history since touring Normandy as a boy, and what he now enjoys most is sharing this interest with newcomers to the battlefields.
John Coppen
Fields of Expertise:
John is a retired Police Officer with more than 40 years experience of visiting, studying and walking the Western Front battlefields. A frequent visitor to Germany, John is licensed to guide at Sachsenhausen Memorial. He also holds current qualifications in both Adult teaching and Health and Safety.
James Stythe
Fields of Expertise:
James Stythe recently retired from the Regular Army as a Colonel, (Army Legal Service). Having served as a Subaltern in the Gurkhas in Hong Kong and Brunei he became a solicitor in 1981, served as a TA RMP Company Commander, and as a Legal Officer in operational appointments including Northern Ireland, Macedonia, Kosovo and Kabul.
His uncle served in the RRA in WW1, his father spent 5 years as a PoW in WW2 and his mother was a WAAF officer. This background, combined with his own military service, has inspired James’ enthusiasm for military history and guiding in his retirement.
Tim Lynch
Fields of Expertise:
Tim joined the army at the age of 16 and served with the Army Air Corps in the Falklands War, Northern Ireland, Berlin and Kenya. After leaving the forces, he began working in the field of social work and Probation and has been active in developing support services for military veterans returning to civilian life.
Tim’s interest in military history has led to frequent visits to battlefields in the US, Europe and South East Asia. He is author of a number of books on the military and social history of the World Wars and is involved in a variety of community projects commemorating aspects of the Great War.
Lorraine Merricks
Fields of Expertise:
Lorraine has been a teacher for 16 years. She has been a Head of Year as well as Head of History and Government and Politics. She is an Advanced Skills Teacher and has a range of teaching experience as well as vast experience of running trips.
She has studied for a Masters in Educational Assessment and is now looking forward to sharing her enthusiasm for learning and for History by deepening her understanding with those who wish to visit the battlefields and other historic sites.
Alex Hetherington
Fields of Expertise:
Alex is a professional guide in London and the South of England. He has over 30 years experience as an educator in schools, museums and on tour having worked in the state and independent sectors of secondary education in Britain and Australia.
Alex spent ten years working for the Holocaust Educational Trust guiding on their Lessons from Auschwitz Programme and has worked with the National Army Museum and the museum of the Scott Polar Research Institute.
Fast and Furious 6 is Alex’s favourite film, closely followed by Howl’s Moving Castle.
Gary Cushing
Fields of Expertise:
Gary has been interested in Modern History, in particular the conflicts in the 20th century, since school and has been a regular visitor to the battlefields of Europe since his days in the Army.
Having served with 2 Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment in Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Beirut, Eastern Africa, Germany and the USA, Gary subsequently took on a Civil Service post specialising in Firearms, surveillance and Counter Terrorism. He joined the Anglia team at the start of 2018.
Mark Banning
Fields of Expertise:
Mark has been a Battlefield Guide for over ten years, and particularly enjoys being involved in personal research, to make a soldier’s story relevant in the modern age. His background is from the hospitality industry, but he became a self-employed guide as a means to further his interest in the battlefields of the Western Front, and to gain a greater understanding of the men who fought in the conflict. Mark believes strongly that education is essential to preserve the memories of a remarkable generation, two of whom were his grandfathers, both who served in the Ypres Salient. Mark lives with his partner in Llangollen, North Wales.
Mark Allen
Fields of Expertise:
Mark’s interest in military history was forged at an early age with tales told by his Grandfather, who had served as an older soldier in the Western Desert during the Second World War. This developed over the years into a passion for learning about the history of modern conflict.
Service both in UK and Bermuda police services, alongside time with the Royal Military Police as a reservist, was followed by 28 years as long-haul cabin crew with British Airways. This gave him the opportunity to visit many far-flung battlefields, museums and sites of military interest from Asia to Africa, and from the Middle East to the Americas, expanding his knowledge of not only the two world wars but of 20th century conflict in general.
Having taken early retirement, Mark currently focuses on the First World War and looks forward to sharing his passion about its history and related stories with students. He has a particular interest in the experiences and treatment of indigenous and first nation soldiers of both British Dominions and the Empire; the history of the Royal Sussex Regiment; and memorialisation following the Great War.
