VisitBritain_Faces of Britain Guide 2012_01

Ali FitzGibbon Director of Young at Art Northern Ireland

Howie Nicholsby Owner of 21st Century Kilts Scotland

Sian Whitelock Commercial Director Penderyn Distillery, Wales

FACES OF BRITAIN INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES

Tony Leck Chef Proprieter, The Pavilion restaurant Guernsey

Alexandra Sitwell Owner of Renishaw Hall England

visitbritain.com/media

Tom Bird Globe to Globe Festival Director Shakespeare’s Globe, London, England

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Introduction How to use Nothing beats a good interview and I hope to introduce you to some exceptional people who are available to share their stories and tell you what they love about Britain.

They are men and women from all corners of the country and are available to talk with you about the countryside, culture, fashion, food, heritage, music and sport – our typical British obsessions and interests.

We have selected a cast of characters who have fascinating stories to tell, knowledge to share and enthusiasm in abundance for their particular interests and, of course, their home. In the following guide you will discover chefs to curators, TV presenters to artistic directors, milliners to brewers, gardeners, sportspeople and story-tellers galore.

Meet the Director of the World Shakespeare Festival, Deborah Shaw; Chairman of the English Wine Producers, and owner, Ridgeview Wine Estate, Michael Roberts; the inaugural winner of BBC Masterchef, Derek Johnstone – now Head Chef, Greywalls Hotel and Chez Roux restaurant; Pru Porretta, Coventry's Modern Day Lady Godiva and many more British personalities.

This is an exciting opportunity for the media to witness first-hand the interesting, eccentric and quirky characters that Britain is world-famous for - we hope that their stories will enthuse you as much as they have us and you will take away a cache of interviews to enchant your readers and viewers.

We have selected a strong selection of personalities in the following categories countryside, culture, fashion, food, heritage, music and sport – in an easy-to-use guide that is alphabetical with a biography, category and country.

Each entry provides contact details and most people can be contacted directly.

It couldn’t be easier.

This is a unique opportunity to meet the best of British characters and will be an essential resource during your stay and for future reference.

Britain – You’re Invited.

Paul Gauger Global Leader, 2012 Games Media www.visitbritain.com/media

Media contacts in Americas New York Meredith Pearson PR Executive USA 845 Third Avenue, Floor 10, New York, NY 10022 T: 001 212 850 0377 C: 001 917 412 0124 E: meredith.pearson@visitbritain.org Kathleen O’Connell PR Executive USA 845 Third Avenue, Floor 10, New York, NY 10022 T: 001 212 850 0364 E: kathleen.oconnell@visitbritain.org Callum Roberts Business Development Assistant 845 Third Avenue, Floor 10, New York, NY 10022 T: 001 212 850 0336 E: callum.roberts@visitbritain.org Lisa Kearns PR & Communications Executive 845 Third Avenue, Floor 10, New York, NY 10022 T: 001 212 850 0327 E: lisa.kearns@visitbritain.org

Los Angeles Katrina Early Film Tourism and PR Manager (West Coast) 11766 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1200, Los Angeles, CA 90025 T: 00 1 310 268 2132 F: 00 1 310 481 2960 E: katrina.early@visitbritain.org Odalys Flores E: odalys.flores@visitbritain.org

Canada Ted Flett PR & Communications Manager 160 Bloor Street East, Suite 905, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 1B9 T: 001 416 646 6676 F: 001 416 642 2240 C: 001 647.202.4184 E: ted.flett@visitbritain.org

Brazil Mitsi Goulias Press & PR Manager Centro Brasileiro Britanico, Rua Ferreira de Araujo 741, 1 Andar, Pinheiros, Sao Paulo, Sp, 05428-002 Brazil T: 0055 11 3245 7653 F: 0055 11 3245 7651 E: mitsi.goulias@visitbritain.org 4

Media contacts in APAC India and Middle East China - Beijing Tamily Liu Press & PR Executive Beijing Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy, 4/F Landmark Building,Tower 1, 8 North Dongsanhuan Road, Chaoyang District, 100004, Beijing, China T: 0086 10 65906903 F: 0086 10 6590 0977 E: tamily.liu@visitbritain.org

China - Shanghai Bonnie Hua Press & PR Manager - China & Hong Kong VisitBritain/Cultural and Education Section British Consulate General Shanghai 1st Floor Pidemco Tower, 318 Fu Zhou Lu , Shanghai 200001, China T: 0086 21 5117 5838 E: Bonnie.Hua@visitbritain.org

Hong Kong Janice Cheung Representative HK & South China T: 00852 35157878 E: janice.cheung@visitbritain.org

India Srishti Bhatia PR Executive - India 202-203 JMD Regent Square, Merhrauli-Gurgaon Road, Gurgaon 122001, Haryana, India T: 0091 124 262 4255 M: +0091 981 003 5669 F: 0091 124 262 4200 E: srishti.bhatia@visitbritain.org

Japan Katsue Takeshima PR Manager VisitBritain, Kenkyusha Eigo Centre Bldg 3F, 1-2 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Japan 162-0825 T: 0081 03 5227 6233 F: 0081 03 5227 6240 E: katsue.takeshima@visitbritain.org

Australia Sarah Stevenson B2B and PR Executive Level 16, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia T: 0061 2 8247 2248 E: sarah.stevenson@visitbritain.org

UAE and Saudi Arabia Carol Maddison Manager, UAE PO Box 33342 2nd Floor, Sharaf Building, Khalid Bin Waleed Road, Dubai, U.A.E T: 009 71 4 3960809 E: carol.maddison@visitbritain.org PR Agency: Sharon Salazar T: 00 971 4 390 1950 sharon.salazar@wallis-mc.com PLEASE ONLY CONTACT PR AGENCY THROUGH CAROL MADDISON

Media contacts in Europe Belgium Myriam De Mulder Press Executive Avenue D’Auderghem-Oudergemselaan 10 1040 Brussels T: 00 322 287 6223 M: 00 322 472 487964 E: Myriam.DeMulder@visitbritain.org

Denmark Jette Ward Representative Denmark Kristianeiagade 8, 3rd floor, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark T: 00 45 3375 5005 F: 00 45 3375 5080 E: jette.ward@visitbritain.org

France Florence Valette Communications Manager VisitBritain BP 70-154 75363 Paris Cedex 08 T: 0033 (0) 1 44 51 34 95 F: 0033 (0) 1 44 51 34 91 E: florence.valette@visitbritain.org

Germany Andrea Hetzel Media Relations Manager Dorotheenstr. 54 10117 Berlin T: 0049 30 3157 1941 F: 0049 30 31571940 E: Andrea.Hetzel@visitbritain.org Sabine Kalkmann PR Executive Dorotheenstr. 54 10117 Berlin T: 0049 30 3157 1942 F: 0049 30 3157 1940 E: sabine.kalkmann@visitbritain.org

Italy

Spain

Destination PR:

Silvia Bocciarelli Press and PR VisitBritain Italia c/o Consolato Britannico Via San Paolo 7 20121 Milano T: 00 39 02 72300228 F: 00 39 02 72020153 M: 00 39 340 3524660 E: silvia.bocciarelli@visitbritain.org

Maria Eugenia Benito Press and PR VisitBritain British Embassy Torre Espacio Paseo de la Castellana 259D 28046 Madrid T: 0034 91 714 6498 M: 0034 647 57 36 54 E: maria.benito@visitbritain.org (not open to the public)

Jo Leslie Head of International Destination PR T: 0044 (0) 20 7578 1037 E: jo.leslie@visitbritain.org

Netherlands

Sweden

Margot Eggink Media Relations Manager Prins Hendrikkade 186, 1011 TD Amsterdam (Postal address Postbus 20650, 1001 NR Amsterdam) T: 00 31 206077706 F: 00 31 206186868 E: margot.eggink@visitbritain.org

Helene Hofverberg Press and PR Manager Box 3102, SE- 103 62 Stockholm T: 00 46 8 4401 706 M: 00 46 702 58 64 53 E: helene.hofverberg@visitbritain.org

Norway

Switzerland/Austria

Kim Lovlie Marketing Executive VisitBritain Norway British Embassy 0244 Oslo T: 00 47 23 13 65 80 M: 00 47 971 04 944 E: kim.lovlie@visitbritain.org

Andrea Hetzel Media Relations Manager Dorotheenstr. 54 10117 Berlin T: 0049 30 3157 1941 F: 0049 30 31571940 E: Andrea.Hetzel@visitbritain.org

Poland Joanna Sosnowska Marketing Representative VisitBritain British Council, Al. Jerozolimskie 59 00-697 Warszawa T: 0048 22 695 59 25 E: joanna.sosnowska@visitbritain.org

Russia Ekaterina Merenchuk PR & Marketing Executive 10 Smolenskaya Naberezhnaya, Moscow, 121009 T: 00 74 95 95 67 310 E: ekaterina.merenchuk@visitbritain.org

Sabine Kalkmann PR Executive Dorotheenstr. 54 10117 Berlin T: 0049 30 3157 1942 F: 0049 30 3157 1940 E: sabine.kalkmann@visitbritain.org

Media contacts in London 2012 Games Media: Paul Gauger Global Leader 2012 Games Media T: 0044 (0) 20 7578 1180 M: 0044 (0) 7884 233 647 E: paul.gauger@visitbritain.org

Val Austin International Press Visits Manager T: 0044 (0) 20 7578 1039 E: val.austin@visitbritain.org Rose Hughes International Press Visits Officer T: 0044 (0) 20 7578 1038 E: rose.hughes@visitbritain.org Emma Fitzgerald International Press Visits Officer T: 0044 (0) 20 7578 1032 E: emma.fitzgerald@visitbritain.org Emma Wilkinson International Press Visits Officer T: 0044 (0) 20 7578 1156 E: Emma.Wilkinson@visitbritain.org Rmishka Singh PR Editor T: 0044 (0) 20 7578 1155 E: Rmishka.Singh@visitbritain.org Corporate PR: Mark Di-Toro Press Officer T: 0044 (0) 20 7578 1098 M: 0044 (0) 7919 392 137 E: mark.di-toro@visitbritain.org David Leslie Coporate PR Manager T: 0044 (0) 20 7578 1141 M: 0044 (0) 7919 392 137 E: david.leslie@visitbritain.org

Julian Jacome Broadcast Media Manager, 2012 Media T: 0044 (0) 20 7578 1188 E: Julian.Jacome@visitbritain.org

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CONTENTS Countryside Culture Fashion Food Heritage Music Sport

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COUNTRYSIDE

Index

Countryside

Culture

Fashion

Food

Heritage

Music

Sport

LONDON

ENGLAND

Leela O’Dea

Tom Blofeld

Ecologist, London and South, British Waterways

Children’s author and CEO of BeWILDerwood, The Curious Treehouse Adventure

Leela has been involved in the habitat work on the waterways around the Olympic Park, including on the River Lee Navigation. She is passionate about improving habitats to allow wildlife to thrive, even in the most unpromising urban locations. Work in East London includes improving reed beds and soft banks which benefit fish and various water fowl, floating reed beds, creating nest sites for sand martins and other birds, kingfisher posts etc.

London, England

She is involved in more projects across London and the south of England and talks very evocatively about her subject: she has really good in-depth knowledge and the ability to paint a verbal picture. She has previously taken broadcast press on wildlife walk, eg. dawn chorus focused around birdsong.

Tom Blofeld set up the adventure park, BeWILDerwood, five years ago. A magical land of outdoor fun and exploration, it has already garnered most of the awards that it could have hoped for in its lifetime, including a coveted THEA – the global award for excellence. The company is in the process of expanding to other sites in the UK and potentially Norfolk, England Europe. Meanwhile Tom has been ignoring his role as CEO to concentrate on his position as director of silliness. In this capacity he has written five books and an interminable amount of what he calls poetry and others call doggerel. Most of these are ghost written by Mildred, a thorny Crocklebog who likes pink jewellery and lives, like her cousins the crocodiles, in marshy muddy water. Tom believes passionately in the depth and power of children’s imagination.

He is married to the film critic Leslie Felperin and he also forces his two young children to read his literary ramblings. He is a Vice Chairman of Autism Anglia and is a founding member of the new Visit East Anglia.

“I really love making worlds for children because I am, in fact, aged about seven myself.”

Contact: Fran Read Telephone: 020 7985 7276 / 07796 610 427 Email: Fran.read@britishwaterways.co.uk Website: www.waterscape.com 8

Contact: Jo Artherton (Marketing) Telephone: 07918 907567 Email: elfinfilagree@bewilderwood.co.uk Website: www.bewilderwood.co.uk Index

ENGLAND

COUNTRYSIDE

Julia Bradbury

Sophie Churchill OBE

Television presenter

Chief Executive, National Forest Company

The Peak District has a very special place in Julia’s heart – it’s where she first fell in love with the great outdoors, hand-in-hand with her father Michael.

Michael was born in Tideswell in the White Peak, and from the time she was six, he took her walking in breathtaking locations such as Monsal Dale, Stanage Edge, Win Hill and Lose Hill. She remains a passionate and proactive ambassador for the area in her role as President of Friends of the Peak District.

Named Travel Personality of the Year in 2010, she became President of The Ramblers in the same year.

Julia would be happy to undertake interviews, concentrating on her passion for the Peak District.

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Gina Fox Telephone: 020 7431 7454 / 07973 382256 Email: ginafox@directaccess.uk.net Website: www.juliabradbury.com Index

Peak District, England

Sophie Churchill is Chief Executive of the National Forest Company, leading the creation of The National Forest, the boldest environmental project in the country. The Forest presents numerous opportunities for people to exercise – walk, run, cycle – with events such as the National Forest 10K created to make the most of the surfaced trails through beautiful countryside. Access for people in National Forest, England wheelchairs or parents with buggies and pushchairs is a high priority in the Forest. Nearly eight million trees have been planted and hundreds of woodlands created over the last 20 years, with many more to go. The National Forest has been chosen as the location for the Woodland Trust’s Flagship Diamond Jubilee Wood, which will see the creation of 460 acres of new woodland and other habitats to celebrate The Queen’s Jubilee. The National Forest is an example of local communities, local and national businesses, and private and public landowners, working together to create and look after native woodland and welcome visitors to enjoy walking, cycling, picnicking and stay-over in the Forest.

Contact: Carol Rowntree Jones / Louise Insley Telephone: 01283 551211 Email: crowntreejones@nationalforest.org / linsley@nationalforest.org Website: www.visitnationalforest.co.uk 9

ENGLAND

COUNTRYSIDE

Chris Crowder

Eric Edwards

Head Gardener at Levens Hall

Reed and Sedge Cutter at How Hill National Nature Reserve

Trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, Chris has been the Head Gardener at Levens Hall for over 25 years. He is an award winning author and in-demand presenter.

The garden he and his team tends at Levens Hall are visually incredible, and breathtakingly beautiful. They are living history and tell the story of three centuries of english taste, style, obsession and eccentricity in the garden.

Cumbria, England

Eric has been reed and sedge cutting at How Hill in the Broads for 45 years. He worked for the Broads Authority for most of that time and now works part-time for the How Hill Trust, an environmental study centre, giving talks to visitors and maintaining the marsh and dykes. He is passionate about his work and the Broads and keeps the traditions alive in his trademark Victorian smock and hat.

Norfolk, England

How Hill is home to rare wildlife. It is one of the few places in the country where the Swallowtail Butterfly can be found and enthusiasts travel from all over the country to see it. The bittern also lives here as well as white and yellow water lilies.

It is a microcosm of the Broads with beautiful waterways, marshes, skies and windmills. Traditional yachts and wherries sail by. A visit to see Eric is like going back in time.

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Chris Crowder Telephone: 07762 364 557 Email: chris.crowder@mac.com Website: www.levenshall.co.uk / www.levensgarden.com / www.twitter.com/LevensGardener 10

Contact: Hilary Franzen Telephone: 01603 756034 Email: hilary.franzen@broads-authority.gov.uk Website: www.broads-authority.gov.uk Index

ENGLAND

COUNTRYSIDE

Henry Gowman

Emily Hirons

Tourist Guide and Wildlife Warden, Director of Norfolk Wherry Trust and Skipper of Wherry Albion

General Manager, Kent Life

12 years service in the Royal Navy and travelled extensively – 27yrs in the Police Service working for the Broads Authority for 7 yrs as a tourist guide and wildlife warden and for 7yrs with the Norfolk Wherry Trust.

I am a wildlife warden at How Hill a National Nature Reserve on the Norfolk Broads Norfolk, England I am a skipper of the wherry Albion – an iconic 113yr old traditional sailing trader built specifically to sail the shallow waters of the Broads. She is about 60ft long x 15ft wide with a 50ft mast carrying 1500sq ft of sail

Emily works as the general manager at Kent Life, a working farm on the outskirts of Maidstone. Kent Life appeals to history buffs and nostalgia seekers and is home to Britain’s last working coal-fired Oast House and a range of period-dressed historic buildings. A visit allows you to step back in time and discover the vibrant history of the people who lived and worked in the Garden of England over the past 150 years. It is one of the few places left in Britain Kent, England where hops are grown, harvested, dried and packed in the magnificent Oast House by hand, using only time honoured, traditional techniques. It is an excellent place for an insight into history – especially in this Jubilee year.

Emily is a Princess Di/Jill Dando look-alike who, like Margot from the Good Life, moved to rural Kent adding a Cath Kidson type of chic to the attraction. She loves pugs and can’t help taking to the dance floor if she hears anything by the Bee Gees. Emily is Kent Life’s bit of ‘posh’ and has recently moved to Whitstable.

Contact: Hilary Franzen Telephone: 01603 610734 Email: Hilary.Franzen@broads-authority.gov.uk Website: www.broads-authority.gov.uk Index

Contact: Scott Mackay Telephone: 01622 358841 Email: sspencer@continuum-group.com Website: www.kentlife.org.uk 11

ENGLAND James Joicey (Lord Joicey) Land management and rural tourism Ford & Etal Estates, Ford Ambassador for Northumberland and the Scottish Borders through his understanding of – and ability to present to foreign audiences – issues concerning rural tourism, Northumbrian and Scottish foods, British history, local cultural heritage (including proximity to Holy Island, birthplace of the Lindisfarne Gospels), the Northumberland, England relation between Scotland and England, countryside sports (shooting and fishing), etc..

Former English language teacher and linguist now running a large agricultural estate in a beautiful rural setting, overlooking the border with Scotland.

COUNTRYSIDE Bill Jordan OBE Pensthorpe Nature Reserve & Gardens, Jordans Cereals A multi-award winning day visitor attraction attracting 90,000 visitors per year. Past host to BBC Springwatch for three years, Pensthorpe is a perfect place to enjoy nature, wildlife and the outdoors, offering a very different day out with the aim of engaging all our visitors with the outdoors and all it has to offer. It is involved in national species reintroductions including red squirrels, The Great Crane Project and corncrakes. A nationally important nature reserve, with a conservation grade farm and world-class gardens, all set in 800 acres.

Norfolk, England

Other languages: French, Portuguese, Spanish, German – all fluent.

Contact: James Joicey Telephone: 01890 820655 or 07836 371649 Email: joicey@ford-and-etal.co.uk Website: www.ford-and-etal.co.uk 12

Contact: Mark Noble Telephone: 01328 851465 Email: Mark.noble@pensthorpe.com Website: www.pensthorpe.com Index

ENGLAND

COUNTRYSIDE

Cath Lee

Phil Loveland

Owner/Manager/Walking Guide.

Peak Walking Adventures

Livestock Officer at Kent Life Phil Loveland has been the livestock officer at Kent Life for two years. At just 21 he knows everything there is to know about keeping and caring for livestock.

Background in banking leading up to a role of Senior Business Manager, then moved on to take up the role of Regional Policy Manager for the Federation of Small Businesses. At the age of 46 Cath took the decision to put her career behind her and follow her dream to work outdoors in her beloved Peak District.

Peak District, England Cath had always had a passion for walking in the hills and a love of nature. She wanted to share that with others, helping them to discover the joys of ‘The Great Outdoors’. It was with this in mind that Peak Walking Adventures was formed. Cath believes that while the Olympics is all about competitive sport, it is important we don’t forget about those non-competitive sports and pastimes that many people get so much enjoyment from. The Peak District has some of the most stunning and diverse scenery in England and is the perfect place to enjoy walking.

He has been a part of Kent Life’s story since the age of four when he came along to volunteer with his granddad. He joined the successful Cobtree young farmers club and has gone on to become the vice president of the club. Phil is the perfect ambassador for Kent Life as he lives and breathes farming.

Kent, England

Phil’s top tips for living and working in the UK are: farming is the most laborious job but is easily the most satisfying and rewarding career; Britain is full of variety so make sure you enjoy all it has to offer; make sure you always carry waterproofs, an umbrella and wellies.

You can choose from a challenging hill and moorland walk to a gentle stroll in the countryside – there is something for everyone.

Contact: Cath Lee Telephone: 07870 778585 Email: cath@peakwalking.com Website: www.peakwalking.com

Index

Contact: Scott Mackay Telephone: 07713 307968 / 01622 358841 Email: smackay@kentlife.org.uk Website: www.kentlife.org.uk 13

ENGLAND

COUNTRYSIDE

Bernie McLinden

Nick Powe

Head of Park Management at the North York Moors National Park Authority

5th generation Cave Custodian

You would be hard pressed to find anyone who knows the North York Moors better than their rangers. Bernie has worked in the North York Moors for 12 years and looks after a team of rangers.

Bernie will help you get the inside knowledge on where to spot wildlife, get the best views or escape the crowds.

Yorkshire, England

Nick Powe is a fifth generation owner of Kents Cavern, Britain’s oldest prehistoric home in the English Riviera Global Geopark, South Devon, UK. He is also chairman of the English Riviera Geopark Organisation. Geopark is a UNESCO-recognised designation that recognises the area’s outstanding natural beauty and exceptional geology. Kents Cavern sheltered prehistoric animals such as cave bears, which hibernated in the caves, cave lion, the sabre-toothed scimitar cat and hyena.

Devon, England

Kents Cavern recently hit the world headlines after a human jawbone unearthed there was discovered to be between 44,200 and 41,500 years old, making it the oldest human fossil in north eastern Europe and certainly in Britain.

Three top tips: Spectacular showcaves open all year.

More than six million people have visited since it opened to the public in 1880.

Shakespeare Underground is often hosted there and is hugely popular.

Contact: Rachel McIntosh, Communications Officer Telephone: 01439 770657 Email: r.mcintosh@northyorkmoors-npa.gov.uk Website: www.northyorkmoors-npa.gov.uk 14

Contact: Nick Powe Telephone: 01803 215136 Email: nickpowe@kents-cavern.co.uk Website: www.kents-cavern.co.uk Index

ENGLAND

COUNTRYSIDE

Sue Prince OBE DL Owner Beechenhill Farm Lives in the Staffordshire Peak District, is an artist, runs the organic and eco-tourism business on the family’s organic dairy farm at Ilam. Specialises in eco and experiential tourism, has worked on many sustainable initiatives in the Peak District, recently reviewed and renewed Peak District Environmental Quality Mark (PDEQM). Received an OBE for contribution to tourism and farming in the Midlands.

Finalist in international ecotourism at the Virgin Responsible Tourism Awards. Member of Peak Peak District, England District Farm Holidays, and a PDEQM award holder.

Sue is passionate about the Peak District, rural communities, a living working landscape, and the amazing experiences we can offer to people who live very different lives to us. A story teller and artist producing Swedish-style Peak District Painted Tales.

Contact: Sue Prince Telephone: 01335 310274 Email: info@beechenhill.co.uk Website: www.beechenhill.co.uk

Index

Ashbourne Derbyshire, England

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ENGLAND

COUNTRYSIDE

Eric Robson Broadcaster, television documentary maker, farmer and Chairman of the Wainwright Society, Chairman of Gardener’s Question Time and Cumbria Tourism Chairman.

The writer and broadcaster Eric Robson began his television career with Border Television in Carlisle.

He’s been freelance for more than 35 years, presenting, producing and directing programmes for BBC Television and Radio, ITV and CHANNEL 4. His documentary programmes include Great Railway Journeys Of The World for the BBC and the long-running series with his “dog on a string” Out Of Town for ITV. For many years he presented Cumbria, England the BBC 2 flagship current affairs programme Brass Tacks and was a reporter on Radio 4’s award-winning File On Four programme. One of BBC Television’s team of outside broadcast commentators working on such state occasions as Trooping The Colour, The Cenotaph, The Lord Mayor’s Show and The Handover of Hong Kong, he’s also commentated on Royal Weddings, Princess Diana’s Funeral and the classic live climb of Old Man of Hoy. Since 1994 he’s been Chairman of the longest-running broadcast programme in the world – Gardeners’ Question Time, now in its 63rd year on Radio 4. He’s also Chairman of Striding Edge Limited for which he’s produced and presented award-winning mountain programmes such as The Wainwright Memorial Walk and Remote Lakeland and the Great Walks series.

His books include Great Railway Journeys Of The World and After Wainwright – the journal of a 190-mile adventure through the mountains of remote Lakeland.

The Border Line which explores the troubled history of the England Scotland Border – a frontier of Balkan proportions, was published by Frances Lincoln in 2006. They also publish Eric’s autobiography, Outside Broadcaster.

He accompanied the legendary fellwalker Alfred Wainwright in his BBC television series.

Among his documentary productions are Edge Of Empire, a radical reappraisal of Hadrian’s Wall, and Viking, an exploration of the Norse settlers of northern Britain.

His production company Arena Broadcast makes programmes for all the major UK networks and also corporate film productions. He narrates many television and radio programmes and is a regular speaker at functions and events.

Contact: Greg Stephenson Telephone: 01539 825 060 Email: gstephenson@cumbriatourism.org

View from Gowbarrow Fell, Ullswater Cumbria, England

Website: www.stridingedge.com/eric_robson/ 16

Index

ENGLAND

COUNTRYSIDE

Paul Rose Paul is an explorer and broadcaster, as well as being the Vice President of the Royal Geographical Society and Chair of the Expeditions and Fieldwork Division.

Paul’s television presenting credits include: Britain’s Secret Seas, Oceans, Voyages of Discovery, Take One Museum, Meltdown, Windland Scrapheap Challenge. Guest appearances include BBC’s The One Show, Child of Our Time, Breathing Places, UKTV Market Kitchen and Blue Peter. He reports for BBC News and makes live appearances on BBC Breakfast, BBC 24 News, Sky News and local TV news. Paul’s radio broadcasting work Cumbria, England includes: BBC national and local radio including World Service, Steve Wright, Midweek, You and Yours, Simon Mayo, Rock FM and US National Radio. His voice-over work includes making the official recording of Captain Scott’s diaries for the British Library. He is a very experienced and popular public speaker, science support and field logistics expert, polar guide, professional diver and instructor, mountaineer and yacht skipper. He was the Base Commander of Rothera Research Station, Antarctica for the British Antarctic Survey for ten years and was awarded HM The Queen's Polar Medal. For his work with NASA and the Mars Lander project on Mt Erebus, Antarctica, he was awarded: “For the popularisation of geography and the wider understanding of our world”. Paul co-authored his BBC-linked book, Oceans. He has written numerous commissioned magazine articles and has recently completed writing on Humboldt and Magellan for a new book on Great Explorers. He is a freelance journalist and a member of the Society of Authors. As an informed and passionate conservationist, Paul works hard and effectively to support our understanding and protection of our ecosystems and biodiversity.

His professional diving work includes science support diving in Antarctica as the British Antarctic Survey’s Institute Diving Officer, and in the Indian Ocean as Diving Ops Advisor to the RGS Shoals of Capricorn project. He ran the US Navy diver training programme at Great Lakes Naval Training Centre and has trained many emergency response dive teams including the Police, Fire Department and Underwater Recovery Teams. He has recently returned from diving 310 metres to the bottom of Lake Geneva aboard the Russian submarine, Mir, as part of a science project. Paul is a Mountain and Polar Guide, leading Greenland Icecap crossing expeditions, polar science support logistics and mountaineering expeditions. He worked for four years as a Mountain Safety consultant to the oil industry in the Middle East. His science support work continues this year in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica. This year Paul has led two expeditions in Greenland and heads south to Antarctica again in November. He advises and provides operational support to expeditions, charities and business in Health and Safety, Fieldwork, Diving Operations and Expedition Training. He is a member of the Rolex Awards’ selection jury.

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Wendy Millyard Telephone: 0203 214 089 Email: wmillyard@unitedagents.co.uk Website: www.paulrose.org/contact-paul.html Index

17

ENGLAND

COUNTRYSIDE

Sarah Rogers Sarah and Ed Rogers are current owners of Riverhill Himalayan Gardens, Sevenoaks Riverhill House and Gardens was bought by Ed’s great, great Grandfather, John Rogers in 1840. John Rogers was a scientist and friend of Charles Darwin. He was a patron of the great plant collectors of the day. Many rare species of plants and seeds were brought back from the Himalayas (hence Riverhill Himalayan Gardens), and planted in this hillside garden, where they thrive today. The estate entered a period of Kent, England decline after the Second World War, and several decades later, when Sarah and Ed took up the reins seven years ago they were faced with very significant restoration projects in the house and gardens.

Sarah and Ed, and the whole family have worked (and continue working) with tireless energy and commitment to restore the gardens. Riverhill Himalayan Gardens was opened to the public less than three years ago, and welcomed over 10,000 visitors last season. Most weekends, you will see Sarah in the café taking orders and running children’s treasure quest parties in the woods, Ed building fabulous new dens in the woods for the children, Ed’s mother Jane takes care of all the ordering for the café, and even Great Granny, Evelyn, aged 90, still takes an active interest in new planting in the Gardens. The Gardens have a spectacular natural beauty, and the views to the Weald of Kent must surely be the best in the county.

Sarah is an inspiring lady, and would be a wonderful ambassador for UK and/or Kent tourism, especially in connection with the Diamond Jubilee and possibly also with the Olympics. Sarah has strong family and community values, great vision and a tireless work ethic.

The Rogers family and Riverhill Himalayan Gardens also have various Royal connections.

The silk worms at Lullingstone Castle produced silk for the Queen's wedding dress and they were desperate for mulberry leaves to feed them. The Rogers family sent leaves from their mulberry tree and in return received a small piece of the wedding dress silk as a thank you. (We still have this, obviously!) As for the old mulberry tree, it is at the back of the Walled Garden.

In terms of other Royal connections, Evelyn's second son, Peter (deceased), was Silver Stick-in-waiting to the Queen and commanded the Household Cavalry.

Jane's father, the late Colonel Sir Hugh Brassey, was Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire and was a Yeoman of the Guard at The Tower of London. We have his uniform (suitably splendid) which we also hope to display during the Jubilee week.

Sarah has been especially effective at engaging the local community, with many local people volunteering to help with various projects in the Gardens, rewarded by Sarah and Ed’s very generous hospitality, and a great sense of achievement.

Contact: Mrs Catherine Smith Telephone: 01732 469452 / 07810 522101 Email: Catherine@riverhillgardens.co.uk Website: www.riverhillgardens.co.uk 18

Index

ENGLAND

COUNTRYSIDE

Helen Skelton Television Presenter Helen Skelton joined the Blue Peter team in the summer of 2008, as the 33rd presenter of the long-running show. During this time Helen has achieved some remarkable feats and made a name for herself as the team’s all-action girl. In 2009 she became only the second woman ever to complete the Nambia Ultra Marathon – a gruelling 78-mile course through the Namibian desert, which she finished in under 24 hours. Two weeks Cumbria, England later she was back in her running shoes, taking part in the London Marathon for Leonard Cheshire Disability. She has climbed out of a moulin on an Alaskan glacier, beaten a world-power boat champion and come in sixth place in the UK Women’s Downhill Skateboarding Championships.

Having grown up on a farm in the Lake District, it was inevitable that Helen would return to her rural roots, and over the last year has reported for Country Tracks and more recently joined the Countryfile team.

She joined the great and good of Blue Peter presenters past in aid of Comic Relief 2009, when she appeared on Let’s Dance for Comic Relief, dancing to Jailhouse Rock.

Prior to joining Blue Peter, Helen anchored Newsround and presented live strands for its weekend sister programme, Sportsround.

Helen began her career in broadcasting, working on Border ITV, before spending time working on radio at CMF. Aged 23 she moved to co-presenting on BBC Radio Cumbria, becoming one of the youngest people ever to present a breakfast show on the BBC network.

Appearance fee may apply.

To say she is game is an understatement! In early 2010 she completed her most extreme challenge to date – kayaking 2,010 miles down the Amazon in support of Sport Relief.

Along the way she broke two Guinness World Records; the longest solo journey by kayak, and the longest kayak by a woman in 24 hours. A two-part Blue Peter special documenting her trip was shown in the run up to the Sport Relief weekend. Helen was back at the London Marathon in 2010 and 2011, this time as part of the BBC 5 Live team covering the event from Tower Bridge. Since then she has reported from the Epsom Derby and Wimbledon for the station. During the two-week tournament she co-presented a daily podcast with Jeff Tarango for the 5 Live website, rounding up all the day's action both on and off court. Never one to rest on her laurels, for her Comic Relief challenge in 2011 Helen drew inspiration from “Man on Wire” and decided to train in the art of high-wire walking. A BBC1 special, Girl On Wire, followed her progress from her first tentative steps three feet off the ground, to her spectacular 150 metre long, 66 metre high walk between the towers of Battersea Power Station.

Contact: KBJ Management Telephone: 020 7287 1112 Email: general@kbjmanagement.co.uk Website: www.kbjmgt.co.uk/clients/26-helen-skelton Index

19

ENGLAND

COUNTRYSIDE

Barbara Smith

Taprisha

Chester Zoo, Managing Director

Story teller, the New Forest

Since October 2010, I have been the Managing Director of Chester Zoo which is the largest and most successful zoo in the UK, welcoming 1.4m visitors a year. Barbara has spent her working life in the areas of tourism, culture, sport and event management. Before joining the zoo, she was Executive Manager at Edinburgh Castle for 10 years. Edinburgh Castle is Scotland’s premier visitor attraction and Barbara led on a number of high profile projects designed to enhance the experience for visitors to the castle.

Trained as a storyteller at the International School of Storytelling. Taprisha has 35 years of experience of telling stories as a teacher in schools and at public events. Telling to adults and children of all ages and abilities.

Chester, England

Contact: Rachael Wheatley/Will Condliffe Telephone: 01244 389460 / 389461 07557744091 / 07500 442065 Email: r.wheatley@chesterzoo.org / w.condliffe@chesterzoo.org Website: www.chesterzoo.org 20

New Forest, England

Contact: Taprisha Telephone: 02380 811286 Email: taprisha@gmail.com Website: www.taprisha.blogspot.com

Index

SCOTLAND

COUNTRYSIDE

Adrian Shine

Caroline Warburton

Director and Researcher, Loch Ness Project.

Exhibition Designer and Consultant to Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition

Manager, Wild Scotland

Adrian Shine is the foremost field researcher, living and working at Loch Ness for over 30 years. His lifetime’s work has been to reveal the environment of Loch Ness in order to shed light on its famous controversy. He is the energy and focus behind the Loch Ness Project needing determination and ingenuity to see a project through. He Scotland often uses equipment he has designed himself, (“Machan” 1974, the underwater observation chamber, “The John Murray” 1981, sonar search vessel, “ROSETTA” 1994, thedeep water sediment corer).

He recruited over 1000 lay volunteers to help and collaborated with universities and worked with commercial companies as sponsors. Winter conditions at the loch and working at depths of 230 metres are cold, dangerous and lengthy, it often felt like he was up against the loch itself!

Adrian directed Operation Deepscan in 1987. This was a sonar curtain sweep of Loch Ness with a fleet of 35 vessels attracting over 320 accredited international press and 23 television companies. In 994 the ROSETTA Project , a deep water sediment coring programme of Loch Ness provided an environmental time-capsule, since reported in several scientific papers. He is currently working on Operation Groundtruth discovering human artefacts of historical interest.

Among the discoveries is the wreckage of John Cobb’s world record jet boat on the loch bed.

Adrian gives lectures on the science and the mystery of Loch Ness, has written a short booklet on Loch Ness ( sales over 55,000 copies) and written and contributed to many scientific papers.

Wild Scotland is the Scottish Wildlife and Adventure Tourism Association, a not-for-profit association that represents the leading responsible naturebased tourism activities in Scotland. Caroline has been interested in wildlife since childhood and in 1999 moved to the island of Mull to do a research project on whale-watching.

She started working on one of the wildlife-watching Scotland boats and, on her first trip, had bottlenose dolphins Photo credit: Scottish Viewpoint VisitScotland bow-riding the boat within five minutes of leaving the harbour. Over that summer she realised what fantastic wildlife Scotland had, yet very few people knew about it. Over the next 10 years she worked to promote with varied wildlife watching opportunities in Scotland and, in 2003, launched Wild Scotland, the first wildlife tourism association for Scotland. The association is led by the industry and works not only to promote the many wildlife watching activities in Scotland but also to support the rural enterprises and strengthen the quality and professionalism of these organisations.

In April 2011, Wild Scotland merged with Activity Scotland (the activity providers association) to form a new ‘Wild Scotland’. This new association brings together all wildlife-watching and adventure tourism activities in Scotland. Caroline continues to run this new organisation.

Because Loch Ness is a Scottish and U.K. icon, it attracts millions of visitors. In his role as designer of the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition he has revealed the unique things about Loch Ness that you can’t see just by looking at it. His star exhibition has moved this iconic destination into a position to cater for the interests of today’s better educated visitor as well as the faithful young Nessie fan.

(Exhibition has won VS. 5 stars accreditation, Dynamic Place Award, Best Visitor Experience 2011).

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Adrian or Maralyn Shine Telephone: 01456 459007 07812690870 07977 854179 Email: mail@lochnessproject.com Website: www.lochnessproject.com

Index

Contact: Caroline Warburton Telephone: 0845 226 0978 / 01738 506 107 Email: caroline@wild-scotland.co.uk Website: www.wild-scotland.org.uk

21

WALES

COUNTRYSIDE

Belinda J. Ashong

Quentin Grimley

Ranger, Glamorgan Heritage Coast, (Vale of Glamorgan Council)

Coastal Access Project Officer

Belinda has worked as a Ranger at the Glamorgan Heritage Coast for over 20 years. Her work involves practical on-the-ground work including path improvement, replacement of stiles, way marking and general countryside management.

The Wales Coast Path runs through the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, a stunning stretch of the Welsh coastline, and her recent work has involved improving the path in readiness for the official opening.

Wales

Other languages: Welsh.

22

Quentin has worked on the Wales Coast Path Project since just after it started in 2007. He joined Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) in 1996 and has worked on National Trails, Open Access and Access Forums. There is considerable overlap between his work and hobbies as he is a keen walker and cyclist. He had walked Offa's Dyke Path, Glyndŵr's Way and much of the Welsh coastline before starting his current job. He has now completed the entire circuit – apart from Pembrokeshire.

Wales

He has looked forward to the opening of the Wales Coast Path this May as an opportunity to draw breath and take stock. He hopes to be involved in its future development.

Contact: Belinda Ashong, (Bob Guy Operational Manager EER)

Contact: Bran Devey / Helen Evans

Telephone: Heritage Coast – 01656 880157 Belinda mob – 07977 619579 Bob Guy – 01446 704623

Telephone: Bran - 029 2077 2403 or 07747 767443 Helen - 07717225589

Email: Bashong@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk Belinda@bycchairs.plus.com

Email: bran.devey@ccw.gov.uk

Website: www.glamorganheritagecoast.com

Website: www.walescoastpath.gov.uk / www.ccw.gov.uk Index

WALES

COUNTRYSIDE

Sue Rice

Mr Morgan Parry

Wales Coast Path Project Manager

Chairman, Countryside Council for Wales

Sue has worked as the Project Manager for the development of the Wales Coast Path since the project began in 2007. She is enthusiastically committed to the project and knowledgeable about all aspects of the Wales Coast Path and what it has to offer.

For Wales Coast Path

Wales

Morgan Parry was appointed Chair of the Countryside Council for Wales in March 2010. He is a member of the Climate Change Commission for Wales. Until his appointment to CCW he was Chair of Cynnal Cymru, the Sustainable Development Forum for Wales, and a writer and lecturer on sustainability. He established the Wales office of Wales WWF in 2000 and led the organisation there until May 2009. Previously he was Director of the North Wales Wildlife Trust and for ten years managed country parks, nature reserves and visitor attractions for Gwynedd County Council. He lives with his wife and two children on a smallholding near Caernarfon. Morgan was a Board Member of Friends of the Earth from 1986-1989, and a member of the Environment Agency’s North Wales Area Committee 1998-2000. He has served on a number of Welsh Government advisory committees and working groups. He is a regular contributor to TV and radio programmes on the environment.

Other languages: Fluent Welsh.

Contact: Bran Devey / Helen Evans

Contact: Bran Devey / Helen Evans

Telephone: Bran - 029 2077 2403 or 07747 767443 Helen - 07717 225589

Telephone: Bran - 029 2077 2403 or 07747 767443 Helen - 07717225589

Email: bran.devey@ccw.gov.uk

Email: morgan.parry@ccw.gov.uk / n.sanpher@ccw.gov.uk

Website: www.walescoastpath.gov.uk / www.ccw.gov.uk

Website: www.ccw.gov.uk

Index

23

CULTURE

Index

Countryside

Culture

Fashion

Food

Heritage

Music

Sport

LONDON

CULTURE

Martin Barnes

Julian Bird

Senior Curator of Photographs at the Victoria & Albert Museum

Chief Executive, Society of London Theatre Julian Bird is the Chief Executive of the Society of London Theatre (SOLT).

Martin Barnes is Senior Curator of Photographs at the V&A. His expertise ranges from early British photography to international contemporary fine art and experimental practice.

Martin is responsible for the Museum’s national collection of the art of photography and has curated numerous exhibitions for the permanent collection galleries as well as a range of national and international touring exhibitions.

In relation to the 2012 Games and Diamond Jubilee, Julian can provide an expert insider opinion on issues such as:

London, England

These include: Rural England through a Victorian Lens: Benjamin Brecknell Turner (2001); Aspects of Architecture (2004); Domestic Idylls: Clementina, Lady Hawarden (2006); Twilight: Photography in the Magic Hour (2006), Where Are We?: Questions of Landscape (2008); Something That I’ll Never Really See: Contemporary Photography from the V&A (2008-9), Shadow Catchers: Camera-less Photography (2010) and Figures & Fictions: Contemporary South African Photography (2011).

Martin was the senior curator for the new, permanent Photographs Gallery which opened last year. The gallery displays highlights from the V&A’s internationally renowned collection of photographs, considerably extending the space dedicated to photographs at the Museum. The V&A is home to the UK’s national collection of the art of photography and was the first museum to collect and exhibit photographs.

