Meet the Team

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.

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.

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.

Ian led his first Anglia battlefield tour in 1998, since then he has guided in more than 400 groups on tours to the First World War battlefields, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands.

Having spent over 20 years in the Public Sector, in a number of different operational roles, Ian combines his guiding commitments with the role of Commercial Director, which means he is responsible for Anglia’s Sales and Marketing activity as well as overseeing the development of new tours and products. Since February 2019 Ian has been licensed to guide groups at the Sachsenhausen Memorial.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. This large portfolio is complemented by over twenty years’ experience of conducting military and civilian battlefield tours. Tim is author of fourteen books and guides, principally in the Battleground series, mainly on First and Second World Wars. From his early TV appearances, including ‘Time Team’ he is now Director of Production for Battlefield History TV and has worked on documentary films from Vikings to Korea.

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.

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.

Richard serves as a Detective Sergeant with Essex Police. He has worked covertly on a national and international level within the intelligence community and on covert serious and organised crime investigation and disruption. He is a nationally accredited source handler and former anti and counter surveillance operative. Currently undertaking the discernment process for ordination as a Church of England Priest he is qualified in Christian Studies through Chelmsford Cathedral.

He particularly enjoys ethics and ‘faith’ based tours looking at moral and theological issues. Holocaust tours are delivered from a theological perspective, to create a firm understanding of ‘The Jewish Question’

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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’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 20^th 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.

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.

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.

Chris joined the Royal Marines 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 front line experience of both conflicts. 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. He has a Masters degree specialising in Military 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 and editor. His particular area of interest is the ‘man on the ground’.

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.

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.