Dave Machin
Fields of Expertise:
After a long career as a classroom English teacher, Dave relishes the chance to work with young people in a different environment, sharing his enthusiasm for learning about the human experience of World War 1. Accompanying battlefield tours as a teacher ignited his interest and he particularly enjoys linking sites visited to a school’s home area while researching relevant stories about unheralded individuals. Dave has taught war literature and directed plays about warfare and its effect; he also led school projects and tours to Ghana several times, Namibia and South Africa as well as the battlefields. Dave also works as a supply Teaching Assistant in an SEN school and volunteers with the CWGC, having also supported young offenders in the community.
Rob Yuill
Fields of Expertise:
Rob , spent 17 years in the Army as an Infantry Officer, staff officer and instructor. Retired, he is now an MOD Civil Servant, part time military historian and self confessed military history ‘nut’ with a passion for telling people history. Prior to joining the Army, Rob trained as a museum curator working in the Tullie House Museum, Durham Light Infantry Museum and National Army Museum. Following military service Rob returned to museums, becoming curator of the newly formed Rifles Museum in Winchester then subsequently Director of Heritage & Commemorations for The Rifles, including overseeing a network of 12 museums relating to the Regiment’s history. Rob regularly visits battlefields and historic sites across the UK, Europe and further afield; to develop his knowledge and understanding of history. Rob is also a historical re-enactor and living history interpreter of over 30 years experience; specialising in the Napoleonic Wars, Great War and Second World War. Woking as a ‘living history’ historian has given him a great feel for events, artefacts and characters from the past and in bringing history to life. Rob also has access to a broad range of artefacts; real and reproduction, to enhance learning and historical understanding. Rob has advised for film and Television productions and appeared in documentaries for BBC History, Yesterday and History Channel as a historical commentator. He has also co-authored a two part history of The Light Division in the Peninsula War.
Robert Shaw
Fields of Expertise:
Robert is a battlefield tour guide and is currently writing a C-IED manual for the UN along with military history books on the SAS, SOE and the Cold War. He retired from the British Army where he worked in the fields of IEDD and intelligence, working for UKSF and DIS. He subsequently managed training for the UN and NATO in Afghanistan, Libya, Ukraine, Nigeria and Somalia. His battlefield tour expertise and experience includes the American Civil War, WW1, WW2 and the Cold War in UK, USA, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Sicily, Crete, the Baltic States, Ukraine, Poland and the Balkans. Robert has a Masters degree in Global Security from Cranfield University and lectures at UCL on intelligence and defence matters and counter proliferation.
John Carey
Fields of Expertise:
John was born in Aldershot into a military family his father being a serving soldier in the Parachute Regiment. He spent his childhood years living in various garrison towns in the UK and Germany including Berlin. At the age of ten, John returned to the Midlands until he was seventeen and followed the family tradition of joining the army. John served with the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment from 1984 until 1989 and then joined West Midlands Police.
Whilst serving as a police officer he has fulfilled numerous uniformed operational roles and plainclothes duties until 2016 when he retired.
Since 2001 he has been involved in the organisation and research for numerous trips and pilgrimages to commemorate the police officers and men of the Midlands killed in conflicts since the beginning of the twentieth century.
John has a passion for telling the story of the ordinary everyday person who is caught up in some of the most dramatic events in history and inspiring young people to engage in their own families and communities history.
Francis Mullan
Fields of Expertise:
With 30 years service as a Metropolitan Police Officer, Francis is a qualified ‘City of London’ Tour Guide and teacher of Adult Education. As an amateur historian based in the East of London, Francis delivers lectures in his local community and works as a volunteer for several local and national charities. With his 20 years of visiting Battlefields, and experience and knowledge of Policing and guiding in London, Francis is keen to bring his enthusiasm of these aspects of our History to new generations of students.
Chris Pretty
Fields of Expertise:
Chris joined the Royal Marine Commandos in 1978 and served with 40 and 42 Commando, and with Royal Marines Poole. He saw service in Northern Ireland and as a Section 2ic in the Falklands War in 1982 and has significant front line combat experience in both conflicts. Specialisations in the Royal Marines were military intelligence and reconnaissance. He is currently employed as a Lecturer delivering and leading a Degree Programme for the UEA. He is married to Dawn and they have four grown up children and two grandchildren. He has a Masters degree specialising in Military History and is a specialist in Conflict Landscape History, alongside a Teaching degree.