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: V&A Press Office Telephone: 020 7942 2502 Email: press.office@vam.ac.uk Website: www.vam.ac.uk

Index

•

How the Jubilee and Games may affect the London theatre industry, and theatre-going patterns; ways in which the industry has been preparing to welcome visitors.

London, England

•

Why a visit to London is not complete without a visit to a show and top tips on theatre-going this summer, including safe ticket-buying (including TKTS) and getting around.

•

West End LIVE and Kids Week which are both part of the London 2012 Festival.

•

Why London’s theatre industry is thriving, with recent continued growth year-onyear and the impact to the economy.

SOLT is the association that represents the producers, theatre owners and managers of the 52 major commercial and grant-aided theatres in central London. The organisation exists in order to promote theatregoing, develop audiences, and to serve, protect and promote the interests of those engaged in theatre across London, through activities including The Olivier Awards with MasterCard, TKTS ticket booth, the Official London Theatre guide, Theatre Tokens, West End LIVE and the promotions Kids Week and Get Into London Theatre.

Contact: Alison Duguid, Senior Press Officer, Society of London Theatre Telephone: 020 7557 6700 Email: alison@solttma.co.uk Website: Official London Theatre: www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk / SOLT Press Room: www.solt.co.uk/press.html West End LIVE (23-24 June 2012): www.westendlive.co.uk/ Kids Week (1-31 August 2012): www.kidsweek.co.uk

25

LONDON

CULTURE Tom Bird Globe to Globe Festival Director, Shakespeare’s Globe In the same year that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrates sixty years on the throne with the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, and the world looks to London as it hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Shakespeare’s Globe embarks upon its most ambitious and exciting year yet.

Shakespeare’s Globe is one of the most popular visitor destinations in the UK, at the heart of the London, England regeneration of London’s Bankside. Together the Globe Theatre, Globe Education, Globe Exhibition and Tour offer a unique setting to explore Shakespeare in performance. The Globe has always been an international story, the vision of an American, which welcomes international audiences into its oak embrace. It has also sought to take the Globe’s work back out into the world through international touring and education programmes.

For a list of countries and languages involved in the Globe to Globe Festival please visit http://globetoglobe.shakespearesglobe.com/ Globe to Globe is part of the World Shakespeare Festival for the London 2012 Festival.

Shakespeare’s Globe press office has prepared a selection of international feature and interview ideas, along with a 2012 press pack, and extensive images and b-roll footage. For more information, please contact Louise Gilbert or visit www.shakespearesglobe.com/about-us/press Other languages: Danish.

Appearance fee may apply.

Tom Bird is the director of the Globe to Globe Festival (21 April – 9 June 2012) which welcomes 37 international theatre companies to the Globe to stage to perform all of Shakespeare’s 37 plays in a different language – the most ambitious multi-lingual festival yet. In producing the festival, Tom has travelled the world from Armenia to Zanzibar in search of Shakespeare.

Tom has worked for the Globe since 2007. Previous employment includes work for the ground-breaking physical theatre festival Aurora Nova at Edinburgh and for a number of music groups, most notably the Northern Sinfonia. Tom's roots are in the north-east, and as a playwright he is a regular contributor to Live Theatre's Short Cuts events in Newcastle. His short play Kaz and the Coots was recorded for the BBC Radio 3 Free Thinking Festival in 2009. He was educated at the universities of Edinburgh and Copenhagen.

Contact: Louise Gilbert Telephone: 020 7902 1476 Email: Louise.g@shakespearesglobe.com Website: www.shakespearesglobe.com

26

Index

LONDON

CULTURE Michael Boyd Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company Michael was appointed as the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC’s) new Artistic Director in July 2002 and took up the position in April 2003 with a mission for the company to work as an ensemble, connecting people with Shakespeare and engaging with the world. Since then, the company has gone from strength to strength.

Under his leadership, the RSC staged the Complete Works Festival in 2006, performing all of Shakespeare’s 37 plays, long poems and sonnets, with 30 visiting companies from across the world. As a Director, he has worked with a single long-term ensemble of 34 actors to stage all eight of Shakespeare’s history plays. The productions opened in Stratford at the Courtyard Theatre in 2007 and transferred to The Roundhouse in Camden, London, in spring 2008 to enormous critical acclaim. In November 2010, the company successfully reopened the newly transformed Royal Shakespeare Theatre, on time and on budget, in a major £112.8m project to bring actors and audiences closer together with a thrust stage auditorium in Stratford-uponAvon. From 1996, Michael was as an Associate Director of the RSC, working alongside Michael Attenborough (Principal Associate Director, until July 2002) and two other Associate Directors Gregory Doran and Steven Pimlott (until May 2002).

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1999), Troilus and Cressida (1997/8), Measure for Measure (1996/7), Much Ado About Nothing (1994), The Spanish Tragedy (1994) and The Broken Heart. Michael was founding Artistic Director of the Tron Theatre in Glasgow from 1985.

His productions there included The Trick is to Keep Breathing (Tron, Royal Court and World Stage Festival, Toronto), Macbeth (Tron and Mayfest), Good (Mayfest and Edinburgh Festival), The Real World (Tron and Stony Brook Festival, Long Island, New York), Crow, Century’s End, Salvation, The Baby, and Clyde Nouveau (Tron and Edinburgh International Festival), The Guid Sisters (Tron, Clydebank, World Stage Festival, Toronto and Centaur Theatre, Montreal).

London / Stratford-upon-Avon

In 2012, the RSC is producing the World Shakespeare Festival, which forms part of London 2012 Festival that is the culmination of the Cultural Olympiad, bringing leading artists from all over the world together in a UK-wide festival in the summer of 2012 to celebrate the London 2012 Olympics.

In 2001 he won the Olivier Award for Best Director for his productions of Henry VI, I.II,III and Richard III, part of the RSC’s This England: The Histories season. Work for the RSC includes: Richard II, Henry IV parts I and II, Henry V (as part of the Histories Cycle) 2007/8, Henry VI, parts I, II, III and Richard III for the Complete Works Festival (2006/7), Twelfth Night (2005), The Pilate Workshop (2004), Hamlet (2004), The Tempest (2002) Henry VI, parts I, II and III, Richard III, Romeo and Juliet (2000/1),

Contact: Elsie King Telephone: Press Office 01789 272281 Email: Elsie.King@rsc.org.uk Website: www.rsc.org.uk

Index

27

LONDON

CULTURE

Glyn Davies Curator in the Sculpture, Metalwork, Ceramics and Glass Department at the Victoria and Albert Museum Glyn Davies is a curator responsible for medieval sculpture in the V&A. He was a member of the concept team that developed the intellectual content of the Medieval & Renaissance Galleries, which opened in 2009 and he was the lead curator for the galleries covering the date range 800 to 1500. The London, England V&A’s Medieval & Renaissance Galleries house one of the world’s most remarkable collections of treasures from the period, including the Becket Casket, the Gloucester Candlestick and the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci. Ten galleries, occupying an entire wing of the Museum, present the collections in continuous displays to tell the story of European art and design from the fall of the Roman Empire to the end of the Renaissance period.

Glyn is co-author of Medieval and Renaissance Art: People and Possessions, a major publication to accompany the galleries (published 2009). He co-curated Depth of Field: the Place of Relief in the Time of Donatello (Leeds 2004) and has written articles on Italian medieval metalwork and sculpture. He was previously an Assistant Curator at the V&A and Course Tutor at Christie’s Education.

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: V&A Press Office Telephone: 020 7942 2502 Email: press.office@vam.ac.uk Website: www.vam.ac.uk 28

V&A London, England

Index

LONDON

CULTURE Dominic Dromgoole Artistic Director, Shakespeare’s Globe In the same year that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrates 60 years on the throne with the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, and the world looks to London as it hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Shakespeare’s Globe embarks upon its most ambitious and exciting year yet.

Shakespeare’s Globe is one of the most popular visitor destinations in the UK, at the heart of the London, England regeneration of London’s Bankside. Together the Globe Theatre, Globe Education, Globe Exhibition and Tour offer a unique setting to explore Shakespeare in performance. The Globe has always been an international story, the vision of an American, which welcomes international audiences into its oak embrace. It has also sought to take the Globe’s work back out into the world through international touring and education programmes.

Dominic has directed Shakespeare's Hamlet (2011), Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 (2010), Love's Labour's Lost (2007 and 2009), Romeo and Juliet (2009), King Lear (2008), Coriolanus and Antony and Cleopatra (both 2006) for Shakespeare's Globe as well as Trevor Griffiths' new play A New World (2009). He was Artistic Director of the Oxford Stage Company, 1999-2005, and the Bush Theatre 1990-96, and Director of New Plays for the Peter Hall Company in 1996/7. In addition Dominic has directed at the Tricycle Theatre, in the West End, and in America and Romania. He has written two books: The Full Room (Methuen 2001), and Will and Me (Penguin 2006), has had a column in the New Statesman and The Guardian, and has written extensively for many journals, most often the Sunday Times.

Shakespeare’s Globe press office has prepared a selection of international feature and interview ideas, along with a 2012 press pack, and extensive images and b-roll footage. For more information, please contact Louise Gilbert or visit www.shakespearesglobe.com/about-us/press Appearance fee may apply.

Dominic Dromgoole was appointed Artistic Director of Shakespeare's Globe in 2006. Since 2006 the Globe has increased its diet of new work, has begun a small scale touring operation, which now travels all over the UK and Europe, has done two large scale tours of North America and its first across England, has initiated winter performances, and has filmed many of its productions for distribution in cinemas and DVD.

Contact: Louise Gilbert Telephone: 020 7902 1476 Email: Louise.g@shakespearesglobe.com Website: www.shakespearesglobe.com

Index

29

LONDON

CULTURE

Michel Faber

Alun Graves

London

Curator, Ceramics collection at the Victoria & Albert Museum

Michel Faber is the author of the highly acclaimed The Crimson Petal and the White, The Fahrenheit Twins and the Whitbread-shortlisted novel Under the Skin. The Apple, based on characters in The Crimson Petal and the White, was published in 2006.

He has also written two novellas, The Hundred and Ninety-Nine Steps and The Courage Consort, and has won several short-story awards, including the Neil Gunn, Ian St James and Macallan. Born in Holland, brought up in Australia, he now lives in the Scottish Highlands. A film version of Under The Skin, directed by Jonathan Glazer and starring Scarlett Johansson, is due for release in 2012.

Alun Graves is a Curator in the V&A’s Ceramics Collection. He has worked in the V&A’s Ceramics and Glass Section since 1994, and has responsibility for the collections of 20th-century and contemporary ceramics, as well as British glass of the same period.

He has published frequently in this field, and is the author of Tiles and Tilework of Europe (V&A, 2002).

London, England

Alun was part of the concept team for the V&A’s London, England Ceramics Galleries, which opened in 2009. The V&A has the greatest and most comprehensive ceramics collection in the world and the new galleries tell the story of world ceramics with 3300 objects on display from the earliest Chinese pottery to contemporary ceramic art. Alun was the lead curator for ‘Contemporary Ceramics’, ‘20thcentury Studio Ceramics’ and ‘20th-century Factory Ceramics’ and contributed to displays in ‘Making Ceramics’ and ‘World Ceramics’.

Alun is the curator of the Queensberry Hunt: Ceramic Design display, open in the Ceramics Galleries until 2 September 2012. Queensberry Hunt are the leading British ceramic design practice of the post-war period and the display charts the development of the practice over more than four decades.

Contact: Anna Arthur Telephone: 020 78367660 Email: anna@arthurleone.com Website: www.exhibitionroadshow.co.uk 30

Contact: V&A Press Office Telephone: 020 7942 2502 Email: press.office@vam.ac.uk Website: www.vam.ac.uk Index

LONDON

CULTURE

Gregory Irvine

Deborah Levy

Senior Curator, Asian Department at the Victoria & Albert Museum

Author/playwright

Gregory Irvine is principally responsible for the collections of Japanese metalwork focusing on arms, armour and cloisonné enamels. Formerly a curator in the Department of Japanese Antiquities of the British Museum, he joined the V&A in 1992. He has visited Japan on many occasions to carry out research into swords, armour and cloisonné enamels at museums, temples and shrines. Other areas of research include the use of masks in Japan’s religious ceremonies and London, England rituals, in folk performance and in the traditional theatre. Additional research is into the history of collecting and exhibiting Japanese art in the UK, Japan at International Exhibitions and the changing perceptions of, and attitudes towards Japanese art in the UK and Europe during the Meiji and Taishō periods.Gregory has been widely published with titles including Japanese Cloisonné Enamels (2011) and Japanese Cloisonné: the Seven Treasures (2006).

The V&A’s Toshiba Gallery contains a wide range of treasures from Japan including swords and armour, netsuke (small carvings), wood-block prints, textiles, lacquer, ceramics and other articles used for the Tea Ceremony. There are also objects acquired from the great world exhibitions of the 19th century. These all illustrate the extraordinary craftsmanship and artistic wealth of Japan from about the 6th century up to the present day.

Deborah Levy trained at Dartington College of Arts leaving in 1981 to write a number of plays, highly acclaimed for their "intellectual rigour, poetic fantasy and visual imagination", including Pax, Heresies for The Royal Shakespeare Company, Clam, Call Blue Jane, Shiny Nylon, Honey Baby Middle England, Pushing the Prince into Denmark and Macbeth-False Memories, some of which are published in Levy: Plays 1 (Methuen) Deborah wrote and published her first novel London, England Beautiful Mutants (Vintage), when she was 27 years old. The experience of not having to give her words to a director, actors and designer to interpret, was so exhilarating, she wrote a few more.

These include, Swallowing Geography, The Unloved (Vintage) and Billy and Girl (Bloomsbury). She has always written across a number of art forms (see Bookworks and Collaborations with visual artists) and was Fellow in Creative Arts at Trinity College, Cambridge from 1989-1991.

Other languages: Some Japanese Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: V&A Press Office Telephone: 020 7942 2502 Email: press.office@vam.ac.uk Website: www.vam.ac.uk Index

Contact: Anna Arthur Telephone: 020 7836 7660 Email: anna@arthurleone.com Website: www.deborahlevy.co.uk 31

LONDON

CULTURE

Angus MacKechnie

Simon Pitkeathley

Producer, Watch This Space Festival, National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1

Chief Executive Camden Town Unlimited, Camden Town London Simon has a background in banking and politics, is currently CEO of Camden Town Unlimited and worked for Tony Blair in 2001 and 2005. He began his career as a singer/songwriter playing in bands in all the famous venues in Camden Town.

Angus MacKechnie has produced the Watch This Space Festival for the past 10 years. This year’s festival runs 1 June - 9 September and offers over three months of spectacular entertainment from around the globe in Theatre Square, outside the National Theatre and beside the Thames.

London, England

London, England

This year’s festival includes a total of 134 companies and bands participating in 367 performances, and includes 33 international acts from 12 countries, including circus performers, musicians and street theatre entertainers; tap dancers, street dancers, ballroom dancers and contemporary dancers; jugglers, acrobats, aerialists, hula-hoopers and pyrotechnicians.

Contact: Fiona Walsh, Communications Manager, National Theatre Telephone: 020 7452 3061 Email: fwalsh@nationaltheatre.org.uk Website: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/insideout

32

Contact: Simon Pitkeathley Telephone: 020 7380 8260 Email: simon@camdentownunlimited.com Website: www.camdentownunlimited.com

Index

LONDON

CULTURE

Di Robson

Tim Stanley

Producer of Exhibition Road Show

Senior Curator for the Middle Eastern collection at the Victoria & Albert Museum

Exhibition Road Show is produced for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea by Di Robson (DREAM), one of London’s leading arts and cultural events producers, with an international reputation and extensive experience in high profile theatre, visual arts, music, literature and festival production.

Di Robson is a former artistic director of Glasgow’s Mayfest, she has also directed the UK’s Special Olympics’ opening ceremony and the Design and Art Director’s Festival of Excellence. Robson is wellLondon, England versed in running prestigious, large scale inner city cultural events, including London’s celebration of Jewish culture: Simcha in the Square and Covent Garden Festival. She recently completed producing The Re-enchantment, a national programme of four artists’ commissions exploring ideas around “place” and funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Di was International Festival Director of Jaipur International Festival, Rajasthan (2003 – 06), has run projects with Visiting Arts and the British Council and was Consultant Producer for SPILL 2007, London’s first international festival of experimental theatre. She has also imported work from Russia, New Zealand, Australia, China and India.

Contact: Anna Arthur Telephone: 020 7836 7660 / 07973264373 Email: anna@arthurleone.com Website: www.exhibitionroadshow.co.uk

Index

Tim Stanley is senior curator for the Middle Eastern collection at the V&A, where he has worked since 2002. In this role, he is responsible for the V&A’s collection of more than 10,000 objects made in the Middle East in the Islamic period, which is one of the most extensive and renowned in the world. One highlight is the Ardabil carpet, the world’s oldest dated carpet, and one of the largest, most beautiful and historically important in the world.

London, England

Tim curated the international travelling exhibition Palace and Mosque: Islamic Art from the V&A (2004 - 6) and was principal author of the accompanying book. Tim was also lead curator for the Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art, which opened in 2006, and co-authored The Making of the Jameel Gallery at the Victoria and Albert Museum (2006).

More recently, Tim has been responsible for developing the Jameel Prize, an international biennial award for contemporary art and design inspired by Islamic tradition. He curated the exhibition that accompanied the first Prize in 2009, which toured to six venues in the Middle East.

Contact: V&A Press Office Telephone: 020 7942 2502 Email: press.office@vam.ac.uk Website: www.vam.ac.uk 33

LONDON

CULTURE Patrick Spottiswoode Director, Globe Education, Shakespeare’s Globe In the same year that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrates sixty years on the throne with the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, and the world looks to London as it hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Shakespeare’s Globe embarks upon its most ambitious and exciting year yet.

Shakespeare’s Globe is one of the most popular visitor destinations in the UK, at the heart of the London, England regeneration of London’s Bankside. Together the Globe Theatre, Globe Education, Globe Exhibition and Tour offer a unique setting to explore Shakespeare in performance. The Globe has always been an international story, the vision of an American, which welcomes international audiences into its oak embrace. It has also sought to take the Globe’s work back out into the world through international touring and education programmes.

Director of one of the largest arts education organization’s in the UK, Patrick Spottiswoode joined Shakespeare's Globe in 1984 and became founding Director, Globe Education in 1989. He has initiated exciting and innovative programmes, including in 2010 a special season, Shakespeare is German, which saw the launch of a book of translations, Goethe on Shakespeare, which Patrick commissioned.

Other initiatives include a 30 year project to stage readings and record all surviving plays

by Shakespeare's contemporaries; establishing the Globe’s first MA in Shakespeare Studies jointly with King’s College London; and a two year programme of events celebrating Shakespeare and Islam.

Contact: Louise Gilbert Telephone: 020 7902 1476 Email: Louise.g@shakespearesglobe.com Website: www.shakespearesglobe.com

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Last year, Patrick received an Honorary PhD from Warwick University and an Honorary Fellowship from King's College London. He is currently the President of the Shakespeare Theatre Association.

Shakespeare’s Globe press office has prepared a selection of international feature and interview ideas, along with a 2012 press pack, and extensive images and b-roll footage. For more information, please contact Louise Gilbert or visit www.shakespearesglobe.com/about-us/press Appearance fee may apply.

Shakespeare’s Globe, Bankside London, England

Index

LONDON

CULTURE

Abraham Thomas Curator of Designs at the Victoria & Albert Museum Abraham Thomas is Curator of Designs and lead curator for architecture at the V&A.He was the curator of Paper Movies: Graphic Design and Photography at Harper's Bazaar and Vogue, 1934 to 1963 (2007) and the V&A's Owen Jones bicentenary retrospective exhibition A Higher Ambition (2009) which is currently touring internationally. Most recently Abraham worked on the V&A’s 1:1 London, England Architects Build Small Spaces (2010) exhibition which investigated how small-scale structures can define and enhance notions of everyday experience and personal space. Abraham is currently writing a book on the V&A's collection of fashion drawings and photographs due to be published in 2013.

Abraham is curator of Heatherwick Studio: Designing the Extraordinary, sponsored by Ernst & Young, which runs at the V&A until 30 September 2012 – and is part of the London 2012 Festival. This is the first major solo exhibition exploring the work of British designer Thomas Heatherwick and his studio, one of the most inventive and experimental design studios practising in Britain today.

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: V&A Press Office Telephone: 020 7942 2502 Email: press.office@vam.ac.uk Website: www.vam.ac.uk Index

V&A London, England

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ENGLAND

CULTURE

Claire Wilcox

Ghislaine Wood

Senior Fashion Curator at the Victoria & Albert Museum

Exhibitions Curator at the Victoria & Albert Museum

Claire Wilcox is the V&A’s senior fashion curator and a leading expert on 20th century fashion. She has curated a number of highly successful V&A exhibitions including The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-1957 (2007); Vivienne Westwood (2004) which has been seen by more the 800,000 people at 11 venues on four continents during its international tour; Versace at the V&A (2002) and Radical Fashion (2001).

Ghislaine Wood is a curator specialising in 20th century art and design in the Research Department at the V&A. She has curated and co-curated several major international exhibitions including Surreal Things: Surrealism and Design (2007), Art Deco: 1910-1939 (2003) and Art Nouveau: 1890-1914 (2000).

London, England

Claire devised the V&A’s popular Fashion in Motion series which has been running at the Museum since 1999.

Claire has written and edited various publications including The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-1957 (2007); Vivienne Westwood (2004); The Art and Craft of Gianni Versace (2002); Radical Fashion (2001); and Bags (1999). She co-authored Modern Fashion in Detail with Valerie Mendes (1998).

Claire has completely re-curated the display of fashion from the V&A’s collections for the newly re-opened fashion gallery, one of the most popular galleries in the Museum. Around 100 outfits are arranged chronologically to reflect the quality and breadth of the V&A’s collections. It includes many outstanding items, from a magnificent mantua from the 1760s, a man’s frock coat from the 1790s, to an 1850s wedding dress with veil and shoes and a splendid magenta silk crinoline by Monsieur Vignon from the 1860s.

London, England Publications include British Design from 1948: Innovation in the Modern Age (2012), Surreal Things: Surrealism and design (2007), The Surreal Body: Fetish and Fashion (2007), Art Deco: 1910-1939 (2003), Art Nouveau and the Erotic (2000). Ghislaine is cocurator of the V&A’s current major exhibition British Design 1948-2012: Innovation in the Modern Age, sponsored by Ernst & Young, which runs until 12 August 2012. The V&A’s major spring exhibition showcases the best of British design and creative talent from the 1948 ‘Austerity Olympics’ to the summer of 2012. It is the first comprehensive exhibition to examine the ways in which artists and designers who were born, trained or working in the UK have produced innovative and internationally acclaimed works from post-war to the present day.

Appearance fee may apply.

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: V&A Press Office Telephone: 020 7942 2502 Email: press.office@vam.ac.uk Website: www.vam.ac.uk 36

Contact: V&A Press Office Telephone: 020 7942 2502 Email: press.office@vam.ac.uk Website: www.vam.ac.uk

Index

ENGLAND

CULTURE

Clive Bailey Balloon pilot for Bailey Balloons

Bristol, England

Clive was born into an aviation family; his father was a flight test engineer with British Aerospace and later Sales Engineering Director for Concorde.

Building model aircrafts from the age of six, Clive obtained his gliders licence at 18. After full-time education he decided to go down instead of up and trained as a commercial diver. At 19, he worked in the Middle East for several years on oil rigs and then spent a further three years in the North Sea, specialising in life support systems.

At 26 he joined the motor trade as a General Manager for a Ford Dealership, obtaining his hot air balloon licence at 29 and operating the Ford Dealership Balloon.

Clive set up Bailey Balloons in 1994 with his wife Jo, also a commercial balloon pilot, one of only four women in the UK to fly the larger balloons, and both are qualified instructors.

Clive proposed to Jo at 2440m over Bath and they left their wedding by balloon.

Clive has flown balloons all over Europe, the Middle East, the United States and Africa. He is the first European to fly balloons in Iran, where he also trained their first balloon pilots.

Clive holds the altitude record from the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta when he flew his balloon up to 6860m in 1994. Jo accompanied Clive as his co-pilot.

Clive also loves planning and executing ballooning stunts, including flying stuntman and balloon pilot Ian Ashpole on top of the Discovery Channel balloon, flying two balloons attached together by a tight rope and having fellow pilot Mike Howard walk between the balloons blindfolded at 1070m.

Three tips 1. Visit M Shed, Bristol’s new history museum, and find out about the first balloon ride in Bristol and its connection with ballooning.

2. Relax at Ashton Court, the stunning setting of most balloon flights. Ashton Court Estate was also once the gracious home of the Smyth family and is now a historic total, park near the centre of Bristol. It covers 344 m2 of woods and grasslands in designed by Humphry Repton. Families love cycling and playing sport in this vast landscape.

3. From 8 – 12 August 2012, Ashton Court will come alive with colours as hundreds of balloons of all shapes and sizes take to the sky in mass ascents each morning and evening during the weekend.

Topic of interest Sport, outdoor adventure.

Contact: Clive Bailey Telephone: 01275 375300 Email: clive@baileyballoons.co.uk; jo@baileyballoons.co.uk Website: www.baileyballoons.co.uk Index

37

ENGLAND

CULTURE

Beth Bate

Richard Bell

Director of Great North Run Culture

Illustrator

Beth is an arts curator and Director of Great North Run Culture, an annual programme of commissions, projects and events that celebrate sport and art, all set against the backdrop of the world’s largest halfmarathon.

Richard Bell is an illustrator and writer based in West Yorkshire. Since 1998 his illustrated Wild West Yorkshire nature diary has featured the wildlife of gardens, woodland, heath and waterside in his home patch. Richard has produced sketch books, walks and local guides, including books to accompany two major festivals: Pontefract Liquorice Festival and Wakefield Festival of Food, Drink and Rhubarb.

Beth’s 3 tips: 1. To explore the North East’s coastline – from Roker to Bamburgh, it’s full of hidden gems with some of the best beaches in the UK.

NewcastleGateshead, England

Topic of interest Nature and wildlife.

Yorkshire, England

2. To pop into the friendly The Cumberland Arms in Byker for a pint of local ale, a dose of folk, electronic or rock music, and some great home-cooked food.

3. To visit the Great North Run in September, soak up the incredible atmosphere, witness 50,000 people making their way from Newcastle through Gateshead out to South Shields and, of course, take in the events and exhibitions that take place as part of Great North Run Culture.

Topic of interest Arts/Culture.

38

Contact: Helen Fussell (PR contact) or Beth Bate

Contact: Susan Carroll

Telephone: 0191 226 3256 (HF) or 0191 226 3262 (BB)

Telephone: 01924 305054

Email: Helen.fussell@nova-international.com beth@greatnorthrunculture.org

Email: scarroll@wakefield.gov.uk

Website: www.greatnorthrunculture.org

Website: www.experiencewakefield.co.uk

Index

ENGLAND

CULTURE

Emma Bridgewater

Marion Catlin

Owner – Emma Bridgewater

Independent creative and cultural professional, designer

Emma Bridgewater founded her business in 1985 and it has become one of the most successful and iconic companies on the British ceramics scene.

Famed for their Polka Dot earthenware Emma Bridgewater and her husband, Matthew Rice, design every piece of pottery themselves – inspired by their home, their children and even their chickens.

All their pottery is made by hand in a delightful Victorian factory in Stoke-on-Trent, keeping the Stoke-on-Trent, England area’s traditional skills alive and ensuring that each piece has a real integrity. Every mug, bowl, plate and jug has its own, very English, personality – full of charm and cheerfulness.

Marion is very well connected at all levels of the arts and cultural scene of Norwich and has spent the last 12 years developing and promoting Norwich’s profile as a cultural city following her involvement in the Norwich bid to be European Capital of Culture in 2003. She also co-directed Norwich Fringe Festival between 2003 and 2008 in a disused shoe factory on the edge of the city. She now works as an independent cultural development professional Norwich, England specialising in arts, culture and heritage and is a champion of the independent sector through her collective group and website, The Shift Norwich, and the arts and cultural network Culture Shift.

Emma grew up in Oxford, where her mother’s welcoming kitchen was dominated by a scrubbed pine kitchen table and a big dresser covered in colourful, mismatched china including big Victorian meat plates, pretty cups and saucers and generous jugs big enough for a bunch of flowers from the garden. It was to prove the inspiration for what is today a £14 million international business.

Emma Bridgewater makes all of its pottery in England – proudly contributing to Staffordshire’s heritage. It remains a family business and employs more than 200 people in Stoke-on-Trent.

The factory has become a tourist attraction in its own right – welcoming thousands of visitors every year to take tours, have a go at decorating their own ware, visit its charming shop and factory outlet, wander around the walled garden and linger a while in the kitchen café.

For more information visit www.emmabridgewaterfactory.co.uk

Contact: Ian Weightman / Sam Hall (Stoke-on-Trent Tourism) Telephone: 01782 680963 / 01782 232817 Email: Ian.iwms@virgin.net / tourism@Stoke.gov.uk Website: www.emmabridgewaterfactory.co.uk Index

Contact: Marion Catlin Telephone: 07946 261651 Email: marioncatlin@googlemail.com Website: www.theshiftnorwich.org.uk 39

ENGLAND

CULTURE

Phil/Kathy Collins

Jan Constantine

Owner and fanatic collector of The Mill, Toy and Pedal Car Museum

Designer/Stoke-on-Trent

The Toy and Pedal Car Museum has the largest collection of toy pedal cars in Europe. Phil is an absolute fanatic and travels all over Europe in his quest to find that one elusive toy, his own Holy grail.

He opened the Museum in March 2011; the building and location overlook the Kent and East Sussex Steam Railways, and is in an area steeped in history.

Visiting the museum is a magical and nostalgic experience. It’s set in a fantastic location surrounded by stunning countryside, beautiful hills, the Downs and the High Weald.

According to Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen, Jan Constantine has “turned felt and blanket stitch into the new rock-and-roll”.

East Sussex, England

Topic of interest Heritage (Sussex born and bred), loves horse racing, decent bottle of bubbly, steak, and travelling.

Happy enough to laugh-off such accolades, one thing Jan is nevertheless extremely proud of is the way in which, almost seven years ago, she started the process of “reclaiming” the Union flag – and being one of the first to turn it into the high-fashion design icon that it is today.

Staffordshire, England

Embellished with Jan’s trademark heart, the word “love” and her distinctive initials – all of which are intrinsic to all of her designs - her collections have become recognised the world over, and have also helped her to win an official licence to produce London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic merchandise; not to mention the official Team GB cushion collection.

Contact: Ian Weightman Contact: Jane Ellis Telephone: 01424 451113

Telephone: 01782-680963 Email: Ian.iwms@virgin.net

Email: jmellis@hastings.gov.uk Website: www.visit1066country.com www.themilltoymuseum.com 40

Website: www.janconstantine.com

Index

ENGLAND

CULTURE

Coronation Street

Damian Cruden

Cast and crew

Artistic Director, York Theatre Royal and York Mystery Plays 2012 Damian is at he forefront of creative and challenging new theatre in the UK. He was the Artistic Director on The Railway Children performed in a site-specific way at the National Railway Museum, York and then at Waterloo Station, London

York, England

Manchester, England It’s Britain’s most famous TV street, home of the country’s best-loved soap, which has just celebrated its 50th birthday. It’s Coronation Street, land of cobbles, factories, terraced houses, corner shop and Rovers Return pub.

Contact: Stuart King (ITV press office) Telephone: 0161 952 6210 Email: stuart.king@itv.com Website: www.itv.com

Index

Contact: Thomas Feeney Telephone: 01904 550149 Email: Thomas.feeney@yorktheatreroyal.co.uk Website: www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk & www.yorkmysteryplays2012.com 41

ENGLAND

CULTURE

Mal Dewhirst Poet, Writer, Film maker Polesworth in North Warwickshire developed around the Abbey, which was first established in the 9th century and active until the dissolution in the 1500s. The Abbey site saw the establishment of the English School in the Abbey Gatehouse, educating children from both rich and poor families. Following the dissolution the Abbey site was then taken over by the Goodere family who continued the school and, as great supporters of Warwickshire, England the arts, established a Poetic circle that became the largest gathering of literary voices outside of London between the 1590s to the 1630s. Poets such as Michael Drayton, John Donne, Ben Jonson, and possibly William Shakespeare, all met at Polesworth.

The Nethersole family who succeeded the Gooderes, were a family full of intrigue and misjudged alliances that caused a rift with the Crown. The Nethersole did, however, establish a school, the tythe barn and re-established the dove cote.

The industrial revolution saw the development of coal mining in the town with pits at Pooley Hall and open-cast mining in the area of Abbey Green. Pooley was the first mine in the country to provide pit head baths and to generate its own electricity, which it also provided to the town.

Three Highlights: 1. The Polesworth Poets Trail developed on the town’s poetic heritage. The trail is the first permanent poetry trail in the country to use contemporary poems written or commissioned especially for the trail. It is also the only trail that has both the elements of a town and country park. The Poets trail is the focus for educational and cultural activities including poetry readings at the Fizz poetry events.

2. Medieval Abbey with a rich historic background that has been interpreted through film re-enactments, interactive tours of the gate house and a recent archaeological excavation.

3. Pooley Country Park which sees a post-industrial coalmine redefine is borders with nature in the country park. The site includes an interpretation of its mining past with artefacts provided by the local people. There is also a nature reserve that has SSSI status, where the regeneration and return of native species is monitored. A recent addition to the site is the symbolic sculpture “Burnt Sunlight” on the coal tip mound.

The poets trail links all these locations.

Mining activities ceased in the 1960s and since then the mine has become a focus of natural regeneration at Pooley country park, which sees the borders between the postindustrial and natural environments constantly re-negotiated.

Contact: Mal Dewhirst Telephone: 01827 312978 and 07884 430142 Email: maldewhirst@yahoo.co.uk Website: www.pollysworda.wordpress.com

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Index

ENGLAND

CULTURE

Gregory Doran Chief Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company Gregory Doran's most recent productions for the RSC are: Morte d'Arthur, Twelfth Night, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Love's Labour's Lost. Other productions for the company include: Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra, Coriolanus, All's Well That Ends Well, The Taming of the Shrew (and The Tamer Tamed), Much Ado About Nothing, The Winter's Tale, Othello, Merry Wives The Musical, The Merchant of Venice, As You Like London / Stratford-upon-Avon It, King John, Timon of Athens, Henry VIII and Venus and Adonis (in collaboration with The Little Angel Theatre). As well as Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac, Oroonoko by Biyi Bandele (after Aphra Behn), The Odyssey adapted by Derek Walcott, Jubilee by Peter Barnes, and The Canterbury Tales in an adaptation by Mike Poulton. Greg also led a season of five seldomperformed Jacobean and Elizabethan plays and directed The Island Princess by John Fletcher. This project enjoyed both a sell-out season at the Swan Theatre in 2002, and a run at the Gielgud Theatre in London's West End. Greg and the Jacobean Company received an Olivier Award for Special Achievement for the season. In 2005 he headed up another season of neglected Jacobean plays in the Swan Theatre that formed the Gunpowder season, one of which, Ben Jonson's Sejanus, he directed. In 2009 his production of Hamlet, with David Tennant in the title role, won The Whatsonstage Best Regional production for its run at The Courtyard Theatre, and Theatre Event of the Year.

Greg began his career with the RSC as an actor in the 1987-1988 Season: The Merchant of Venice, Julius Caesar, The Jew Of Malta, The New Inn; and became Assistant Director in 1989: Cymbeline, Romeo and Juliet, Dr Faustus, Have; and was made an associate in 1996.

Elsewhere, his productions include: Anjin: The English Samurai by Mike Poulton and Shochiro Kawaii ( Tokyo 2009) The Merchant of Venice (Tokyo 2007) York Millennium Mystery Plays (York Minster), Black Comedy and The Real Inspector Hound (Donmar Warehouse Productions – Comedy Theatre), The Giant by Antony Sher (Hampstead

Theatre), Mahler's Conversion by Ronald Harwood (Aldwych Theatre), Titus Andronicus (Market Theatre Johannesburg and RNT Studio – TMA Award for Best Production), Twelfth Night, Ulysses (in Dermot Bolger's adaptation, Philadelphia), A Midsummer Night's Dream (NY State University), The Joker of Seville (Walcott/McDermott musical, Boston/Trinidad), Edward Bond's September (Canterbury Cathedral), Someone to Watch Over Me (Theatr Clwyd), Two Dogs and Freedom (Sadlers Wells and Channel 4), Artistic Director of Century Theatre: The Importance of Being Earnest, Bedroom Farce, An Inspector Calls, Private Lives, Associate Director of Nottingham Playhouse: Long Day's Journey Into Night, Waiting For Godot, The Norman Conquests, Hester, The Rose and The Ring.

His filmed version of Hamlet (BBC2/Illuminations) was broadcast in the UK on Boxing Day, 2009. His other film work includes: Macbeth (Channel 4 / Illuminations) and A Midsummer Night's Dreaming (BBC4 documentary based on research for his 2005 production of the play); and he assisted Michael Wood by directing extracts from various Shakespeare plays for his BBC series, “In Search of Shakespeare”.

Greg has compiled two highly successful double CDs with the British Library, of extracts from live recordings of great performances from Stratford since the late fifties: Essential Shakespeare LIVE!, and Essential Shakespeare ENCORE! He co-authored Woza Shakespeare! with Antony Sher, about their production of Titus Andronicus in South Africa in 1995. Greg published The Shakespeare Almanac in 2009. Grey is directing Julius Caesar for the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon and Newcastle as part of the World Shakespeare Festival.

Contact: Elsie King Telephone: 01789 272417 Email: Elsie.King@rsc.org.uk Website: www.rsc.org.uk

Index

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ENGLAND Rev. Dr. Paul Edmondson Head of Knowledge & Research, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Paul is a leading Shakespearian scholar and a great champion of Stratford’s Shakespearian heritage.

Paul is Director of the Stratford-upon-Avon Poetry Festival for The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. He is a trustee of The Rose Theatre Trust, co-series editor for Palgrave Macmillan's Shakespeare Handbooks, Stratford-upon-Avon, England co-supervisory editor of the Penguin Shakespeare, and author of numerous publications. He wrote the script for The Shakespeare Centre's 'Life, Love, and Legacy' exhibition, the leading attraction in Stratford, and co-curated 'Shakespeare Found: A Life Portrait', which attracted international media attention.

He was ordained a priest in The Church of England in 2011.

CULTURE Luke Emery Freelance Producer, Promoter, Curator and Graphic Designer Luke Emery is a freelance curator, producer, promoter and graphic designer. He is the producer of BETA, a week-long series of live art, theatre, dance and music performance as part of this year’s Norfolk and Norwich Festival featuring local performers and performers from around the country. He runs the gallery, Art in the Underbelly, which regularly showcases the work of talented Norwich, England artists from the region. He works at the Norwich Playhouse where he is currently working on redesigning the logo, brochure and website of the organisation. He runs Grook Presents, a live music promotions outfit that supports local performers by offering them the chance to share a platform with performers from around the world. He is the Chair of the board of Stew Gallery, Artist Studios and Print Rooms. A passionate and active member of the artistic community of Norwich, Luke works in a variety of fields and has a wealth of knowledge of the current creative scenes within the city.

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Lynn Beddoe, PR Manager Telephone: 01789 207134 Email: lynn.beddoe@shakespeare.org.uk Website: www.shakespeare.org.uk www.bloggingshakespeare.com 44

Contact: Luke Emery Telephone: 07919 522558 Email: Luke.m.emery@gmail.com Website: www.lukeemery.tumblr.com Index

ENGLAND

CULTURE

Vivienne Endecott

William Galinsky

World expert in Enid Blyton

Artistic Director, Norfolk and Norwich Festival

Enid Blyton loved holidays in Dorset, and visited three times a year for over 20 years. She set some of her books here, notably The Famous Five series, and for many people across the world their vision of the English countryside comes from reading these books.

Dorset is stunningly beautiful and we are just 25 miles from Weymouth and the sailing events. Local fan Viv published Dorset Days of Enid Blyton in 2002, and then opened the Ginger Pop Shops in Poole and Corfe Dorset, England Castle. In 2009 Viv opened Eileen Soper’s Illustrated Worlds, which is about the artist who illustrated 150 books for Blyton including The Famous Five; it’s better than an Enid Blyton museum because we’ve built a secret passage and brought the era to life.

Before joining the Norfolk and Norwich Festival, William Galinksy was Artistic Director & Chief Executive at Cork Midsummer Festival from 2006 – 2010 where he transformed the festival into one of Ireland’s most dynamic. At Cork he presented and produced a number of Irish premieres including: ‘Spencer Tunick Ireland’ with the celebrated American photographer, Jerome Bel’s ‘The Show Must go On’, co-produced David Norfolk, England Greig’s ‘Midsummer’ with the Traverse Theatre Photo credit: Jon Tonks Scotland, ‘F*ck My Life’ with LIFT, Campo and Belfast International Festival and worked with Lebanese theatre-makers Jawad al-Asadi and Rabih Mroue.

1. Enid Blyton wrote over 700 books, and is the world’s fifth most translated author.

Her series include Famous Five, Secret Seven, Malory Towers, Noddy, and Enchanted Wood.

William’s background is as a theatre director and he is passionate about producing new theatre work - at Cork, two of the companies he worked with ‘Corcadorca’ and ‘Hammergrin’ were nominated for Times Theatre awards best production. His credits as a director includes - ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and ‘The Tempest’ at British-American Drama Academy, ‘Season of Migration to the North’ by Biyi Bandele for RSC’s New Work Festival and ‘The Winter’s Tale’ for Hayu-Za Theatre Tokyo which toured to St. Petersburg, Romania, Paris and Bucharest. William’s production of ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead’ was a critics choice production at Arcola Theatre, London.

2. 2012 is the 70th anniversary of the Famous Five books – and we’ve got a nice juicy mystery for you to solve in some of the places where Enid Blyton set the books.

3. Every year we celebrate Enid Blyton’s Birthday Party on 11 August at Corfe Castle – the inspiration for the real Kirrin Castle (We may arrange a pre-party for press).

William was born in Leeds, went on to study ‘Russian and Czech’ at Oxford University, was at the Moscow Arts Theatre School between 1993 and 1994.

