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Michael Cheshire |
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Maritime & Naval History |
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MBE, Former Captain of HMS Victory, Viking Resident Historian |
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Coming from: |
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Caersws, Powys, Wales UK |
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Contact details: |
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EXPERTISE |
History - Naval |
Tall Ships |
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PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH: |
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Mike Cheshire joined the Royal Navy in the early 1960's at HMS Ganges as a Radio Communications Operator and travelled the world extensively.
In the Mid 1970's Michael undertook Officer training at the Naval College at Dartmouth, and became a Communications Specialist, and again went to sea in Destroyers and Frigates. It was in the mid 1980's Michael became a Warfare Officer and saw active service in the Gulf and in the Falklands, and has travelled world wide during his active Naval Career.
For the last 6 years of Michael's Naval Career, he was the Commanding Officer of HMS VICTORY (Admiral Lord NELSON's flagship during the Battle of Trafalgar) where his real interest in history began to expand.
His career out of the Service has been as a Management Consultant, Open University Lecturer, Local Councillor, School Governor and Parish Councillor and more recently as a Speaker and Resident Historian on Viking Ocean Cruise Liners.
As a Guest Speaker on his specialist subjects of Maritime History, but more recently he has been appointed a the Viking Resident Historian where he has delivered a number of "iconic" lectures very successfully and has developed and delivered / facilitated a number of "Round Table" discussions and debates with the passengers that have all proved to be of great value and they have been enjoyed by those that attended. These appointments have expanded knowledge and historical portfolio of presentations further.
Michael also conducts tours around the Viking Ocean Cruise ships to explain the Bayeux Tapestry and the relationship with the Battle of Hastings.
Michael was appointed as an MBE by Her Majesty in 1998, and he lives in Wales with his wife. He has two daughters and 4 grandchildren
1. The Flagship of the Royal Navy - HMS VICTORY
2. Admiral Lord Nelson - From Sickly Boy to National Hero
3. Lady Hamilton - Heroione or Survivor
4. The Battle of St Vincent
5. The Battle of Teneriffe (Santa Cruz)
6. The Battle of Copenhagen
7. The Battle of the Nile
8. The Battle of Trafalgar
9. The Battle of Jutland (WW1)
10. Nelson in the West Indies
11. The battle of San Juan Hills
12. The French & Indian Wars prior to the American War of Independence
13. Nelson and the Naples connection
14. The Boston Tea Party
15. The Russian Revolution
16. The Hanseatic League
17. The Bayeux Tapestry
18. Chinese Civilisations
19. Egyption Civilisations
20. History of India
21. History of Great Britain
22. The Vikings
23. The History of Spain
24. The Roman Empire
25. History of the Venetian Republic
26. The Italian Renaissance
27. Canadian Exploration
28. Pirates and treasure hunters
29 The History of the Netherlands
30. Explorers and the Age of Discovery
31. Island in History
32. Pre-Columbian civilisation
33. This history of Navigation
34. The Ottoman Empire
35. The history of Argentina
36. The history of Brazil
37. The history of North West Africa
38. The history of France
39. The history of Germany
40. The explorers of South America
41. Putting Oceans in context
42. The Venetian Republic
43. Vikings on the move
44. The history of Australia
45. The history of New Zealand
46. The history of Indonesia
47. Pacific Exploration
48. How the Spice Age changed the world
49. The American Revolution
50. The history of the Amazon
51. The history of Cuba
52. Egyptian Civilisation
53. Glaciers - rivers of ice
54. The indigenous peoples of the Pacific North West
55. The history of Scandinavia
Forum/Round Tables
1. NATO - is the alliance still relevant?
2. Women in War
3. The importance of the Mediterranean
4. Is Canada independent with a British Monarch as the head of state?
5. Is there a special relationship between the US and the UK?
6. The Strategic Gaps - how important are they in the 21st century?
7. Nelson in the Caribbean
8. Lady Hamilton - from pauper to riches back to pauper again.
9. Greatest Influence - Discuss which civilisation had the greatest Input for the 21st Century - Greeks, Romans or Ottomans
As a previous Commanding Officer of HMS VICTORY, I have undertaken a number of Appointments focussing on Maritime History with Viking Cruises, P&O, Fred Olsen and Cunard. My presentations deal with the most famous battles fought by Admiral Nelson and his Love affair with Lady Hamilton. These presentations always provides positive feedback. More recently, I have been asked to take up appointments as a Resident Historian with Viking Ocean Cruises.