He has always been interested in military history and has been involved with several military history books as both a contributor, illustrator and editor. His particular area of interest is the ‘man on the ground’. He is currently writing a book for Pen and Sword about the Falklands Conflict of 1982 with particular emphasis on ‘the man on the ground’ from both sides.
He is also a fully qualified climbing and mountaineering Instructor and guide specialising in all aspects of mountaineering throughout the world.
Carol Henderson
Fields of Expertise:
Carol is originally from London but has lived in York for most of her life. She worked for many years as a lighting and sound electrician in professional theatre. She subsequently worked for nine years at HLTA level in an infant school.
Carol has had a lifelong fascination with the Great War, thanks to the stories passed down by the women of her family. She has a Masters Degree in the History of Britain in the First World War and is currently completing a PhD, in which she is studying the Great War manpower problems through the lens of the military service tribunals. Inspired by the work of Anglia Tours, Carol is very keen to encourage a new generation of enquiring minds to become enthused in a subject that has always been of great significance to her.
John Raynor
Fields of Expertise:
John has a Master of Philosophy Degree and has taught History and more recently Politics over a 38 year period. He has been a Head of History, Head of Sixth Form and an Advanced Skills Teacher. He has taught GCSE Modern World History, Nazi Germany and the Holocaust to A level. He undertook his first tour of the battlefields of the First World War in 1987 and has organised and run trips virtually every year since then including to Berlin and Auschwitz. Since he retired from teaching in 2018 he has pursued his hobby of touring battlefield and historic sites with Anglia Tours to encourage the next generation to understand and appreciate the personal aspect of warfare and the lives of those who lived through the years of 1914 onwards.
Henry Eagan
Fields of Expertise:
Henry spent thirty-five years in the Army serving in Germany, including Berlin (British Sector), Northern Ireland, Oman, Iraq and Afghanistan. He was also on the staff of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on two separate occasions. He became an honorary Welshman when he commanded a Territorial Army battalion in south Wales.
Both of his grandfathers were soldiers in WW1 and only recently did he discover that one of them had been attached to a forebear regiment and wounded at the Somme before joining the Royal Flying Corps. The catalyst for further research, these stories and many more need to be told to keep alive the memory of that extraordinary generation who gave so much. Anglia Tours provide an excellent medium for doing precisely that!
Geoff Reason
Fields of Expertise:
Geoff has made a career of helping young students and adults. Latterly, he spent 7 years as an Anglia client, accompanying his school on WW1 battlefield tours before finally giving in and joining the team. He has a long history of research into the First World War for both his own and friends’ families. Geoff has a passion for all aspects of history and for encouraging young people to explore and enjoy their own experiences and to learn the lessons from the past.
Alison Biegel
Alison was so inspired by attending one of the very first Anglia tours that she insisted on joining the company in September 2000. As the first employee she has been instrumental in helping Anglia grow from its modest beginnings to becoming a leader in guided history tours for schools. Her military service and history degree make this her ideal job and she still retains specific responsibility for the military and adult groups. She remains a passionate advocate of outstanding customer service and for tours that both educate and entertain those that travel with us.
Ian Coyne
Ian joined Anglia Tours as a guide in 1998 before coming on board full time in 2011 to take responsibility for the company’s marketing and product development. In May 2019 Ian moved across to a group role and, as Next Generation Travel’s Product Development Manager, is looking to further develop product offerings across the board and to build on the relationships he has established with UK exam boards.
Julia Clarke
Having gained a qualification in Travel & Tourism with Business & Finance, Julia has worked in the travel industry, specialising in Group Travel for 30 years. She has worked for various Tour Operators both in the UK and Overseas, including the last 9 years in the School Travel Sector. Being a mother herself she understands the importance in making sure students have an enjoyable time on tour. Julia believes in offering a high level of customer service and making the school tour process as straightforward as possible for the teachers involved.
Lorna Horne
Lorna joined the team in June 2015. She comes to us from an Account Management and Customer Service background, with experience in many different industries including travel, having worked for 3 ½ years as cabin crew. She has also spent a lot of time organising charity and weekend events across the UK for both small and large groups. Lorna is hard working and eager to work closely with your school to ensure your students have the best possible educational and fun experience.