Other languages: Russian Contact: Vivienne Endecott Telephone: 01202 670504 Email: viv@gingerpop.co.uk Website: www.gingerpop.co.uk Index

Contact: Daisy Turville-Petre Telephone: 01603 877750 Email: daisy@nnfestival.org.uk Website: www.nnfestival.org.uk 45

ENGLAND

CULTURE

Robert Gaukroger

Louise Giblin

Designer

Body Cast Sculptor

Robert studied exhibition and interior design at Bradford Art college in the late 1980s, going on to work for George Davis’s Team at ‘Next Retail’. In the mid-1990s Robert returned to his studies at Huddersfield University, studying Architecture. This led to a year out working in Malaysia, where Robert entered a competition for the Art Gallery within the ‘Petronas Twin Towers’. He went on to win this and oversee the design and construction, where he met his wife Milla. After Robert’s time in Malaysia he Cumbria, England returned to the UK working for TP Bennett Architects, working on the Grade 2-listed Daily Express Building on Fleet Street. Robert and his wife then moved to the Lake District in early 2002 to firstly convert a church for their home, and to then design The Eco Pod Forest School Project for Windermere School. Robert was then inspired to take on the greatest challenge of his life; to design and build their current home known as Dome House, which was filmed with Channel 4’s ‘Grand Designs’. He created, in the words of presenter Kevin McCloud “a great, great building”. They now also run it as Boutique B & B suites, offering panoramic views of Windermere.

Louise is currently producing the Olympian Series using casts she produced from the torsos of top sports men and women. Those cast so far include Olympic hurdler and relay team member, Kriss Akabusi MBE; former World, current European and British Champion gymnast, Beth Tweddle MBE; 6’7’’ quadruple Paralympic medallist swimmer, Darren Leach, ‘Double Gold’ Olympic athlete and former Sports Personality of the Year, Dame Kelly Holmes, and the only woman runner to simultaneously hold East Sussex, England European, World, Commonwealth and Olympic gold medals, Sally Gunnell OBE. The Olympian Series, produced in the sculptor’s studio in East Sussex, focuses on the past achievements of the athletes. Their backs are being carved with stylised musculature to suggest potential and continuing strength; the fronts of the torsos are being painstakingly decorated with detailed, overlapping imagery including the Union flag and elements related to what each model considers to be their greatest sporting achievement. Beth Tweddle, a popular favourite for the 2012 games, has chosen the World Championship gold she won at the Greenwich Arena in front of a British crowd. Her sculpture includes images of Beth performing and the City of London. Kriss Akabusi, an Olympic and World gold medal holder, has chosen his 1984 Los Angeles Olympics silver medal to celebrate, a medal that he constantly carries as a reminder of the moment he knew he could achieve great things. The intricate clay pieces are fired then moulded. The resulting final pieces will be cast in cold cast metals and bronze, produced in limited editions of 12 with the sportspeople each receiving one of their sculptures to keep or auction for charity. A percentage of sales will help support Headfirst brain injury charity with family friend, popular entertainer Bucks Fizz singer Cheryl Baker as patron. Olympian Series I - Kriss Akabusi MBE was presented at the November 2011 Edinburgh Art Fair by East Sussex based Saffron Gallery. The whole Olympian Series was launched in May 2012. Louise’s body casting technique and progress with the Olympian Series sculptures can be viewed on her YouTube BodyCastSculptor channel.

Contact: Robert Gaukroger Telephone: 01539 445667 Email: domehouse@rocketmail.com Website: www.domehouselakedistrict.co.uk / www.gaukrogerandpartners.com 46

Contact: Jane Ellis Telephone: 01424 451113 Email: jmellis@hastings.gov.uk Website: www.visit1066country.com / www.louisegiblin.co.uk Index

ENGLAND

CULTURE

John Godber

Christine Goodier

Playwright

Author and expert on the Pendle Witch Trials

John Godber, playwright, was born in Upton, near Pontefract, West Yorkshire. He became artistic director of Hull Theatre Company. Before venturing into plays he was head of drama at Minsthorpe High School. The John Godber Company was launched on March 18th 2011. John is now working closely with the Theatre Royal Wakefield under the directorship of Murray Edwards

Christine was manager of Lancaster Castle for 15 years. Has recently published a book on the Witch Trials of 1612. Has degrees in History (BA) and Tourism (MA).

Yorkshire, England

Contact: Susan Carroll Telephone: 01924 305054 Email: scarroll@wakefield.gov.uk Website: www.experiencewakefield.co.uk / www.johngodber.co.uk / www.theatreroylwakefield.co.uk Index

Lancashire, England

Contact: Christine Goodier Telephone: 01524 36916 Email: chrisgoodier10@gmail.com Website: N/A 47

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Lara Goodband Freelance Art Curator, Art Director & Artist, work from home Artistic Director of the Cultural Olympiad project ‘Sea Swim’ based in Scarborough.

Sea Swim is an imove project, which is Yorkshire's cultural programme for London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. (www.imove.com) Part swimming club and part art club, Sea Swim celebrates the creative inspiration that a dip in the ocean can bring. The Club is open to anyone – just pop along to Scarborough’s South Bay and Yorkshire, England you’ll find the Sea Swim HQ – a pair of beach huts transformed into mini-galleries, bursting with the artworks created by club members. Club members join in regular swims, share their stories and create works of art. There’s also usually tea and cake.

Biography A freelance curator for over three years working for Hull Museums, Bradford Museums, Harrogate Museums and Art Connections.

Regular swims take place from May to September and Sea Swim creations are being exhibited and performed around the region throughout 2012.

I swim in the Scarborough’s South Bay all year round – beautiful location and life affirming.

Artistic Director of the Cultural Olympiad project ‘Sea Swim’ based in Scarborough and filmmaker on this.

Project Manager Cultural Olympiad project ‘Wingbeats’ based in East Riding of Yorkshire.

Curator of Extraordinary Moves (for Site Gallery in Sheffield and Mercer Gallery in Harrogate). Part-time Lecturer at Hull University, Scarborough Campus on Museums and Education.

‘I am thrilled to be patron of this beautifully simple and simply beautiful idea.

Poetry is going down to the sea again.’ - Carol Ann Duffy, The Poet Laureate, Patron of Sea Swim.

Storyteller Sam Greetham is consultant on this project.

Contact: Lara Goodband Telephone: 07960 067698 Email: lara@laragoodband.com Website: www.linkedin.com / www.imoveand.com/seaswim / www.imoveand.com/lara-goodband/ 48

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CULTURE

Kerry Goodwin

Prof. Paul Greenhalgh

Designer for Moorcroft Art Pottery

Director, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts

Kerry has an electric personality and is one of the best ceramic designers in the UK. She is used to meeting and speaking to the media about her job.

She has designed “the athletes” an item done to commemorate the Olympics.

Stoke-on-Trent, England

Contact: Sam Hall at Stoke-on-Trent Tourism (or Catherine Edwards at Moorcroft) Telephone: 01782 232817 (Moorcroft 01782 820253) Email: tourism@stoke.gov.uk / Catherine.edwards@moorcroft.com Website: www.visitstoke.co.uk / www.moorcroft.com Index

Professor Paul Greenhalgh, formerly Director and President of the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art and Design in Washington DC, is Director of the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK. Professor Greenhalgh’s specialist areas are the fine and decorative arts 1850 to 1940, the history of exhibitions, the history of western ceramics, and Norwich, England modern and contemporary craft. His books include Ephemeral Vistas (1989), Modernism in Design (1993), Art Nouveau 1890-1914 (2000), The Persistence of Craft (2003) and The Modern Ideal (2005). He earned his undergraduate degree in fine art and art history from the University of Reading in 1978, and completed a master’s degree at the Courtauld Institute, University of London, in 1980. In 2007 he was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Brighton.

Contact: Sally Goldsmith Telephone: 01603 592448 / 07769 586903 Email: s.goldsmith@uea.ac.uk Website: www.scva.ac.uk 49

ENGLAND

CULTURE

Jeremy Houghton

The Hon Simon Howard

Artist, The Cotswolds

Chairman of Castle Howard Estate Ltd The Hon. Simon Howard is third son of the late Lord Howard of Henderskelfe. He was born in 1956 and educated at Eton, and then studied Rural Estate Management at the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester in Gloucestershire. He went on to work at Agnews, the fine art gallery formerly in Bond Street, and studied at the Centre for Fine and Decorative Arts, both in London.

An Olympic artist as well as a spokesman for the Broadway Arts Festival and on the history and heritage of that famous Cotswolds village.

Has he had much TV experience before?

Yes. Is he generally easily available?

Yes.

Cotswolds, England

Yorkshire, England • In 1983 he was made Managing Director of Castle Howard Estate Ltd and in 1984 became Chairman on the death of his father.

• Director of the Historic Houses Association since 1996. See www.hha.org.uk • Chairman of the Yorkshire Region of the HHA from 1986 to 1997.

• Chairman of the HHA Tourism and Commercial Development Committee from 1995 to 2005.

• Chairman of the Treasure Houses of England since 1995 and represents them in The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA). See www.treasurehouses.co.uk and www.alva.org.uk • Director of ALVA since 2012.

• High Sheriff of North Yorkshire in 1995.

• A consultant to Sotheby’s since 1998.

Contact: Ian Weightman Telephone: 01782 680963 Email: Ian.iwms@virgin.net Website: www.houghtonart.co.uk 50

Contact: Cecilia Gaynor Telephone: 01653 648662 Email: cgaynor@castlehoward.co.uk Website: www.castlehoward.co.uk Index

ENGLAND

CULTURE

Jane Hytch Director, Imagineer Productions Jane Hytch is Founder and Co-Director at Imagineer Productions.

After training in Drama and Theatre Design at University of Wales. Jane returned to her home town of Worcester to set up Worcester Arts Workshop, where she was artistic director for nine years. After a brief spell as a freelance fundraiser and consultant Jane joined the Belgrade Theatre Warwickshire, England as Head of the Community Department in 1990 where she pioneered projects combining community engagement and artistic excellence with cutting-edge access and diversity initiatives and subsequently became associate producer, one of the first creative producers employed in a rep theatre. It was here that she produced a wide range of professional and community productions, founding the Coventry Theatre Network and producing the Millennium Mysteries, Mysteries 2003 and 2006 and several national tours.

Jane is an active member of Coventry Cultural Partnership and a former board member of West Midlands Arts.

Godiva Awakes is part of ‘Artists taking the lead’, a series of 12 public art commissions across the UK to celebrate the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad funded by Arts Council England. Godiva Awakes is a world-class piece of public art, made by mechanics, artists, theatre makers, puppeteers and engineers to the highest standards of contemporary craftsmanship.

Godiva Awakes will be a stunning embodiment, and a living manifestation, of creative excellence, the like of which has never been seen before in Britain. She is rooted in history, but is absolutely of 2012, making her journey by cycle power and sustainable energy, informed by the heritage of the West Midlands region, from cycle making to choral music, design to garment making, engineering to carnival.

In July 2012, Imagineer Productions 21st Century Godiva will awake to a spectacular performance involving dancers, actors, aerialists, musicians, pyrotechnicians, carnivalists and 220 young people in a procession marking the unveiling of this Godiva for the modern age. Powered by 100 cyclists, Godiva will then journey from Coventry to London to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Contact: Helen Annetts Telephone: 07779026720 Email: HelenLAnnetts@hotmail.co.uk Website: www.imagineerproductions.co.uk

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CULTURE

Peter James Author, “Really Scary Books” Born and raised in Brighton, Peter James writes the No 1 bestselling “Roy Grace” detective novels, set in Brighton, which are published in 34 languages.

Peter is also the Co-Patron (with Dame Vera Lynn) of Sussex Crimestoppers and has donated a Police car to Sussex Police which is in daily use in the city and has my name all over it.

Brighton, England In 2009 Peter was granted an honorary doctorate by the University of Brighton “in recognition of Peter James’s ongoing contribution to the arts and to the status, infrastructure and culture of Brighton and Hove."

In 1993, Peter also set Brighton’s first connection to the Internet, Pavilion Internet, and was the person who officially launched ‘Wired Brighton’, an initiative to develop online activities in Brighton & Sussex.

Contact: Claire Richman Telephone: 0207 361 7860 / 7862 Email: claire.richman@midaspr.co.uk Website: www.peterjames.com 52

Royal Pavilion Brighton

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CULTURE

Peter Kyle, OBE Chairman, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Peter ’s distinguished international career in the arts and cultural sector spans dance, arts management and education roles, making him a strong spokesman for Britain’s cultural offering.

He has served the Arts Council in numerous roles. In 1997 he became Dean of the Arts Educational Schools, London.

Peter Kyle was elected Chairman of The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in June 2011.

Peter is Director-General of The English Speaking Union. Prior to this, for 12 years, he led the development of Shakespeare’s Globe as Chief Stratford-upon-Avon, England Executive. Best known for its theatre, the Shakespeare Globe Centre also provides extensive educational programmes and houses the world’s largest exhibition devoted to Shakespeare. Peter also served on the boards of the Shakespeare Globe Centres in America, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Germany and Japan. He received the OBE for services to drama in the 2011 New Year’s Honours.

He is currently Deputy Chairman of the University of Westminster and an Honorary Fellow of South Bank University, Chairman of The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (the world’s leading dance examinations board), Honorary President of Tavaziva Dance Company, and a Trustee of the Noel Coward Foundation and of The Central School of Ballet. He is a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute.

Following his early career as a soloist dancer, teacher and choreographer, including roles with the Northern Ballet Theatre and the Royal New Zealand Ballet, Peter went on to found the National Festival of Youth Dance and the National Youth Dance Company. He was part of the team that founded the National Festival of Youth Theatre. In Scotland he was Chief Executive of The Scottish Ballet, and later Chairman of the Centre for Contemporary Arts.

Contact: Lynn Beddoe, PR Manager Telephone: 01789 207134 Email: Lynn.beddoe@shakespeare.org.uk Website: www.shakespeare.org.uk Index

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CULTURE

Stephen Laing Curator - Heritage Motor Centre More than 15 years’ experience as Curator of the world’s largest collection of cars and archive material relating to the motor industry in Britain.

The industry was, and still is, hugely influential to the development, economy and people of the West Midlands.

Appearance fee may apply.

Warwickshire, England

Contact: Stephen Laing Telephone: 01926 645090 Email: slaing4@heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

Heritage Motor Centre West Midlands, England

Website: www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

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Michael Loveday Heritage regeneration professional; chartered town planner; specialist in public realm regeneration; expert on Norwich UK Michael Loveday has been engaged professionally in urban regeneration for over 30 years. He is currently chief executive of the Heritage Economic & Regeneration Trust (HEART) - a private charitable company unique in the UK, charged with the co-ordination, regeneration and promotion of heritage buildings and public spaces in one city (Norwich) and acting as an international best practice authority to Norwich, England disseminate model approaches globally. He is also director of his own heritage and public realm consultancy. Formerly, he was Director of Spatial Planning with European and Economic Development for Norwich City Council (UK).

During this period the City was praised by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister ‘Partners in Urban Renaissance’ Report, which said ‘In many respects the city is one of the leaders in urban renaissance in England’.

He has been a frequent conference and academic speaker on public space, regeneration and heritage issues across the UK and internationally for organisations including, most recently, keynoting the annual conference of the Heritage Canada Foundation in Newfoundland, the Annual Conference of the Virginia Assn of Museums in Richmond and delivering workshops for the World Bank and the US National Trust in Washington DC. Other speaking engagements have included the International Council of Shopping Centres, Euro Commerce, the EU, the British High Commission in Canada, the McGill Institute (Montreal), Walk21 (Copenhagen, Zurich, Porto & Melbourne), Living Streets, the RTPI, IHBC, EPOCH (Brussels & Brighton), EHTF, the Planning Institute of Australia, the World League of Historical Cities (Australia, Japan & Turkey), the Indian National Trust, the Princes Trust, Heritage Link, the Irish Heritage Council and Walled Towns League, the International Federation for Housing and Planning (Norway) and ICOMOS (Norway, UK & France).

Appearance fee may apply.

In 2007 Michael was installed as the new Chair of Living Streets (formerly the National Pedestrians Assn); he is a Board Member of the Historic Towns Forum and a CABE Space Enabler and Adviser. Until recently he sat on the Board of the East of England Museums, Libraries and Archives Commission. He was also Chair of Norwich’s City Centre Management Partnership for a number of years and Chair of the Norwich Design Quality Panel and is a Board Member of the Centre for East Anglian Studies.

Contact: Christina Lister Telephone: 01603 599570 Email: michaelloveday@heritagecity.org / christinalister@heritagecity.org Website: www.heritagecity.org Index

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Caroline Lucas MP

Peter Murray CBE

Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavilion

Executive Director, Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Caroline Lucas is the UK’s only Green MP. She was elected to serve the people of Brighton Pavilion in the 2010 general election, before which she represented the South East region as a member of the European Parliament for 11 years. She is also the leader of the Green Party of England and Wales.

Caroline is a long-time campaigner on a range of issues, including energy, the environment, sustainable housing and transport, trade, social justice and human rights.

While Principal Lecturer in Art Education at Bretton Hall College, Peter founded Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) in 1977 and it is now one of the world’s leading sculpture parks attracting over 350,000 visitors a year. As well as managing YSP, Peter travels internationally advising and lecturing on sculpture in the open air, contributing to conferences and organising exhibitions. He was also a selector for the 2010 Northern Art Prize.

Brighton, England

Other languages: French.

56

Yorkshire, England

Topic of interest Sculpture.

Contact: Melissa Freeman

Contact: Susan Carroll

Telephone: 020 7219 0870 / 07590 050565

Telephone: 01924 30 5054

Email: Caroline.lucas.mp@parliament.uk / Melissa.freeman@parliament.uk

Email: scarroll@wakefield.gov.uk

Website: www.carolinelucas.com

Website: www.experiencewakefield.co.uk / www.ysp.co.uk

Index

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CULTURE

Dr Diana Owen Director, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Diana Owen has transformed the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust since she joined as Director in November 2007, developing the organisation as an outward-facing, participative charity, which works to lead the world’s enjoyment and understanding of Shakespeare’s works, life and times. Diana has extensive experience in the heritage and tourism sector, having worked for the National Trust from 1988 until 2007. She is a passionate advocate for Stratford-upon-Avon, England the cultural, literary and built heritage of Stratford and the wider region. She works to promote Shakespeare’s global legacy as a bridge between cultures and borders; for example, she has travelled three times to China and welcomed the Chinese Premier to Shakespeare’s Birthplace this year. Diana is an Honorary Governor of the RSC, Chair of the West Midlands Museums Policy Forum and Vice-President of the Stratford-upon-Avon and District National Trust Association. In July 2011 she was presented with the Yamani Medal in recognition of the Trust’s partnership work with the Iqbal Academy. Born and brought up in India, Diana is personally involved in protecting India’s built heritage.

Contact: Lynn Beddoe, PR Manager Telephone: 01789 207134 Email: Lynn.beddoe@shakespeare.org.uk

Shakespeare’s Birthplace Stratford-upon-Avon, England

Website: www.shakespeare.org.uk

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Dr Steven Parissien Director of Compton Verney museum and gallery Dr Steven Parissien is Director of Compton Verney museum and gallery in Warwickshire, and is Visiting Fellow at the Universities of Oxford and Warwick. Steven took his undergraduate and doctoral degrees from the University of Oxford and now resides in the city.

He has written extensively on architectural and cultural history. His books include Regency Style, Adam Style (Apollo magazine's Book of the Year Warwickshire, England for 1992 and The American Institute of Architects' Book of the Year Choice for 1993), Palladian Style, The Book of the Georgian House, Station to Station, and George IV: The Grand Entertainment, and Interiors: The Home Since 1700. More recently his book Assassins looks at assassinations that shook the world from Julius Caesar to JFK. Steven has also been known to lecture on the history of gin, from Hogarth’s time to the present day. Prior to working at Compton Verney Steven worked for The Georgian Group and English Heritage before joining Yale University’s Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art in London, as Assistant Director, in 1995.

In 2001 he moved to become Director of Sotheby's Institute, and in 2003 became Professor of Architectural History and Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Plymouth. In 2006 he joined The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment as Director of Education, before joining Compton Verney in January 2009. Frequent interviews and pieces-to-camera (including ITN's News at Ten and BBC's Nine O'Clock News) and national and local radio interviews (including BBC R4, R1 and R2) since 1988.

Sole presenter of: • Framing Opinions (English Heritage, 30 mins); aired on BBC2 and Sky channels since 1992 • Storytellers: Chiswick House (OR Media, 10 mins); aired on Sky TV, May 2001 • Kings in Waiting: George IV (BBC Knowledge, 1 hour): originally aired on BBC4 in June 2001, and subsequently on The History Channel and The Discovery Channel in both the UK and the US • Foulston in Plymouth (Automatic Productions for Westcountry TV, 20 mins); aired November 2005 • Buildings that shaped Britain (Talkback Thames TV, eight 1-hour episodes); aired for eight weeks in 2 June 2006, and subsequently on The History Channel and The Discovery Channel in the UK and the US from October 2006.

Principal interviewee for: • Royal Deaths and Diseases (Lion TV, 3 x 1 hour); aired on Channel 4 in January 2003 • Time Team (BBC, 1 hour); originally aired on BBC2 on 2 March 2003 • How to be a Prince (BBC, 1 hour); originally aired on BBC1 on 25 June 2003 • The History of a House (TwoFour TV, 1 hour); aired on Channel 4 on 3 July 2003 • The Badness of George IV (Flashback TV, 90 mins); aired on BBC2 17 March 2004 • Prince Eddy (Lion TV, 1 hour); originally aired on BBC2 on 21 November 2005 • Victoria’s Grandchildren (Lion TV, 1 hour); aired on BBC2 on 14 December 2006 • Royal Time Team (BBC, 2 hours); aired on BBC2 on 31 December 2006 • Royal Palaces (BBC1, 1 hour); 18 September 2011 The things Steven loves about living and working in the UK are its architecture, history and art. His top three tips would be to ensure that you visit Compton Verney, the Cotswolds and Oxford as part of any visit to the UK.

Contact: Compton Verney Telephone: 01926 645541 Email: press@comptonverney.org.uk Website: www.comptonverney.org.uk

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John Partridge

Antony Penrose

Curator of Animals at Bristol Zoo Gardens

Director of the Lee Miller Archives & The Penrose Collection & Farley Farm House

John Partridge is the Curator of Animals at Bristol Zoo Gardens where he has worked for 37 years.

During his career he has worked with some of the Zoo’s most famous residents, including Rosie the elephant.

Bristol, England

He is the son of Lee Miller & Roland Penrose. He met many famous 20th century artists such as Tàpies, Henry Moore, Man Ray, Miró and Picasso.

His father was close friends with Picasso, and Tapies and was their biographers, he also curated the major 1960 Picasso exhibition at the Tate. His father also brought the 1st exhibition East Sussex, England international exhibition of surrealist art to Britain in 1936.

His mother, Lee Miller photographed these artists many times. Including also chalie Chaplin and Dylan Thomas.

The Lee Miller Archives & The Penrose collection are loaning artworks and images to the Picasso in British collections exhibition that is on at the Tate until May and then it travels to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. For the Olympic period.

Antony Penrose also wrote the acclaimed children’s book (available in 12 different languages) ‘The Boy who bit Picasso’ a true story.

During June and July Farleys Barn Gallery is exhibiting a 28 print exhibition of Photographs of Picasso by his parents that is open to the public.

Other languages: French Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Lucy King, PR Manager, or Vanessa Hollier Telephone: 0117 974 7306 or 0117 974 7309 Email: lkings@bristolzoo.org.uk / vhollier@bristolzoo.org.uk Website: www.bristolzoo.org.uk Index

Contact: Ami Bouhassane Telephone: 01825872691 or 01825 872 856 Email: ami@leemiller.co.uk Website: www.farleyfarmhouse.co.uk / www.leemiller.co.uk / www.rolandpenrose.co.uk 59

ENGLAND

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Tom Piper Associate Designer of the Royal Shakespeare Company Tom graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge before training in theatre design at the Slade School of Art. For the RSC he has designed and primarily collaborated with director Michael Boyd on: The Broken Heart, Spring Awakening, A Patriot for Me, Much Ado About Nothing, The Spanish Tragedy, Bartholomew Fair, Measure for Measure, Troilus and Cressida, A Month in the Country, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, London / Stratford-upon-Avon Henry VI, Richard III ,The Tempest, King Lear, Twelfth Night, Hamlet and The Histories, As You Like It, The Drunks, The Grain Store and Antony and Cleopatra.

The Way of the World, Spyski (Lyric Hammersmith), The Duchess of Malfi (Wyndham’s, Greenwich and tour), Sweet Panic, The Philanderer, Disposing of the Body (Hampstead Theatre), Insignificance (Sheffield), Babette’s Feast (Royal Opera House) As You Like It and The Tempest (Bridge project BAM and Old Vic).

Tom has won the London Fringe Best Design Award twice, and an Olivier Award for his costume designs for The Histories.

Other theatre design work includes: The Birthday Party, Blinded by the Sun, Oh! What A Lovely War (RNT), Miss Julie (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Frame 312, A Lie of the Mind, Three Days of Rain, Helpless (Donmar) Pants, Mince, Twelfth Night, Duchess of Malfi, Happy Days (Dundee Rep), Mother Courage (Olympia, Dublin), Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Loot (Bristol Old Vic), Stiff!, The Master Builder (Lyceum, Edinburgh), The Danny Crowe Show (Bush), Penny for a Song (Whitehall and UK tour), The Spirit of Annie Ross (Gate Theatre, Dublin), The Frogs, The Cherry Orchard (Nottingham Playhouse), Dealer’s Choice (Theater in der Josefstadt, Vienna), Scissor Happy (Duchess Theatre), Wallace and Gromit – A Grand Night Out (Peacock Theatre and tour), Kindertransport (Vaudeville, Watford and Soho Theatre Co), The Crucible, Six Characters In Search of An Author, The Last Days of a Reluctant Tyrant (Abbey Theatre, Dublin), Backpay, Cockroach, Who? (Royal Court), Waking, Tulipfutures, Ripped, My Goat, Rockstation, Opening 4 play season (Soho Theatre Co), Endgame, Dumbstruck, Macbeth, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk (Tron Theatre, Glasgow), The Price (Theatre Royal York).

Contact: Elsie King Telephone: 01789 272417 Email: Elsie.King@rsc.org.uk Website: www.rsc.org.uk 60

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Deborah Shaw Director of the World Shakespeare Festival Deborah Shaw is an Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Director of the World Shakespeare Festival, which the RSC is producing for the culture programme of the London 2012 Olympics. The World Shakespeare Festival runs from April to September 2012 across the UK, in Stratford-upon-Avon, London, Edinburgh, Wales, Brighton, Sheffield and Birmingham. Deborah has developed and London / Stratford-upon-Avon commissioned productions from the UK, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Iraq, Tunisia, USA and around the world, working with over 30 major arts organisations and companies across London and around the UK.

Before joining the RSC, Deborah produced theatre in London and New York and was Director of the Bath Shakespeare Festival, Artistic Director of Chester Gateway Theatre and Associate Director of Watford Palace Theatre. She has directed over 30 productions in regional theatres.

She holds an MA (Cantab) from Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University and an Honorary Doctorate from Oxford Brookes University. She is an external examiner for Manchester Metropolitan University's European Theatre MA and she has contributed to the European Culture Forum, several international symposia on Arab Theatre and the recent initiative on EU/Russian cross-cultural collaboration. She is a founder member of the Baghdad-based Iraqi Theatre Company.

Deborah joined the RSC to direct the Complete Works Festival in 2006, which was the RSC’s first large-scale international Festival, presenting all of Shakespeare’s plays over a year in Stratford-upon-Avon.

For the RSC she has directed Oxygen by Ivan Vyrypaev in collaboration with Top 9, Russia's world champion B-boy crew and Moscow's DJ Hobot (Stratford-on-Avon and LIFT); Nothing Like The Sun, curated by Gavin Bryars with Opera North (Stratford-uponAvon, QEH and Ghent) and she directed young people from Birmingham's Gallery 37 in a collaboration on Two Gentlemen of Verona with Brazil's Nos Do Morro.

She initiated the RSC's Creative Projects programme, bringing UK and international artists and practitioners to develop work with the ensemble and led a season in the Swan Theatre, inviting Silviu Purcarete to the RSC to direct Ionesco's Macbett and co-producing the premiere of Margaret Atwood's Penelopiad with Canada's National Arts Centre.

Contact: Elsie King Telephone: 01789 272417 Email: Elsie.King@rsc.org.uk Website: www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

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Chris Wade Festival Director Beverley Festival – Folk, Acoustic, Roots Now in its 29th year.

The East Riding of Yorkshire’s largest and longest established weekend festival.

Internationally recognized.

Attracts all ages- has specific programmes over the weekend for Children and Young people.

Yorkshire, England

Attracts internationally renowned artists as well as local and regional “emerging” artists.

Also includes Comedy, Poetry, Written and Spoken word.

Concerts, Dance, Informal Sessions, Workshops.

Accessible to all budgets – Free individual event tickets to weekend Season tickets.

Contact: Chris Wade Telephone: 01377 217662 / 07801 124264 Email: Chris.wade@adastra-music.co.uk Website: www.beverleyfestival.com 62

Beverley Minster East Riding of Yorkshire

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CULTURE

Iain Watson Director, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums Iain has been Director of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums (TWAM) since November 2010 and a member of TWAM’s Senior Management Team since 2001, following a previous 18-years experience in the cultural and heritage sector.

In 2011/12 TWAM had over 1.8 million in-person visits, making it one of the most visited regional museum services in the country. Our venues, NewcastleGateshead, England which include the Great North Museum, the Laing Art Gallery, Discovery Museum and Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, are hosting a programme of events and exhibitions to celebrate the 2012 Games. Highlights include: Home and Away: North East (21 July 2012 – 14 January 2013) Discovery Museum The rich sporting history of the North East will be celebrated in this new exhibition.

Drawing on a range of objects and images, the exhibition will include sports played and followed in the region over the last 200 years, as well as the stories of local sportsmen and women who have travelled away to take part in the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

More of the TWAM ‘Must See in 2012’ programme can be found at: www.twmuseums.org.uk/mustseein2012 As well as our programme of exhibitions to celebrate the 2012 Games other exhibition highlights include: Family Matters: the Family in British Art 19 May – 2 September 2012 The British family has been, and continues to be, a challenging and popular subject for artists and their sitters. Major works show how the family has been subject to the regional, cultural, ethnic and economic diversity over the last 500 years in Britain. The exhibition includes an exciting mix of contemporary and historic art, including works by Thomas Gainsborough, William Hogarth, Joshua Reynolds, David Hockney and Paula Rego.

This exhibition is a partnership between Tate, Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service, Laing Art Gallery and Museums Sheffield and is part of the Great British Art Debate, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Art Council England’s Renaissance programme.

The Curious Case of…(21 July – 23 September 2012) Great North Museum Exploring the fascinating stories behind a range of objects, this exhibition will look at how objects from around the world have made their way into the Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums collection, and how these form a path into a wider global story and provoke a range of discussions and interpretations surrounding the objects. This exhibition forms part of Journeys of Discovery, the North East strand of Stories of the World; a London 2012 initiative to encourage young people to delve into local museum collections.

Contact: Sheryl McGregor, Communications Manager Telephone: 0191 277 2311 Email: sheryl.mcgregor@twmuseums.org.uk Website: www.twmuseums.org.uk

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Professor Stanley Wells, CBE Honorary President of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (formerly Chairman) Professor Wells is an eminent Shakespearian who is likely to be a sought-after contributor to the coverage of the World Shakespeare Festival, part of the Cultural Olympiad. Stanley Wells is a Life Trustee and Former Chairman of The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (1991-2011), Emeritus Professor of Shakespeare Studies of the University of Birmingham, and Honorary Emeritus Governor of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, of which he was Stratford-upon-Avon, England for many years Vice-Chairman. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Birmingham and honorary doctorates from Furman University, South Carolina, and from the Universities of Munich, Hull, Durham and Warwick.

His most recent books are Shakespeare in the Theatre: An Anthology of Criticism; The Oxford Dictionary of Shakespeare; The Oxford Companion to Shakespeare (edited with Michael Dobson); Shakespeare For All Time; Looking for Sex in Shakespeare; Shakespeare’s Sonnets and Coffee with Shakespeare, both co-authored with Paul Edmondson; Shakespeare & Co., and Is It True What they Say About Shakespeare? His Shakespeare, Sex & Love appeared from Oxford University Press (OUP) in 2010. He is married to the writer Susan Hill. Stanley Wells was elected The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust's first Honorary President in June 2011.

His books include Literature and Drama; Royal Shakespeare: Studies of Four Major Productions at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre; Modernising Shakespeare’s spelling; Reediting Shakespeare for the Modern Reader; and Shakespeare: the Poet and his Plays. He edited A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Richard II, and The Comedy of Errors for the New Penguin Shakespeare and King Lear for the Oxford Shakespeare. He was, for nearly 20 years, the editor of the annual Shakespeare Survey, and writes for the New York Review of Books and many other publications. He has edited The New Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare Studies and is general editor (with Gary Taylor) of The Complete Oxford Shakespeare and co-author of William Shakespeare: A Textual Companion.

Contact: Lynn Beddoe, PR Manager Telephone: 01789 207134 Email: Lynn.beddoe@shakespeare.org.uk / standley.wells@shakespeare.org.uk Website: www.shakespeare.org.uk 64

Index

NORTHERN IRELAND

CULTURE

Joan Burney Keatings

Graeme Farrow

Chief Executive of Cinemagic International Film and Television Festival

Culture Company 2013, Senior Programmer

Joan is Chief Executive of Cinemagic International Film & Television Festival, an award-winning children’s charity. Every year, more than 25,000 young people get involved in the arts as a result of the events Joan oversees the film and television festival. In her ten years at Cinemagic, 250,000 young people from all walks of life have participated Northern Ireland in screenings, workshops and master classes with many going on to work full time in top jobs in Hollyoaks, the Brit Awards, ITV and the BBC. In recognition of the contribution Cinemagic has made to the arts sector on a global scale, Joan won Professional Fundraiser of the Year in 2006. In 2007, Cinemagic was awarded National Charity of the Year for Culture, Arts and Heritage.

Joan has also brought Cinemagic to Dublin, Manchester, Hereford, Glasgow, Nottingham and France, New York and even Los Angeles. In 2011, Cinemagic celebrated its 21st year.

Contact: Joan Burney Keatings Telephone: 02890 311900 Email: joan@cinemagic.org.uk Website: www.cinemagic.org.uk Index

In 2013, Derry-Londonderry will be the UK’s first City of Culture and, as Executive Programmer, Graeme Farrow will develop the cultural and artistic programme for this momentous year for the city and has special responsibility for delivering the core events of the 2013 programme. Graeme is a former director of the prestigious Ulster Bank Festival at Queen’s and during his five-year tenure as Director, the festival’s box office sales doubled. He brought Northern Ireland artists and events such as Ennio Morricone, Black Watch, David Lynch, The History Boys, Valery Gergiev and Buena Vista Social Club to Belfast. Graeme also had overall responsibility for the Culture and Arts portfolio at Queen’s University, including the Festival and Queen’s Film Theatre. He is also a former winner of the Allianz Arts & Business NI Arts Individual of the Year. In his role at UK City of Culture team, he is heavily involved in some of the London 2012 Festival events in Derry-Londonderry such as the Peace One Day concert, which opened the London 2012 Festival.

Contact: Graeme Farrow Telephone: 02871 310560 Email: Graeme.farrow@cityofculture2013.com Website: www.cityofculture2013.com 65

NORTHERN IRELAND

CULTURE

Ali FitzGibbon

Martin Lynch

Young at Art

Critically acclaimed Northern Ireland Playwright

Ali FitzGibbon is the Director of Young at Art, one of the consortium partners behind the Land of Giants.

Young at Art runs the annual international Belfast Children's Festival (one of the largest in the UK and Ireland) and develops projects in theatre, music, dance, literature and fine arts for children throughout the year.

Ali's background is as a creative producer of live events in theatre and music. She has been the Northern Ireland artistic and executive director of Young at Art since 2003. Land of Giants will be Northern Ireland’s largest-ever outdoor arts event, which took place in June 2012 on Titanic Slipways.

It is a Legacy Trust UK co-commissioned event and a highlight of the 2012 programme.

It involves aerial performers, acrobatics, and music and is based on the Giants of Northern Ireland.

Other languages: Fluent Italian, passable French.

Contact: Kathy Hayes Telephone: 07801 751355 Email: Kathy@landofgiants.info Website: www.landofgiants.info 66

For almost 30 years Martin Lynch has been one of the leading playwrights in Northern Ireland. His plays have been produced in all the leading theatres in Ireland as well as in the UK, Europe and the USA. He has been Resident Writer at the Lyric Theatre Belfast, the University of Ulster and most recently with Greenshoot Productions, Belfast. Martin’s works have a close affinity with Northern Ireland. He is the creative inspiration for the internationally acclaimed Northern Ireland Dancing Shoes, the story about George Best who left the streets of Belfast to become one of the world’s greatest footballers. Martin is the co-author of the most successful play in recent Irish theatre history, The History of the Troubles (accordin’ to my Da), which has been seen by 125,000 people. Most recently Martin authored Chronicles of Long Kesh – the story of the infamous prison camp outside Belfast. This played to sell-out houses at its premiere at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast in January 2009 and went on to complete a similar sell-out tour of Northern Ireland. In 2012, Martin is planning a brand new production, The Guarantee Boys, which will have significant links to Belfast’s Titanic story. In 1912, Thomas Andrews hand-picked four teenage apprentices and five of his best tradesmen, which formed The Harland and Wolff Guarantee Group. This compelling tale is the story of their incredible journey on board the world’s most famous ship. The Guarantee Boys is scheduled to make its world premiere at the Grand Opera House Belfast in August 2012 and will then embark on a world tour. The music for The Guarantee Boys is by Francis McPeake of the famous McPeake family from Belfast.

April 2012 marks the centenary of Titanic’s maiden voyage and fateful end.

Contact: Martin Lynch Telephone: 02890 291555 Email: martin@martinlynch.co.uk Website: www.martinlynchproductions.com

Index

NORTHERN IRELAND

CULTURE

Sinead Morrissey

Emma Louise Johnston

Writer, Poetry and Prose, Land of Giants

Freelance journalist / Broadcaster

As Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Queen’s University, Sinead convenes the MA in Creative Writing and the BA undergraduate degree in English with Creative Writing. Sinead has published four collections of poetry with Carcanet Press (Manchester): There Was Fire in Vancouver (1996), Between Here and There (2002), The State of the Prisons (2005) and Through the Square Window (2009). Prizes include The Patrick Kavanagh Award, Northern Ireland the Michael Hartnett Poetry Prize, First Prize in the UK National Poetry Competition (2007), a Lannan Literary Fellowship (2007) and the Irish Times Poetry Prize (2009). Collaborating with Mark Murphy on the script for Land of Giants represents a new departure for Sinead and reflects the important contribution made by Northern Ireland’s literary giants. Land of Giants will be Northern Ireland’s largest-ever outdoor arts event, which took place in June 2012 on Titanic Slipways. It is a Legacy Trust UK co-commissioned event and will be a highlight of the 2012 programme.

It involved aerial performers, acrobatics, and music and is based on the Giants of Northern Ireland.

As someone who has worked in broadcasting all over the UK (with GMTV) and who has travelled the world presenting a holiday show (BBC Getaways) Emma Louise chose to come back home to Northern Ireland to settle and raise a family here and therefore is very proud of where she has come from.

She travelled the world with her travel programme for BBC and has also reported for ITN and Channel 7 news, Australia.

Appearance fee may apply.

Northern Ireland

Other languages: German.

Contact: Kathy Hayes Telephone: 07801 751355 Email: Kathy@landofgiants.info Website: www.landofgiants.info Index

Contact: Emma Louise Johnston Telephone: 07912 789700 Email: emmalouisejohnston@hotmail.co.uk Website: www.emmalouisejohnston.com 67

NORTHERN IRELAND

CULTURE

Glenn Patterson Author, Screenwriter and Lecturer Glenn Patterson is the author of eight novels, the most recent of which, The Mill for Grinding Old People Young (Faber, 2012), was the first ever ‘One City One Book’ choice for Belfast in 2012, a momentous year for the city where it celebrates the centenary of Titanic’s maiden voyage. His nonfiction work includes a memoir, Once Upon a Hill, and Lapsed Protestant, a collection of his journalism for, among others, the Guardian, Observer, Sunday Times, Independent, Irish Times, and Dublin Review.

Northern Ireland His first film, Good Vibrations, co-written with Colin Carberry, premieres at this year’s Belfast Film Festival 2012 and his plays and short stories have been broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4. He has also presented numerous television documentaries and an arts review series for RTE, Ireland.

Other languages: A little French.

Contact: Glenn Patterson Telephone: 07954 579 517 Email: glenn.patterson@ntlworld.com Website: N/A 68

Titanic Belfast Northern Ireland

Index

NORTHERN IRELAND

CULTURE

Sean Doran Artistic Director and Founder, Enniskillen International Beckett Festival Seán Doran is one of the most innovative and daring artistic directors working in today's international arts world. He has often been employed as a catalyst for change, the outsider who breaks the mould and pioneers new artistic direction. He is seen as a leader with vision, a risktaker renowned for merging the challenging with the popular to create exceptional artistic events.

After commencing a career as a clarinettist and Northern Ireland conductor of a music-theatre company in London, of which Sir Simon Rattle was Patron (1985-90), Doran was appointed to directorships of four major international arts festivals (1991-2003).

These included: •

Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the UK Year of Literature 1995 (Wales), the world's largest ever literature festival.

•

Artistic Director of the Belfast Festival at Queens, Ireland's largest multi-arts festival (1997 & 1998).

•

Festival Director of the Perth International Arts Festival, Australia's largest multi-arts festival (2000-2003).

At the age of 42, Seán Doran was appointed Artistic Director & Chief Executive of English National Opera (from 2003), the first Irishman ever to lead one of England's national arts companies. Today he leads his own company Insideworld Imagine. In 2002 Seán Doran was awarded the Centenary Medal by the Australian Government for his directorship of the Perth Festival. In 2001 Seán also became an Australian citizen alongside his Irish citizenship. He is married to the opera singer Ruby Philogene (www.philogene.net/) and lives in both London and Perth, Australia.

Sean is currently Artistic Director and Founder of Happy Days, Enniskillen International Beckett Festival, an event happening in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, which celebrates the life and woks of Samuel Beckett, one of Ireland’s artistic giants. The world’s first annual festival will study his work through a series of events and special guests including Robert Wilson, Antony Gormely, Edna O’Brien, Ian Bostridge, Melvyn Bragg and Atom Egoyan. Venues include Beckett’s former school, Portora Royal and other venues such as Enniskillen Castle, Castle Coole and St Macartin’s Cathedral.

Festival dates: 23 – 27 August, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh.