March 2016 - The Viking Star cruise in the Mediterranean was my first experience with Viking Cruises. The enrichment programmes I presented were in accordance with my Core Subject of Nelson and his Battles and his experiences as a Naval Commander. I was also had the great privileged of presiding over the ANZAC celebrations onboard as there were a number of Australian and New Zealand guests onboard on the day. The small ecumenical service was based upon that which is conducted on Rememberence Day in the UK, and I the feedback from the Guests were very positive indeed.
Autumn 2016 - Viking Star. West Indies explorer cruise for 14 days. I delivered six enrichment presentations, not only on my core subject on Admiral Lord Nelson, but I was asked to preset a maritime perspective of the American Civil War and on other the battle of San Jaun. It was an exciting cruise, and it was a great pleasure presenting my subjects. I look forward to doing many more in the future if possible. As we were at sea on Trafalgar Day (21st October) I was able to give an informal presentation on the Battle of Trafalgar, and we made the "immortal memory" toast (with Rum) on the actual day. This was really enjoyed by the passengers and some of the crew members why had not seen anything like this before.
March 2017 - Viking Sky - Ancient Empires and Holy Lands. On this cruise I will be delivering my enrichment programme based upon Nelson transit through the Mediterranean Sea that culminated int he Battle of the Nile. it is with this cruise I introduced a new presentation that focussed on Nelson and his attachment to Naples (as we are visiting Naples, this is quite appropriate), and of course his meeting and subsequent feelings for Lady Hamilton, who he met the first time in Naples and the Ambassadors wife.
July 2017 - September 2017 - Viking Sky - Viking Homelands. On this cruise I was appointed as the Resident Historian. It was on these 3 cruises that I delivered 2 Iconic Lectures (Imperial Russia and the Hanseatic League) and developed and facilitated 3 Round Table Discussions. I was fully engaged with the Port Visits and was able to add value to the Passenger's Experience whilst ashore. I was, and still am, fully and totally supported by my wife, Wendy.
November 2017 - December 2017 - Viking Sea - West Indies Explorer. Again, I am appointed as the Resident Historian and I have been asked to deliver 3 " Iconic Lectures" on the Ages of Discovery, Pirates and Treasure Hunters and the Bayeux Tapestry. These 4 cruises will have 2 Round Table discussions, namely: the UK/US Special Relationship and Nelson and the West Indies Connection.
2019 - Viking sky and Viking Jupiter. These Cruises were a little different in that I was asked to undertake “tour visits” of the Bayeux Tapestry” where there are scents of the Tapestry in the Forward and Aft stairwells. These tours appeared to be well received and the guests were really interested in the whole “Battle of Hastings” story and the relevance of the Vikings with it. There were a number of different presentations to deliver all of which were relevant to the areas were about to visit. For example, the History of France, Netherlands, Spain, the Roman Empire and the Italian Renaissance was delivered before arrival. This was well received by guests who had a broad understanding of their location.
2020 - Viking Sky. January/February 2020. 3 x 1 week cruises and 1 x 2 week cruises was different in that some of the guests were only onboard for short periods of time and were very attentive and questioning.
2021 - This was the year of the Covid - no cruises taken as there were either cancelled or postponed
2022 - `This year saw us cruising on the Mediterranean, Alaska and a Repositioning from Barcelona to San Juan across the Atlantic. There were plenty of presentations to deliver, some of which were my first time - the history of West Africa was a good example. I felt the the guests were really engaged with the "forums" especially the one entitled "NATO - is this an outdated alliance?" So much so that we had to put on two forums to cater with the demand. The several "Sea Days" saw the 6 Bayeux Tapestry tours full and once again, they were very well received and guests were fully engaged.
2023 - South Atlantic crossing from Rio to Barcelona. 21 day Repositioning cruise . There was a wide range of presentations provided - I gave seven in total, together with 4 x forums. The NATO forum was, once again, a great success so much so that the venue was changed to a larger theatre size area, which was full to capacity. Bayeux Tapestry tours was also a great success, with guests fully engaged.
Whilst onboard I and my wife take part fully in all activities that we can with the ship and we always volunteer to be escorts for shore excursions whenever we can. Whist onboard, we have been asked to "host" dinner or lunch tables, which we are always delighted to do.