Helen Cripps
Helen joined Anglia as an Admin Assistant in October 2013 and has since progressed to Tour Coordinator for military, adult, and school tours. She thoroughly enjoys the variety that this gives her and the wide range of destinations we offer.
A graduate of Southampton University, she combines excellent attention to detail with an enthusiasm for what she does, especially when that means supporting her customers and colleagues alike. Helen’s love of history was encouraged from a young age by her older brother, Sean, who taught the subject for many years before becoming an Anglia Guide and our Health & Safety and Product Executive.
Haylie Cahill
Haylie joined the Anglia team in December 2019, after graduating with a degree in Tourism Management from the University of Hertfordshire.
Having worked in the travel industry alongside her studies, Haylie strives to provide the highest level of customer service and combine her industry knowledge to facilitate exceptional, educational tours. Personable and driven, Haylie is looking forward to expanding her history knowledge along with establishing longstanding relationships with customers as a Tour Coordinator.
Sheralyn Black
Sheralyn joined us in March 2014 from one the UK’s leading event management and business travel agencies where she was responsible for handling requests from a range of corporate clients. Energetic, self-motivated and meticulous, Sheralyn relishes the challenges of tour operating, the chance to develop her historical knowledge and the opportunity to build strong working relationships with our customers.
Sean Cripps
Sean graduated with a History degree from the University of London, taught history in secondary schools for 14 years and holds a Master’s degree in Education. Combining a passion for history and travel, he has visited over seventy countries, is a qualified Expedition Leader and has led over 500 educational visits including 300 tours for Anglia.
Sean joined Anglia’s guide team in 2003, guiding on Great War, Weimar and Nazi Germany, Holocaust and Cold War tours, before joining the office team in 2005 with the role of Product Development and Safety Management System Coordinator.
In May 2019 Sean was appointed to the role of Health & Safety Officer / Product Executive, taking on a wider remit of safety management and product development across the NGT Group.
Kate Johnson
Kate has worked in the travel industry for over 30 years, the last 9 years in the Group Travel sector. During that time she has developed excellent relationships with a whole host of suppliers including airlines, coach and cross channel transport providers. Her overriding priority is to provide our customers with safe, high quality transport services whichever country you are visiting.
Beki Sharpe
Beki joined the Anglia team as an Admin Assistant in November 2012 using the skills and experience she developed from her time in the travel industry to great effect. In September 2014 she took on the role of Bookings Coordinator and with it responsibility for sourcing all our accommodation needs. Beki works closely with each hostel and hotel that we use so as to ensure these meet the high standard of safety and comfort that all our customers should expect.
Nicola Collins
Nicola joined our growing team of Admin Assistants in September 2014 having spent much of the past 10 years working as the PA to a team of Senior Partners in a busy firm of Accountants. The experience she gained from this role and her background in both administration and publishing, mean Nicola is ideally qualified to provide our Tour Coordinators with the support they need to ensure all aspects of a tour runs smoothly.
Melissa Punter
Mel has honed her administrative and customer service skills from working, primarily, in the retail and manufacturing industries. Highly self motivated, organised and enthusiastic she has a real eye for detail. Having joined Anglia in October 2016, Mel is really looking forward to being part of the team and supporting Tour Coordinators in delivering tours for our customers whilst at the same time developing her historical knowledge.
Jessica Holmes
Jess’ role has evolved significantly since she joined the Anglia team as an Admin Assistant in June 2012 and has now progressed to Commercial Executive. She focuses on analysing overall business performance and identifying trends as they develop. She is responsible for reporting data to the Anglia management team and the Board of Directors which ensures Anglia continues to provide the high-quality service which our customers have come to expect from us.
Amy Bosher
Amy joined Anglia from a background in Care in September 2019 to work alongside Jess Holmes as Commercial Coordinator. Her keen eye for detail and quick grasp of the commercial aspects of tour operating have meant she settled in quickly and provides valuable support to the Tour Coordinators and their customers. She is looking forward to making the most of the wider opportunities available to her as part of Next Generation Travel.
Stephanie Mansley
Stephanie joined Next Generation Travel in 2013 and is based within the Finance Team in the Blackpool office. She looks after all our day to day financial requirements, working closely with the Commercial Executives and is an integral part of the Anglia Team.