Contact: Anna Vinegrad Telephone: 020 7609 8905 / 0781 3808 487 Email: press@annavinegrad.com Website: www.happy-days-enniskillen.com

Index

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NORTHERN IRELAND

SCOTLAND

Moyra C. Lock

Nick Barley

Lead agency in Northern Ireland for the film, television and digital content industry

Director, Edinburgh International Book Festival

After an initial career in international advertising and media, Moyra worked for many years in the film industry in London, both in sales and distribution.

Returning to her native Northern Ireland, she took up the post of Head of Marketing at Northern Ireland Screen in August 2005. The Head of Marketing manages and implements Northern Northern Ireland Ireland Screen's marketing strategy to promote the film and television industry and film culture in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Screen's mission is to accelerate the development of a dynamic and sustainable film and television industry in Northern Ireland by integrating industrial, educational and cultural policies and actions. Moyra and her team are responsible for the promotion of Northern Ireland film, tv and digital content industry and recent successes include the filming of the HBO blockbuster Game of Thrones, in the Paint Hall Studios in Belfast. Two series have been filmed in Belfast and in various locations around Northern Ireland with a third series due to commence this year in 2012.

Contact: Moyra C. Lock Telephone: 02890 268590 Email: moyra@northernirelandscreen.co.uk Website: www.northernirelandscreen.co.uk 70

Nick Barley worked in London as a publisher and editor of arts books and magazines throughout the 1990s. The magazines under his stewardship included Blueprint (for architects and designers) and he was responsible for the launch of Tate, the art magazine in 1992. During this period he also edited books including Breathing Cities and Lost and Found: Critical Voices in new British Design. Nick Scotland moved to Scotland to become editor of the cultural magazine The List in 2003, and he was winner of the PPA Editor of the Year Award in 2005. In 2006 he was appointed as Director of The Lighthouse – Scotland’s Centre for Architecture, Design and the City. In 2009 Barley took over the Directorship of the Edinburgh International Book Festival – the world’s largest and most prestigious public celebration of the written word – and has introduced a number of innovations, including guest directors, the late-night Unbound Festival within a Festival, and a First Book award for new fiction writers. This year the Book Festival will launch the World Writer’s Conference.

Contact: Frances Sutton Telephone: 0131 718 5654 or 07841 579481 Email: frances@edbookfest.co.uk Website: www.edbookfest.co.uk Index

SCOTLAND

CULTURE

John Donaldson

David Forsyth

Woodcarver and Sculptor

Senior Curator, National Museums Scotland (based at National Museum of Scotland)

Born Stirling 1947; very happy childhood-interestsSport and Art ;Graduated in Physical Education 1968; very successful teaching career both in Education and PE/Sport; developed carving and sculpture (self taught) to enable change of career; resigned from teaching 1991 to carve professionally; full time carver since with many diverse projects including work presented to HM Queen, Princess Anne and Prince Charles, Major Project (seven years) at The Royal Palace, Stirling Castle and has maintained a commitment to Sport throughout.

David Forsyth is Senior Curator, Scottish Social History and Diaspora at National Museums Scotland. He has worked on a number of exhibitions relating to the Scots abroad including Altogether a Delightful Country: the Scots in Otago, New Zealand and Trailblazers: Scots in Canada.

Scotland

I rejoice in being surrounded by wonderful examples in our built Heritage which Inspires and Motivates me. Our cultural scene is vibrant. Scotland is overwhelmingly an open minded and compassionate Society. I am proud to be Scottish.

Scotland

He curated the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame at the National Museum and the Scotland: A Changing Nation gallery at the National Museum of Scotland, which looks at Scotland from the time of the First World War until the present day. David recently curated the Discoveries gallery, one of the 16 new galleries in the re-launched National Museum of Scotland.

He is an expert on Scottish diaspora – Scots who travelled abroad – and is well aware of Scotland’s many international links.

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: John Donaldson/Judith Donaldson Telephone: 01506 415384 mobile - 07710417360 Email: livicarver@aol.com Website: www.jdonaldsoncarver.co.uk Index

Contact: Hannah Dolby, Communications Officer, National Museums Scotland Bruce Blacklaw, Communications Officer, National Museums Scotland Telephone: 0131 247 4288/0131 247 4165 Email: h.dolby@nms.ac.uk/b.blacklaw@nms.ac.uk Website: www.nms.ac.uk 71

SCOTLAND

CULTURE

Christopher Harrison Soloist, Scottish Ballet Christopher Harrison trained at The Dance School of Scotland, and The Royal Ballet Upper School and danced with Dresden State Opera, Germany, before joining Scottish Ballet in summer 2005. He was promoted to CoryphĂŠe in 2007, and then to Soloist in 2009. He has danced several lead roles for the Company, including the Prince in The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty, the Mad Hatter in Alice and the lead man in Song of the Earth. Christopher was nominated for Breakthrough Star of the Year at Scotland the Scottish Style Awards 2011. Christopher is currently representing Scottish Ballet on the poster for Dance GB, an exciting national celebration of dance inspired by the 2012 London Olympics and the coming together of the British nations for Team GB which sees Scottish Ballet, National Dance Company Wales and English National Ballet join forces for the first time.

Contact: Ann Nugent Telephone: 0141 333 1092 Email: Ann.nugent@scottishballet.co.uk Website: www.scottishballet.co.uk 72

St George’s Square Glasgow

Index

SCOTLAND

CULTURE

Iona Leishman Historic Scotland Artist in Residence Stirling Castle 2011 – 2012 Iona was invited to become Historic Scotland’s Pilot Artist in Residence as part of an education and visitors attraction, July 2011 – April 2012. This success resulted in a further two residencies at Historic Scotland sites for Scottish artists and it is now envisaged this new programme will build into the future. From her Stirling Castle studio, Iona discovered passion for Marie de Guise, mother of Mary Queen of Scots, and a desire to celebrate Scotland her through art. As a result Iona has been invited to develop arts research in residence in France (Marie’s birth place) as an ambassador of Scottish Art: Grasping her residency at Stirling Castle as a life changing opportunity and period of immense artistic and otherwise professional growth, Iona has demonstrated outstanding commitment to become a voice for Scotland. On April 16th Iona explored her experience with heritage, education and culture delegates at a national seminar intending to develop some areas of her experience across the country, specifically considering communities and economic regeneration. Iona has worked closely with colleagues from arts and heritage sectors to extend opportunity not only for herself, but others.

Iona’s work has led to a new relationship between the City of Stirling and the birth place of Marie de Guise, Joinville, France. Iona has been invited to Joinville’s Guise Palace recently by the Deputy Major, to discover more about the roots of Marie de Guise, Mary Queen of Scots and Scottish history. As a result, a revival of interest in Marie is taking place in both Scotland and France. Thanks to Iona’s advocacy, people are beginning to recognise the potential for a new alliance, built on common history, culture, art and tourism. Iona aims to visit during 2012 as an ambassador of Scotland to create a new body of work intended to be celebrated during Scotland’s Homecoming Year 2014. In the meantime Iona will be based at a 17th Century Alms House neighbouring the castle – from which to help develop a new studio base and ongoing recognition of how ‘arts in residence’ can impact on Scotland’s stories of yesterday and today.

Iona has previous professional experience in PR with Scottish Heritage and is a confident, articulate and colourful speaker.

For Catalogue ‘Sense of Place’ Iona Leishman in Residence at Stirling Castle please see www.ionaleishman.co.uk

Iona’s paintings in previous years looked to natural heritage – rather than social and political – for inspiration. Now commoners, kings and queens who lived, worked and died within historic walls are a source of her fascination. During Iona’s residency she became immersed in such histories and imaginings, and had time to explore the site at Stirling fully as well as take a fresh look at other major monuments as well – like Linlithgow Palace and Edinburgh Castle. (The former was where Marie gave birth to her daughter, the latter was where the Catholic French dowager queen died of dropsy in 1560, attempting to hold back a Protestant Scottish and English army).

Contact: Kathleen O’Neill Telephone: Mobile - 07549 304 097 Home – 01786 833668 Email: culturematters@btinternet.com Website: www.ionaleishman.co.uk

Index

Stirling Castle Scotland

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SCOTLAND

CULTURE

Jonathan Mills Artistic Director of the Edinburgh International Festival Jonathan Mills is Festival Director and Chief Executive of the Edinburgh International Festival, a post he has held since October 2006. He embraced the 2012 Games and has created many works as part of the London 2012 Festival. He is a visiting professor at The University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Napier University.

In 2011 he was made an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO), and in 2012, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Edinburgh. Jonathan is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and was awarded Honorary Doctorates of Queen Margaret University and Stirling University. His previous positions include Vice-Chancellor’s (Professorial) Fellow at the University of Melbourne, Director of the Alfred Deakin Lectures and an Artistic Advisor to the new Melbourne Recital Centre & Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, which opened in 2009.

Scotland

One of Australia’s most experienced festival directors his previous festival posts have included Artistic Director of the Melbourne International Arts Festival, the Melbourne Federation Festival, the Melbourne Millennium Eve celebrations and the Brisbane Biennial International Music Festival. As a composer he is regularly commissioned in Australia and increasingly in Europe and the UK. His composition Sandakan Threnody for solo tenor, choir and orchestra won the Prix Italia in 2005. He graduated in music from the University of Sydney where he specialised in composition with Peter Sculthorpe. In addition to his work as a composer Jonathan Mills holds a Masters in Architecture specialising in Acoustic Design which he gained from RMIT University Australia.

Other languages: French, Italian and German.

Contact: Charlotte Gosling Telephone: 0131 529 7377 Email: charlotte.gosling@festivalsedinburgh.com Website: www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk 74

Edinburgh Festival Edinburgh, Scotland

Index

SCOTLAND

CULTURE

Kath Mainland Chief Executive of Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Chair of Festivals Edinburgh

Scotland

Kath Mainland is a native of Orkney, Scotland.

She studied in Glasgow, began her career in the arts in 1991 as administrative assistant at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and has worked in and around Edinburgh’s Festivals ever since. She has worked as a production co-ordinator and event producer of many of Scotland’s major festivals and events, including BBC Music Live, Burns And A’ That, the Champions League Final, the opening of Harvey Nichols in Edinburgh and the MTV European Music Awards.

She has been the General Manager of Assembly Theatre, one of the highest-profile venues at the Fringe, and was Production Co-Coordinator for Edinburgh’s New Year’s Eve celebration Edinburgh’s Hogmanay before, during and after the Millennium celebrations.

In January 2005, Kath became General Manager of the Edinburgh International Book Festival and was Administrative Director there until 2009 when she took up the new post of Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world, and is completely open access. The Fringe Society is the organisation that underpins the Fringe. Kath has overseen the refocusing of the organisation on its core objectives, implemented a new governance structure and has seen the Fringe grow in size of performers and audiences by 15 percent in the last three years. Kath also chairs the board of Festivals Edinburgh, a high-level organisation, created and managed by the directors of Edinburgh’s 12 major Festivals, to take the lead on their joint strategic development.

-

Edinburgh’s Festivals welcome audiences of 4.2 million each year – the Sydney Opera House would need to sell out every night for a year to reach a similar scale.

-

Each summer, from late July until early September, Edinburgh is home to seven different festivals including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Edinburgh International Festival and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

-

As the world’s elite and emerging sportspeople are taking to the stage in London, the world’s elite and emerging artists will be showcasing their cultural prowess in Edinburgh with over 60 countries represented at the 2012 Edinburgh Summer Festivals.

-

Dating back to 1947, the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe were the launch pad and platform for much of the entertainment we’ve come to know and love over our lifetime. It was here that Dudley Moore, Peter Cook, Emma Thompson, Eddie Izzard, Robin Williams, Jude Law, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie launched their careers.

-

An unknown J K Rowling read the first Harry Potter to a group of 20 children at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

-

There are around 1,000 performances a day at the peak of the Festival period in August.

Topic of interest •

Arts/Culture.

•

Festivals.

•

History/Heritage (Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo).

Contact: Charlotte Gosling Telephone: 0131 529 7377 Email: charlotte.gosling@festivalsedinburgh.com Website: www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk

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SCOTLAND

CULTURE

Luke Wright Poet / programmer of literature events 4Talent award winner Luke Wright might just be the hardest-working man in poetry. Since 2006 he’s launched his own curve-ball bid to become Poet Laureate, programmed and hosted Latitude’s poetry arena (the largest poetry event in Europe) and has become one of the poets-in-residence on BBC Radio 4′s Saturday Live. He has five solo poetry stage shows: Poet Laureate, Poet & Man, A Poet’s Work Is Never Done, and The Petty Scotland Concerns of Luke Wright. All of which played to sold out audiences at The Edinburgh Fringe, received five-star reviews and has completed extensive national tours. His fifth – Cynical Ballads – toured throughout 2011, including a trip to Melbourne and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

He has two books of poetry published by Nasty Little Press. A short collection called High Performance (2009) and a single long, narrative poem entitled The Vile Ascent Of Lucien Gore And What The People Did (2011).

“The best young performance poet around.” The Observer “One of the funniest and most brilliant poets of his generation.”

Johann Hari, The Independent “Visceral, poignant and riotously funny.” The Scotsman “Performance poetry’s key revivalist.” Metro “He must be on some kind of dope.” John Cooper Clarke Appearance fee may apply.

He has also started writing poetry for films. In 2009 he took contemporary poetry onto primetime TV, writing all the poetry for Channel 4’s The Seven Ages of Love, a 30-minute documentary that gained ‘pick of the day’ in eight national publications and was broadcast to over a million people; it was later nominated for a prestigious Grierson Award. In 2010 he wrote and provided the voice-over for a 30-minute film on Channel 4 called The Bed, directed by Toby Paton.

His first book, Who Writes This Crap?, co-written with Joel Stickley, was published by Penguin in 2007. A live show based on the book enjoyed a sell-out run at Edinburgh 2008.

Joel and Luke have also written verse for an animated shorted directed by Jon Dunleavy – Crash! Bang! Wallow! –the story of a suicidal stuntman, which won the NFBC short film competition at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.

Contact: Luke Wright Telephone: 07973 440608 Email: Luke@lukewright.co.uk Website: www.lukewright.co.uk 76

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WALES

CULTURE Bet Davies Head of Corporate Affairs, Wales Millennium Centre

Wales

Arts and Culture: The award-winning Wales Millennium Centre, Wales’ number one visitor attraction, is a vibrant, stunning and internationally recognised arts and culture venue.

It provides a world-class stage for a broad range of performances from West End musicals to ballet, opera to contemporary dance. The mix of entertainment means there is something for everybody. The Centre also stages regular free foyer performances, backstage tours, exhibitions, business and private function facilities, a choice of bars, restaurants and spectacular views of Cardiff’s bay area.

Bet Davies Biography As Head of Corporate Affairs Bet Davies is responsible for the management of Wales Millennium Centre’s external reputation, presenting a consistent and coherent view of the Centre’s wider, holistic role to a broad range of audiences. Her responsibilities also include promotion of the Centre as one of the UK’s major cultural tourism attractions. One of Wales’s most respected PR practitioners, Bet has a long and distinguished career in marketing and corporate communications, having held an number of senior roles, including Head of PR at the Wales Tourist Board, Director of Media and Communications at the Welsh Development Agency and Director of Marketing and Communications for Cardiff’s bid for European Capital of Culture 2008. She was honoured by the Japanese Government in 2003 for her work in promoting cultural and economic ties between Wales and Japan. Bet is a Trustee of the Prince’s Regeneration Trust and Diversions, Governor for Wales of Live Music Now and Chair of its Wales Board.

Wales Millennium Centre facts - Wales Millennium Centre is Wales’ number one visitor destination.

- Since opening in November 2004 we have welcomed over 9.5 million visitors through our doors (to end of October 2011) – the equivalent of over triple the population of Wales.

- Home to nine creative organisations, namely: Wales Millennium Centre, Welsh National Opera, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Touch Trust, Hijinx Theatre, Literature Wales, The Urdd City Sleepover (a youth organisation that houses 153 beds), Ty Cerdd, National Dance Company of Wales.

- A total of six performance spaces mean that there is always a hub of activity and something on offer for everyone.

Our performance spaces are: 1. Donald Gordon Theatre (1,896-seating capacity) accoustically perfect for any type of performance including dance, opera and West End musicals.

2. Weston Studio (250-seating capacity) for smaller scale productions.

3. Glanfa stage in the foyer hosts a wide variety of free performances on a daily basis.

4. Hoddinott Hall (350-seating capacity) is a concert hall and recording studio of our resident company BBC National Orchestra Wales.

5. Dance House (100 capacity) home to dancers of our resident partner National Dance Company Wales.

6. The Urdd Hall (153 capacity) recital and activity hall based in the Urdd, our resident partner.

Contact: Bet Davies Telephone: 02920 636440 Email: Bet.davies@wmc.org.uk Website: www.wmc.org.uk

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WALES

CULTURE Rhian Wyn Jones Art Student, Blacksmithing student to be, and self employed Wales Blue Badge Tourist Guide

Wales

As well as being contracted by CADW (Welsh Assembly Government agency) to do my themed tours as above, I am a full time art student.

I am a North Wales country girl who has never lived more than 10 miles from where I was born, and at the age of 48, I will be moving down to Hereford to live in a touring caravan, in a field, for three years whilst studying a BA Honours Degree in Artist Blacksmithing. I hope to take my horse and my dog with me.

A massive life changing move - this in itself could provide material for a whole series of documentaries.

Top tips: 1. Get under the skin of the country by spending time with local characters – preferably ones that run Spooky tours and strange things like that.

2. Find a good local pub and immerse yourself in the atmosphere (I can recommend an amazing one that has recently been re-opened by four local, competing real ale breweries).

3. Get out into the countryside – enjoy the fresh air and meet the people – this is the heart of a county.

Appearance fee may apply.

I am passionately Welsh and love my country – this feeds my zest for life. I have travelled throughout the whole of Wales with my work - before I went back to college I worked as Regional Manager for Wales and the North West for the Times Educational Supplement, as well as Tourist Guiding. I found friendly faces wherever I went, and learned so much by listening to the tales of others.

In addition, I enjoy kayaking, horse riding, walking, grow my own vegetables, keep hens, cook on firepits, can cook a Sunday roast in an old galvanised bin, have an outdoor bath heated by an old radiator which acts like a solar panel but is topped up with water boiled in a big urn over a fire next to the bath.

I believe in making the most of this life that we have been given, and to share that joy with the people around us.

Contact: Rhian Wyn Jones Telephone: 07990 666201 from overseas: 07990666201 Email: rhiancaed@hotmail.com

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Index

FASHION

Index

Countryside

Culture

Fashion

Food

Heritage

Music

Sport

LONDON

FASHION

Adrienne Callaghan

Oriole Cullen

Sebago UK, premium footwear

Curator of 20th-century fashion and textiles at the Victoria & Albert Museum

Working in the UK, particularly during 2012, puts me at the forefront of one of the greatest sporting events in the world and it a fantastic time for us to all be very patriotic at Sebago. We have developed a new line of Dockside shoes named ‘Patriot’ in the colours of the Union Jack, launching this spring as a limited edition. It is our chance as a footwear company, with long-established links in the UK, to celebrate everything British and join in the festive fun surrounding the Olympic Games and Queen’s London, England Jubilee. Kate Middleton has been seen sporting the women’s ‘Bala’ design during her dragon boating activities in Canada, providing the Royal endorsement for this stylish marine shoe that can go from ‘ship to shore’ seamlessly with any outfit. We have a number of promotional activities planned along the south coast, starting in June through to August, using our very unique ‘Sebago Shoeboat’ a boat designed in the shape of our most popular shoe, the Dockside. A fully functional boat, the Shoeboat will cruise some of the most high-profile yachting destinations this summer, giving away products to the lucky crowds and adding entertainment to the waterside.

Sebago also opened its London Regent Street flagship store this year in the centre of the Olympic city, which is at the heart of all its activities.

Oriole Cullen is a curator of 20th-century fashion and textiles at the V&A. Since 2006 she has run the V&A's Fashion in Motion programme, working with leading international fashion designers to present their work in a series of free catwalk shows within the Museum. Prior to joining the V&A she worked as curator of dress and London, England decorative arts at the Museum of London, where she co-curated Stolen Skins: Fur in Fashion (2002) and The London Look: Fashion from Street to Catwalk (2004). In 2009, she curated, and wrote the book for, the V&A's exhibition Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones. Recent publications include Pop Patterns (V&A 2011).

Oriole is the co-curator of the current V&A exhibition Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950, sponsored by Coutts, which runs until 6 January 2013. The exhibition includes a spectacular selection of ballgowns, red carpet evening gowns and catwalk showstoppers from 1950 to the present day by designers including Norman Hartnell, Vivienne Westwood and Catherine Walker.

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Kate Holmes Telephone: 020 7593 5265 / 0778 670 1118 Email: Kate.holmes@fasttracksailing.com Website: www.sebago.com 80

Contact: V&A Press Office Telephone: 020 7942 2502 Email: press.office@vam.ac.uk Website: www.vam.ac.uk Index

LONDON

FASHION

Simon Howard Cundey

Nicholas De’Ath

Director, Henry Poole & Co

Senior Bespoke Cutter, Dege & Skinner of Savile Row

Simon is 7th generation of the Poole/Cundey family to head up Henry Poole & Co, the bespoke tailoring house at 15 Savile Row – also known as the founders of Savile Row and historically holders of over 40 Royal Warrants and the proud bearers of the Queen’s award for enterprise in international trade 2012.

Through Henry Poole & Co, Simon is a long time ambassador for British overseas trade, British hand craft tailoring, British tailoring apprenticeships, British heritage and of course the preservation of Savile Row as the world’s premier tailoring location.

Nicholas De’Ath is Senior Bespoke Cutter at Dege & Skinner, specialising in military uniforms. He visits the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst weekly each term to measure and fit Officer Cadets for their uniforms and as such, has an unrivalled knowledge of the military uniforms of the British Army.

London, England

Nicholas followed his father into the trade and has London, England worked on the ceremonial uniforms Dege & Skinner has made for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee; including those of The Queen’s Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard and the Royal Watermen who rowed Her Majesty on the River Thames as part of the flotilla on Sunday 3rd June 2012.

Other languages: German.

Contact: Simon Cundey, Inga Ruby Telephone: 020 7734 5985 / 07901 851 521 (SHC Mobile) Email: inga@henrypoole.com / simon@henrypoole.com Website: www.henrypoole.com Index

Contact: Cass Stainton Telephone: 07798 554520 Email: c.staintonpr@gmail.com Website: www.dege-skinner.co.uk

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LONDON Katherine Elizabeth

David Gale

Founder of Katherine Elizabeth Millinery

Shirt maker for Royal Warrant Holder, shirt and tie maker Turnbull & Asser

Award-winning milliner who has an outstanding client base including top personalities, tv and film. made the hat for the official Princess Catherine doll for last year’s royal wedding exhibition at Coutts Bank over London Fashion Week in the autumn to celebrate her work. Her acclaimed hat parties now run at the Grosvenor House Hotel Park Lane, among other top venues, and her hats are stocked internationally.

Contact: sophie piper pr london Telephone: 07976 508763 Email: info@sophiepiperpr.com Website: www.katherineelizabethhats.com 82

FASHION

David Gale has measured rock stars to Royalty: HRH The Prince of Wales, Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Diana, Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, Daniel Craig, Sean Connery, Ronald Regan. The list is endless.

London, England

London, England

Contact: Susie Howard / Lucia Ruz / Sarah Millar Telephone: 020 7287 9601 Email: N/A Website: www.turnbullandasser.com Index

LONDON

FASHION

Patrick Grant

Mark Henderson

Director, Norton & Sons and E. Tautz

Deputy-Chairman Gieves & Hawkes, Chairman Savile Row Bespoke, Director Walpole

British Menswear Designer of the Year 2010, GQ Best Dressed List since 2008, British Fashion Council Menswear Panel member since 2009, Ambassador for British Wool Board, consultant to multiple major international brands, member of UK Government All Party Working Group on Fashion and Textiles, commentator and writer on British Style for multiple newspapers and magazines including The Times, The Financial Times, GQ, Monocle. Regular TV and Radio broadcaster.

Mark Henderson is Chairman of Gieves & Hawkes, the iconic British tailoring company which he lead as CEO from 1996 to 2009. Prior to this he was head of marketing at Alfred Dunhill. He has spent much of his working life in Asia – particularly in China and Japan and is now cultivating a keen interest in India.

London, England

London, England

He is a director of Walpole, a group of over 180 British brands and institutions formed to further the interests of the British luxury industry. He is also chairman of the London Luxury Quarter which promotes Mayfair & St James’s as one of the world’s leading luxury marketplaces.

Mark is a strong supporter of British craft – leading the establishment of Savile Row Bespoke which was formed to protect and promote the art of hand-craft tailoring on Savile Row in 2004; he is also a trustee of QEST the Royal Warrant Holders Association’s charity which funds scholarships for craftsmanship and has acted as a mentor on Walpole’s Crafted programme.

He is a mentor on the London Business School’s Entrepreneurship Summer School and chairs the Walpole/LBS Innovation in Luxury competition.

He is a Director of Thomas Lyte, a new luxury goods company retailing crafted silver and leather from its first store in London’s Burlington Arcade.

He is a regular speaker at conferences and in the media on topics such as craft and luxury.

Contact: Gina Gibbons or Ian Samuels Telephone: 020 7437 0829 / 020 7287 9439 Email: Gina@nortonandsons.co.uk Ian@etautz.com Website: www.nortonandsons.co.uk www.etautz.com Index

Contact: Andrew Kong Telephone: 020 7434 2001 Email: akong@gievesandhawkes.com Website: www.gievesandhawkes.com / www.savilerowbespoke.com / www.thewalpole.co.uk 83

LONDON

FASHION

Emily Maben

Johnny Rocket

Head of Global Marketing for Penhaligon’s

Bespoke Jeweller Johnny Rocket Ltd was launched in 1997 and has collaborated with designers such as Tom Ford and Julien MacDonald.

Emily is a skilled creative marketing professional with over eight years experience in retail marketing. With expertise in creative solutions and campaign planning, Emily is responsible for all areas of marketing globally for Penhaligon’s including campaign planning, PR, product development, visual merchandising and e-commerce. Creativity and innovation drive everything that she does.

The company has strong connections with the music industry, resulting in Jamiroquai’s famous ‘sunshine warrior head-dress’ and creating the jewellery for Kylie Minogue’s ‘On a Night Like This’ Tour and ‘I Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’ video.

London, England Emily joined Penhaligon’s in 2008 from Molton Brown where she held the position of Campaign Marketing Manager responsible for campaign planning globally. She previously held the position of Trade Marketing Manager, also with Molton Brown, working with the wholesale, spa and hotel divisions. This background has furnished Emily with an extensive knowledge of the luxury goods market.

Contact: Lauren MacAskill Telephone: 0207 590 6125 Email: lmacaskill@penhaligons.com Website: www.penhaligons.com 84

London, England The company is based in the heart of Greenwich and remains committed to its local customers.

Topic of interest Jewellery/design/working with celebrities and for big-name events (Brit Awards etc).

Contact: Johnny Rocket Telephone: 020 7886 8440 Email: Kiren.pooni@flagshipconsulting.co.uk / Belinda.hallworth@flagshipconsulting.co.uk Website: www.johnnyrocketltd.com/index.php Index

LONDON

FASHION

Michael Skinner

William Skinner

Chairman, of Dege & Skinner

Managing Director, Dege & Skinner

Michael is a Master Cutter and has been for more than 50 years. He has some fascinating insights and anecdotes, such as dressing Peers of the Realm, including Sir Winston Churchill, at Westminster Abbey for The Queen’s Coronation in 1953. At 18, he, his father and John Dege were tasked with dressing the Peers on this wonderful State occasion.

William Skinner is Managing Director of Dege & Skinner, one of only two family-owned tailoring houses that remain on Savile Row. Savile Row is recognised as being the most prestigious location for bespoke tailoring in the world. Dege & Skinner makes ONLY Bespoke Uniforms, Mufti (Civilian) and Shirts. There is NO Ready to Wear or Made to Measure. Established in 1865, Dege & Skinner holds three Royal Warrants and in 2012 is expanding its tailoring workshops into the basement of its London, England premises at 10 Savile Row. A founding member of Savile Row Bespoke Association in 2004, Dege & Skinner specialises in fine bespoke tailoring for military, civilian and sporting customers.

During The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, a number of their ceremonial uniforms were worn; including The Queen’s Bargemaster and Royal Watermen escorting Her Majesty on the Thames and The Queen’s Body Guard of the Yeomen of The Guard. Official tailor to many Cavalry regiments in the British Army, Dege & Skinner made the Blues & Royals uniforms worn by TRH Prince William and Prince Harry, as seen in the specially commissioned portrait by Nicky Philipps that hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.

His knowledge of British etiquette and appropriate dress is second to none. When elected in 2004, London, England Michael was the first practising Savile Row Cutter to become Master of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors in the City of London for more than 350 years.

Established in 1865, Dege & Skinner holds three Royal Warrants.

A founding member of Savile Row Bespoke Association in 2004, Dege & Skinner specialises in fine bespoke tailoring for military, civilian and sporting customers. During The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee a number of their ceremonial uniforms were worn, including The Queen’s Bargemaster and The Royal Watermen’ escorting Her Majesty on the River Thames and The Queen’s Body Guard of the Yeomen of The Guard.

Official tailor to many Cavalry regiments in the British Army, Dege & Skinner made the Blues & Royals uniforms worn by TRH Prince William and Prince Harry, as seen in the specially commissioned portrait by Nicky Philipps that hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.

Michael followed his father into the trade and his son William Skinner is now Managing Director of the family business.

Contact: Cass Stainton Telephone: 07798 554520 Email: c.staintonpr@gmail.com Website: www.dege-skinner.co.uk

Index

Contact: Cass Stainton Telephone: 07798 554520 Email: c.staintonpr@gmail.com Website: www.dege-skinner.co.uk 85

LONDON

FASHION Richard Ward Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa

Richard Ward is undoubtedly the media’s most wanted celebrity hairdresser, both nationally and internationally. With his royal connection and his role as resident hairdresser on ITV’s Lorraine show, Richard’s huge consumer profile makes him one of the country’s ultimate high profile hairdressers, and he is globally recognised as the leading British style and hair trends commentator.

Pioneer of the super salon concept, his awardLondon, England winning, uber-cool Sloane Square salon and Metrospa plays host to a glittering celebrity clientele (including the Duchess of Cambridge, Pippa Middleton, The Countess of Wessex, Kim Cattrell and Elizabeth Hurley) and his exceptionally successful, ground-breaking business model firmly positions him both commercially and artistically as one of the industry's leading lights.

The people Black cabbies, concierges, when Londoners do service they do it in their own unique style.

Being in the service industry myself I think we have an unfair reputation when it comes to customer service; it’s thought that we’re not as good at it as our US counterparts. But we have a different approach to client care; it’s real and uncontrived. Also, Londoners have the best sense of humour in the world and aren’t afraid to express themselves in fashion, art, music and literature, making them in a class of their own when it comes to trends.

The culture From double decker buses to The Tate, London really is diverse in its appeal. The history of our iconic buildings, the beauty of our landmarks, our fighting spirit in re-building after the Blitz, we have such a wide ranging, never ending cultural diversity it’s no wonder tourists are endlessly fascinated with us. Geographically, being a series of little villages that linked together make up one city create a myriad of different feelings and cultures and make London so special.

Richard’s philosophy is about making sure their hair makes women look and feel fantastic.

His ethos is that modern hair should be natural, free-flowing, touchable and wearable, and he believes that the right products should complement the cut to deliver healthy, shiny glamorous hair, making the couture hair look accessible to everyone and guaranteeing a good hair day, every day.

The ethos London gets under your skin; I travel extensively but as a city I think it has a magic of its own. I love the European style cafe culture mixed with that typical British reserve – it creates a unique blend of living and means there is nowhere in the world like it. London also has a pace and a ‘can do’ mentality that is unique, so as a businessman whose salon is in the capital I like the way Londoners are professional and hard working.

Contact: Samantha Grocutt, Essence PR Telephone: 020 7739 2858 Email: sam@essencepr.com Website: www.richardward.com 86

Index

ENGLAND

FASHION

Sir Paul Smith Fashion designer, founder of fashion label Paul Smith Born in 1947, in Nottingham, England, fashion designer Paul Smith always wanted to become a professional bicycle racer. But an accident prevented him from pursuing this career further. In 1969, Smith met Pauline Denyer, who studied fashion design at the Royal College of Art. She became a motor for the career in the fashion business that would follow for Smith. He opened up a tiny shop for clothing in 1970. Since then he has worked hard to establish Nottinghamshire, England himself as a unique fashion designer for classic menswear with a twisted appeal. Paul Smith surprised the fashion business, offering classic British cuts, but combining them in an unusual manner or using striking colours to make them stand out. Grey business suits worn with colourful flower-decorated shirts honoured the tradition of British tailoring and took it a step further into young and progressive fashion. Soon, garments of the business world became attractive for their fashion-oriented bohème. Smith discovered that 15 percent of his clothes were bought by women, who were attracted to the fine and classic materials with a modern approach. So he introduced a women's collection in 1993, after already serving his youngest clients with a kids' collection (1990). In 1995, the London-based Design Museum opened a restrospective of Smith's 25 years of work in the fashion business called True Brit, marking the first time this renowned museum devoted an entire exhibition to a single fashion designer. Although he is an internationally celebrated fashion artist nowadays, Smith is known to have remained very much down to earth. He frequently visits his shops, talks to customers, and learns about his clientele's needs. Willoughby House is Paul Smith’s flagship store in Nottingham and features caves underneath it – this is typical of Nottingham city, which has over 400 subterranean man-made caves beneath it.

Contact: Zoe Meads Telephone: 020 7257 6664 Email: zoe.meads@paulsmith.co.uk Website: www.paulsmith.co.uk Index

Paul Smith handbag Selfridges, London

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SCOTLAND

FASHION

Deirdre A Kinloch Anderson

Howie Nicholsby 21st Century Kilts

Senior Director, Kinloch Anderson Ltd Represents a family owned company renowned as foremost experts in tartans and highland dress since 1868 and currently into the 6th generation of management. The company has three Royal Warrants of Appointment as Tailors and Kiltmakers to HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH The Prince of Wales. The company runs a Tartan Identity Division and designs tartans for corporate and commemorative purposes including Team Scotland for The Commonwealth Games in 2006 (Melbourne) and 2010 (Delhi).

Other languages: French.

Contact: Frances McLay, PA to Deirdre A Kinloch Anderson Telephone: 0131 555 1355 Email: deirdreka@kinlochanderson.com Website: www.kinlochanderson.com 88

Scotland

Howie's aim was simple - to give men throughout the world a realistic alternative to trousers.

21st Century Kilts was born in 1996 and launched in 1999 at London Men’s Fashion Week. Howie’s 21st Century Kilts offer a unique take, and are a fitting homage, to a traditional Scottish style. The use of original textiles, ranging from leather, gold and purple denim, camouflage, to pinstripe offer something different to those fond of this age old item.

Scotland Photo credit: Scottish Viewpoint VisitScotland

The kilt is an iconic part of Scotland’s cultural heritage. Howie’s pride in the artform of making a kilt has seen him proudly work this craft traditionally and innovatively. Howie is actually an ambassador for VisitScotland’s European campaign called Meet the Scots, offering his insider tips on visiting Edinburgh and Scotland’s creativity.

Contact: Howie Nicholsby Telephone: 0131 220 9450 Email: howie@21stcenturykilts.com Website: www.21stcenturykilts.com Index

FOOD

Index

Countryside

Culture

Fashion

Food

Heritage

Music

Sport

LONDON

FOOD Tony Conigliaro Drink Pioneer and Creator at The Drink Factory and 69 Colebrooke Row

Tony Conigliaro is a bartender and bar-owner with nearly 16 years of experience in the drinks profession. Widely recognised as one of the world’s foremost pioneering drinks creators, he has opened and run some of the best bars in London. Conigliaro’s career has seen him continually work to break the boundaries surrounding the drinking experience and expand upon the idea of what a cocktail can be. Many of London, England his creations have their foundations in sensory manipulation – in sounds, texture, and smell – but with a concrete view to create very drinkable drinks made with bespoke ingredients.

Having studied art and art history prior to his involvement in drinks, Tony cites a broad spectrum of influences in his work. Ceasing to simply look through the lens of a bartender, he began to pay attention to the work of chefs, scientists and perfumers and has since implemented various radical methods and techniques in his drink-making. Consequently, Conigliaro has been at the vanguard of creating some of London’s most respected drinks, including the Spitfire, Oh Gosh, and a re-invention of the Prairie Oyster and Bloody Mary, some of which reside on drinks menus across UK and international bars.

Conigliaro has worked at numerous bars including Isola and the award-winning Shochu Lounge before opening his own venue 69 Colebrooke Row in North London’s Islington.

The bar is often described as a 1950’s style Italian café, with a ‘living-room’ feel, and is loved for its intimate, friendly atmosphere and attentive service. It is here that Tony regularly holds master classes showcasing the most progressive techniques in the bar industry.

In 2005, Conigliaro co-founded The Drink Factory, a consultancy, research and development company. Now housed in Pink Floyd’s old recording studios, the Drink Factory laboratory is among the first of its kind in the UK, focusing entirely on alcohol-development and research into liquid flavour. Home to sophisticated lab machinery, such as the centrifuge or Rotavapor, the lab functions to produce entirely bespoke ingredients and develop new recipes. With clients as diverse as chefs, perfume houses, chocolatiers and soft-drink companies an ordinary day in the lab can involve thermo mixing, sous-viding, dehydrating, even stripping bark from trees. The lab is also used to run a training space.

In collaboration with Mark Sainsbury, Conigliaro opened The Zetter Town House in April 2011. The unique recipes that Tony has created for this boutique hotel and bar pay homage to old recipes for tinctures, bitters and herbal remedies while incorporating homemade cordials and infusions that sit behind the apothecary style counter.

Conigliaro frequently appears in national and international media, and has written for industry magazines such as Theme and Class and commercial magazines like Olive, where he has a monthly column on the evolution of the cocktail. An authority on all things liquid, Conigliaro contributes to publications spanning the terrain of food, science and lifestyle magazines. He has given presentations and talks in all continents on esoteric topics such as the importance of aroma in cocktails, the history of fruit in Cuban cocktails and starting the trend for ageing cocktails.

He is about to release his first cocktail book - ‘Drinks’, which houses a collection of original recipes and scientific processes and gives a rare insight into the mind of one of the drink industry’s most exciting professionals.

Contact: Alexandra Irving or Liz Goudge at Bacchus PR Telephone: 0208 968 0202 Email: Alexandra@bacchus-pr.com / Liz@bacchus-pr.com Website: www.drinkfactory.blogspot.com / www.69colebrookerow.com

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LONDON

FOOD

Robbie Gleeson

Frank Laino

Executive Head Chef British Pullman and Northern Belle Trains

Executive Head Concierge, The Stafford London by Kempinski

Robbie Gleeson is the Executive Head Chef for the two Orient-Express UK Day Trains - the British Pullman and Northern Belle. Robbie is based in London and develops menu’s for the two famous day trains as well as working in what has to be one of the most unique and compact kitchens on the rails! Robbie joins Orient-Express from the 5 star The Westbury Hotel, Dublin, where he was Executive Chef and led a team of 27, catering for two London, England restaurants and many private dining rooms. Before working in Dublin, Robbie ran his own restaurant with wife Alex in County Cork for six years; Gleeson’s Restaurant won numerous awards and accolades and in particular, won Island of Ireland Restaurant of the Year, 2007. Early on in his career, he spent many years at The Dorchester Hotel, London, working alongside the Executive Chef and overseeing the training of 130 chefs and daily preparation of food and service across all restaurants and special events. Robbie brings with him a wealth of experience in the luxury hospitality industry and is responsible for all catering operations aboard Orient-Express’ UK Day Trains, the British Pullman and Northern Belle, catering annually for over 70,000 guests.

The man who arranged a private viewing of a Vermeer painting in an “off-limits” area of Buckingham Palace; secured a Savile Row tailor to craft a coat for a dog; and purchased and shipped a decommissioned double-deck bus to Texas …meet Executive Head Concierge Frank Laino of The Stafford London by Kempinski. With more than twenty years as a concierge in London and London, England accolades such as “World’s Best Concierge” from the discerning readers of Luxury Travel Advisor, Laino is known for almost never saying “impossible,” which has created an impeccable record of delivering once-in-a-lifetime London experiences. Although of Italian parents, Frank is a born and bred Londoner. He has worked as a Concierge in London for over 20 years and has worked at The Stafford since 1998. In this time he has built up an extensive network of contacts both locally and internationally, which means that whatever the request, Frank can make it happen. Frank was recently awarded "Best Concierge in the World" by the publication, Luxury Travel Advisor and is a proud member of the Clefs D'Or. Other languages: Italian, French.

Contact: Anna Nash Telephone: 020 3117 1377 Email: anna.nash@orient-express.com Website: www.orient-express.com

Index

Contact: Karen Blank / PRCo USA Telephone: (212) 250 1015 Email: kblank@prco.com Website: www.kempinski.com/en/london/the-stafford-london/overview/who-is-who/ 91

LONDON

FOOD Desmond Payne Master Distiller of Beefeater Gin Desmond Payne knows more about making premium gin than anyone else in the world.

He is too modest to admit it, but after 40 years in the business, he is the ultimate gin expert.

Although born in Ireland, Desmond comes across as the quintessentially English man; entertaining, charming and, above all, passionately enthusiastic about being the custodian of what many regard as London, England the finest gin in the world – Beefeater. His first job was working in the cellars of Harrods. Desmond then moved on to Seager Evans & Co, the Wine Merchants and Gin Distillers. There he started to develop his skills of tasting and nosing that are still so crucial to his work today.

In 1969 Desmond took up a job at The Plymouth Gin Distillery where he worked his way up from being Assistant Distiller, Assistant Manager and, eventually, Distillery Manager. In 1994, he was eventually persuaded to return to London to take on the role of Master Distiller at the Beefeater Distillery in Kennington, right in the heart of the capital.

The quality of Beefeater ultimately depends on Desmond’s ability to source the best botanicals and to create a balanced overall flavour, by buying batches of juniper, angelica root, coriander seed, for example, that complement one another perfectly. Only then will he be able to recreate the original recipe developed by James Burrough back in the 1860s, which is still used to make the iconic London Dry Gin today.

Desmond’s hobbies, apart from making gin, tend to centre on food, wine and travel.

“I love travelling, but I think London will always be my favourite city to live in, it has such an exciting mix of culture – that’s what gives it its buzz”. With the 2012 Olympics on the horizon and everything that is going on here at the distillery, London and Beefeater are both set to enjoy a real renaissance.

Topic of interest Gin and cocktails.

Spirits.

London History and Heritage.