We are committed to ensuring that Guests leave our company with a smile on their faces.
The following recent Cruise History has been recorded for this candidate.
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SHIP |
REF |
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CRUISE DESCRIPTION |
NIGHTS |
SAILING FROM |
DEPARTURE DATE |
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Viking Mars
| MA240413 |
Ancient Mediterranean Treasures |
7 |
Istanbul |
Saturday, April 13, 2024 |
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Viking Mars
| MA240406 |
Ancient Mediterranean Treasures |
7 |
Athens (from Piraeus) |
Saturday, April 6, 2024 |
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Viking Mars
| MA240330 |
Venice, the Adriatic and Greece |
7 |
Venice |
Saturday, March 30, 2024 |
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Viking Mars
| MA240323 |
Italian Sojourn |
7 |
Civitavecchia (for Rome) |
Saturday, March 23, 2024 |
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Viking Orion
| OR20821 |
Alaska & the Inside Passage |
10 |
Seward (Anchorage), Alaska |
Sunday, August 21, 2022 |
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Viking Orion
| OR220811 |
Alaska & the Inside Passage |
10 |
Vancouver |
Thursday, August 11, 2022 |
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Viking Venus
| VE220313 |
In Search of the Northern Lights |
12 |
Bergen |
Sunday, March 13, 2022 |
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Viking Venus
| VE220301 |
In Search of the Northern Lights |
12 |
Tilbury |
Tuesday, March 1, 2022 |
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Viking Sky
| SK220202 |
Greek Odyssey |
10 |
Piraeus (Athens) |
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 |
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Viking Sky
| SK220119 |
Cities of Antiquity & the Holy Land |
14 |
Civitavecchia (for Rome) |
Wednesday, January 19, 2022 |
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Viking Sky
| SK200207 |
Turquoise Caribbean Seas |
7 |
Miami, Florida |
Friday, February 7, 2020 |
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Viking Sky
| SK200124 |
Panama Canal & Central America |
14 |
Miami, Florida |
Friday, January 24, 2020 |
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Viking Sky
| SK200117 |
Turquoise Caribbean Seas |
7 |
Miami, Florida |
Friday, January 17, 2020 |
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Viking Sky
| SK200110 |
Turquoise Caribbean Seas |
7 |
Miami, Florida |
Friday, January 10, 2020 |
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Viking Jupiter
| JU191101 |
Mediterranean Odyssey |
12 |
Venice |
Friday, November 1, 2019 |
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Viking Jupiter
| JU191020 |
Mediterranean Odyssey |
12 |
Barcelona |
Sunday, October 20, 2019 |
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Viking Sun
| SU190914 |
World Cruise 2019 - 2020 Sector 2 |
14 |
Bergen |
Saturday, September 14, 2019 |
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Viking Sun
| SU190831 |
World Cruise 2019 - 2020 Sector 1 |
14 |
Greenwich, London |
Saturday, August 31, 2019 |
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Viking Sky
| SK190327 |
Scandinavia & the Kiel Canal |
10 |
Amsterdam |
Wednesday, March 27, 2019 |
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Viking Sky
| SK190314 |
In Search of the Northern Lights |
12 |
Bergen |
Thursday, March 14, 2019 |
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Viking Sky
| SK190302 |
In Search of the Northern Lights |
12 |
Tilbury |
Saturday, March 2, 2019 |
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Viking Sun
| SU180728 |
Viking Homelands |
14 |
Stockholm |
Saturday, July 28, 2018 |
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Viking Sun
| SU180714 |
Viking Homelands |
14 |
Bergen |
Saturday, July 14, 2018 |
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Viking Sun
| SU180707 |
Viking Shores & Fjords |
7 |
Amsterdam |
Saturday, July 7, 2018 |
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Viking Sea
| SE171106 |
West Indies Explorer |
10 |
San Juan |
Monday, November 6, 2017 |
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Viking Sky
| SK170729 |
Viking Homelands |
14 |
Stockholm |
Saturday, July 29, 2017 |
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Viking Sky
| SK170311 |
Cities of Antiquity & the Holy Land |
14 |
Civitavecchia (for Rome) |
Saturday, March 11, 2017 |
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Viking Star
| ST160417 |
Passage through Western Europe |
14 |
Barcelona |
Sunday, April 17, 2016 |