David Craven
I have been involved in educational travel for over 39 years. Prior to my involvement with NGT I was the Managing Director of one of the UK’s other leading educational travel companies for 25 years. I was also a founder member of the School Travel Forum.
As Non Executive Chairman of Next Generation Travel, I am responsible for working with the board to set the strategy and the direction for the business.
The reasons I became involved in Next Generation Travel when we set up in 2010 were twofold. Firstly, I believed that as a result of the consolidation in the educational travel market there was an opportunity for a highly experienced and specialist team to deliver exceptional tours that could be tailored towards a specific subject or area of learning. Secondly, I wanted to work with a team which share common values and have a genuine passion for educational tours. It is therefore very rewarding to see that our approach, our values and our passion have led to the success which is evident from this website and I look forward to supporting the team as we work towards achieving our Vision.
Deborah Beckett
I am delighted to work with a team of educational travel professionals with unrivalled experience. For the last 28 years I have worked in senior roles for some of the major travel companies, including MyTravel and Holidaybreak Plc, overseeing more than 15 different types of holidays – including school travel.
My wealth of travel experience combines with a passion for delivering cultural opportunities that inspire young people to see more of the world. It is a privilege to work in this market and deliver valuable experiences that will be remembered for a lifetime. As a founder of Next generation Travel I take our responsibility as the tour operator very seriously, ensuring that tour leaders can trust our promise to deliver tours which always meet their expectations.
Maria Whiteman
I joined NGT in October 2019 as MD Designate and moved in to the MD role in October 2020.I have worked in the travel industry for over 29 years, with the vast majority of this time having been in the traditional tour operating market working in senior roles for brands such as TUI & Airmiles and in MD roles for Hayes & Jarvis, Travel 2 Travel 4 and Saga Holidays.
I also spent several years as CEO of an online travel business which gave me invaluable experience in the digital space.
I have a passion for travel and particularly for the impact travel can have on us at various stages of our life. I am very excited to have taken over the reigns as MD of NGT as I can see the massive impact our products have on the pupils and students that travel with us. Learning outside of the classroom is key to the academic development of so many children and NGT’s passion to ensure our tour and event content links back to the curriculum is one of the main reasons why I wanted to join the business.
Dave Finch
I have been a commercial Accountant for over 35 years, over 20 years of which have been as Finance Director with a market leading specialist travel company.
I initially joined Next Generation Travel as a business consultant before becoming Finance Director in July 2011 and then a shareholder soon after. My role is to provide strategic financial and management direction for the business, heading up the finance function and ensuring quality financial reporting information is provided to manage the business effectively. I was more than happy to commit myself to Next Generation Travel as I knew the individuals to be like minded professionals, who shared a passion for travel, had clear rounded personal values and aspirations to develop the company quickly with premium quality as a significant driver.
Sian Belfield
I have worked in the travel industry for over 28 years, 25 of those in educational travel within market leading companies. I have held a senior management position within the educational travel market for over 16 years, heading up successful sales and operations teams offering the full spectrum of learning outside the classroom needs.
My experience in the industry has strengthened my belief that teachers need reliable and knowledgeable support that they can trust when planning educational tours – from an operator with an impeccable safety record. The driving force behind everything I do is my desire to create passionate, knowledgeable and dynamic teams within NGT to provide customers with an exceptional service by tour operators who care about every detail of their tour.
I am committed to building engaged personal relationships with our customers, staff and suppliers whilst delivering tours to the very highest of safety and service standards. Our aim is to achieve the WOW factor – when customers travel with a NGT brand, we will build life-long working partnerships so that the choice remains simple – they stay with us as no one else compares!
Sarah Foden
I have 31 years experience in educational travel as a senior manager and director, with a background in developing and delivering innovative products in the performing and creative arts.
As Non Executive Director of Next Generation Travel I am passionate about our commitment to deliver the very best in educational, cultural and enriching visits. We achieve this by offering bespoke products, delivered by our hand- picked team whose detailed knowledge means they can offer the advice and service you need to ensure your students experience an exceptional school visit every time. Our expertise, shared passion for educational travel and reliability are what makes Next Generation Travel special.
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