What makes Desmond unique is his breadth of experience. A member of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, he is a rare example of a Master Distiller who does everything, from selecting the juniper berries to discussing the latest cocktails with the new generation of bartenders. “I get involved in everything”, says Desmond. “In many of the larger gin companies, the buying of the juniper and other botanicals is done by a separate purchasing department. I’d hate that to happen here – choosing the Seville oranges, the lemons and all the other botanicals that provide the right balance for Beefeater is the most skilful part of my job - it’s also the bit I enjoy most”.

Contact: Alexandra Irving or Liz Goudge at Bacchus PR Telephone: 020 8968 0202 Email: Alexandra@bacchus-pr.com / Liz@bacchus-pr.com Website: www.beefeatergin.com 92

Index

LONDON

FOOD

Jason Phillips General Manager, Franco’s Restaurant, Jermyn St. Franco’s is a favourite of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. An Italian restaurant in the heart of historic St James’. Franco’s serves a full English breakfast, Italian menu lunch and dinner and also a proper English afternoon tea.

Jason is very media friendly and a quintessentially English restaurateur. He is ideal for TV and radio.

London, England

Contact: Susie Howard / Lucia Ruz / Sarah Millar Telephone: 020 7287 9601 Email: N/A Website: www.francoslondon.com Index

Tailored suit on Jermyn St London

93

LONDON

FOOD Ros Windsor, Rhuaridh Buchanan, Toby Hampton Paxton & Whitfield - Cheesemongers

London, England

London, England

All three people listed work for Paxton & Whitfield – a cheesemonger that was created in 1797. The company currently holds two Royal Warrants – one to Her Majesty the Queen and the other to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

Other languages: Ros Windsor – Some French.

Toby Hampton – Some French.

Appearance fee may apply.

The company was granted its first Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria in 1850.

The shop in Jermyn Street stocks over 200 varieties of British and Continental European artisan cheeses and is a great destination for lovers of good quality cheese. It stocks traditional British cheeses such as Stilton and Cheddar, as well as stocking newer cheeses made by new cheesemakers.

Ros Windsor has been the MD of Paxton & Whitfield for over eight years and oversees all the company operations and is involved in the British Cheese Industry in the role that she does.

London, England

Rhuaridh Buchanan is the manager of the shop and, as well as running the shop, he also oversees all the trade orders. The shop supplies its fine cheeses to top restaurants (The Caprice Group, The Wolseley etc) and London hotels. He is a font of all knowledge when it comes to cheese.

Contact: Susie Howard / Sarah Millar at Sister Telephone: 020 7287 9601 Email: Susie.howard@sisteris.com / Sarah.millar@sisteris.com Website: www.paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk

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Cheese, Paxon & Whitfield London

Index

LONDON

ENGLAND

Paul Whittick

Neil Bain

Head Chef, Asia de Cuba

Head Brewer Woodforde’s Brewery

Paul worked in a professional kitchen before he enrolled in Culinary College. He then went on to study in Paris, and then heading to Switzerland to help shape his interest in food. He returned to the UK and became Sous chef at the Cumberland Hotel in London, he was then approached to work at Asia de Cuba, where he is now a prominent fixture.

Woodforde’s Norfolk Ales is an independent artisan brewery, which has grown in reputation and notoriety, producing among Britain’s finest champion ales since 1981.

‘My top tips’ are for making ceviche, which we London, England serve at Asia de Cuba. You need to use the freshest, best quality fish, and having a good relationship with your fish monger is paramount. Use fresh citrus to marinade the fish for 8-15 minutes, this breaks down the bacteria and ‘cooks’ the fish. Use plenty of marinade and stir frequently, serve with some plantain chips.

3. Made from the finest ingredients.

Contact: Alice Grier Telephone: 020 8968 0202 Email: alice@bacchus-pr.com Website: www.stmartinslane.com/en-us/explore/?id=/st-martins-lane-london-asia-de-cuba/

Index

1. A taste of Norfolk in every pint.

2. Award-winning champion ales of Britain.

Norfolk, England

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Sharon Chatten Telephone: 01603 720353 Email: info@woodfordes.co.uk Website: www.woodfordes.co.uk 95

ENGLAND

FOOD

Lotte Duncan

Sean Harrison

Broadcaster plus owner of Lotte’s Kitchen, Chinnor

Master Distiller of Plymouth Gin Sean Harrison has been working at the heart of Plymouth Gin’s famous Blackfriars Distillery for over a decade, despite never planning for a career in gin. As a young man he joined the Royal Navy, working his way up to the rank of Lieutenant during a career that saw him travel all over the world.

Lotte is a skilled and highly experienced broadcaster. Recognised as a leading authority on English cooking, Lotte approaches all television presenting with a light, humorous touch. But don’t let that fool you - she speaks with authority and intelligence too! Lotte has appeared on numerous channels including BBC, ITV, Good Food and currently Food Network.

Oxfordshire, England Her love of cooking was apparent at an early age, when she went through to the finals of Junior Cook of the Year. She then left her Cordon Bleu school with distinctions – and worked in Switzerland before opening a diner in Los Angeles. On returning to England, Lotte began her television career before opening her own cookery school.

Lotte also demonstrates at various food shows including BBC Good Food Shows and Marks &Spencer road shows Lotte is patron of the Thame Food Festival and passionate about local ingredients.

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Anne Kibel Telephone: 07876 225869 Email: lotte@lotteduncan.com Website: www.lotteduncan.com / www.lotteskitchen.com 96

On leaving the Navy, Sean joined Plymouth Gin in 1994 as Assistant Manager and has since risen to Plymouth, England become Master Distiller and sole keeper of the coveted 200-year-old recipe, the well-guarded formula that has been passed down verbally to every Master Distiller since 1793.

As Master Distiller, Sean maintains the quality of Plymouth Gin through every step of the production and distilling process, from evaluating hundreds of samples of botanicals to selecting the ‘middle cut’ of distilled gin from the spirit safe and approving line samples of the bottled product.

Because the character of every gin is entirely defined by its botanicals, selecting the perfect botanicals is not just a matter of freshness or size. “You have to understand what you are trying to create, understand the finished article,” Sean explains. The quality of Plymouth Gin ultimately depends on Sean’s ability to source the highest quality botanicals, choosing them for their ability to combine with the other ingredients to complement each other perfectly in the finished gin to create Plymouth’s characteristic flavour. Just as the Royal Navy played a role in developing Plymouth Gin’s original export business, taking Plymouth’s distinctive bottles all over the world, it is only fitting that this former Royal Navy Lieutenant is playing a key role in the brand’s international revitalisation.

Contact: Alexandra Irving or Liz Goudge at Bacchus PR Telephone: 0208 968 0202 Email: Alexandra@bacchus-pr.com / Liz@bacchus-pr.com Website: www.plymouthgin.com

Index

ENGLAND

FOOD

Nigel Haworth Chef Patron and Managing Director of Northcote Group Nigel was born in Accrington, Lancashire, attended Accrington & Rossendale Catering College, before leaving to work five seasons, one in Gleneagles Scotland and four in Switzerland.

In March 1984 he began the challenging role of Head Chef at Northcote Manor and became joint Managing Director and 50% shareholder in 1989.

Lancashire, England He was awarded a Michelin Star in January 1996 and successfully retained this to present date (15 years), along with many other accolades and awards through his career.

• • •

A chef of great skill and finesse who has earned a reputation for true terroir and gastronomic brilliance.

Producers and growers of Lancashire along with its culinary history are at the forefront of Nigel's menus.

Nigel's menus feature producers and growers of Lancashire along with undertones of Lancashire's culinary history.

In the past view years Nigel has received numerous accolades: •

University of Central Lancashire 2010 Nigel Haworth receives Honorary Fellowship from the University of Central Lancashire for his commitment to promoting the use of regional produce.

•

Catey Awards 2009 Special Award: Nigel Haworth and Craig Bancroft

•

BBC 2 Great British Menu 2009 Finalist Main Course - Lonk Lamb Lancashire Hot Pot, Roast Loin, Pickled Red Cabbage, Organic Tangled Garden Carrots and Leeks

•

England’s Northwest Tourism Awards 2009 Outstanding Contribution to Tourism

•

The Lancashire Life Food and Wine Awards 2008 North West Outstanding Achievement Award

•

Northern Hospitality Awards 2006 The Lifetime Achievement Award

•

City & Guilds 2004 The Prince Philip Medal

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Kaye Mathew Telephone: 01254 827171 Email: kaye@northcotegroup.com / laura@northcotegroup.com Website: www.northcote.com / www.ribblevalleyinns.com / www.northcoteattherovers.com

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Paul Heathcote MBE Chef and owner of 3 restaurants in and around Preston, Lancashire Paul Heathcote was born in Farnworth, Bolton in Lancashire on 3rd October 1960 and was a student of Bolton Technical College.

Paul has been awarded three Honorary Fellowships from Liverpool John Moores University, Lancashire University & Bolton University in recognition of his achievements in catering.

His career has spanned stints in Switzerland, Sharrow Bay Hotel, Ullswater, The Connaught in Mayfair, London and Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons.

Paul has published two cookbooks, Rhubarb & Blackpudding and Heathcotes at Home, writes columns to a number of regional newspapers and magazines and also appears regularly on UKTV Food’s flagship program, Market Kitchen.

Lancashire, England

At the age of 29 he opened his eponymous restaurant in Longridge, Preston. Within two years he had been awarded his first Michelin and Egon Ronay stars along with The Good Food Guide’s ‘Restaurant of the Year’. Within a week of the restaurant’s second anniversary, he was nominated ‘Newcomer of the Year’ in the Catey Awards. In the same year Charles Heidsieck Champagne Guide voted Paul Heathcotes as ‘one of the best restaurants in the world’.

Paul chairs the North’s Academy of Culinary Arts encouraging the traditions of his profession and is also a fundraiser for Childline & the NSPCC. In 2009 he was awarded an MBE for his contribution to the Hospitality Industry.

The 1994 Egon Ronay Guide nominated Paul ‘Chef of the Year’ and Michelin awarded him a second star, an accolade bestowed on eight restaurants in the UK, Heathcotes still being the only one in the North West.

Paul received his second Catey Award in 1997 for Independent Restaurateur of the Year.

Paul has a portfolio of 3 restaurants: The Longridge Restaurant, his original Olive Press Preston (serving Italian grills, pizza & pasta), and the recently opened Heathcotes Brasserie (consisting of French & British cuisine).

Contact: Anna Izza Telephone: 01772 426459 Email: aizza@lbtbltd.com Website: www.heathcotes.co.uk/ 98

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Andy Hook

Simon Hulstone

Restauranteur

Head chef, The Elephant, Torquay

Andy, an ex-engineer from Cambridge and married with two daughters, moved to Newcastle in 1994, where he opened his first restaurant in 1999 and never looked back. Blackfriars is the oldest dining room in the UK, dating back to 1239. It was once the refectory for the city’s population of Dominican monks. Now the historic site offers top-quality dining in a medieval setting, complete with authentic banqueting hall.

Simon Hulstone, head chef at The Elephant, is an award-winning chef with a talent for using local, seasonal produce to create memorable flavours.

Since the age of 16 he’s been competing (and winning) competitions around the world. Simon has represented his country on more than 20 occasions, most recently in the world’s most prestigious culinary contest, the Bocuse d’Or.

NewcastleGateshead, England Tops tips re NewcastleGateshead: 1. It’s an incredibly vibrant city.

2. Surrounded by beautiful countryside and a breathtaking coastline.

3. The people here are warm, friendly and very passionate.

Contact: Andy Hook Telephone: 07710 259950 Email: andy@hookedongroup.co.uk Website: www.blackfriarsrestaurant.co.uk Index

Among some of his other accolades are the Craft Devon, England Guild of Chefs’ Chef of the Year 2008, the Roux Scholarship in 2003, Captaincy of the English and British Culinary teams and New Zealand Young Chef of the Year. Simon has worked with some of Britain’s top chefs and his father Roger, who have all played an important part in his career and achievements.

His chef mentors and experience in top competitions have given Simon a passion for great ingredients and a finesse for taste and presentation that continues to win praise from critics and customers alike. The Elephant restaurant has held three AA rosettes since 1997 and, in 2006, Simon and his team won Torquay its first Michelin star, which it maintains today.

Contact: Ian Weightman Telephone: 01782 680963 Email: Ian.iwms@virgin.net Website: www.elephantrestaurant.co.uk 99

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David Jones Company Director/Owner of Manna from Devon Cooking School Has run a cooking school in South Devon for six years. Strong links with local suppliers, producers, food business people and organisations.

Chairman of Dartmouth Food Festival for four years, during which time it has grown into a very successful and important annual event.

Topic of interest Food and Drink.

Devon, England

Contact: David Jones Telephone: 01803 752943 / 07775 698003 Email: info@mannafromdevon.com

Baynards Cove Devon

Website: www.mannafromdevon.com / www.dartmouthfoodfestival.com

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Philippa James Philippa’s Cookery School Philippa James was enthusiastic about cooking, even as a young girl, with some early, ‘Vicar of Dibley’ style experimental sessions in the kitchen!

After a successful career as a Sales and Marketing Manager, Philippa turned her attention to her passion for food, opening a Deli, and Tea Room.

Personal changes forced a new career, and Philippa started to attend local farmers’ markets, Lancashire, England which brought her further culinary success, with several prestigious accolades, including a ‘Producer of the Year’ award, and a Gold at the foodie Oscars, The Great Taste Awards, for her own recipe, ‘Lancashire Tea Bread’.

Philippa is a ‘resident’ foodie guest on BBC Radio Lancashire, and she is delighted to write for Lancashire Life, as their Food Editor.

Philippa has her own TV series on Lancashire One and Sky 203, and Tigger’s Kitchen was so well received that people are eagerly awaiting series 2, due to film in the next few weeks. Last summer, after finding them a venue for filming, the BBC were so impressed by Philippa’s passion for cooking ‘fast and furious’, simple dishes that families can go away and recreate that they asked her to cook on the antiques programme, Flog It! with presenter Paul Martin where she made her Lancashire tortilla, using the best and freshest of Lancashire’s larder! http://www.lancashireone.com/channels-categories.php?s=70&catID=22 At BBC Radio Lancashire they say that she is, “As mad as a mattress, has a heart of ‘gold’, and Philippa’s like a stick of rock, because she’s got Lancashire ‘running’ right through her!”

From tutoring cookery at ‘Her Majesty’s Pleasure’, to teaching Gourmet Cuisine, Philippa later opened her own Cookery School, where people say she ‘inspires them to cook’. She is seen at events, across the north-west, where she does cookery demonstrations.

Philippa does voluntary work helping children in ‘challenged’ areas learn about health eating, and, after a 2 day project last year, she has helped win a Lottery funded bid to put a 12week ‘Parents and Kids Cookery Course’ in place at a local primary school.

Philippa has been a consultant to other food businesses, including Booths, where she helped put an award-winning staff training course in place.

A Lancashire ‘lass’, Philippa is a champion of local farmers, and producers, and is an ‘Ambassador’ to many local events, including the recent, first, highly successful, Lancaster Festival of Food and Drink, set to be back, bigger and better, next year.

Contact: Philippa James Telephone: 0754 6906250 Email: Pajd62@hotmail.com Website: www.philippas.co.uk

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Susie Keenan Brown and Green Brown and Green is a new business passionate about providing you with great local, ethical and artisan food and drink, which we have selected personally with care. We operate three food stores, at Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent; Little Eaton, Derby; and near Newent in Gloucestershire.

Local - Supporting local food producers is important to us. Local food helps to make each Staffordshire, England place in Britain distinctive, special and unique.

Sourcing locally brings with it many benefits fresher, seasonal produce, fewer food miles, support for the local economy and a better knowledge of where and how our food is made. Quite simply, it’s just miles better.

Ethical - We care about where and how each of our products are made or grown.

We look for high standards of animal welfare, care for the environment and care for the people involved in the production of our food. Inside our stores you will find local, free range and fairly traded food and drink, from suppliers we trust.

Susie’s Top Tips Trentham Estate www.trentham.co.uk For a day out you can’t beat Trentham Estate – it’s like a little oasis, and has something for everyone. A brisk lakeside walk always clears my head, and my little boy loves the train ride, the play area and sandpit. You can even spend the best part of a day walking around the lovely Italian gardens. There are always seasonal events on too.

David’s Brasserie www.davidsbrasserie.co.uk David’s Brasserie is in Trentham Shopping Village, which is packed full of sweet little homeware stores, restaurants and cafes. They do a fabulous breakfast, and I can wholeheartedly recommend the eggs benedict. If you stop by there at lunchtime they also do a really tasty tapas-style platter, and the atmosphere is so lovely and laid back. They also host live music twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays – There’s a selection of artists on rotation.

The White Star, Stoke www.titanicbrewery.co.uk

Artisan - We should all revel in being different and, at Brown and Green, diversity and distinctiveness is something we value and like to celebrate, particularly when it comes to food. Many of our foods are made by hand by individuals we know personally, by real people who are truly passionate about their work, and your enjoyment and satisfaction.

Run by local brewers, Titanic Brewery, this is a proper, good old-fashioned pub, and it’s great for a drink with your mates, or even on your own with a good book. They brew all their own beers and ales, and they taste all the better for it. I’ve been assured by my beer connoisseur friends that their Anchor beer is one of the best bitters around!.

Have you had much experience before with journalists and broadcasters?

Yes very competent and has conducted TV and radio interviews.

Contact: Contact via the Destination Staffordshire press office - Seal Telephone: 01743 234 224 Email: enjoystaffordshire@seal.uk.com Website: www.brown-and-green.co.uk 102

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Terry Laybourne

Bob & Sam Lindo

Chef and restaurateur

Camel Valley Vineyard, Nanstallon, Bodmin, Cornwall

Terry Laybourne has his roots in the North East and has worked here for 24 years. Awarded the MBE for services to the restaurant and tourism industries, Terry began his training in some of Europe’s fine hotels. In 1988 he opened 21 Queen Street on Newcastle’s Quayside, which was awarded a Michelin Star, and was followed by several more bistro-style restaurants. His 21 Hospitality Group includes five restaurants along with boutique hotel Jesmond Dene House. Terry has been a member of the NewcastleGateshead, England Academy of Culinary Arts since 1998. In 2006 Terry was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the Northern Hospitality Awards. He is passionate about Newcastle – and Newcastle Football Club – and the surrounding area.

Bob Lindo is founder of Camel Valley vineyard, a former Chair of the United Kingdom Vineyards Association and Sam Lindo is wine maker and the current UK Wine maker of the year (for the third time). Camel Valley has been described many times as Britain’s number one vineyard.

Cornwall, England

Other languages: Fairly fluent in German.

Contact: Wayne Halton, MW PR Telephone: 0191 233 1300 / 07809 565 397 Email: wayne@mhwpr.co.uk Website: www.mhwpr.co.uk / www.21hospitality.co.uk Index

Contact: Bob & Sam Lindo Telephone: 0120877959 / 07918903626 Email: bob@camelvalley.com / sam@camelvalley.com Website: www.camelvalley.com 103

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Ian Linsley

John Mettrick

Owner of the Alnwick Brewery and Alnwick Rum Companies

Managing Director JW Mettrick & Son Ltd

'The Legendary' Alnwick Rum is based on a unique old recipe first produced in Alnwick Brewery Co. over 90 years ago. Lost for more than 20 years, the recipe for this distinguished dark rum was rediscovered by Ian Linsley of Alnwick, son of the last Managing Director of the Alnwick Brewing Co.

As a butcher John has won many national awards for the way his firm produces meat from local farms, many within the Peak District. Through the firm’s small abattoir an invaluable service is provided to local farmers, farm shops and farmers markets, enabling local meat to be readily available in the Peak District.

The resurrected company is still based in Alnwick producing Alnwick Rum, a unique blend of Guyanan Northumberland, England and Jamaican rums first developed in Alnwick during the First World War, and Alnwick IPA, a highquality India Pale Ale, developed by the Alnwick Brewery to quench the thirst of Britain’s troops in the Raj many years ago.

Peak District, England

Ian is passionate about his distinctive, historic products and the important part they played in the development of Alnwick and Northumberland. The Alnwick Brewery was one of England’s first limited companies and Ian hopes to resurrect the actual Brewery, returning the production to the Alnwick area.

Contact: Ian Linsley Telephone: 01665 604 768 / 07793 214719 Email: ian@alnwickrum.com Website: www.alnwickrum.com 104

Contact: John Mettrick Telephone: 01457 852239 Email: john@mettricksbutchers.com Website: www.mettricksbutchers.co.uk Index

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Pete & Frances Miles

Jack and Linda Mills

Proprietor of STORM restaurant

Traditional fish smokers, Brighton Smoke House

Pete and Frances own Storm, a top fish / seafood restaurant. The owners have extensive local knowledge. Pete is willing to take journalists out in his boat to fish around local islands of Poole Harbour and then cook the catch. Pete has had experience of dealing with the media and press and is a colourful local character.

Both Jack and Linda were born in Brighton or the local area and have lived here throughout their lives. Jack and Linda both fished for a living and now run a traditional, seafood stall and smoke house (a very traditional way of cooking fish) on Brighton’s seafront.

Dorset, England

Contact: Pete or Frances Miles Telephone: Pete Miles – 0784 361 3802 / Frances Miles – 01202 674970 Email: Frances@stormfish.co.uk Website: www.stormfish.co.uk

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The area where the Brighton Smoke House is located is the ‘Brighton Fishing Quarter’ – in this area is the Brighton Fishing Museum which tells the story of the history of fishing in the old town.

Also located here are traditional fishing craft.

Brighton, England

Contact: Jack & Linda Mills Telephone: 01444 473414 Email: Jackmills06@gmail.com Website: www.brightonfishingmuseum.org.uk 105

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Dave Myers TV Chef Born and bred in Barrow-in-Furness, Dave Myers' versatile skills have taken him to some unusual places. He worked as a furnaceman in a steelworks while a student, to finance a degree and postgraduate studies in Fine Arts at Goldsmiths, where he studied egg tempera and the work of the Old Masters.

The Hairy Bikers have written two books to date, published by Michael Joseph/Penguin and available on Amazon, with two more books in the pipeline for publication in the near future. Dave and Si are both Members of the Food Writers' Guild. Dave lives on Roa Island, in Morecambe Bay, and is a past Club Champion of the Boat Club there.

Appearance fee may apply.

Si and Dave's Management, please write to:

On graduating, Dave joined the BBC as a make-up Cumbria, England artist, specialising in prosthetics. He went on to work on numerous feature films and high-profile television series, notably Lives And Loves Of A She Devil, Prime Suspect and the BBC1 hit series Spooks. His career has taken him from Hollywood to the African deserts.

He’s also travelled extensively away from work, picking up recipes and cultures almost as fast as he’s made friends all over the world, not the least of whom is Simon King, Dave’s boon travelling companion and the other half of the Hairy Biking duo.

For BBC2 they have made two series of The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook, a third series called The Hairy Bikers Ride Again, a one-off special, The Hairy Bikers Come Home and the fourpart series The Hairy Bakers, which won audiences of over four million viewers. This was rounded off with a one-hour Hairy Bakers Christmas Special drawing audiences of around five million. Meanwhile, Dave shocked himself by winning Celebrity Mastermind, and he and Si came a creditable second on The Weakest Link. 2009 has been busy for both, with a giant 30-part series for BBC2 called The Hairy Bikers' Food Tour Of Britain, which will screen this autumn. The future looks equally busy with another Christmas special commissioned called The Hairy Bikers Twelve Days Of Christmas and a major prime time series of six one-hour episodes for BBC2 entitled Mums Know Best.

Natalie Zietcer e-mail Natalie@jamesgrant.co.uk James Grant Media Ltd Tel: 020 8742 4950 Web: www.jamesgrant.com For PRESS ENQUIRIES ONLY, please contact: Anya Noakes/Kat Blair PR Matters (UK) Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 20 7184 6734 Mail: anya@prmatters.biz

Contact: Anya Noakes Telephone: 020 7184 6734 Email: anya@prmatters.biz Website: www.hairybikers.com 106

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Jonathan Neame Chief executive, Shepherd Neame, The Faversham Brewery

Kent, England

We produce Kentish ale, a traditional style of beer that is the only UK beer with a Protected Geographical Indicator; the same protection afforded to Champagne and Parma ham. Kentish ales are famed for their characteristically hoppy bitterness. Kentish ale drinkers’ palates are especially fond of this hoppiness as the county is the leading UK hop-growing region. Kentish hop gardens can be seen towering 4.6m high during the summer months.

We are Britain’s oldest brewer, founded in 1698, but with origins in the early 16th century.

Jonathan is the fifth generation of the Neame family to have run the business. We are the 19th oldest business in the UK. The brewery is a photogenic location made up of historic buildings, pathways, nooks and crannies. We have the UK’s last remaining wooden mash tuns that continue to be used for brewing on a daily basis.

Three top tips: Kent – the character of the county is well-documented, from Chaucer to Dickens. Although just an hour from London, it’s a world away: with its agricultural heritage, its stunning coastline and renowned food and drink.

Beer – my family has been making real ale for five generations on a site where brewing has been taking place for half a millennia. It’s the most wonderfully diverse drink, made from just four ingredients. A pint of beer is a British icon.

Pubs – pubs are the centre of British life, from community pubs with traditional games like bat and trap, or great beer houses offering diverse and interesting beer styles, there’s a pub to suit everyone. Pubs are also the best place to enjoy seasonal British food dishes, with locally-sourced ingredients and featuring some of the best regional dishes, such as Kentish huffkins.

We have an estate of more than 350 pubs, inns and hotels across London and the South East, including many traditional ale houses. Many of our pubs also serve excellent food, including a pub with a Michelin star. We recently won a national award for the Best Pub Food in the UK. Jonathan Neame was born in 1964. He was educated at Harrow School and Pembroke College Cambridge before going on to qualify as a Barrister at Law. Jonathan joined Shepherd Neame in 1991, became Managing Director in 1999 and then Chief Executive in 2003. He has regularly appeared in the industry’s Power Lists and is a vocal proponent of drinking great beer.

Contact: John Humphreys Telephone: 01795 542263 Email: jhumphreys@shepherdneame.co.uk Website: www.shepherdneame.co.uk

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Andrew Nutter

James Pogson

Chef – Nutters Restaurant

Director, Northern Tea Merchants

Andrew Nutter is one of the most innovative of the new breed of celebrity chefs. An appearance in the Daily Mail Cook of the Year led to an apprenticeship at London's Savoy Hotel. While he was there cooked for the Queen and her family on a regular basis, even being introduced to her in person. He has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants all over France, and at the Greenhouse Restaurant under Gary Rhodes. He opened his own restaurant “Nutters” at the age of 21 on the site of an 18th century manor house, in six and a Manchester, England half acres of parkland in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

He has won numerous awards, including Lancashire Chef of the Year, the UK Restaurant of the Year, the International Courvoisier Award and the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Manchester Food and Drink Awards. Andrew has been a regular guest on Good Food Bites, Ready Steady Cook and This Morning and has fronted his own show ''Utter Nutter'' for Channel Five. Other TV shows he’s been involved with are BBC’s Weakest Link Celebrity Chef Special and, more recently, ITV’s Britain’s Best Dish The Professional. His shows are now broadcasting around the world, including America, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. His second book Nuts About Food is in the top 50 of the Independent’s best cook books. Andrew Nutter is passionate about the Olympics and the royal family, he stages many patriotic events and themes a lot of his food around the heritage of food here in the UK.

Northern Tea Merchants is located in Chesterfield.

This company has connections with the tea trade dating back to 1926. Since then, they have developed their knowledge and expertise to a point where over 200 million cups of their own tea and coffee are drunk every year. Northern Tea Merchants has its own tea and coffee shop at their shop in Chesterfield that has been awarded the Tea Council's Award of Excellence 5 times in a row. You will have the opportunity to taste a variety of teas that are paired with food, and some very rare coffees.

Peak District, England

James has worked in the Tea trade for 24 years and is an executive director of the UK Tea Council. He has appeared on TV and Radio, and regularly gives talks to interested groups all over Derbyshire and the Midlands about his passions, tea and coffee.

His favourite tea is Ceylon ‘Idulgashinna’ Estate, which he says is ‘Like Angels dancing on your tongue…’ and he loves Kenyan Blue Mountain Coffee as he believes it is one of the best tasting and best value in the world. His company packs for many other organisations including Harrods, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Virgin Airways. He believes that family businesses often produce better quality products than major multiples, because family businesses care more, and there’s nothing worse than getting a telling off from your parents if you’ve upset a customer!

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Andrew Nutter Telephone: 01706 650167 Email: enquiries@nuttersrestaurant.com Website: www.nuttersrestaurant.co.uk 108

Contact: James Pogson Telephone: 01246 232600 Email: enquiries@northern-tea.com Website: www.northern-tea.com Index

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Joe Piliero

Simon Preston

Director, The School of Artisan Food

Freelance food industry consultant

The School of Artisan Food is a registered charity and the UK’s only not-for-profit food school dedicated to artisan food production. The school is based in north Nottinghamshire on the Welbeck Estate and has converted a Grade II-listed building into a centre of excellence. Since opening in 2009, the school has welcomed more than 1,500 day course students to the school, from all over the world, and we also host a unique series of full-time, degree-level programmes.

Festival Director of EAT! NewcastleGateshead, the innovative food and drink festival that has put North East produce on the map.

The school’s core subjects are: • Baking • Butchery and Charcuterie • Dairy and Cheese-making • Brewing • Preserves and Pickling • Chocolate

Nottinghamshire, England

Celebrating its fifth year in 2011, EAT! champions local food producers, restaurants and culinary talent in North East England through a programme of events that includes – The Big EAT! a mouthwatering weekend of street food markets, themed satellite festivals, cookery demonstrations, competitions and food adventures.

NewcastleGateshead, England

Please see cv at: www.uk.linkedin.com/in/simonprestonatgrace

Joe can host media at the school and help them to experience first-hand the crafts of creating artisan food. He can also discuss British traditions around food and why keeping these traditions alive is so important. The school is located close to the Welbeck Farm Shop – one of the UK’s top farm shops and Welbeck Estate, which is also the home of Stichelton cheese – the first raw organic milk cheese in the UK in decades: www.stichelton.co.uk

Contact: Joe Piliero or Erin Huckle Telephone: Joe Piliero: 01909 544524 or Erin Huckle: 0115 962 8300 / 07411 355 293 Email: joe@schoolofartisanfood.org or erin.huckle@experiencenottinghamshire.com Website: www.schoolofartisanfood.org

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Contact: Simon Preston Telephone: 07976 651191 Email: Simon@graceonline.co.uk Website: www.graceonline.co.uk 109

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Gerard Richardson MBE

Rob Rees

Wine Merchant, Festival Organiser and Businessman

Proprietor, The Cotswolds Chef

I’m what I like to call a ‘self-drunk Wine Merchant’, which doesn’t mean I’ve got a problem, rather that my qualification is via my taste buds. It’s the way I’ve ended up doing the most successful things in my life, including the festivals. My earlier career was as an Air Mechanic in the Royal Navy, during which time one of the aircraft I had just serviced crashed with me on board! I followed that up with 11 years as a Fireman and Ambulance man before branching off Cumbria, England into self-employment in the wine trade and organising festivals. Thankfully being in the trade I am, my personal tolerance for alcohol is quite low and I’m usually prepared to confess all after two glasses, and recite silly poetry after three, but that has also helped me to zone in on enjoying the finer drops before allowing my brain to turn to mush. The business itself was started by myself and Dianne 15 years ago and while it’s not made us rich in money, it has enriched us in ways we really couldn’t have imagined. It’s quite truthful to say that had it not been for the business, I would never have dreamt up the idea for the Events Team in Whitehaven and the area would have been much the worse for its absence. Someday, I’ll write up all my anecdotes, from losing an ambassador and asking the police to search for him to accompanying the Queen for a walk around our fabulous harbour.

Contact: Greg Stephenson Telephone: 01539 825060 Email: gstephenson@cumbriatourism.org Website: www.grasmeregingerbread.co.uk/index.htm 110

Rob is a chef and was a pioneer in local (Cotswold) food use and the contribution of healthy eating to happiness. As an ambassador for UK tourism Rob Rees has an unusual range. Many chefs are able to talk about local food, but Rob is able to talk about the shift in English food culture, tackle technical issues such as food safety and, most importantly keep it light when needed. Although based in one of England’s most attractive rural destinations (The Cotswolds), Rob Rees can speak with authority on Cotswolds, England other regions and because he has travelled the world in support of Cotswolds tourism he can often relate UK tourism and food concepts to overseas media.

His media experience covers food demonstrations, policy debates and location interviews.

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Rob Rees & team Telephone: 01285 656813 Email: info@robrees.com Website: www.robrees.com Index

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Polly Robinson Founder & MD of Food Safari

Suffolk, England

I’m Polly Robinson, founder of Food Safari. I’m passionate about food. Not in the gastro sense of fine dining in fancy restaurants, but in the simplest sense – valuing the food that we eat, understanding where it comes from and reconnecting with its source – farms, farmers, fishermen and artisan producers. I’m passionate and deeply knowledgeable about food and drink in Suffolk. I love shopping in farm shops and farmers markets and buying directly from the producer.

The idea of Food Safari is all about going behind the scenes, meeting the producers and learning more about their products so I have very strong relationships with many of the most celebrated food and drink producers in the county. I started Food Safari in 2009 and we now have a packed programme of events taking you out into the countryside visiting farms, going wild food foraging, off-shore fishing or behind the scenes with artisan producers. Most of our courses are for adults, but we also run some short days for families. When my family moved to Suffolk, my husband’s home, in 2008 I was amazed by the incredible abundance and diversity of food and drink producers in the county, from well known brands like Adnams and Aspall to dedicated small-scale farmers and artisan producers in bakeries, smokehouses and butcheries.

You will also find innovative young food and drink businesses like Calvôrs one of the country’s only micro-breweries producing lager, and Suffolk Farmhouse Cheese which was started when former estate herdsman Jason Salisbury spent his redundancy money on one Guernsey cow!

Three years later, Suffolk is now regularly found in the food and travel pages of the national media. We’re on the map! In part, thanks to high profile events like the Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival attracting top chefs and food writers to the county.

There’s a wealth of fantastic places to stay in Suffolk, whether you are looking for a stylish seaside hotel or a gorgeous Georgian Rectory bed and breakfast. I hope you’ll make the most of your visit to Suffolk, to experience a Food Safari and discover its great places to eat and shop.

But I felt, that like many things in Suffolk, it was a well-kept secret! East Anglia has long been known as the ‘Bread Basket of England’ and you’d be forgiven for thinking Suffolk was made up of large anonymous arable farms, but look closer and you’ll find a wealth of small traditional businesses like Emmett’s of Peasenhall a smokehouse trading for over 100 years and Pinney’s of Orford renowned for their smoked fish and oysters and now involving the third generation of the family.

Contact: Polly Robisnon Telephone: 01728 621380 / 07966 475195 Email: Polly@foodsafari.co.uk Website: www.foodsafari.co.uk

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Michael Roberts

Julia Trustram Eve

Owner – Ridgeview Wine Estate, Chairman of English Wine Producers

Marketing Director – English Wine Producers

Mike and his wife Christine set up Ridgeview Wine Estate, in Sussex, in the early 1990’s. The estate is dedicated to production of fine sparkling wine from the same varieties as Champagne. Ridgeview have achieved numerous national and international wine awards, including achieving International Sparkling Wine Trophy in Decanter World Wine Awards (2010) – the first time a non-Champagne has won this award. Mike has been awarded a MBE for his services to the UK wine industry.

Julia Trustram Eve is Marketing Director for English Wine Producers (EWP), and has worked within the UK wine industry for over 20 years.

Sussex, England

Julia’s first contact with English wines was working for a vineyard before joining the then newly formed English Wine Producers some 18 years ago. Within a surprisingly short time the press response became overwhelming. EWP grew in membership and Leicestershire, England promotional activity, and soon became the marketing arm of the English wine industry. EWP is now the central source of information for the press, trade and general public on all aspects of English wines and vineyards, and exhibits at shows and exhibitions, as well as develops marketing and promotional opportunities for vineyards.

EWP now comprises some 17 members, including vineyards and other key organisations within the industry. EWP members represent some 85% of all wines produced in England.

Julia runs the office and all EWP activities.

Julia has taken most of the Wine trade exams (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) up to and including Diploma and has studied on the Master of Wine course.

Contact: Michael Roberts, or Mardi Roberts, Ridgeview Telephone: 01444 241441 Email: mike@ridgeview.co.uk Website: www.ridgeview.co.uk 112

Contact: Julia Trustram Eve Telephone: 01536 772264 / 07775 760451 Email: julia@englishwineproducers.com Website: www.englishwineproducers.com Index

ENGLAND

FOOD

Andrew Thwaite

Mitch Tonks

Head Chocolatier – CHOCOLATE – York’s Sweet Story

Chef/Restaurateur

Andrew Thwaite is Head Chocolatier at CHOCOLATE – York’s Sweet Story, York’s new visitor attraction.

Hailing from Wensleydale in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales Thwaite eats, lives and sleeps chocolate. He make 2000 chocolates a day for the attraction and is affectionately known around the office as ‘Choccie Boy’.

York, England For the 2012 Games he has made an Olympic torch out of chocolate. It’s 8kgs and stands at about 14 inches. Other projects include a giant chicken for the Great Yorkshire Show and a range of one-off ‘taste of Yorkshire’ chocolates for Yorkshire Day.

Award-winning food writer, restaurateur and fishmonger, Mitch Tonks can only be described as a seafood champion, recognised as one of the leading seafood chefs and restaurateurs in the UK. A champion of the humble South Devon Crab and a supporter of local produce, Mitch owns two Devon restaurants, both in the picturesque south Devon town of Dartmouth.

Devon, England

An expert in chocolate and the public’s changing attitude to this sweet treat, Andrew will be available for interview throughout the summer.

Contact: Kate Maughan-Brown Telephone: 01904 527737 / 07765 838 325 Email: Kmaughanbrown@continuum-group.com Website: www.yorkssweetstory.com

Index

Contact: Laura Cowen Telephone: 07720 894171 Email: laura@mitchtonks.co.uk Website: www.mitchtonks.co.uk / www.seahorserestaurant.co.uk / www.rockfishdevon.co.uk 113

ENGLAND

FOOD

Stephen Twining

Christopher White

Director of Corporate Relations, Twinings

General Manager – Denbies Wine Estate

A man who drinks at least nine cups of tea a day, Stephen Twining, tenth generation of the famous tea family, has known that he wanted to become involved in the family business from the age of eight. In 1982 Stephen spent a year travelling and working his way round Australia before heading back to blighty!

Chris White is the General Manager of England’s largest single vineyard, located in the North downs just outside Dorking. The vineyard is open to the public and offers an extensive visitors’ experience – it is also the vineyard closest to London with easy access by car and train. The train line itself runs through the vineyard.

On his return, he worked for a small brokerage in Hampshire/London London in the financial services sector. After a couple of year’s, he joined a tea brokerage where he learnt his basic tea tasting skills and in 1985 he joined Twinings.

Surrey, England

After nine years in a variety of jobs in sales, Stephen transferred to head office in Andover where he is currently Director of Corporate Relations, incorporating media relations and business visits to Norway, Sweden, Europe, the Middle and Far East, Australasia, as well as both North and South America. Stephen is an experienced broadcaster and spokesperson and has also travelled extensively throughout India and Sri Lanka enabling him to experience first hand the picking and buying of one of the most fascinating industries in the world.

Contact: Stephen Twining Telephone: 01264348355 (Direct Line) / 01264348234 for PA / Pam West. 07887633002 ST mobile Email: Stephen.twining@twinings.com Website: www.twinings.com 114

Contact: Christopher White or Jeannette Simpson (Denbies Wine Estate) Telephone: 01306 876616 Email: chris@denbiesvineyard.co.uk Website: www.denbies.co.uk Index

GUERNSEY

NORTHERN IRELAND

Tony Leck

Conor McClelland

Chef Proprieter, The Pavilion restaurant

Head Chef, Rayanne House

Originally from Cumbria, Tony Leck made his home in Guernsey in 1987, having moved there as a young pastry chef. Very quickly, inspired by the slow pace of life and the bountiful local produce, he worked hard at extending his culinary knowledge working for a variety of establishments. From the moment he established the Pavilion, set within an eight-acre garden a few miles outside St. Peter Port, the Guernsey restaurant became a hit. Within its first year in 2000, it won the Guernsey Restaurant of the Year title and has since gone on to become the island’s most highly rated restaurant, holding a Michelin Bib Gourmand annually since 2004.

In 2011, Tony Leck had his cookery book published, emphasising fresh, local produce throughout. The book has devoted whole pages to championing local suppliers and ingredients such as ‘hedge veg’, Rocquette Cider, Fort Grey Cheese, Guernsey Herbs and Porky’s meat, to name a few. He is chairman of Taste Guernsey, an initiative to encourage locally sourced food.

Contact: Tony Leck Telephone: 07781 110191 or 01481 264165 Email: thepavilion@cwgsy.net Website: www.thepavilion.co.gg / www.tasteguernsey.com Index

Conor is head chef at Rayanne House in Holywood County Down, Northern Ireland, where a unique dining experience can be enjoyed, namely the Titanic Menu. Dating back to 1886, Rayanne House is the perfect setting for a unique dining experience.

Not only does the grand residence's decor reflect that of the ship's opulence, but a recently unearthed print by esteemed artist JW Carey clearly shows the Titanic sailing down Belfast Lough with Rayanne House in the background. The Smith Family watched Northern Ireland The Titanic from the dining room as she sailed down the Lough on her maiden voyage on April 10th 1912.

The Titanic Menu is a recreation of the last menu served in the first-class restaurant on board the iconic ship. The Titanic was the most famous ship ever and was proudly designed and built in Belfast between 1909 and 1912. Conor has meticulously re-created the menu and it is as sumptuous as you'd expect, with nine lavish courses boasting everything from champagne-laced asparagus and watercress salad to filet mignon topped with foie gras and truffle. Conor has welcomed people from all around the world to experience this amazing dining experience and recently took over Hotel Russell in London, where the Titanic Menu was served to more than 200 guests.

Contact: Conor & Bernie McClelland Telephone: 02890 425859 Email: info@rayannehouse.com Website: www.rayannehouse.com 115

NORTHERN IRELAND

SCOTLAND

Niall McKenna

David Haetzman

Head Chef, James Street South

Head Chef, Kyloe Restaurant & Grill

James Street South is one of Belfast’s top culinary experiences, led by head chef Niall Mc Kenna. Niall has been cooking since the age of 16, first in a local restaurant in Belfast and then spent twelve years in London, training under Michelin-starred chefs such as Nico Ladenis, Gary Rhodes and Marco Pierre White. Niall also worked in the prestigious Avenue Restaurant in Mayfair. Niall returned home to Belfast and opened James Street South in 2003, in a disused office space that was once an established linen mill – Northern Ireland one of the former Belfast’s top industries. The restaurant has won a clutch of accolades including Best Restaurant in Northern Ireland (Observer on Sunday) in 2006, 2007 and 2009; Best Restaurant in the 2008 Which Good Food Guide, and it is currently listed in the Top 100 restaurants in the UK by Restaurant Magazine, and Eat Out magazine 2009. Niall recently competed in the BBC2 series Great British Menu where he knocked out his peers Brian McCann (Shu) and Derek Creagh (Michael Deane Restaurant) to get into the UK final to compete against seven of the best chefs in the UK. His dish featured on the menu of a banquet hosted by Prince Charles and was attended by more than 100 of the best food producers in the UK. Niall’s winning dish of poached rhubarb and strawberry jelly with lavender ice cream & yellow man is currently on the menu at James Street South. Niall is a media-friendly personality, well placed to talk about the coming of age of Belfast.

David has nearly 20 years’ experience in the Scottish hospitality industry. He is the head chef of Edinburgh’s first gourmet steak restaurant, Kyloe, which has won accolades from food critics (9/10 from Joanna Blythman) and quickly grown a loyal following among diners. He has a real passion for using the best of Scottish ingredients and handselected farmers; Hardiesmill in Gordon, Scottish Borders for the launch of Kyloe, to name only one example. David has previously been the head chef at Scotland James Thomson’s The Tower Restaurant as well as heading up two AA rosette-winning Burt’s in Melrose. Part of his training was completed at Gleneagles Hotel and David first became a head chef at only 25 years old at Edinburgh’s Blue Bar Café.

Contact: Joanne McKenna Telephone: 02890 434310 Email: info@jamesstreetsouth.co.uk Website: www.jamesstreetsouth.co.uk 116

Contact: Yvonne Press or Fiona Vernon at Niche Works (Susi Conchar – in-house) Telephone: 0131 669 0333 (Yvonne / Fiona) - 0131 221 9978 (Susi) Email: Yvonne@nicheworks.co.uk / Fiona@nicheworks.co.uk / Susi.conchar@signaturepubs.co.uk Website: www.kyloerestaurant.com Index

SCOTLAND

WALES

Derek Johnstone

Rachael Copley

Head Chef, Greywalls Hotel and Chez Roux restaurant

Cwtch Restaurant, St.Davids

The inaugural winner of BBC Masterchef: the Professionals, Derek Johnstone is the dedicated and talented head chef at Greywalls Hotel and Chez Roux Restaurant in Muirfield. He studied at Glasgow’s Food and Technology College before securing an apprenticeship with the Lodge on Loch Lomond Hotel. Derek went on to win bronze at the 2007 Knorr Scottish Chef of the Year as well as being a Scotland finalist at the Martin Wishart Scholarship in the same year. His triumph on the popular television show Masterchef in 2008 opened the door for him to work at the famous La Gavroche in London and he spent two years learning from world-renowned chef Michel Roux Jnr. He loves living in the UK as he lives close to the beach where he loves walking his dogs. He loves working in the UK due to the access to fantastic local fresh produce to work with, and he is able to work alongside some of the best chefs in the world, especially the Roux brothers, believing that what they have done for British gastronomy is amazing.

Contact: Marion Jones Telephone: 01620 842144 Email: chef@greywalls.co.uk Website: www.greywalls.co.uk Index

Here in St.Davids, Wales the Top 3 things I love: 1) Our abundance of fantastic local produce – from the fish, lamb, vegetables, local cheeses – we are very lucky to have such great produce on our doorstep.

2) The people – it is such a friendly and welcoming community here. Everyone is always prepared to help each other and visitors alike.

Wales

3) Our stunning scenery – the coastal path would take a lot of beating to find something equally as beautiful elsewhere.

We are biased but it is sensational to be able to leave our doorstep and walk out on to the most gorgeous coastline.

Contact: Rachael Copley Telephone: 07714 689855 Email: Rachael@cwtchrestaurant.co.uk Website: www.cwtchrestaurant.co.uk 117

WALES

FOOD

Stephen Davies

Susan FianderWoodhouse

Managing Director, Penderyn Distillery

The Blaenafon Cheddar Co & Mountain Tours Ltd

Stephen davies is responsible for penderyn distillery with an in-depth knowledge of all aspects of the business including export links with other countires, welsh tourism and business in general.

The only cheese we believe is matured 300ft below ground. We represent Wales @ Disneyland Paris for the March St David’s Day Festival and have sold cheese to Mickey Mouse and Elvis. Have presented at the Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

Wales

-

British Cheese medal winner twice True Taste award True Taste food tourism destination Visit Wales Tourism Entrepreneur Royal Welsh Medal winner

Wales

Topic of interest Speciality handmade Welsh Cheddar cheeses with Pwll Mawr cheddar being matured 300ft below ground in the shaft of Big Pit mining museum.

Contact: Mr Stephen Davies / Ms Sian Whitelock / Mr Giancarlo Bianchi Telephone: 01685 813300 Email: StephenD@welsh-whisky.co.uk / Sianw@welsh-whisky.co.uk / giancarlo@welsh-whisky.co.uk Website: www.welsh-whisky.co.uk 118

Contact: Susan Fiander-Woodhouse Telephone: 01495 793123 Email: achunkofwales@btinternet.co.uk Website: www.chunkofcheese.co.uk / www.chunkofwales.co.uk Index

WALES

FOOD

Nest Llewelyn

Huw Thomas

Visitor Centre Guide / Brand Ambassador, Penderyn Distillery

Financial Controller, Penderyn Distillery Huw is a great spokesperson for welsh tourism by virtue of his deep knowledge and understanding of welsh culture.

Nest is one of our most experienced brand ambassadors with strong welsh roots. she is a great spokesperson for welsh tourism by virtue of her deep knowledge and understanding of welsh culture.

Other languages: Welsh.

Other languages: Welsh.

Wales

Contact: Mr Stephen Davies / Ms Sian Whitelock / Mr Giancarlo Bianchi Telephone: 01685 813300 Email: StephenD@welsh-whisky.co.uk / Sianw@welsh-whisky.co.uk / giancarlo@welsh-whisky.co.uk Website: www.welsh-whisky.co.uk Index

Wales

Contact: Mr Stephen Davies / Ms Sian Whitelock / Mr Giancarlo Bianchi Telephone: 01685 813300 Email: StephenD@welsh-whisky.co.uk / Sianw@welsh-whisky.co.uk / giancarlo@welsh-whisky.co.uk Website: www.welsh-whisky.co.uk 119

WALES

FOOD

Sian Whitelock Commercial Director, Penderyn Distillery.

Penderyn Distillery is the only distillery in Wales, and producer of the iconic, award-winning Single Malt Welsh Whisky - Penderyn. The Distillery Visitor Centre was opened by HRH Prince of Wales in June 2008 and, since then, has been steadily growing the number of tourists and visitors to the Distillery.

Penderyn Distillery is located in the southern reaches of the Brecon Beacons National Park, an area of outstanding beauty; the Distillery attracts visitors from all around the world and can expect to accommodate around 35,000 visitors this year. Sian is very well-versed on the tourism aspect of Penderyn Distillery and of the business in general.

Wales

Contact: Mr Stephen Davies / Ms Sian Whitelock / Mr Giancarlo Bianchi Telephone: 01685 813300 Email: StephenD@welsh-whisky.co.uk / Sianw@welsh-whisky.co.uk / giancarlo@welsh-whisky.co.uk Website: www.welsh-whisky.co.uk 120

Penderyn Distillery Wales

Index

HERITAGE

Index

Countryside

Culture

Fashion

Food

Heritage

Music

Sport

121

LONDON ‘Beefeaters’

Edward Bodenham

Yeoman Warders, Tower of London

9th Generation of the Floris family to run the family perfumer

A Yeoman Warder tour is one of the most popular attractions for visitors to the Tower.

The ‘Beefeaters’, as they are nicknamed, have long been symbols of London and Britain.

It is thought their nickname is derived from their position in the Royal Bodyguard, which permitted them to eat as much beef as they wanted from the king's table. A detachment of the ‘Yeomen of the Guard’, they’ve formed the Royal Bodyguard since at least 1509. Their origins stretch back as far as the London, England reign of Edward IV (1461-83). Yeoman Warders are required to have served in the armed forces with an honourable record for at least 22 years. The current contingent of warders have experienced serving in Northern Ireland, the Falklands War, Bosnia, the first and second Gulf conflicts and in Afghanistan.

Contact: Eloise Maxwell Telephone: 020 3166 6166 Email: press@hrp.org.uk Website: www.hrp.org.uk 122

HERITAGE

Edward Bodenham is the 9th generation of the family to run Floris in Jermyn Street St James’.

They have many Royal and celebrity connections and have produced a limited edition perfume for HRH Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee, one bottle of which has presented to Her Majesty. The museum at the back of the shop is a treasure trove of Floris history.

London, England

Contact: Susie Howard / Lucia Ruz / Sarah Millar Telephone: 020 7287 9601 Email: N/A Website: www.florislondon.co.uk

Index

LONDON

HERITAGE

Terry Charman

Sally Dixon-Smith

Historian, Imperial War Museum, London

Curator (collections), Tower of London

Terry Charman is Senior Historian at the (IWM), London, where he has worked since April 1974. In that time Terry has been closely involved in many IWM major exhibitions and projects such as the Holocaust Exhibition, IWM North and the Churchill Museum. Terry is a frequent broadcaster, lecturer and author of “The German Home Front 1939-1945” and “Outbreak 1939: the World Goes to War”.

Sally Dixon-Smith is Historic Royal Palaces' Collections Curator at the Tower of London, where she has worked since 2006. She works with the archaeological collections and the Crown Jewels, as well as curating new exhibitions, for instance this year's Royal Beasts, about the 600 years when wild animals were kept at the Tower.

London, England Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Nina Smetek Telephone: 0207 091 3069 Email: nsmetek@iwm.org.uk Website: www.iwm.org.uk Index

With training in history and architectural history, London, England she is particularly interested in social history and how people used buildings. Her doctoral research was on charity at the English court and attitudes towards wealth and poverty. Before coming to the Tower, Sally lectured in Mediaeval History at the University of St Andrews.

Contact: Eloise Maxwell Telephone: 020 3166 6166 Email: press@hrp.org.uk Website: www.hrp.org.uk

LONDON

HERITAGE

Keith Hanson

Alan Kingshott

Chief Exhibitor of the Crown Jewels, Tower of London

Chief Yeoman Warder, Tower of London

Keith Hanson’s career at the Tower of London started in June 1997 when he joined as a Yeoman Warder. In April 2000, he took up the appointment as the Chief Exhibitor of the Crown Jewels.

As Chief Exhibitor, Keith's main responsibilities are towards the security and display of the Crown Jewels, and the Crowns and Diamonds exhibition.

He also looks after the running of the oldest part of London, England the Tower of London, the White Tower, which contains unique artifacts belonging to the Royal Armories, such as the armour of Henry VIII. Before arriving at the Tower, Keith Hanson enjoyed a distinguished 30-year army career.

In August 1965 he joined the Army as an Apprentice Vehicle Mechanic, in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. On retiring from military service, Keith moved to the Citroen Car Company and held the post of Service Manager for two years.

Keith is also a member of the Queen’s Body Guard of the Yeoman of the Guard, a duty which brings him in close contact with the Queen on many occasions.

Alan John Kingshott joined the Body of Yeoman Warders at the Tower of London in March 1998, following a distinguished career in the Royal Hussars. Enlisting as a boy soldier in 1968, he progressed through the ranks to become a Warrant Officer, instructing his squadron in tank gunnery. His military life took him on tours of duty to Canada, Hong Kong, Cyprus, Germany and Oman, but he now lives with his wife, Patricia, in the more genteel London, England setting of the Byward Tower, at the entrance of the Tower of London. He is also a Beadle to the Worshipful Company of Coopers. As a serving member of the Yeoman Body, Alan’s correct title is ‘Yeoman Warder of Her Majesty’s Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, Member of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary’.

His day to day duties include giving guided tours to visitors and contributing to the safety and security of this World Heritage Site. In addition he may also be called upon to attend the Coronation of the Sovereign, Lyings in State, the Lord Mayor’s Show and many other state and charity functions. In 2004, he was promoted to Yeoman Serjeant before becoming Yeoman Gaoler in 2011 and finally Chief Yeoman Warder in 2012.

Being experienced in the recruiting field, Keith, as part of a local business partnership, visits many schools in the local area advising young people how best to prepare for future employment. Keith lives in the Tower with his wife.

Contact: Eloise Maxwell Telephone: 020 3166 6166 Email: press@hrp.org.uk Website: www.hrp.org.uk

124

Contact: Eloise Maxwell Telephone: 020 3166 6166 Email: press@hrp.org.uk Website: www.hrp.org.uk Index

LONDON

HERITAGE

Mark Lord Head Beadle at the Burlington Arcade Mark Lord is Head Beadle of the Burlington Arcade, England’s oldest and longest shopping arcade since 1819. The Burlington Arcade is a true luxury landmark in London. Housing over 40 specialist shops and designer brands including Lulu Guinness and Jimmy Choo’s only UK menswear store – shoppers will find rare gemstones, vintage watches, bespoke footwear and the finest leather and cashmere accessories. The London, England Burlington Beadles are the knowledgeable uniformed guards of the Arcade since 1819. They conduct prebooked historical tours of the Arcade for visitors and uphold the rules of the arcade. Located discreetly between Bond Street and Piccadilly, the Arcade has long been favoured by Royalty, celebrities and the cream of British society.

Contact: Ellen Lewis Telephone: 07866 254 999 Email: marketing@burlington-arcade.co.uk Website: www.burlington-arcade.co.uk Index

Burlington Arcade London, England

125

LONDON

HERITAGE

Jeff Monk

Chris Morton

Train Manager, Orient-Express British Pullman Train

Yeoman Gaoler, Tower of London

Jeff Monk, has held the position of Train Manager of the British Pullman train in London since January 2001, and has worked in various business areas within Venice Simplon-Orient-Express for over 20 years. In 1983, Jeff joined Orient-Express as a cabin steward on board the continental Wagons-Lits carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

Based in Venice, he was soon promoted to Senior London, England Steward and then to Chief Steward. In 2000, Jeff moved back to London and Manchester to become Train Manger of new sister train Northern Belle, based up in the north of England and was instrumental in its successful launch in May 2000.

Jeff is train manager of the UK’s most iconic and luxurious train and welcomes all nationalities aboard. He is a thoroughly delightful person who has seen much of the UK by train!

Contact: Anna Nash Telephone: 020 3117 1377 Email: anna.nash@orient-express.com Website: www.orient-express.com 126

Chris joined the Royal Engineers as an apprentice electrician in September 1972. During a career spanning 24 years he held a variety of appointments from Sapper to Warrant Officer Class One, serving in Germany Cyprus, Canada, Falkland Islands Cambodia and the first Gulf War. Chris left the Army in 1996 and was employed by the Foreign Office and Harrods at Gatwick Airport, finally being appointed as a Yeoman Warder in March 1998.

London, England He lives within the Tower of London with his wife and undertakes charitable activities in connection with the Royal British Legion, Willing Wheels and Southwark Churches Care. As a serving member of the Yeoman Body, Chris’ full title is ‘Yeoman Warder of Her Majesty’s Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, Member of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary’. His day to day duties involve giving guided tours to visitors and contributing to the safety and security of this World Heritage Site. In addition, he may also be called upon to attend the Coronation of the Sovereign, Lyings in State, the Lord Mayor’s Show and many other state and charity functions. In 2003 he was promoted to Yeoman Serjeant before becoming Yeoman Gaoler in 2012.

Contact: Eloise Maxwell Telephone: 020 3166 6166 Email: press@hrp.org.uk Website: www.hrp.org.uk Index

LONDON

HERITAGE

Annie Myers

Karen Pierce-Goulding

Waterway operative, Bow Back Rivers, British Waterways

London Walks guide and author

Annie works on East London’s canals and rivers ensuring the waterways are kept clean and tidy for the Olympics. She is based at Bow Lock, just south of the Olympic Park and close to the picturesque House Mill at Three Mills, and operates the lock there to allow boats through. Over the Olympics she will be out on one of our work boat fleet, clearing debris from the water and fighting weed as well as undertaking general maintenance tasks.

London, England

Annie is very passionate and knowledgeable about the waterways, especially the wildlife that lives on and around East London’s canals and rivers. She is out come rain or shine and will be playing a vital role in keeping them in peak condition for the Games.

Contact: Fran Read Telephone: 020 7985 7276 / 07796 610 427 Email: Fran.read@britishwaterways.co.uk Website: www.waterscape.com Index

Karen comes trailing clouds of glory. A year ago Travel & Leisure put her in the pantheon of The World’s Greatest Guides. There were only 15 of them.

Karen was the only one from England. She won the London Tourist Board’s Guide of the Year Award in her year. She’s written a wonderful new book – it’s just been published – called Royal London. She’s a star. She’s fetching. She’s vibrant. She’s fun. She’s splinter-sharp bright. She’s warm. All that and, into the bargain, she’s reassuringly normal – she’s a north London mum! Really really good news. A perfect interviewee.

London, England

Contact: Karen Pierce-Goulding Telephone: London Walks on 020 7624 3978 Karen’s mobile is: 07984 209830 Email: k.piercegoulding@btinternet.com Website: www.karenpiercegoulding.com/Karen_Pierce-Goulding_Award-Winning_Tour_Guide/Home.html 127

LONDON

HERITAGE

Rebecca Richards

Adam Scott

Interpretation Manager, Historic Royal Palaces

London Walks guide

Rebecca has been Interpretation Manager at the Tower of London since 2009, managing projects which tell the stories of the Tower in accessible and engaging ways to a vast and diverse audience of over 2.5m visitors a year.

Rebecca managed the interpretation for the new display of the Crown Jewels, which opened at Easter 2012. The Tower’s most popular attraction, these London, England unique and priceless treasures have been redisplayed in their best possible setting to mark the Diamond Jubilee. New interpretation puts the Crown Jewels in context as both symbols of monarchy and a working collection still used by the Queen today. Rebecca managed the Royal Beasts project, which opened in 2011.

Visitors now explore the tales of the wild animals which were kept at the Tower for over 600 years through an exhibition, interactive web content and life-size sculptures of lions, a polar bear, an elephant and baboons installed around the Tower site. Before taking up her post at (Historical Royal Palaces), Rebecca was Interpretation Officer at the British Museum, and prior to that worked at the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Museum of Garden History (now the Garden Museum). She has a BA in Archaeology and Anthropology from the University of Durham and an MA in Egyptian Archaeology from University College London.

Contact: Eloise Maxwell Telephone: 020 3166 6166 Email: press@hrp.org.uk Website: www.hrp.org.uk

128

Born in Edinburgh. Came down here 20 years ago “to see what all the excitement was about”. Knows London perhaps better than anyone. Walks it the way Iain Sinclaire walks it. Has read every book going about London (writes about them in a regular series on the Daily Constitutional, the London Walks blog). Knows sport extremely well. Plays guitar in a group that performs in London pubs. Writes like a dream. Is a freelance journalist and an author. Is the London, England besotted father of an adorable 5-year-old daughter* (who’s fast becoming, thanks to her father’s sharing his love of his adoped city with his little girl, a London-ophile in her own right!). Is funny.

Extremely quotable. Every time he opens his mouth you learn something interesting. * Mention this byway of saying Adam’s also “representative” in the sense that he’s doing all the normal stuff – got a family, a mortgage, etc. He’s special but he’s also reassuringly “grounded”.

Contact: Adam Scott Telephone: London Walks on 020 7624 3978 Karen’s mobile is: 07984 209830 Email: k.piercegoulding@btinternet.com Website: www.karenpiercegoulding.com/Karen_Pierce-Goulding_Award-Winning_Tour_Guide/Home.html Index

LONDON

ENGLAND

Billy Smith

Steve Sullivan

Dock master, Docklands, British Waterways

Deputy Chief Exhibitor of the Crown Jewels, Tower of London

Born and bred on the Isle of Dogs, Billy has worked on East London’s rivers and docks since starting his working life, in 1962, as a tug boat engineer on the Thames. He’s had first-hand experience of London’s rivers as working trade routes, including the River Lee and Bow Creek as well as the Thames and London’s docks. Billy’s knowledge of the waterways around the Olympic Park is second to none and he’s London, England seen how the area has been transformed, with waterways that were previously unseen and neglected now a wonderful legacy for boaters and local communities. His advice has been invaluable in planning the regeneration of the waterways in the area. Billy now manages the docks and tidal controls at British Waterways’ base at West India Docks, Docklands. Over the Olympics the docks will be full of impressive vessels, from tall ships to cruise liners and super yachts, who are visiting from all over the world for the Games.

Billy will be ensuring their safe passage. Billy is terrifically charismatic and a real East Ender, with some great anecdotes and turns of phrase.

Steve Sullivan was appointed as Deputy Chief Exhibitor of the Crown Jewels in June 2011. However, Steve has a longer history with the Tower of London, as he worked as a Senior Controller in the security team between 1993 – 2006. Between 2006 – 2011, Steve worked as Security Manager for national security company Wilson James Ltd and was nominated for three national awards during his tenure before returning to the Tower of London in his present role.

London, England

As Deputy Chief Exhibitor (working alongside Chief Exhibitor Keith Hanson), Steve’s main responsibilities are towards the security and display of the Crown Jewels. He also looks after the running of the oldest part of the Tower of London, the 11th century White Tower, which contains unique artefacts belonging to the Royal Armouries, such as the armour of King Henry VIII. Steve enjoys explaining the story of the Crown Jewels to the Tower of London’s many visitors (around 2.5m a year). His favourite part of the new exhibition, which opened in March 2012 to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, is the display of bespoke transportation boxes, which reveal for the very first time how the items are packed and transported from the Tower when they are to be used during state occasions.

Steve also has a family connection to the Imperial State Crown of India, which is on display in the Jewel House. The crown was specially made for George V’s visit to India for the Delhi Durbar in 1911 – the only time it has ever been worn - and Steve’s grandfather, a telegraph operator, transmitted messages between the King and the royal family during his visit.

Contact: Fran Read Telephone: 020 7985 7276 / 07796 610 427 Email: Fran.read@britishwaterways.co.uk Website: www.waterscape.com Index

Contact: Eloise Maxwell Telephone: 020 3166 6166 Email: press@hrp.org.uk Website: www.hrp.org.uk 129

LONDON

COUNTRY Lucy Worsley Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity looking after The Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace State Apartments, the Banqueting House in Whitehall, and Kew Palace in Kew Gardens.

Lucy is a young and ambitious historian, author and TV personality. She looks after some of the most important royal palaces in Britain. Lucy is an ambassador for UK tourism and heritage.

London, England

I was born in Reading, studied Ancient and Modern History at New College, Oxford, and I've got a PhD in art history from the University of Sussex.

My first job after leaving college was at a crazy but wonderful historic house called Milton Manor in Oxfordshire. Here I would give guided tours, occasionally feed the llamas, and look for important pieces of paper that my boss Anthony had lost. Soon after that I moved to the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, in the lovely job for administrator of the Wind and Watermills Section. Here I helped to organise that celebrated media extravaganza, National Mills Day. I departed for English Heritage in 1997, first as an Assistant Inspector and then as an Inspector of Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings; Bolsover Castle, Hardwick Old Hall, and Kirby Hall were my favourite properties there. In 2002 I made a brief excursion to Glasgow Museums before coming down to London as Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces in 2003. Yes, this is a brilliant job, but no, you can’t have it. (Bribes have been offered, and refused.)

You might also catch me presenting history films on the old goggle box, giving the talks on the cruise ship Queen Mary 2, or slurping cocktails.

Contact: Katrina Whenham Telephone: Katrina Whenham Email: Katrina.whenham@hrp.org.uk Website: www.hrp.org.uk 130

Hampton Court Palace London, England

Index

ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Ade Andrews

Lady Ashcombe

Robin Hood impersonator and tour guide

Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, The Cotswolds

Ade Andrews is the 'Official Outlaw'. An actor, writer and performance artist, he is dedicated to making Robin Hood relevant for the 21st Century with a cultural and environmental message.

Discovering history at Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe is like slowly unlocking a secret: ruins of a medieval banqueting hall here, the glimpse of a Tudor love letter there.

As an artist, he works with the communities of Sherwood Forest to initiate sustainable annual customs. These he sees as manifestations of the community spirit that created Robin Hood over the centuries. He is currently hitting the streets with his new educational and entertaining 'Hood's Town' tour.

He castle’s history goes back over 1000 years; however 2012 is a very special year at the Castle celebrates the life of Queen Katherine Parr, Henry Cotswolds, England VIII’s remarkable sixth queen who, following his death, joined her great love, Thomas Seymour, to live at Sudeley. When she died she was laid to rest in the church in the garden, making Sudeley the only private house in England where a queen lies buried

Nottinghamshire, England

Ade is passionate about the legend of Robin Hood and can effectively bring it to life.

He loves to show media around the historic haunts of Robin Hood and his Merry Men – both in the city of Nottingham and at the Major Oak and in Sherwood Forest.

Topic of interest Culture and history.

The Queen Katherine Parr Quincentenary Festival celebrates Sudeley Castle’s unique connection with this remarkable queen with an exhibition featuring rare Katherine Parr items from the Castle’s collection, plus film presented by historian Dr David Starkey, and an ongoing programme of events including literary and historical talks, and Tudor Fun Days.

Elizabeth Ashcombe has lived at Sudeley Castle for the past fifty years. Arriving in England as the young American bride of Mark Dent-Brocklehurst she and their children, Henry and Mollie, inherited the castle on his untimely death in 1972. Over the past years Sudeley has become one of England’s most popular historic houses and its award-winning gardens Lady Ashcombe believes are her greatest achievement.

She is particularly keen that the Katherine Parr celebrations at Sudeley will help to benefit tourism in the Cotswolds and benefit Winchcombe and the local community.

Contact: Ade Andrews or Erin Huckle, Experience Nottinghamshire Telephone: 07941 210986 or Erin Huckle: 0115 962 8300 / 07411 355 293 Email: bonecorporation@hotmail.com / erin.huckle@experiencenottinghamshire.com Website: www.bonecorporation.co.uk/merryoutlaws.php Index

Contact: Ian Weightman Telephone: 01782 680963 Email: Ian.iwms@virgin.net Website: www.sudeleycastle.co.uk 131

ENGLAND Jeri Bapasola Archival Researcher, Blenheim Palace Jeri Bapasola has been employed at Blenheim Palace for over ten years. Working with primary source material, she has acquired extensive indepth knowledge of the Palace, its collections and the family’s history. An established author with several publications on Blenheim Palace, titles include: • • • • • •

‘The Finest View in England: The Landscape Oxfordshire, England and Gardens at Blenheim Palace’ ‘Faces of Fame and Fortune: The Marlborough Family Portraits at Blenheim Palace ‘Household Matters: Domestic Service at Blenheim Palace’ ‘Winston and Blenheim: Churchill’s Destiny’ ‘Threads of History: The Tapestries at Blenheim Palace’ ‘Mr Spalding’s Gift: The Oriental Porcelain Collection at Blenheim Palace’

HERITAGE Mr Barker / Andy Middleton Tour Guide, Oxford Castle Oxford Castle has played a pivotal role in a number of events that have shaped Britain as it stands today. Oxford Castle was a key part of the fight for the crown in 1142 when a royal siege took place in the Saxon tower (now Oxford’s oldest building). It also played a role in the English Civil War when Oxford was declared the capital of England.

Oxfordshire, England Andy Middleton plays the role of Mr Barker, and guides our visitors around the Oxford Castle – Unlocked visitor attraction, which was opened by the Queen in 2006. Andy is one of our longest serving tour guides and is extremely knowledgeable about the site and its history. In true Olympic spirit, he is dedicated to giving 110% and ensuring all our visitors enjoy an engaging visit in a truly memorable place.

Topics of interest History, Architecture, Blenheim Palace, Gardens - Capability Brown.

Contact: Hannah Payne Telephone: 01993 810 524/500 Email: hpayne@blenheimpalace.com Website: www.blenheimpalace.com 132

Contact: Ellie Stokes Telephone: 07713 307925 Email: estokes@oxfordcastleunlocked.co.uk Website: www.oxfordcastleunlocked.co.uk

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ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Catherine Beale

Dr Andrew Birley

Book author, Shropshire

Director of Excavations

Catherine Beale is a writer and historian.

She has written for Garden History, Hortus, Country Landowner, and the Hereford Times.

She researched and wrote the guide book for Hampton Court, Herefordshire, when the gardens opened in 2000, and she co-wrote, with David Wheeler, the garden guide in 2009. She was involved in the restoration of the award-winning Judge’s Lodging, Presteigne.

Andrew is Director of Excavations for the Vindolanda Trust working at Roman Vindolanda on Hadrian’s Wall – one of the most outstanding tourism attractions in the North of England. Andrew is passionate about what both Vindolanda and The Roman Army Museum and the region have to offer in terms of tourism.

Shropshire, England

Northumberland, England

Her latest book is Born out of Wenlock, which tells the remarkable story behind the Wenlock Olympian Games, the inspiration for the modern Olympics. Like her first book Champagne & Shambles, born out of Wenlock is set in the Victorian period and, although firmly rooted in the countryside of the Welsh marches, it has much wider repercussions. It takes the specific story of the Wenlock Olympian Society and sets it in the context of the development of sport in Britain and, subsequently, of the Olympic Games. It was launched in July 2011.

Other languages: Some French and Spanish.

Contact: Ian Weightman Telephone: 01782 680963 Email: Ian.iwms@virgin.net Website: www.cbeale.co.uk Index

Contact: Fiona Watson or Patricia Birley Telephone: 01434 344 277 Email: fionawatson@vindolanda.com / patriciabirley@vindolanda.com Website: www.vindolanda.com 133

ENGLAND

HERITAGE

David Bower

George Buchanan

Kent Greeter, Visit Kent

Owner of Hodsock Priory

David has lived in west Kent for more than 40 years and has worked with local communities both professionally and as a volunteer for most of that time. He is a local historian and knows the west Kent area intimately, particularly Tunbridge Wells. David was one of the first Trailblazer Volunteers for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a role he has been involved in since January 2009, and was the first from Kent to be appointed. He helps with a variety of roles including briefing LOCOG Kent, England Board members and is also an Olympic Park Tour Guide. David is one of a corps of Greeters for the Visit Kent programme (Kent Greeters) and welcomes visitors to his part of Kent from all over the world. This is a voluntary role, designed to enhance visitors’ experience of Kent, helping both visitors enjoy their stay in the county and help tourism service providers add value for their customers. Just now, David works hard in both roles to ensure that visitors are aware of how closely Kent is linked with London 2012 and the wonderful opportunities afforded by visiting or staying in the county during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and beyond. He is also involved locally in education as a school governor to ensure that schools take advantage of opportunities extending from the London Olympics.

George Buchanan is the 9th generation of a family preserving part of Britain’s heritage for future generations on the Hodsock estate near Sherwood Forest and the Dukeries of Nottinghamshire. George grew up at Hodsock but cut his teeth managing West End Theatres and music venues including the Hammersmith Apollo in London. He is now committed to making Hodsock a premier destination.

Hosting rock, pop and comedy shows to 20,000 Nottinghamshire, England people a week teaches you how to manage a historic building, value staff and run events. Most days it was like the Wild West so the transition to living and working in Hodsock Priory was smooth. He now welcomes guests to classic English weddings, outdoor theatre productions, behind the scenes tours and most famously one of the world’s best annual snowdrop spectaculars.

George is the son of Sir Andrew Buchanan Bt KCVO who continues the family tradition of service to the county of Nottinghamshire (High Sheriff in 1976, and Lord-Lieutenant and Keeper of the Rolls since 1991). He is President of East Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, a Member of Southwell Cathedral Council, Chairman of The Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee for Appointments, Member of Court of Nottingham University, Governor of Nottingham High School, President of Nottinghamshire Scouts Association and involved in local organisations and charities in the county. He was appointed Chairman of the Nottingham Roosevelt Memorial Travelling Scholarship in 2008.

Both George and Sir Andrew Buchanan can talk about their family’s links with the Queen and the history of beautiful Hodsock Priory.

Contact: David Bower (Kerstin Andrews, Visit Kent) Telephone: 01732 508608 (David) / 0750 008 0076 (Kerstin) Email: businessliaison@kentgreeters.co.uk Website: www.kentgreeters.co.uk 134

Contact: George Buchanan or Erin Huckle Telephone: George Buchanan: 01909 591 204 / Erin Huckle: 0115 962 8300 / 07411 355 293 Email: erin.huckle@experiencenottinghamshire.com / gb@hodsockpriory.com Website: www.hodsockpriory.com Index

ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Councillor Merlita Bryan The Sheriff of Nottingham Councillor Merlita Bryan is the current Sheriff of Nottingham. She was installed as Sheriff on May 14th 2011. Merlita is the first black woman to hold the post of Sheriff of Nottingham.

Nottinghamshire, England

Merlita was born in the parish of Saint Thomas, Jamaica, in 1951 and came to join her parents in Nottingham in 1962 at the age of 11 - never imagining that one day she would become the Sheriff of Nottingham.

In 1986 Merlita began working at a local bakery and joined the Baker's Union, now the Baker's, Food and Allied Workers Union, and discovered a passion for fighting for fairness in the workplace. She was soon elected as a shop steward and rose through the ranks of the union becoming Chair of the District Branch and a delegate to both the East Midlands Labour Party and the National Policy Forum. She also served as an Executive Council member on the Union's Management Board.

Since becoming a councillor Merlita has served as Vice-Chair and Chair of her local area committee, Vice Chair of the Young Nottingham Committee and Vice Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Nottingham City Homes, Nottingham City Transport, First Enterprise, Nottingham Race Course and local community radio station, Kemet FM. Merlita has three children and seven grandchildren and has chosen her youngest daughter Natasha to be Sheriff's Lady during her year in office and also plans to take members of the community along to her official engagements whenever she is able.

Merlita is delighted to have been elected Sheriff and sees it as her opportunity to work with and support as many charities as possible, to encourage greater understanding across the various communities in the city, to encourage jobs into the city and to support young people in their aspirations for the future.

Merlita says that her only regret is that her parents are not alive to see her become the first black woman to be the Sheriff of Nottingham, something they would have been very proud of.

In 2001, Merlita moved from her job on the shop floor into a full time union post as the District Secretary for Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands.

It was during her time as a trade union official that she was elected as Nottingham City Councillor for the Arboretum Ward in 2007, a move that Merlita felt was a natural progression from her work as a union rep.

Contact: Louise Thompson, The Civic Office or Erin Huckle, Experience Nottinghamshire Telephone: Louise Thompson: 0115 9155230 or Erin Huckle: 0115 962 8300 / 07411 355 293 Email: louise.thompson@nottinghamcity.gov.uk / erin.huckle@experiencenottinghamshire.com Website: www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2314

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ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Viscount Coke

Rose Collis

Holkham Hall, Wells-next-the-Sea

Writer, alternative historian and tour guide.

Best beach in England, beautiful parkland, most important nature reserve in England.

I am an acclaimed writer and alternative historian, with 10 books to my name, including The New Encyclopaedia of Brighton (2010). I work in many media: print, websites, podcast and apps.

Topic of interest Arts/Culture, History/Heritage, Nature and Recreation.

Norfolk, England

Contact: Viscount Coke Telephone: 01328 713133 (PA) / 01328 710227 Email: t.coke@holkham.co.uk Website: www.holkham.co.uk 136

My Brighton history tours focus on the more unusual aspects of Brighton’s history – everything from historic gay pubs and gay history, to Joe Orton’s Brighton, to ‘Bloomsbury in Brighton’ and Brighton, England tours of areas boasting a wealth of social history, including the original Kemp Town, Clifton/Montpelier, Brunswick Town and North Laine areas on the city.

Contact: Rose Collis Telephone: 01273 600826 Email: rose.collis@sky.com Website: www.rosecollis.com Index

ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Paula Cornwell

Helen Cromarty

Curator – Stoneleigh Abbey

Archivist and spokesperson for the Wenlock Olympian Society

I am passionate about Stoneleigh Abbey and love my job and would like to encourage more people to come here.

Helen Cromarty is an archivist and spokesperson for the Wenlock Olympian Society, in the town that was responsible for the birth of the modern international Olympic movement.

Appearance fee may apply.

Shropshire, England

Warwickshire, England

Contact: Paula Cornwell Telephone: 01926 858535 Email: enquire@stoneleighabbey.org Website: www.stoneleighabbey.org Index

Contact: Ian Weightman Telephone: 01782 680963 Email: Ian.iwms@virgin.net Website: www.wenlock-olympian-society.org.uk 137

ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Steve Davies Director, National Railway Museum The National Railway Museum is hosting a massive celebration of all things rail on Diamond Jubilee weekend. Railfest (2-10 June 2012) is very much Steve’s brainchild and the event, which brings together more than 50 rail vehicles on a site the size of 11 football pitches was a massive boost to UK tourism, drawing in rail fans from across the globe. One of the headline locomotives at the event was LMS Princess Royal Class No. Yorkshire, England 6021 Princess Elizabeth which was in real keeping with the Jubilee weekend. The Museum is also hosting the Olympic torch relay on Wednesday 20 June and Director Steve Davies has been instrumental in the Museum’s involvement with the Flame. He is therefore a fantastic ambassador for both the Games and the Diamond Jubilee, from both a cultural and a heritage perspective.

Steve was awarded the MBE for his work in Sarajevo and a Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service (QCVS) for his time in command of I QLR in South Armagh at a particularly sensitive time for the peace process.

While serving in the forces, Steve moved to West Africa where he took up the role of Advisor to the Sierra Leone Ministry of Defence. In his spare time, Steve pursued his interests in railway and industrial history by establishing the Sierra Leone National Railway Museum.

Appearance fee may apply.

Steve took up his appointment as the Director of the National Railway Museum in February 2010 following his position as Director of the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) in Manchester. He was an original member of the Liverpool Road Station Society, which campaigned to save the current Museum site for MOSI in the late 1970s, and began his role of Director in August 2008. During his time at MOSI, Steve transformed the Museum’s fortunes with some spectacular events and major developments which included him leading the project to create a new £7m building redevelopment and gallery space.

Prior to this, Steve spent many years in the Army joining in 1975 at the age of 16 as an electronics apprentice in the Royal Signals and progressing to his final military appointment, Chief of Staff Headquarters 2nd Division.

Contact: Catherine Farrell Telephone: 01904 686281 Email: Catherine.farrell@nrm.org.uk Website: www.nrm.org.uk

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ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Viscount De L’Isle

Ann Dinsdale

Owner of Penshurst Place & Gardens

Collections Manager, Bronte Parsonage Museum

Viscount De L'Isle, of Penshurst Place, near Tonbridge, was born Philip Sidney in 1945, a descendant of the great 16th century soldier poet.

He is the Lord-Lieutenant of Kent. Commissioned in the Grenadier Guards in 1966, he served on regimental duty in the British Army of the Rhine, Northern Ireland, Belize and Berlin.

From 1974-76 he held an operational staff appointment at Headquarters, 3 Infantry Brigade, Kent, England and was awarded an MBE in 1977. He retired from the Army as a Major in 1979 to manage the Penshurst Place Estate and chaired Kent Country Landowners Committee from 1983-85. Succeeding his father, the 1st Viscount De L'Isle VC KG, in 1991, he sat in the House of Lords from 1991-1999.

Viscount De L'Isle was Honorary Colonel of the 5th Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment from 1992-99. Since 1992 he has been a Trustee of Canterbury Cathedral Trust, becoming Chairman in 2007. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent in 1996.

Ann Dinsdale has worked for many years at the Bronte Parsonage Museum in Haworth, setting up exhibitions and caring for the world’s largest collection of Bronteana. She writes and lectures on aspects of the Brontes’ lives and works and on Haworth in the mid-nineteenth century.

Yorkshire, England

In 2004-09 he was a Member of the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Panel on National Records and Archives, and a Kent Ambassador. In August 2006 he was additionally appointed Honorary Colonel of Kent Army Cadet Force. Viscount De L'Isle married Isobel, née Compton, in 1980, and they have two children: Sophia (born 1983) and Philip (born 1985). Their family home, Penshurst Place, was judged best visitor attraction by Tourism South East in 2003 and a finalist in the Kent Wedding Awards 2011.

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Tamsin Leigh Telephone: 01892 870307 Email: marketing@penshurstplace.com Website: www.penshurstplace.com

Index

Contact: Sonia Boocock Telephone: 01535 640192; 01535 642323 Email: sonia.boocock@bronte.org.uk / a.dinsdale@bronte.org.uk Website: www.bronte.info 139

ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Simon Entwistle

Simon Fishwick

Tour Guide, Top Hat Tours

Estate Director

I have presented both on TV and Radio and conducted tours for visitors from all over the world who are fascinated by Lancashire’s Pendle Witches.

The Pendle Witch Tour is one of the most famous in the UK.

Looks after one of the largest family estates in Devon – home to the Earl of Devon. He is also vice chair of DATA (an association of Devon’s Top Attractions).

I also work in a number of heritage attractions to bring their supernatural stories/history to life ie: Samlesbury Hall.

I have also recently advised Merlin staff for the opening of the new Blackpool Dungeon – which features a Lancashire Witches scenario.

Contact: Simon Entwistle Telephone: 01200 426821 / 07879 231705 Email: Simon413entwistle@btinternet.com Website: www.tophattours.co.uk 140

Lancashire, England

Devon, England

Contact: Ingrid Oram or Simon Fishwick Telephone: 01626 890243 Email: Ingrid@powderham.co.uk / simon@powderham.co.uk Website: www.powderham.co.uk Index

ENGLAND

HERITAGE John Forster

Sir Richard FitzHerbert Bt

Archivist to The 11th Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim Palace

Owner of Tissington Hall & Estate Inherited the Tissington Estate at the age of 24 in 1989 and has strived to make it more commercial in that 22-year stint. He has opened the Hall to visitors and created an events/wedding business in the gardens and grounds of the stately home. Devoted to Derbyshire and the Peak District, Sir Richard sits on the local tourist board and would be an excellent Ambassador for not only the country but the district.

Appearance fee may apply.

Peak District, England

Born and brought up in the North East of England, John graduated from Durham University in English and Latin. After professional teacher training at London University (King’s College), he taught in London and in several schools in the North East returning also to Durham University to complete an M.A. He subsequently became Headmaster, first of a Grammar School and subsequently of a Oxfordshire, England Comprehensive School of 2,000 pupils (aged 11-18).

He came to Blenheim Palace as Head of the Education Service twenty four years ago and is now Archivist to His Grace the Duke of Marlborough at Blenheim. He is the author of a popular short book: “Winston and Blenheim Churchill’s Destiny”, runner up in the ACE (Association for Cultural Enterprises) “Best General Book Award (2007).

Topic of Interest History, Blenheim Palace, Sir Winston Churchill.

Contact: Victoria Moore / Sir Richard Telephone: 01335 352200 / 07836 782439 Email: tisshall@dircon.co.uk / events@tissingtonhall.co.uk Website: www.tissingtonhall.co.uk Index

Contact: Hannah Payne Telephone: 01993 810 524/500 Email: hpayne@blenheimpalace.com Website: www.blenheimpalace.com 141

ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Dr Amy Frost

Geoff Hutchinson

Curator of Beckford's Tower, part of the Bath Preservation Trust

Local Historian, author Specialist on the smuggling history of this part of the coastline: Rudyard Kipling (whose former home, Batemans, is in 1066 Country), Fuller’s Follies (Mad Jack Fuller) and also the Battle of Hastings.

Topic of interest History, heritage and architecture in Bath.

Author and local historian Geoff Hutchinson was born in Hastings in 1942 and has lived in East Sussex all his life. He has a tremendous enthusiasm for local history and the colourful characters associated with it. He also has a passion for drama and his ability to combine the two has proved a successful formula. His personal crusade is to make history lively and vibrant.

Bath, England

East Sussex, England

His books, talks and impersonation of local worthies have proved popular with all ages and have led to him making many contributions to radio and television. He has, over the last 10 years, built a considerable reputation as a lively, entertaining speaker and guide.

Contact: Amy Frost Telephone: 01225 460705 Email: beckford@bptrust.org.uk Website: www.bath-preservation-trust.org.uk/?id=9 142

Contact: Jane Ellis Telephone: 01424 451113 Email: jmellis@hastings.gov.uk Website: www.visit1066country.com 142

Index

ENGLAND The Very Reverend Jonathan Greener MA Dean of Wakefield The Very Reverend Jonathan Greener MA, Dean of Wakefield was educated at Reigate Grammar School and Trinity College, Cambridge. After 5 years as a Sales and Export Manager he studied for the priesthood at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield and was ordained in 1992. He was Assistant Curate at Holy Trinity, Southwark from 92 to 94 when he became the Bishop of Truro’s Domestic Yorkshire, England Chaplain. He was Vicar of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Brighton from 1996 to 2003 when he became Archdeacon of Pontefract, a post he held until his elevation to the Deanery.

Contact: Susan Carroll Telephone: 01924 305054 Email: scarroll@wakefield.gov.uk Website: www.experiencewakefield.co.uk Index

HERITAGE Jennie Hawks Historic Places of Worship Support Officer I support 652 churches across the county of Norfolk. 90% of them are medieval Grade 1 and Grade 2* buildings, some of national and international importance. Not only do they have wonderful exteriors but also magnificent interiors, many unspoilt by the ravages of The Reformation, The Civil War et al. They are important in the history of the County of Norfolk and for links to continental Norfolk, England Europe and the United States.

Norfolk Churches are popular with visitors, because many are open and welcoming, and many thousands visit annually. I have many interesting stories to tell of the churches.

Contact: Jennie Hawks Telephone: 01603 882373 or 07799703803 Email: jennie.hawks@norwich.anglican.org Website: www.norwich.anglican.org 143

ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Julie Kelley

Ludo Keston

Grounds and Maintenance Manager

Chief Executive Coventry Heritage and Arts Trust

More than ten years’ experience at Warwick Castle.

Her career began as a guide. Currently responsible for team of maintenance and groundsmen.

Ludo Keston is the Chief Executive for Coventry Heritage and Arts Trust. Since taking over the Trust in July 2008 the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum has increased its visitors from 55,000 to 320,000 over a three-year period. The venue was also a finalist in the art fund prize 2010 and won the Guardian Kids In Museums Best Family Friendly Museum in 2010.

Julie has good knowledge of both castle and grounds including the ‘Capability’ Brown landscapes.

She has experience of offering tours.

Topic of interest History, heritage and gardens.

Contact: Adam Butcher Telephone: 01926 406603 Email: Adam.butcher@warwick-castle.com Website: www.warwick-castle.com 144

Warwickshire, England

Warwickshire, England

Contact: Jamie Perry Telephone: Via Press Officer - Sally Johnson 024 76 294735 or Jamie Perry Head of Marketing & Communications 07971 869030 Email: sally.johnson@theherbert.orgludo.keston@theherbert.org Website: www.theherbert.org

Index

ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Christopher Margrave

Eleanor Marsden

Head Gardener, Clumber Park

Director of Development, Chawton House Library

Areas of expertise – general gardening, especially cultivation of fruits and vegetables, and gardens, especially walled kitchen gardens. Interest in conservation of garden plants and history and cultivation of rhubarb.

Appearance fee may apply.

Nottinghamshire, England

Contact: Lauren Taylor / Harvey Edgington Telephone: 020 7799 4548 / 020 7799 4547 Email: lauren.taylor@nationaltrust.org.uk / Harvey.Edgington@nationaltrust.org.uk Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/clumberpark Index

Eleanor works in the heritage and tourism sector as a senior director of a Hampshire historic house, and is passionate about promoting the UK’s beautiful, interesting attractions to a wide audience. With family links to TEFL teaching, Eleanor grew up surrounded by multilingual and multinational students taught by her mother, and went on to pursue an active interest in languages and history, studying History of Art and English to MA level and Hampshire, England also trying her hand at learning French, Greek and Italian along the way, before marrying a Greek. Also an experienced actress, Eleanor has worked in theatre and as a voiceover artist and is told that by American colleagues that she both looks and sounds ‘typically English’! She has wide experience in fundraising and has always been a proud resident of the beautiful English counties of Surrey and Hampshire. History and tradition have always featured highly in her career, and are something she can speak about with great enthusiasm.

Contact: Susie Grandfield, PR Officer Telephone: 01420 541 010 Email: eleanor.marsden@chawton.net Website: www.castnetwebsites.co.uk/site/Eleanormarsden 145

ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Virginia Mayes-Wright

James McKay

Museum Manager, RNLI Grace Darling Museum

National Falconry School

Virginia Mayes-Wright has worked in a variety of museums in England and Scotland. Her last position was as Director of The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses. Virginia is passionate about enthusing visitors about the story of Grace Darling and her famous rescue of nine survivors from the wreck of the SS Forfarshire in 1838. Grace Darling exhibited courage and dependability in the rescue and trustworthiness and selflessness in her actions after the rescue; values of the RNLI today.

The National Falconry School is an organisation which exists to promote the conservation, through education, of raptors (i.e. birds of prey and owls). We have an enviable reputation among those in the know, and have supplied owls for the Harry Potter films, having been recommended to Warner Brothers.

Northumberland, England

The School runs courses and encounter days for those who share our fascination and passion for Nottinghamshire, England owls, falcons, hawks and other raptors. In order to reach as wide an audience as possible, we take our Roadshow throughout the UK, giving displays at events from Hampshire to Perthshire, and many places in between. These displays are renowned for their sheer professionalism, and the passion which the team has for their subject. It is this passion, coupled with a breath taking display, which makes the National Hawking School's display team stand head and shoulders above the crowd.

James McKay is a zoologist and former CEO of the UK's National Federation of Zoos, who is known to thousands as "THE ANIMAL MAN", thanks to innumerable appearances on television, including Blue Peter, Calendar, Midlands Today, Central News, Look North, News at Ten, BBC News, GMTV, It's A Vet's Life, "Tracks", "Watchdog", and BBC Breakfast News.

A trainer of animals for TV and films, James is also a regular contributor to many radio programmes, newspapers and magazines, and is the author of many books on animals and animal-related subjects. He works as a consultant for BBC TV and various veterinary medicine companies and animal feed manufacturers.

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Virginia Mayes-Wright Telephone: 01668 214910 Email: virginia_mayes-wright@rnli.org.uk Website: www.rnli.org.uk/gracedarling 146

Contact: Erin Huckle Telephone: 0115 962 8300 / 07411 355 293 Email: erin.huckle@experiencenottinghamshire.com Website: www.falconry-school.co.uk/old/hawking.html Index

ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Pru Porretta Coventry's Modern Day Lady Godiva

Warwickshire, England

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The story of Lady Godiva and her ride through the streets of Coventry is legendary worldwide. Today that legend is relived by Pru Porretta. Elected in 1982 as the official Coventry Lady Godiva, Pru is the only woman in Coventry’s history to have reenacted the famous ride many times in the city’s major Godiva procession, a tradition since 1678.

Pru is an expert local historian, co-director of a local business and founder of both the Godiva Association and the Godiva Sisters annual project.

Pru interprets the spirit of Godiva for modern times through these routes:

Corporate: Pru is proud to have looked after the arrangements for key global companies and organisations such as Severn Trent, Warwick University, Coventry University, Cable and Wireless, Civic Trust, English Heritage, Thomsonfly, Niace, Visit Britain and Mensa Conference leadership, event opening speeches, after-dinner speeches Organisation and leadership of Coventry familiarisation workshops International ambassador for Coventry in Germany, Belgium, Ireland and Serbia Qualified Heart of England Green Badge Tourist Guide for Coventry, winner of the City’s highly coveted “sustained contributor to tourism award”.

Qualified Faith Guide Equity member. Also Rotarian, Soroptimist and City Ambassador Community: Founder of the annual ‘Godiva Sisters’ project promoting social inclusion, winner of Coventry’s Social Cohesion Award 2011 Co-founder and an integral part of Imagination Reading Café storytellers for children Patron of the Resource Centre for the Blind, Coventry

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Host and committee member of the annual multi-cultural ‘Positive Images’ three-week festival Chair of Coventry Women’s Forum, plus International Women’s Day Festival Trustee of the city’s Multi-Faith Forum, Coventry University’s Chancellors Forum member Vice Chair of Coventry Association for International Friendship Pru organises and runs historically authentic workshops for schools and universities Pru was awarded an honorary MA degree from Coventry University in 2001 for her work in the community MBE for services to Community Cohesion and to the Tourist Industry in Coventry The Queen's Golden Jubilee Award for Voluntary Service by Groups in the Community (MBE equivalent) was awarded to Imagination Storytelling Café.

Pru has enormous energy and imagination, expressed through her many projects and activities. Her gifts of patience and tenacity, her faith in people and in what they can achieve, have persuaded many people to turn wonderful dreams into present realities. People respond to her irrepressible humanity and radiant smile.

Pru has put the clothes back on Godiva and re-acquaints us with the warm spirit that underpins the tale.

Contact: Pru Porretta Telephone: 07973 654569 / 024 7659 8901 Email: godiva@associate.co.uk pru@porretta.co.uk Website: www.godivainspires.co.uk

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147

ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Steve Richardson, Maximus, Roman Centurion.

Freelance historical interpreter I provide costumed education workshops in school and at heritage sites and family entertainment at special events in and around Hadrian's Wall country as 'Maximus' the Roman Centurion.

I have been self-employed for nearly five years after leaving my job as a museum assistant due to the demand for my workshops. Current clients include English Heritage, Tyne and Wear Museums, The National Trust, Children North East, numerous NewcastleGateshead, England local authorities and schools and Harrow school.

I have recently added workshops as Anglo–Saxon and Viking warriors, a Roman gladiator and a Greek Hoplite commander who has entered his new recruits into the ancient Olympic games as part of their training. More details are on my website.

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Newcastle/Gateshead Quayside. A stunning redevelopment of the Quayside area.

Contemporary arts and music at the Baltic and the Sage. A short stroll across the Millennium Bridge for cafés and bars to suit every taste.

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Grainger Town. At the heart of Newcastle find classically inspired streets with more than 200 listed buildings. Admire the architecture and enjoy a high-quality and varied shopping experience too.

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Hadrian's Wall. Step back in time and re-visit the might of the Roman Empire.

Forts, museums, market towns with unique local produce on offer and stunning views across the Northumbrian countryside can be found along the wall.

Contact: Steve Richardson Telephone: 0191 2895143 / 07914 092103 Email: maximusvi@blueyonder.co.uk

Hadrian’s Wall Northumberland, England

Website: http://maximusvi.terapad.com/ 148

Index

ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Pippa Shirley

Alexandra Sitwell

Head of Collections, Waddesdon

Owner of Renishaw Hall, Derbyshire

Pippa Shirley, Head of Collections, is a very knowledgeable art historian who has been at Waddesdon for ten years. She can speak about the permanent Rothschild collection and the contemporary work on display. Also the history of the house and grounds.

Alexandra is a very active part of Renishaw Hall and, as owner, she is involved in the day-to-day running of this historic estate. She has experience in media, events and cultural sectors and has a great network of friends and colleagues to support UK tourism.

Appearance fee may apply.

Other languages: Some French.

Buckinghamshire, England

Contact: Suzy Barron Telephone: 01296-653233 / 222 Email: Suzy.barron@nationaltrust.org.uk Website: www.waddesdon.org.uk Index

Peak District, England

Contact: Jane Travis Telephone: 07779 586312 Email: media@renishaw-hall.co.uk Website: www.renishaw-hall.co.uk 149

ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Karen Snowden Head of Collections, Scarborough Museums Trust Karen has curated the new exhibition celebrating the charms and amulets collected by WC Clarke in Scarborough during the first part of the 20th Century. The exhibition covers stories about safety at sea, witchcraft and health amongst other folklores.

What else can you see:

Yorkshire, England 1. A kingfisher nailed to a ship’s mast to ensure good catch.

2. A Seagull heart impaled with pins to block evil spells.

3. Teeth in bags tied around infants necks to help cut teeth.

This intriguing exhibition opens 23 March and runs until 30 September at Scarborough Art Gallery.

Karen is also an expert on Scarborough as the first British Seaside resort and its development during the Victorian period.

Contact: Georgette Donoghue Telephone: Georgette Donoghue 01723 384515 / Karen Snowden 01723 384506 Email: Georgette.Donoghue@smtrust.uk.com / Karen.Snowden@smtrust.uk.com Website: www.scarboroughmuseumstrust.org.uk 150

Scarborough North Yorkshire

Index

ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Matt Spence Founder of leading UK self-catering company ‘Natural Retreats’ From humble farm beginnings in the Yorkshire Dales to working with the Rockefeller family in the US, luxury self-catering experts Natural Retreats have gone from strength-to-strength in a time of financial austerity. As travel trends move towards more customers staying locally, and looking for more engaging authentic experiences closer to home, Natural Retreats are set to continue with rapid growth in 2012.

Manchester, England Matt Spence, the gregarious founder of Natural Retreats had a vision to create luxury self-catering accommodation in areas of outstanding natural beauty; an ambition that began following childhood holidays spent in Yellowstone National Park in North America and his subsequent surprise honeymoon a few years later.

Natural Retreats currently has five sites in the UK, based in the Yorkshire Dales, Llŷn Peninsula, Fistral Beach, St. Austell Cornwall and the West Highlands; three properties in Ireland, Adare Manor, Castlemartyr and Parknasilla; one site in Lanzarote (opened October 2011) and two sites in the US, South Fork Lodge in Idaho (May 2011) and in Virginia Hot Springs (November 2011.)

“I am immensely proud of the Natural Retreats brand and the positive impact we have made on local economies and travel in the UK and USA. I love spending time with my family enjoying the great outdoors and I’m delighted to be able to provide luxury accommodation for other families to do the same. It’s important in this high-speed age that we take time to connect with our families and the environment and make the most of the stunning locations both countries have to offer,” comments founder Matt Spence.

Matt began his journey in the luxury self-catering market on his 22-hec family farm in the Yorkshire Dales that offered outstanding views across Yorkshire and the Swale Valley. In 2004 he decided to try and make his vision a reality in creating high-end, bespoke holiday residences on his family’s land, at a time when traditional sheep farming was extremely difficult. After two years of hard work assuring the local community that every property would be based on sustainable principles using local materials, sympathetically designed and in keeping with the local surroundings and that local builders and contractors would work on the development, Natural Retreats was founded.

2006 saw the opening of the flagship site in the Yorkshire Dales and set Matt on his path, utilising his own resources and engaging with, and working with, some of the country’s largest investors, he embarked on delivering his vision for a portfolio of luxury selfcatering residences across the UK in areas of outstanding natural beauty.

Contact: EJ Flynn (Grifco PR) Telephone: 020 7385 7090 Email: ej@grifcopr.com Website: www.naturalretreats.co.uk

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151

ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Lord Somerleyton

Joe Sumsion

Lord of the Somerleyton Estate

Director, The Dukes, Lancaster and also Chair of the Lancaster Arts Partnership

The Third Lord Somerleyton followed closely in his father's footsteps being educated at Eton but in a break from family tradition served with the Coldstream Guards between 1946 and 1956.

Like his grandfather Savile, the third Lord Somerleyton entered public service in 1972 when he was appointed a Lord-in-Waiting to Queen Elizabeth II and later became Master of the Horse, one of the three great offices of state, from 1991-1998 and was created a Grand Cross of the Victorian Order (GCVO) in that same year thus emulating his grandfather.

Joe has extensive experience in producing theatre and arts events in the North West of England. In 2002 when working for another North West company, Action Transport Theatre, he led a ground breaking project as part of the Cultureshock Festival connected to the Commonwealth Games.

Suffolk, England

The present Lord and Lady Somerleyton live at the Hall with their son John Crossley and continue to play an active role in the conservation of the Estate.

Lord Somerleyton has played an active role within the tourism industry developing visitors services on the estate, and chairing a local tourism forums.

Lancashire, England This international project led to an award-winning partnership with a new theatre company from Soweto in South Africa, with joint productions being made and presented in both countries over the following three years.

The Dukes is currently producing “Sabbat: The Trials of the Lancashire Witches� for performance on tour in Lancashire and England. The Lancashire Witch trials are the most famous witch trials in British history and as such are a key part of our heritage. 2012 is the 400th anniversary of the trials and the production will provide a fascinating insight for visitors into English history.

The Dukes work with young people directly connects to the Cultural Olympiad. We are involved in the Blaze project and we will also be running a poetry project with young people which will result in new poems being created connected to the themes of the Olympics. The winning poem will be developed into a permanent art work by a professional artist in time for National Poetry Day on Saturday 6th October.

As Chair of the Lancaster Arts Partnership Joe can also speak about a range of excellent arts organisations in and around Lancaster.

Contact: Hugh Crossley Telephone: 01502 734901 Email: crossley@somerleyton.co.uk Website: www.somerleyton.co.uk 152

Contact: Joe Sumsion, Louise Bryning (Press officer) Telephone: 01524 598502 / 01524 598509 Email: jsumsion@dukes-lancaster.org / lbryning@dukes-lancaster.org Website: www.dukes-lancaster.org

Index

ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Len Sweales

Amanda Thompson

Town Crier, Wells, Somerset

Managing Director of Pleasure Beach Blackpool and Stageworks Worldwide Productions

Len Sweales is the Town Crier; his striking uniform includes a large hand bell to ring.

Len is a larger-than-life character, an excellent and knowledgeable speaker.

Len gives guided tours of the ancient City of Wells, England’s smallest city.

The Mary Bignall Rand gold-medal long jump memorial is seen in the pavement of the market square in the picturesque historic city centre; it shows the actual distance jumped.

Contact: Mr Len Sweales Telephone: 01749 673091 Email: clof@wells.gov.uk / len.sweales4@btinternet.com Website: www.wells.go.v.uk Index

Somerset, England

Amanda is immensely proud of Great Britain hosting the 2012 Olympic Games. Her great grandfather founded Pleasure Beach Blackpool in 1896 and it has today evolved under her family’s ownership and management into one of the biggest and most-loved tourist attractions of Great Britain. Amanda reflects the best of British and would make an excellent spokesperson for the Olympic Games.

Lancashire, England

Contact: Daniel Thompson Telephone: 01253 336329 Email: Daniel.thompson@bpbltd.com Website: www.pleasurebeachresorts.co.uk / www.amandajthompson.com 153

ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Mark Vance

Will Watts

Freelance historic re-enactor and swordsman, Kenilworth Castle.

Head of Public Programmes / Rotunda Museum, Scarborough Museums Trust

Mark is an accomplished historic re-enactor, horse rider and swordsman, expert in a number of different historical periods including medieval, Tudor, Elizabethan, Civil War and Victorian.

Will is widely known as the Dinosaur man in Scarborough and beyond.

Topic of interest History and heritage, re-enactment.

Appearance fee may apply.

Warwickshire, England

Raised as geologist he has spent 10 years showing the world why Scarborough and its coastline are so important for the 200 million years of Earth History they contain.

Yorkshire, England

Three things not to be missed: 1. Dinosaur Footprints, 100’s now known, from the Jurassic period.

2. Sea Dragons, creatures from prehistoric times that swam our seas.

3. The Rotunda Museum, an iconic 182 year old museum built with one purpose in mind, to display geology.

Contact: Holly Woodward Telephone: 01926 857482 Email: Holly.woodward@english-heritage.org.uk Website: www.english-heritage.org.uk/kenilworth 154

Contact: Georgette Donoghue Telephone: Georgette Donoghue 01723 384515 / Will Watts 01723 384510 Email: Georgette.Donoghue@smtrust.uk.com / Will.Watts@smtrust.uk.com Website: www.scarboroughmuseumstrust.org.uk / www.rotundamuseum.co.uk/rotunda-museum/visiting-information Index

ENGLAND

HERITAGE

Simon Wildgust

Cynthia Woodward

Operations Manager, Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth

Housekeeper, Stoneleigh Abbey

The Spinnaker Tower is one of Britain’s national icons. At 170 metres tall, it is a beacon of the South Coast and has showcased Britain’s best view to 2.5m visitors since it opened in 2005. Simon Wildgust, Operations Manager at the Spinnaker Tower is responsible for its smooth running and is a key part of the tower’s overwhelming success.

Cynthia is very enthusiastic and passionate about Stoneleigh Abbey and has a lot of knowledge on Jane Austen and her visit in 1806.

Appearance fee may apply.

Warwickshire, England

Portsmouth, England Whether it’s co-ordinating the abseiling, arranging the changing of light bulbs on the tower’s spire or navigating behind the scenes and exploring the hidden workings of the famous structure, Simon is constantly working to ensure the tower remains the highlight of every local, national and international tourist’s visit.

Contact: Ellie Stokes Telephone: 02392 857 534 Email: estokes@spinnakertower.co.uk Website: www.spinnakertower.co.uk Index

Contact: Paula Cornwell Telephone: 01926 858585 Email: enquire@stoneleighabbey.org Website: www.stoneleighabbey.org 155

GUERNSEY

HERITAGE

Gill Girard

Peter de Sausmarez

Gold Accredited Tour Guide

Owner of Sausmarez Manor

Locally born, Gill leads a wide variety of tours (walking, private car, coach or mini bus) and has a keen interest in local history that includes Victor Hugo, the German Occupation and the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society novel, Lihou Island, St Sampsons harbour, foraging countryside walks.

Peter de Sausmarez runs a very successful tourist attraction in Guernsey from his historic house, which has been in his family since around 1220. He has served in the armed forces, carried the Colour at the Queen’s Birthday Parade at Horse Guards in 1962, worked at Christies, the Sunday Times and The Times, before returning to Guernsey to help develop and run the family home. He is chairman of the Association of Places of Particular Interest representing the independent tourist attractions.

Guernsey

Guernsey

His proudest achievement is the Wild Sub Tropical Garden developed over the last 25 years with enchanting collections of exotic plants, trees, and shrubs which appears in ‘1001 Gardens you must see before you die’ several Gardening programs in Britain and abroad as well as Country Life, English Garden etc and has been a partner garden to the RHS for a number of years.

His was the first ‘Stately Home’ to have a Sculpture Park, open daily to the public, and has actively encouraged other similar establishments to do the same, with great success. The spin off website www.artparks.co.uk has grown to be possibly the most comprehensive in Britain much visited by collectors and specifiers.

He recommends the wide variety of other unusual and enchanting public and private gardens in the Islands that can be viewed at any time or by request, which are visited by garden groups from all over the world. He highly recommends Gill Gerrard for her informative and interesting tours and her fascinating historical knowledge of the Islands of Guernsey.

Other languages: Some French.

Contact: Gill Girard Telephone: 07781 104094 / 01481 252403 Email: gillgirard@yahoo.co.uk Website: www.gillgirardtourguide.com 156

Contact: Peter de Sausmarez Telephone: Work: 01481 235571 / Home: 01481 235655 Email: sausmarezmanor@cwgsy.net / peter@artparks.co.uk Website: www.sausmarezmanor.co.uk / www.artparks.co.uk Index

ISLE OF MAN

HERITAGE

Katie King

Matthew Richardson

Community Engagement Officer, Manx Museum, Manx National Heritage, Isle of Man.

Curator: Social History, Manx National Heritage, Isle of Man

I was born and raised on the Isle of Man, and have always been very proud of my Manx Heritage. I trained to be a Museum curator in the UK, and was delighted when I was able to return to the Isle of Man seven years ago to work for Manx National Heritage. I love working on the Isle of Man – the Island is really beautiful, I get to work with amazing Isle of Man people and the pace of life is much calmer here! My job involves engaging local people with their heritage and using our collections to inspire. As well as a museum curator I am also a qualified adult teacher.

Contact: Katie King Telephone: 01624 648000 Email: Lynsey.radcliffe@gov.im / direct katie.king@gov.im Website: www.manxnationalheritage.im

Index

Almost twenty years experiences in the museums/archives/heritage sector. Experience in putting together numerous exhibitions on various aspects of UK/Isle of Man history, speaker at conferences and lectures, author of six books on various historical subjects, contributor to historical magazines and journals.

Appearance fee may apply.

Isle of Man

Contact: Lynsey Radcliffe Telephone: 01624 648000 Email: Matthew.richardson@gov.im

157

NORTHERN IRELAND

HERITAGE

Colin Cobb

Paul Louden-Brown

Founder and owner of the Titanic Walking Tour

Maritime Historian

2012 marks the centenary of Titanic’s fateful maiden voyage where more than 1,500 people lost their lives. Titanic was built in the shipyards of Belfast and Colin’s Titanic Walking Tour explores the history and the area that created the largest, man-made object of its time. Colin is a self-professed Titanorak and animatedly leads his guests through history.

Titanic is perhaps the most famous of all ships and its name known all around the globe, especially due to the success of the movie Titanic in 1997 starring Leonardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet.

Northern Ireland

2012 is a momentous year for Northern Ireland and Belfast in particular. April 2012 marks the centenary of Titanic’s maiden voyage and tragic end.

Titanic was built in Belfast and her story can be discovered throughout the city. Find out much more about the world’s most famous ship in conversation with Paul Louden-Brown, a maritime historian specialising in Titanic. Paul is much in demand by documentary programme and film-makers from around the globe. He was the only British consultant Northern Ireland on James Cameron's multi award-winning Titanic. As well as being a published author Paul is a curator and consultant on exhibitions and wreck recovery dives. The Paul Louden-Brown White Star Line Collection was acquired by National Museums Northern Ireland last year as part of the national maritime collection and is currently on display in the TITANICa Exhibition at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, County Down. Paul was also a consultant on the planning of Titanic Belfast, the world’s largest Titanic exhibition.

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Colin Cobb Telephone: 02890 249391 Email: info@titanicwalk.com Website: www.titanicwalk.com 158

Contact: Paul Louden-Brown Telephone: 02889 522150 Email: plb@whitestarlinearchive.com

Index

NORTHERN IRELAND

HERITAGE

Tim Husbands

Susie Millar

CEO – Titanic Belfast

Owner and founder of Titanic Tours

Tim’s career has been heavily focused around the Northern Ireland tourism industry, having spent 16 years at Belfast Waterfront Hall. Tim is now overseeing Titanic Belfast, the world’s largest Titanic visitor experience.

Susie Millar, broadcaster and journalist, conducts guided Titanic Tours all around Belfast, exploring all the notable sites of Titanic Town where this legendary ship was conceived and built. Susie is the great-granddaughter of Thomas Millar, who worked in Harland & Wolff on the construction of Titanic and then sailed on-board her as an engineer on the fateful maiden voyage to New York in April 1912.

Discover the history of Titanic and Maritime Belfast from Susie, who has a personal connection to this Northern Ireland most famous of tragedies. The centenary of Titanic’s maiden voyage took place in April 2012 and will be marked in its home city of Belfast by the Titanic Belfast Festival 2012 with a range of requiems, memorials and commemorations. April 2012 also saw the opening of the £97m Titanic Belfast Visitor Attraction – a state-of-the-art six-storey Titanic experience, built at the head of the slipways from which Titanic was built and launched.

Tim can describe in detail the iconic six-floor building featuring nine interpretive and interactive galleries, including a dark ride and recreation of the ship’s decks and cabins, that explore the sights, sounds, smells and stories of Titanic, as well as the city and people who made her.

Northern Ireland

The building will also house temporary exhibitions, a 1,000-seat banqueting suite with panoramic views over the river Lagan, education and community facilities, cafés and restaurants, retail space and an Ocean Exploration Centre. With 400,000 visitors expected annually, Tim is well-versed in the tourism benefits that Titanic Belfast will bring to Northern Ireland. Before assuming his role as Titanic Belfast CEO in May 2011, Tim was Managing Director of the Belfast Waterfront Hall, which generates more than 300,000 visitors each year, from 1994 until May 2011, arriving in Belfast two years before the facility opened. For five years he has also been responsible for the operation of the Ulster Hall, another major player in the city’s arts and entertainments provision. In 2009 Tim assumed the position of Head of City Events and Venues, which saw him take the lead in the delivery of all major events in the city, including the Tall Ships Festival in 2009 and the securing of the MTV Music Awards for Belfast for November 2011

Contact: Stakeholder Communications - Ashleigh Sinclair / Mark Sterling Telephone: 028 9033 9939 / 07554 855 820 (Ashleigh) / 07858 045 418 (Mark) Email: Ashleigh@stakeholdergroup.com / Mark@stakeholdergroup.com Website: www.titanicbelfast.com

Index

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Susie Millar Telephone: Telephone: 02890 659971 / Mobile: 07852 716655 Email: info@titanictours-belfast.co.uk Website: www.titanictours-belfast.co.uk 159

NORTHERN IRELAND

HERITAGE

Graham Thompson Project Director - Giant’s Causeway National Trust Graham is the National Trust's Project Director for the Giant's Causeway. His primary roles are to ensure the conservation and integrity of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and its setting and that any new developments in the vicinity of the Causeway (including visitor facilities) offer a balance between providing access, promoting economic regeneration and conservation. The Giant’s Northern Ireland Causeway is Northern Ireland’s most iconic location and its only UNESCO World Heritage Site. Prince Charles is President of the National Trust. The new visitor’s centre is due to open in Summer 2012.

This modern building designed by award winning architects Heneghan Peng sees an investment of £18.5m. This iconic attraction will boast ‘world class’ interpretation, exhibitions, retail, catering and tourist information that will benefit the Causeway Coastal Route Region, which Michael Palin described as “one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world”. In addition, the investment in the surrounding rail network will complement the new facilities. The completion of this state-of-the-art visitor facility will greatly enhance the experience at the Giant’s Causeway and encourage even more people to explore all that the Causeway Coastal Route has to offer.

Contact: Valerie Newell – PA to Graham Thompson Telephone: 028 975 12342 Email: Graham.Thompson@nationaltrust.org.uk / Valerie.Newell@nationaltrust.org.uk Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk 160

Giant’s Causeway Northern Ireland

Index

SCOTLAND

HERITAGE

Brigadier David Allfrey MBE Chief Executive and Producer at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo David recently retired from the Regular Army to become Chief Executive/Producer of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Charities Ltd and The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Ltd. A varied 33-year military career included command of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (SCOTS DG) - including two operational tours in Kosovo - and 51 (Scottish) Brigade based in Stirling. His portfolio as a producer includes: The Scotland Navy - A Fantasy (Dartmouth 1987), Waterfest (Weymouth 1993), 50th D-Day Commemorations on the South Coast (Weymouth, Portland and Bournemouth 1994), the SCOTS DG musical ride Coming Home (1994), Scotland Forever at the Tattoo and a major Usher Hall Concert (1994), Waterloo (Richmond Castle 1995), Parallel Tracks (SCOTS DG album featuring Mark Knopfler) and, more recently, Armed Forces Day celebrations in Scotland and The Pipers’ Trail, which toured Scotland, showed at the Edinburgh Fringe and was awarded the Marketing Society Award for Best PR Campaign in Scotland in 2009.

Musicians from Switzerland, Norway and Australia will be among the sparkling line-up at this summer’s 62nd Tattoo. As part of this year’s international celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen’s accession to the throne, the Tattoo’s Diamond Jubilee themed production is Scotland’s Salute to the Monarch and is set to be one of the most impressive ever staged.

The programme will include music, action and colour with a touch of the unexpected, where traditional items will be matched by exciting new contributions to add to the Tattoo’s long list of alluring attractions, which continues to grow after six decades.

With state-of-the-art production technology, including 21st century surround sound, compelling graphic installations and ultra-modern lighting, the 90-minute show – which will also celebrate the Year of Creative Scotland as a light is shone on some of this country’s creative assets – is expected to dazzle a worldwide audience.

He sits on the Board of the Edinburgh Tourism Action Group and is a destination ambassador for the City of Edinburgh. A visiting professor of Festivals and Event Management at Edinburgh Napier University, he travels extensively in support of the International Association of Tattoo Organisers. His interests include: his family, all forms of music and performance art, furniture-making, oil and watercolour painting, travel and the countryside.

Contact: Charlotte Gosling Telephone: 0131 529 7377 Email: charlotte.gosling@festivalsedinburgh.com Website: www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk

Index

Edinburgh Tattoo Edinburgh, Scotland

161

SCOTLAND

HERITAGE

Bob Downie Chief Executive, The Royal Yacht Britannia Following the decommissioning in 1997 of The Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh was proud to have the opportunity to play host to The Queen’s former floating palace. Britannia is now an exclusive evening venue and one of Scotland’s top visitor attractions, attracting 275,000 visitors a year. Since her arrival in Edinburgh, Bob Downie has been at the helm of The Royal Yacht Britannia, ensuring that the yacht is treated with Scotland absolute respect and attention, fitting to her former role. He was extremely proud last year to announce that we had broken our own Scottish record for the VisitScotland Quality Assurance programme, achieving a score of 95.65% which is a reflection of the commitment and pride of the team on board. During her 44 years of service, Britannia travelled over a million miles around the world on official state visits, Royal tours and British industry promotion. She called at 600 ports, visiting 135 countries, and undertaking 596 official visits. Britannia is now a charitable trust and Bob Downie is committed to ensuring that she is maintained and preserved for future generations to come. Formerly a staff of 250 would have served on board. Now with 130 staff, the ship is very well looked after and the team of 15 maintenance staff and seven housekeepers keep her in wonderful condition. Five years ago, Bob invited several members of the Royal Association of Yachtsmen for dinner on Britannia and the Yacht is now the official headquarters for the Association of Royal Yachtsmen, or the ‘Yotties’ as they were affectionately known. The Yotties now return to the Yacht for a week every year, reliving life on board, entertaining visitors and helping the permanent staff on board. This year almost 100 Yotties spent a wonderful week in Edinburgh as guests of Britannia. The Yotties played one of their most important roles yet, however, during the celebrations for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (3 June).

They spent months of restoration and preparation, working with Britannia’s maintenance crew to get ready Britannia’s Royal Barge and two escort boats for the Thames pageant when they once again carried HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at the start of the pageant. It was a proud moment for the former crew and no doubt a poignant one for the royal party. The Royal Yacht was a floating palace, an ambassador ship, but also most importantly, home for The Queen and the royal family. They spent their annual holiday, two weeks sailing around the Western Isles of Scotland every year, and it was said to be the one place The Queen ‘could truly relax’. The ship held a very special place in her heart and it is said she shed a tear when Britannia was decommissioned. Now, at the heart of everything we do on board is to protect Britannia in every way possible, almost as if The Queen was still on board. Bob is also champion for customer experience in Scotland, inspiring the highest levels from his staff and driving up standards across the industry in Scotland, also ensuring that the same standards of excellence are experienced on board Britannia now as when the yacht was in service to The Queen, entertaining kings and queens and presidents around the world. A well respected figure in Scottish tourism, so passionate is he about customer experience, he set up the UK Customer Experience Conference in Scotland in 2003. He realised the importance of putting the customer at the heart of the business and set up what is now a major conference to bring more awareness and importance to the subject in Scotland. The conference features international keynote speakers and attracts over 250 delegates across all industry sectors.

Contact: Lynda Dalgleish / Lucy Caldwell Telephone: 0131 555 8800 Email: lyndad@tryb.co.uk / lucyc@tryb.co.uk Website: www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk 162

Index

SCOTLAND

HERITAGE

John Glen

Donald Smith

Tour Guide (plays the part of Robert Fergusson) The Real Mary King’s Close

Director Scottish Storytelling Centre

John has been a tour guide at our 5 star attraction for three years and has recently been promoted to team leader for the guiding team. He has vast experience of the site and his knowledge is second to none!

He is enthusiastic, passionate and has great insight into the history of Edinburgh.

Scotland

John can’t play the bagpipes or catch a haggis but he is a very proud Scotsman!

Donald Smith is an effervescent presence who is a passionate storyteller, as well as poet and historian, with the most memorable thundering boom of laughter that will never leave you once you hear it.

Donald Smith is Director of the Scottish Storytelling Centre, a post he has held since 2001 when the organisation was launched. Prior to this, he had been Director of the Netherbow Arts Centre. Smith was Scotland born in Glasgow, but was a "son of the Manse" and lived in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Stirling; he spent his summers in Northern Ireland, which helped awaken his appreciation of the Scots language after his very formal English-language upbringing. Smith studied English Literature and Classical Greek at the University of Edinburgh in the 1970s; later, he took a PhD. As a playwright, his first play, The Bothy, was produced in 1986; most recently Jekyll and Hyde: A Specimen for the Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature project. His first novel, The English Spy, was published in 2007. His most recent books were both about Robert Burns – the novel Between Ourselves and the biography God, The Poet and the Devil – both published in 2009.

Donald Smith is married with five children.

Other languages: Some Scots dialects and Gaelic.

Contact: Sam Spencer Telephone: 01904 527734 Email: sspencer@continuum-group.com Website: www.realmarykingsclose.com

Index

Contact: Charlotte Gosling Telephone: 0131 529 7377 Email: charlotte.gosling@festivalsedinburgh.com Website: www.edinburghfestivals.com 163

SCOTLAND

WALES

Richard Welander

Robin Llywelyn

Historic Scotland Head of Collections

Managing Director - Portmeirion Managing Director of Portmeirion for 28 years.

Grandson of Sir Clough Williams-Ellis who built the Village. Champion of tourism in North Wales/ Snowdonia.

Richard has extensive knowledge on all of the collections at Historic Scotland sites, has lots of interesting historical facts, is the person responsible for the cleaning of the Crown of Scotland – this happens once every five years. Extremely articulate and personable.

Other languages: Fluent Welsh.

Scotland

Contact: Jennifer Johnston-Watt Media and PR officer Telephone: 0131 668 8070 Email: Jennifer.johnstonwatt@scotland.gsi.gov.uk Website: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk 164

Wales

Contact: Meurig Jones Telephone: 01766 772306 / 07795 294825 Email: meurig@portmeirion-village.com Website: www.portmeirion-village.com Index

WALES

HERITAGE

Paul Lewin Managing Director – Ffestiniog Railway Oldest independent railway in the world. World pioneer in narrow gauge technology. Still builds steam engines and carriages in world's oldest railway workshop.

Wales

Contact: Paul Lewin Telephone: 01766 516072 Email: Paul.lewin@festrail.co.uk Website: www.festrail.co.uk

Index

Ffestiniog Railway Gwynedd, Wales

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MUSIC

Index

Countryside

Culture

Fashion

Food

Heritage

Music

Sport

LONDON

MUSIC

Alex Proud

Ed Carter

Owner & Managing Director, The Horse Hospital

Art producer and musician

Straight-talking Alex Proud founded Proud Group in 1994. He set up the publishing company, Vision On, in 1999, with renowned photographer Rankin. It was critically acclaimed and ran as an affiliate publishing company to Proud Galleries, printing over a million books. Proud Galleries was built on a concept of bringing accessible photography to everyone, comprising three exhibition spaces in Central London, England London, with locations in Embankment, Camden and Chelsea. A natural born impresario, Alex expanded the company to include live-music and photography with the opening of Proud Camden Bar and Gallery in Camden’s Stables market, in 2000. Alex moved the bar and live music venue into the 700-capacity Grade II Listed Horse Hospital also in the Stables in 2008.

Proud Cabaret was the next edition to Proud Group; opening in 2009 and modelled on a 1920s speakeasy, this decadent venue harks back to the illicit glamour of the Jazz age.

Proud Cabaret has now firmly established itself as one of the most luxurious and extravagant burlesque and cabaret restaurants in the country. Returning to his hometown of Brighton, Alex’s next project sought to rescue the historic Hanbury Ballroom from closure by re-opening the venue as Proud Brighton Ballroom. Alex has transformed the ballroom into the ‘retro supper club of the South’; from its last reincarnation as a mausoleum, following time as a boxing club, high-class private members’ bar and even an air-raid shelter in WW2.

Ed Carter is a musician and art producer.

He creates music as ‘Winter North Atlantic’ (described as ‘packed with duvet-snug melodies’ – The Wire), and is founding Director of Modular, which specialises in devising and producing largescale, inter-disciplinary artistic projects.

For 2012, Ed is the project lead for Flow, a collaboration with the Owl Project arts collective.

Flow is part of ‘Artists taking the lead’, one of twelve extraordinary public art commissions funded by the UK Arts Councils for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

NewcastleGateshead, England

Flow is a tidemill – a floating building on the River Tyne that generates its own power using a tidal water wheel. The building houses electro acoustic musical machinery and instruments that respond to the constantly changing environment of the river, generating sound and data. The instruments can also be manipulated by those who board the mill house, making each visitor’s experience unique. Flow launched in March 2012.

The success of Proud Group has earned Alex his reputation as a prominent commentator on photographic and media issues. He has been invited to sit on various judging panels including the Nikon Press Awards, Observer Hodge Awards and the CoolBrands Council and has also presented Channel 4’s ‘Picture This’ and BBC 2’s ‘House Proud’.

Contact: Alex Proud Telephone: 020 7482 3867 Email: alex@proud.co.uk Website: www.proud.co.uk

Index

Contact: Kathryn Goodfellow Telephone: 0191 2558580 / 07939 636429 Email: Kathryn.goodfellow@artscouncil.org.uk Website: www.modular.org.uk / www.flowmill.org / www.winternorthatlantic.com 167

ENGLAND

MUSIC

Monica Ferguson The Stables, Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes The Stables is one of the UK's top ten music venues with over 350 concerts and 250 education events each year.

The concert programme covers all musical genres and has featured artists as diverse as The Leisure Society, Sir James Galway, Mor Karbasi, Lesley Garrett, Carl Palmer, Joan Armatrading, I Fagiolini, Show of Hands, Amy Winehouse, Nigel Kennedy, Milton Keynes, England Martin Taylor, Raul Malo, 10cc, The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain, Jamie Cullum, The Unthanks, Sandi Thom, The Dhol Foundation, Julian Smith and Bill Wyman. It's also used as one of the leading comedy warm-up venues for the likes of Michael MacIntyre, Jack Dee and Lee Evans.

IF, the Milton Keynes International Festival, was produced by The Stables for the first time in 2010 with the support of Arts Council England to help develop the cultural infrastructure in Milton Keynes. It is now a biennial multi-art form festival with audiences in excess of 90,000.

"It's summer and you're hungry for side-splitting comedy, pro-active exhibitions, stonking bands, zany street theatre, acrobats, fireworks and all sorts of unpredictable happenings popping up in unexpected places. What other metropolis in Britain could give you such a feast of cutting edge culture? No, not Edinburgh. These days that's as predictable as a Tupperware party. I'm talking about Milton Keynes, the much-reviled (or, if you live there, ferociously defended) grid of concrete houses, concrete offices and concrete cows in Buckinghamshire. And, as of yesterday, the proud host of the world's newest festival... the whole festival is about confounding expectations. We may never look at Milton Keynes in the same way again." - Richard Morrison, The Times The great thing about Milton Keynes is that people are excited about building a new international city. They get involved whether they are a business or an individual. The Stables has one of the largest volunteer forces of any UK theatre, with nearly 300 people giving regular commitments to help out, whether that's serving behind the bar, working backstage or helping the marketing efforts. They all have different reasons for joining but fundamentally work together to deliver something unique for both the artists and the audience.

Contact: Rachel Chapman (The Stables Marketing Manager) Telephone: 01908 280814 (Admin) / 01908 280817 (Marketing Manager Direct Line) Email: rachel.chapman@stables.org Website: www.stables.org / www.ifmiltonkeynes.org (click on the 2010 festival for a sense of the 2010 event) 168

Index

ENGLAND

MUSIC

Jonathan Morley

Joseph Mount

Programme Manager, The Drum

Front man, Metronomy

Jonathan Morley is the Programme Manager for The Drum - Europe’s first arts centre dedicated to developing and promoting African, Caribbean and Asian arts and culture.

Front man for Metronomy, who produced the acclaimed album The English Riviera in 2011. It was subsequently short listed for the Mercury prize.

Joseph Mount was interviewed by UK and overseas media reflecting on his home town of Totnes, the English Riviera, and Devon.

It is a place where contemporary Black arts flourish and are enjoyed, nurturing and broadening the appreciation of these arts for audiences and participants from the whole community.

Other languages: Some French.

Birmingham, England

Devon, England

In particular, The Drum does a lot of work with members of the Jamaican community in Birmingham and is heavily involved in the Golden Jamaica event (TBC) taking place in Victoria Square to celebrate the 50th independence of Jamaica and the launch of the Olympic games. The Drum is also home to Frontiers, a fantastic Caribbean restaurant. Jonathan can talk extensively about the influence of Jamaican and Black culture in Birmingham, in particular within the arts, and the links with the Jamaican Track & Field team, which will be based in Birmingham in the build-up to the 2012 Games.

Contact: Jo Lumani Telephone: 0121 202 5072 / 07833 247629 Email: Jo.Lumani@marketingbirmingham.com Website: www.punch-records.co.uk

Index

Contact: Ian Weightman Telephone: 01782 680963 Email: Ian.iwms@virgin.net Website: www.metronomy.co.uk 169

ENGLAND

MUSIC

Julie Tait Director of Kendal Arts International, creators and producers of outdoor arts events and festivals and creators and producers of Lakes Alive, one of 3 North West Olympic Legacy projects Julie Tait, Director, Kendal Arts International has more than 20 years’ experience working in the cultural sector. She was Director of the National Association of Youth Theatres and has since worked with a broad range of international, national and local cultural organisations and public, private and third sector bodies. From 19892001 Julie was based in Birmingham and focussed Cumbria, England on arts tourism, community arts and arts in criminal justice initiatives. She also worked with Birmingham City Council on the Towards the Millennium Festival, a joint programme between Birmingham cultural organisations, the South Bank Centre, St David’s Hall in Cardiff and BBC Radio 3 where she developed and co-ordinated the artistic programme alongside Anthony Sargent (now CEO of The Sage) and Sir Simon Rattle. She worked on a number of additional festival developments including the Birmingham International TV and Film Festival and co-founded the Birmingham Book Festival in 1998. She produced the grand opening of the National Cycle Network for Sustrans and partners in 2000 in Centenary Square, Birmingham.

Since moving to Cumbria in 2001 Julie has focussed on developing and delivering projects which bring together the highest quality arts with the stunning and varied landscapes of the county. In 2006 she founded Kendal Arts International (KAI) and, in partnership with Manchester International Arts, piloted Mintfest (an International Street Arts Festival in Kendal) which has grown rapidly in scale and reputation. KAI is based in Kendal but works on a county-wide basis. Its current focus is the delivery of Lakes Alive, one of 3 official Olympic Legacy projects in the North West. KAI bid for and “won” £3 million of new money for Cumbria for Lakes Alive which aims to put the county on the map as the national centre of excellence for outdoor arts by 2013. It is Cumbria’s unique contribution to the build up to, celebration and legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. After just 3 years, Lakes Alive has generated widespread and unequivocal public acclaim and made significant measurable impacts on local economies, well-being and perceptions of place. It is increasingly being recognised as a driver for cultural tourism in the County.

Julie has been recognised at a regional level for her role in ensuring Cumbria benefits from London 2012 and at a national level where in March 2010 she was selected as one of 50 Women 2 Watch (a new list and programme which “celebrates women who are making a huge contribution to the rich cultural life of the UK, and have the potential to rise to the very top”. The 50 women were selected by a high profile judging panel, chaired by Jenni Murray OBE). Julie is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Topics of interest: Arts and Culture, Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival

Contact: Greg Stephenson Telephone: 01539 825 060 Email: gstephenson@cumbriatourism.org Website: www.lakesalive.org 170

Index

ENGLAND

NORTHERN IRELAND

Ammo Talwar

Stuart Bailie

Director of Punch Records, BASS Festival and Golden Jamaica

CEO, Oh Yeah Music Centre, Belfast & BBC Broadcaster

Ammo Talwar MBE is the founder and Chief Executive of Punch Records. He opened Punch Records, a record store dedicated to Black music and art in Birmingham in 1997. Quickly establishing itself as the key hub in Birmingham for DJs and musicians, the organisation branched out to organise large scale music events across the region, DJ competitions and finally began delivering educational workshops in 1999. In this early period Birmingham, England of growth, Ammo still found the time to organise some of the biggest Black music events of the 90s in the Midlands. Punch Records is the driving force behind the Golden Jamaica event (TBC) taking place in Victoria Square to celebrate the 50th independence of Jamaica and the launch of the Olympic games.

Ammo can talk extensively about the influence of Jamaican and Black culture in Birmingham, in particular within the arts, and the links with the Jamaican Track & Field team, which will be based in Birmingham in the build-up to the 2012 Games.

Stuart Bailie is the CEO of the Oh Yeah music centre, a dedicated home for music in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. He was a founder member of the organisation and has held the post since June 2008.

From 1988 to 1996 Stuart was on the staff of the NME (New Musical Express), rising to Assistant Editor in his last three years there. Since then, he has worked as a freelance journalist for Mojo, Uncut, Northern Ireland Q, The Times, The Sunday Times, Classic Rock and Hot Press. He has written sleevenotes for U2 and wrote the authorised story of Thin Lizzy, The Ballad Of The Thin Man in 1997.

He has been presenting a BBC Radio Ulster show each week since 1999. Stuart also has a popular BBC blog. He has been Associate Producer of several BBC TV music programmes, which were shown on BBC4 in 2010. He has also been the scriptwriter / researcher for a series of BBC Radio 2 documentaries on Elvis Costello Thin Lizzy and U2.

Stuart devised the Belfast Music Bus Tour, founded in 2009 and provided content for the iPhone app, Belfast Music. He worked with Oh Yeah to coordinate Belfast Music Week in 2011.

Other languages: A little French.

Contact: Jo Lumani Telephone: 0121 202 5072 / 07833 247629 Email: Jo.Lumani@marketingbirmingham.com Website: www.punch-records.co.uk/

Index

Contact: Stuart Bailie Telephone: 02890 310845 / 07808 585728 Email: stuart@ohyeahbelfast.com Website: www.ohyeahbelfast.com

171

NORTHERN IRELAND Jonny Tiernan

Shauna Tohill

Founder, AU Magazine

Manager/Singer/Songwriter/Performer

Jonny is the founding Publisher of Alternative Ulster, also known as AU Magazine. The magazine was dedicated to promoting the best of Northern Irish music and culture, and was one of the few media outlets championing the burgeoning indigenous music scene. The whole purpose of AU is to show there is talent from Northern Ireland that is on a par with talent from anywhere else in the world, and to showcase it in the best way possible.

Silhouette is the vision and work of a passionate Northern Irish songstress – Shauna Tohill. Her main focus is to inspire, touch and mend the hearts of anyone who is drawn in to listen. Silhouette’s music is a breath of fresh air combining different musical elements and instrumentation – drawn from Tohill’s eclectic taste and experiences. It is high energy, alternative pop laced with flavours of darkness, hope and desire. It MUST be experienced!!

Silhouette’s music is the sound of the ‘ni 2012: our Northern Ireland time, our place’ campaign created and developed by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to mark one of the momentous years in the region’s history. 2012 marks the coming on board of almost £300m investment in tourism infrastructure including the £97m Titanic Belfast visitor attraction, the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre and many other exciting projects. 2012 also sees Northern Ireland commemorate and celebrate a range of high profile historic dates and anniversaries such as the centenary of Titanic’s maiden voyage and tragic end, the 50th Ulster Bank festival at Queen’s, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and also the arrival of the Olympic & Paralympic Flame to its shores. 2012 is also Northern Ireland’s time to shine and there has never been a better time to discover what this region has to offer!.

The song ‘Can’t Keep Up’ was selected by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and it features on all of the adverts, showcasing the exciting year ahead in NI and its upbeat and lively tone and beat really sums up the excitement and growing energy that currently exists in NI in this special year. Silhouette is Shauna’s passion but in her spare time, she also plays bass with Rams Pocket Radio who have been doing exceptionally well throughout the UK. She also recently appeared with Snow Patrol during their MTV EMA performance and following that they invited her on the Irish and European leg of their recent tour.

Northern Ireland

2012 is also a special year for Northern Ireland with the coming on board of almost £300m investment in tourism infrastructure including the £97m Titanic Belfast visitor attraction, the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre and many other exciting projects. This is also Northern Ireland’s time to shine in 2012 and there has never been a better time to discover what this region has to offer.

Contact: Jonny Tiernan Telephone: 07816 216008 Email: Jonnytiernan13@gmail.com Website: www.iheartau.com 172

MUSIC

Contact: Shauna Tohill Telephone: 07742 865210 Email: stohill1@hotmail.com Website: www.silhouetteofficial.com

Index

SCOTLAND

MUSIC

Geoff Ellis CEO, DF Concerts and Events As a music fan first and foremost, living in the UK and specifically Glasgow, UNESCO city of Music, Geoff has been able to carve out a 20 year career dedicated to bringing the very best live music and events to Scotland and creating one of Europe’s biggest music festivals.

Hailing from Manchester England, Geoff started his career as Entertainments Manager at Scotland Middlesex Polytechnic in London – the highlight being booking The Stone Roses for one of their first concerts in the Capital. He then moved to the world famous Marquee Club before heading up to Glasgow in 1992 to join DF Concerts as promoter of the company’s legendary venue King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut and as the company rose to become one of the UK’s leading music promotion and event management companies, Geoff’s progression in turn led to his appointment as Chief Executive in 2001.

Geoff has been the driving force behind Scotland’s best music events and festival including T in the Park - pioneered stadium shows in the country as well as event managing other large scale cultural events including The Papal Visit to Bellahouston Park and Radiance – Glasgow’s Festival of Light, alongside his multi–skilled team.

T in the Park is a CarbonNeutral festival and has been awarded the prestigious Greener Festival Award for reducing its environmental impact in 2011 as well as being named Festival of the Year 2011 at the Music Week Awards and has won five various awards at the UK Festival Awards.

In 2010 Geoff was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the UK Festival Awards for this work in the industry and is also an executive committee member of the UK Concert Promoters Association, a board member of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and a member of the fundraising committee for Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland.

Top 3 tips for living and working in the UK: 1) Make the most of what’s on offer - if you want a career in music go to gigs (there’s great venues all over the country) and festivals.

2) Get to know your city - Glasgow has some amazing restaurants and green spaces and so many hidden gems, even after 20 years here I’m still discovering new places.

3) Make connections - never underestimate people power. In any line of work getting to know other people in the business, learning from them and working together is so powerful.

T in the Park is now entering its 19th year and plays host to 85,000 music fans each July (6-8th July 2012) and has been headlined by some of the biggest acts in the world including The Who, Blur, Rage Against the Machine, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Coldplay, Muse, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, The Killers and Eminem. The 2012 festival will see over 200 acts play across the weekend headlined by Snow Patrol, The Stone Roses and Kasabian.

Contact: Kirsty Atkinson Telephone: 0141 440 6761 / 07736 281 684 Email: kirsty@wire-media.co.uk Website: www.dfconcertsandevents.com / www.tinthepark.com / www.kingtuts.co.uk

Index

173

SCOTLAND

MUSIC

Dougie MacLean Singer-songwriter and composer Dougie MacLean OBE is one of Scotland's finest songwriter-composers, internationally renowned for his song 'Caledonia', music for 'Last of the Mohicans' and inspired performances worldwide - from New York's Carnegie Hall to London's Festival Theatre and The Sydney Opera House. MacLean's songs have been covered by Paolo Nutini, Amy MacDonald, Ronan Keating, Mary Black, Frankie Miller, Cara Dillon, Kathy Mattea and many other top performers.

He's recently received two prestigious Tartan Clef Scotland Awards, a place in the Scottish Music Hall of Fame and an OBE in the 2011 New Year Honours list.

‘Caledonia’ was recently voted one of Scotland’s best loved songs on the ITV Show ‘Scotland’s Greatest Album’. In 2005 Dougie and his family created a music festival, which takes place every autumn called Perthshire Amber, now in its eighth year was described as "Scotland’s most fascinating festival’ (Martin Buzacott, Australian Broadcasting Corporation), the ten-day festival shares MacLean's inspiring music, celebrates the history and culture of his Perthshire home and showcases its beautiful scenery. Perthshire Amber is an important part of Scotland’s musical calendar and in 2012 it drew around 7,000 visitors from 22 different countries to Perthshire in the heart of Scotland.

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Jude Henderson PR Telephone: 07739 791 792 Email: Judehendersonpr@gmail.com Website: www.dougiemaclean.com / www.perthshireamber.com 174

Atholl highlander, Blair Castle Tayside, Scotland

Index

SPORT

Index

Countryside

Culture

Fashion

Food

Heritage

Music

Sport

LONDON

ENGLAND

Lionel Price

Mark Banks

Retired, Former Olympian.

Chief Coach and Director of Rowing, Leander Club

Lionel Price was the youngest member of the 1948 British Basketball Team. It was Britain’s first Basketball team and they finished 20th.

He is 5ft 10 tall.

One of the country’s most successful rowing coaches.

• • •

Former chief coach to GB Juniors – six medals Former U23 coach – two gold medals.

Coached GB women to Olympic silver medals at Athens and Beijing.

London, England

Contact: Lionel Price Telephone: 020 7435 6028 Email: lioneljudy@aol.com 176

Oxfordshire, England

Contact: Dr Robert Treharne Jones Telephone: 07528 937 624 Email: press@leander.co.uk Website: www.leander.co.uk Index

ENGLAND

SPORT

Alex Bennett

Ben Brailsford

International Yachtsman

Sheffield 2012 Delivery Manager

Alex Bennett, Professional Yachtsman and author of High Seas, High Stakes says, "The English Riviera is a superb place to be. Beautiful scenery, great facilities for the holiday maker and, of course, a vibrant nightlife. The sailing grounds of Tor Bay often provide a perfect sheltered location for all water-sports activities. The region boasts two wellequipped marinas and I often use Tor Bay as a preferred training ground between competing in the big ocean races. Simply put, I love the English Riviera and everything it offers, that’s why I have made it my home."

Ben is the city lead contact for how the City of Sheffield is benefiting from the London 2012 Games.

Sheffield was the UK’s first National City of Sport.

Devon, England

Three Top Tips about sailing on the English Riviera: 1. The English Riviera’s Tor Bay was the Sailing Venue of the 1948 Olympic Games.

2. Tor Bay is part of the English Riviera Global Geopark, a spectacularly beautiful bay.

3. The English Riviera is great for learning to sail, cruising and racing.

Topic of interest Sport – Sailing Places/Travel English Riviera Global Geopark, South Devon, UK.

Contact: Alex Bennett Telephone: 07989 356291 Email: alex@alexbennett.co.uk Website: www.alexbennett.co.uk Index

Its industry still includes the specialist steel manufacturing on which its heritage is based, but has diversified into more sport, digital media and creative industries. Sheffield companies have been part of building the Olympic park in London, including the wood for the velodrome.

Sheffield, England

Sheffield is the only UK city to include a national park within its boundaries. Sheffield is the UK’s greenest city. Sheffield was where London 2012 chairman, Lord Sebastian Coe, went to school, and where he began his running career. Sheffield is now home to four GB Olympic high-performance centres and one Paralympic high-performance centre (boxing, table tennis, volleyball, diving and para-table tennis).

Over 70 athletes who could qualify for Team GB in the 2012 Games are based in Sheffield.

Jessica Ennis, former heptathlon world champion, was born and educated in Sheffield.

She still lives and trains toward the games in the city.

Topic of interest Sport Events Team GB

Contact: Ben Brailsford Telephone: 01142 736681 Email: Ben.Brailsford@sheffield.gov.uk Website: www.sheffield-lightingtheflame.com 177

ENGLAND

SPORT

Arran Brindle

Adrian Caddy

England International Women’s Cricketer/Teacher

Archer, based at Crowhurst Park Where better to site an archery centre than within an arrow’s flight of the site of the most famous battle of all, the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Archers of Battle have joined forces with the award-winning five-star self-catering holiday park, Crowhurst Park.

Arran is an England Women’s Cricketer and is also shortlisted as a Torchbearer.

East Lindsey, England

Archers of Battle’s roots are in the Field Archery discipline – making use of the unspoiled woods and pathways of Crowhurst Park’s beautiful parkland, with tournament standard 3-D targets by Rinehart of America. The grounds also now include conventional Target Ranges – up to (and beyond) the Olympic distance of 70 metres.

East Sussex, England

Topic of interest Sport.

Contact: James Gilbert Telephone: 01507 329583 Email: James.gilbert@e-lindsey.gov.uk Website: www.e-lindsey.gov.uk 178

Contact: Jane Ellis Telephone: 01424 451113 Email: jmellis@hastings.gov.uk Website: www.visit1066country.com Index

ENGLAND

SPORT

Keith Cook

Sir George Cox

Warwickshire County Cricket Club

President, Leander Club

Cricket Operations Manager who has managed player schedules, transport, accommodation and more since 1973. Famous cricketers who Keith has helped manage while at Warwickshire CCC include Brian Lara, Alan Donald, Ian Bell and Bon Willis.

Former international rowing coach and Olympic selector. Past Director General of the Institute of Directors and past Chair of the Design Council.

Pro-Chancellor of Warwick University.

Topic of interest Sport.

Warwickshire, England

Contact: The County Ground, Edgbaston, Birmingham Telephone: 0121 446 3657 Email: tomrawlings@edgbaston.com Website: www.edgbaston.com

Index

Oxfordshire, England

Contact: Dr Robert Treharne Jones Telephone: 07528 937 624 Email: press@leander.co.uk Website: www.leander.co.uk 179

ENGLAND

SPORT

Shaun Dawson Chief Executive , Lee Valley Regional Park Authority Shaun Dawson leads the organisation which has guaranteed the future of four London 2012 legacy venues.

Lee Valley Regional Park Authority will run: • the spectacular Olympic Velodrome and Lee Valley VeloPark • Lee Valley Hockey Centre – which will host the 2015 EuroHockey championships, the first major Middlesex, England sports event on Olympic Park after the Games • Lee Valley Tennis Centre • Lee Valley White Water Centre – the only brand new London 2012 venue to open to the public before the Games, and the first venue to secure a major sports events post Games, the 2015 World Canoe Slalom Championships

The four London 2012 legacy venues will become part of the 26 mile long, 10,000 acre Lee Valley Regional Park which runs from inner city east London through to Hertfordshire and Essex and is a major sport and leisure destination, attracting approaching 5 million visitors every year which already has a series of award winning sports venues.

Please note: Shaun has accreditation for Olympic Park throughout the Games, so can be easily available for interview, or in other places

Shaun is an experienced media interviewee, has made numerous UK and overseas TV and radio appearances, and is able to discuss the legacy of London 2012. He was involved in the bid to bring the Games to London from the outset and can provide insight and analysis on what it takes to deliver a legacy and the lessons cities can learn from London’s experience.

Shaun has extensive experience of running sports venues that balance commercial and community needs and can provide a fascinating perspective on the Games, legacy issues and the unique insights his organisation has developed from running a London 2012 venue before the London Games started.

Contact: Si Ling Pang / Vivek Chaudhary Telephone: Si Ling Tel: 01992 709 933 Mob: 07825 008 200 / Vivek Tel: 01992 709 818 Mob: 07709 330 287 Email: spang@leevalleypark.org.uk / vchaudhary@leevalleypark.org.uk Website: www.visitleevalley.org.uk/2012 180

Index

ENGLAND

SPORT

Rick Egington

Andrew Flintoff

Captain, Leander Club

Former Lancashire & England all-rounder cricketer

Member, GB rowing team, London 2012.

Olympic silver medallist, men’s eights, Beijing 2008.

World champion, men’s fours, 2009 and 2011. Multiple winner, Henley Royal Regatta.

Oxfordshire, England

Contact: Dr Robert Treharne Jones Telephone: 07528 937 624 Email: press@leander.co.uk Website: www.leander.co.uk Index

Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff MBE is a former English cricketer who played for Lancashire County Cricket Club, England and the Indian Premier League team Chennai Super Kings. A tall (6' 4") fast bowler, batsman and slip fielder, Flintoff –according to the ICC rankings – was consistently rated among the top international all-rounders in both ODI and Test cricket. His nickname "Freddie" or "Fred" comes Manchester, England from the similarity between his surname and that of Fred Flintstone. From his debut in 1998, Flintoff became an integral player for England, and has both captained and vice-captained the team. During the period 2007–09 he played in 13 of England's 36 Test matches, and remained a core member of the England squad, being selected whenever available. On 15 July 2009 he announced his retirement from Test cricket at the conclusion of the 2009 Ashes series on 24 August, but made himself available for future commitments in One Day International and Twenty20 International matches.

Contact: Katie Lydon - Merlin Elite Telephone: 0208 834 8900 Email: Katie.Lydon@merlinelite.co.uk Website: www.andrewflintoffofficial.co.uk 181

ENGLAND

SPORT

Sam Greetham Member the 2012 London Olympic Swimming Committee.

Sam, a native of Scarborough has been heavily involved in swimming for over 50 years, firstly as a successful competitor now as a coach and administrator for the sport.

Sam designed the open water swimming course at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and is currently working on designing the open water course on the Serpentine for the 2012 London Olympics.

Yorkshire, England

He is consultant for the SEASWIM, Scarborough based Cultural Olympiad project. Lara Goodband and John Clarke, project managers are listed as storytellers.

As a coach he has enjoyed success in Speed Swimming and Open Water swimming having coached several swimmers to national medals and international competition.

Sam is also a board member of British Swimming whom he represents on LEN (the European governing body for swimming), FINA (the world governing body for swimming) and the 2012 London Olympic Swimming Committee. This role involves flying all over the world organizing international competitions and advising, analyzing, appointing, investigating, studying and recommending rules, regulations, protocols, procedures, equipment and specifications regarding the preparations and execution of open water swimming events sanctioned and organized by FINA. Sam designed the open water swimming course at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and is currently working on designing the open water course on the Serpentine for the 2012 London Olympics. In recognition for his services to open water swimming he was a nominee for the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year.

Sam shone as a swimmer and water polo player and won several “Scarborough Castle Foot� open water sea swim races.

He is a Life member of Scarborough Swimming Club and has held the posts of Head Coach and President for more years than he would wish to recall. Scarborough Swimming Club was founded in 1893 and is one of the oldest clubs in the country.

Contact: Andrew Williams Telephone: 01723 23 3610 / 07976 465321 Email: Andrew.williams@scarborough.gov.uk Website: www.the2012londonolympics.com/forum/athletes-preparing-london-2012/13102-sams-setting-stage.html 182

Index

ENGLAND

SPORT

Sally Gunnell OBE Deputy Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex Winner of Olympic Gold in 400m hurdles and former world record holder in the event.

Deputy Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex.

Sussex, England

Contact: Jackie Ellis Telephone: 01273 622656 Email: jackie@tourism-angles.co.uk

Index

Arundel Castle West Sussex

183

ENGLAND

SPORT

Leo Houlding Climber, Adventurer and Motivational Speaker World-famous climber and adventurer, at the cutting-edge of extreme sports.

•

Along with friend Patch Hammond, he became the first Briton to free climb El Nino on El Capitan, USA, which he did virtually onsight.

Leo grew up in the Lake District, home of modern mountaineering, and ever since the age of ten he has been on an adrenaline-fuelled adventure to push himself and his sport to the limits, and has staggered the world with his exploits.

•

Completed the first free ascent of Fitzroys Casarotto Pillar in alpine style, caught in a vicious storm the ascent and descent took 56 hours non-stop.

•

With Sean Leary made the first team free ascent of El Capitan and Half Dome in one day. More than a mile of hard climbing that takes most teams more than a week.

•

Summitted Everest while filming The Wildest Dream. A movie depicting the last climb of George Mallory and Sandy Irvine who famously disappeared close to the summit in 1924. In movies theatres worldwide August 2010.

•

Became British Indoor Bouldering Champion in 1996 and 1998.

Cumbria, England

Leo has climbed some of the hardest routes in the world, and pioneered para-alpinism – climbing up a route and then BASE-jumping from the top.

Here are just a few of Leo’s achievements: •

In 2010 Leo Houlding successfully completed his long-term project by making the first ascent of The Prophet on El Capitan, Yosemite.

•

In 2009 he climbed Mount Asgard on Baffin Island. The team climbed the North West Face, which is in the shade 23 hours a day, battling ice storms, severe frosts and rock falls.

•

Climbed the sacred Mount Huashan in China – the first person to do so.

•

Made an alpine-style ascent of Fitzroy’s 1,400m North Pillar in Patagonia, which included a 17-hour abseil (this experience was the start of Leo’s interest in para-alpinism).

These are just a taster of Leo’s accomplishments; he’s also had his own TV show and famously raced Jeremy Clarkson up the Verdon Gorge for BBC’s Top Gear programme – Jeremy drove and Leo climbed. Leo won.

Contact: Leo Houlding Telephone: 01539 825060 Email: gstephenson@cumbriatourism.org Website: www.leohoulding.com 184

Index

ENGLAND

SPORT

Donna Kellogg

Ellie Koyander

University of Derby

Britain’s number one Freestyle Mogul Skier – Olympian 2010

I have participated in three Olympic Games as a badminton player. Retired in December 2009 and received MBE for services to Badminton, June 2010. I currently work as a Sporting Ambassador at the University of Derby.

Ellie is Great Britain’s number one Mogul skier and competes at an international World Cup elite level while still keeping up her education. At aged only 18, she was the youngest female member of Team GB at the recent 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Appearance fee may apply.

Peak District, England

Ellie is the first of a new generation of talented young British freestyle skiers achieving great success despite Peak District, England numerous hurdles to live and achieve their dreams. Ellie is the perfect role model and ambassador to inspire young people from any background, that it is possible to overcome all challenges, take on the world’s elite, and achieve the highest sporting accolade of becoming an Olympic athlete and have the honour of representing your country. Ellie is therefore well placed to be an excellent ambassador.

Ellie is currently working towards the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics where, given the strength of her programme and development, she intends to be a podium contender.

Contact: Joanna Colburn (University of Derby PR) / Donna Kellogg Telephone: 01332 593004 / 07775 036988 Donna Kellogg – 07974 201947 Email: J.Colburn@derby.ac.uk / D.Kellogg@derby.ac.uk Index

Contact: Peter Koyander (PK) Telephone: PK – work: 01246 200210 home: 01298 871365 mobile: 07970 412318 Ellie – home: 01298 871365 mobile: 07876 513596 Email: elliekoyander@googlemail.com Website: www.elliekoyander.com / www.ellie2014.com 185

ENGLAND

SPORT

Ivor Lloyd

Rusty Maclean

Chairman, Leander Club

Rugby School Archivist

Managing Director, Eton-Dorney Olympic rowing course.

Rusty MacLean is the Librarian and Archivist at Rugby School, and has been with the school since 1993. Rugby School is one of the most famous schools in the world, occupying a unique place in fact and fiction. Rusty can give a brief talk about the history of the school including the legacy left by Dr Arnold, its most famous headmaster, its connection with Tom Brown's Schooldays, its role in the birth of rugby football, and, of course how it helped inspire the modern day Olympics.

Former GB international rowing athlete and finalist at Henley Royal Regatta.

Oxfordshire, England

Warwickshire, England

Topic of interest History/Heritage.

Sport.

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Dr Robert Treharne Jones Telephone: 07528 937 624 Email: press@leander.co.uk Website: www.leander.co.uk 186

Contact: Jonathan Smith Telephone: 01788 556189 Email: JCS@rugbyschool.net Website: www.rugbyschool.net Index

ENGLAND

SPORT

Martin McElhatton

Terry Monnington

CEO of WheelPower, Ex-Paralympian

Director of Physical Education and Sport, University of Warwick

Chief Executive – WheelPower – owners of Stoke Mandeville Stadium.

Chair of Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Sport (Sport England), Terry is responsible for bringing three Olympic teams to train at the University of Warwick. He was responsible for establishing a training base for all teams (20+) playing matches in the Olympic football tournament at the Coventry Stadium.

Appearance fee may apply.

Buckinghamshire, England

Contact: Ian Seabrook Telephone: 01296 484848 Email: bdmstokemandeville@leisureconnection.co.uk Website: www.stokemandevillestadium.co.uk

Index

Warwickshire, England

Contact: Terry Monnington Telephone: 02476524639 Email: T.Monnington@warwick.ac.uk Website: www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/sportscentre/ 187

ENGLAND

SPORT

Tony Murray

Sally Parkin

Guide Dog Trainer, Leamington Spa / Coventry

Founder of The Original Surfboard Company

Training guide dogs with blind and partially sighted people and providing ongoing support.

Born in Devon in 1960 and surfing on wooden boards since 1965. Enjoys this simple form of surfing that’s sociable, easy to learn and great exercise – and you can do it from four to 84 years old.

There will be Guide Dog wwners competing in the Paralympics.

Warwickshire, England

Contact: Tony Murray Telephone: 07765 173623 Email: Tony.murray@guidedogs.org.uk Website: www.guidedogs.org.uk 188

Topic of interest Revival and heritage of wooden bodyboard surfing; origins of surfing; retro-style boards and vintage swimwear.

Devon, England

Contact: Sally Parkin Telephone: 01884 855475 / 07989 351257 Email: sally@originalsurfboards.co.uk Website: www.originalsurfboards.co.uk Index

ENGLAND

SPORT

Stuart Quarrie

Tony Rushmer

CEO of Cowes Week Limited

Racing PR Manager

A professional sailor who has been running the world’s best-known sailing regatta for over 10 years.

Sailing is one of the most successful sports for Britain in the Olympic Games, and many Olympians past and present race at the regatta.

If you ever attend the races at Newmarket, make sure you get close to the action for at least one contest: there’s nothing like the sight and sound of a full field charging just yards away from you. Take a trip, too, to the saddling enclosure: it’s fascinating to watch how trainers tack up their horses and the animals’ response to the interaction. Head to the winner’s enclosure after Frankie Dettori wins and plead him to do his trademark ‘flying dismount’ – always a winner.

Isle of Wight, England

Suffolk, England

Topic of interest Sport and History of Horseracing.

Contact: Grant Rowley Telephone: 0207 183 4610 Email: aamcowesweekpr@wsmcommunications.com Website: www.aamcowesweek.co.uk Index

Contact: Tony Rushmer Telephone: 01638 675 509 Email: Tony.rushmer@thejockeyclub.co.uk Website: www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk 189

ENGLAND

SPORT

Paul Smith

Jayne Torvill

Swimming School Owner and sea swimming instructor

Former Olympic ice-skating champion

Paul started a swimming school in Brighton when he was just 22 years of age. The school now teaches 1,000 children and adults a week, and has it’s own 20 metre swimming pool complex that they were able to save from closure and refurbish.

Jayne Torvill, OBE (born 7 October 1957) is a British ice dancer. With Christopher Dean, she won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics.

The school started the UKs first sea swimming course “Pool 2 Pier” in 2009 – which last year won Brighton, England the Sussex Business Award for Innovation. Brighton is a fantastic platform for new ideas and Paul felt if people would join up for a sea swimming course, it would be here!

Torvill and Dean's free programme at the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics, performed to the music of Maurice Ravel's Boléro, became world famous.

Nottinghamshire, England They received 12 perfect 6.0 marks, one of five occasions they were awarded all perfect scores for artistic impression. This is one of the most popular achievements in the history of British sport, watched by a British television audience of 24 million.

Jayne is still based in Nottinghamshire. She works with the National Ice Centre on its iceskating academy, to help encourage young people into the sport and create future ice sports Olympic champions.

Topic of interest Sport – Ice skating.

Former Olympic champion.

Contact: Paul Smith Telephone: 07703 218521 Email: paulsmith@brightonswimmingschool.com Website: www.brightonswimmingschool.com / www.pool2pier.com 190

Contact: Erin Huckle or Louise Stewart Telephone: Erin Huckle: 0115 962 8300 / 07411 355 293 / Louise Stewart: 0115 8533024 Email: erin.huckle@experiencenottinghamshire.com / louise.stewart@national-ice-centre.com Website: www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayne_Torvill / www.national-ice-centre.com Index

ENGLAND

SPORT

Dr Robert Treharne Jones

John Tweed

Olympic commentator, rowing journalist and photographer Press and PR Officer, Leander Club

Chief Executive, 2012 Sailing Venue

Has been appointed official Olympic commentator for rowing at London 2012. Granted Leander membership in 1984 for services to rowing.

Exceptional knowledge of the club, the sport and its athletes as well as the town of Henley.

Oxfordshire, England

John Tweed is Chief Executive of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy living in the Dorset region. The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) is a world-class sailing venue and effectively promotes the sport of sailing to all levels of competence and ability, through courses, training and events, while supporting and working closely with the local community. The WPNSA will be part of the venue for the sailing competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

Dorset, England

The WPNSA was developed to take advantage of what are recognised as some of the best small boat sailing waters on the planet. The combination of clean winds, sheltered waters and weak tides in the area is unique and this new world-class facility set in the centre of the Jurassic Coast, the only Natural World Heritage Site on the UK mainland, provides an unrivalled venue for training and sailing competitions. The WPNSA has won a number of environmental awards and is committed to sustainability in all of its operations.

Contact: Dr Robert Treharne Jones Telephone: 07528 937 624 Email: press@leander.co.uk Website: www.leander.co.uk Index

Contact: Kate Holmes, Fast Track Sailing Telephone: 020 7593 5265 / 0778 670 1118 Email: Kate.holmes@fasttracksailing.com Website: www.sebago.com 191

ENGLAND

SPORT Robin Wright MSc. FILM, FIL&T.

Georgie Twigg Final year at Bristol University reading Law A former pupil at Repton School Georgie played for England at hockey at U16, U18 and U21 levels and last year broke into the senior side. She now has 29 caps for GB and England and, in the last 12 months, has won bronze medals at the World Championships, the Commonwealth Games and the European championships. While at Repton Georgie also played for Derbyshire and the Midlands, winning national titles with both. Georgie was named England Hockey’s Young Player of the Year in 2009/10 and in 2010/11.

Director of Sport, University of Lincoln Robin was born and bred in Lincolnshire and has interests in sport at all levels – from grass roots in Lincolnshire to regional and national standard.

Currently Director of Sport at the University of Lincoln, his interests relating to 2012 include:

Bristol, England

•

• • • • • • • • •

Founder member of the Lincolnshire 2012 Lincolnshire, England Steering Group, and the Volunteer Champion 2012 Lincoln Lead Member on the Egyptian Training Camp Member of the Lincolnshire 2012 Internal Training Camp Group Board member of So Festival 2012 & East Lindsey Live Sport Makers Programme Tutor & Games Maker 2012 Press & PR Team Volunteer Lincoln City Torch Relay Group and Legacy Writing a Chapter in a book re 2012 and Volunteering; part of the Taking Part Programme Lindum to Lords Group Hosting HE/FE Lincolnshire Games on 4 May

He has been instrumental in bringing the Paralympics Egyptian team to Lincolnshire.

Other recent activities include sealing the deal with the Lincolnshire Cricket Board and City Council to bring back the Burton Road cricket ground to life. (See Lincolnshire Echo, 15.12.11).

Contact: Georgie Twigg Telephone: 07961 892001 Email: twiggysenior@hotmail.com Website: www.twitter.com/GeorgieTwigg 192

Contact: Robin Wright Telephone: 01522 837101 Email: rwright@lincoln.ac.uk Website: www.lincoln.ac.uk Index

NORTHERN IRELAND

SPORT

Matt Gillespie

Claire Lundy

T13

Marketing Manager, Derry City Council

Matt is Head Of Sport at T13 and Ireland’s leading BMX athlete. He is an inspiration to a generation of Irish BMX performers. T13 is a unique urban sports venue and has hosted many of Europe’s top extreme sports competitions. T13 is based in a disused, Harland and Wolff warehouse, right in the heart of Belfast’s Titanic Quarter. 2012 marks the centenary of Titanic’s maiden voyage and tragic end.

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Matt Gillespie Telephone: 07792 892293 Email: matt@ramprage.tv Website: www.ramprage.tv Index

Northern Ireland

In 2013, Derry-Londonderry will be the UK’s first ever City of Culture and as part of the preparation, the city will host a key event as part of the London 2012 Festival, namely Peace One Day concert on 21st June 2012 in Ebrington, the city’s newest events space, which can be accessed over the iconic Peace Bridge. The City will also host the homecoming leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in July Northern Ireland 2012. Claire Lundy is the Marketing Manager for Derry City Council and is heavily involved in the development of the city as a tourist destination and its historic links with London.

Contact: Claire Lundy Telephone: 02871 3765041 Email: Claire.lundy@derrycity.gov.uk Website: www.derrycity.gov.uk 193

SCOTLAND

SPORT Patrick Elsmie

Stephen Burdett

Managing Director, The Gleneagles Hotel

Falconer at the British School of Falconry Yorkshireman Steve has been at The Gleneagles Hotel for 15 years. An extrovert ex-journalist, Steve loves Scotland, enjoys entertaining people and is passionate about education.

Scotland

Contact: Kate Trussler, Gleneagles PR Manager Telephone: 01764 694 182 Email: kate.trussler@gleneagles.com Website: www.gleneagles.com 194

Patrick Elsmie, Managing Director of The Gleneagles Hotel, began his career at Richmond Gate Hotels in Surrey in 1976, after graduating from the Oxford Polytechnic. Patrick moved to Hong Kong to work for Mandarin International Hotels Ltd where he underwent thorough hotel training for five years, as Assistant Manager and Food and Beverage Manager at The Excelsior, Hong Kong. He then successfully moved on to becoming Food and Beverage Manager at The Oriental in Bangkok. In July 1985, Patrick Scotland became Food and Beverage Director at the St. James’s Club of Antigua, which led to a season at the St. James’s club in Paris. In 1986 Patrick became the Resident Manager for The Gleneagles Hotel responsible for the day to day operation, during which a total refurbishment of 150 guest rooms was undertaken along with the restaurants. In 1991 he moved to the Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate (then part of the Orient Express Hotels) in George, South Africa to become General Manager before moving on to The Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town. Following his time in South Africa, Patrick returned to Scotland in 1994 to become General Manager of The Old Course Hotel in St. Andrews for five years before returning to Gleneagles in 1999 as Operations Director. In November 2007, Patrick was promoted to the role of Managing Director. Patrick is very committed to high standards of service and places great importance on attention to detail as well as team building and motivational management. Patrick is a Trustee of HIT Scotland, a member of the British Hospitality Association Committee. The Gleneagles Hotel is the Host Venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup, 26 – 28 September 2014.

Contact: Kate Trussler, PR Manager Telephone: 01764 694 182 Email: Kate.trussler@gleneagles.com Website: www.gleneagles.com

Index

SCOTLAND

SPORT

Allan Minto

Richard McBrearty

Golf Tourism Officer

Curator, Scottish Football Museum, Hampden Park.

A former golf club professional up to 1990 he has since worked with the golf industry to assist in business development and marketing.

High concentration of world-class golf courses including household names such as the Open Championship courses at St Andrews, Muirfield, Carnoustie, Turnberry, Royal Troon and Gleneagles, the venue for 2014 Ryder Cup. Golf is one of the few sports where players of all abilities can access the same stage as the top professionals and almost all of the courses in Scotland open their doors to visitor play.

Scotland

Richard has been employed with the Scottish Football Museum for over 13 years. He has a wide range of knowledge on football history and has delivered presentations on the subject. He regularly is involved in taking tours of Hampden Park Stadium and the Scottish Football Museum, showcasing the stadium and Scotland’s football history to visitors from across the world.

Scotland

Appearance fee may apply.

Scotland is the ‘Home of Golf’ where the original rules were written and where the world’s best golf professionals, club and ball makers developed the modern game, now played throughout the world. Here you can discover the origins of the game and even experience playing with original hickory shafted golf clubs. As well as the famous courses, Scotland offers hundreds of hidden gems that present, greater accessibility, excellent value for money and can be found in some of the most picturesque settings across the country.

Topic of interest Golf.

Contact: Allan Minto Telephone: 01620 827178 Email: aminto@eastlothian.gov.uk Website: www.golfeastlothian.com Index

Contact: Richard McBrearty Telephone: 0141 616 6112 Email: richard.mcbrearty@scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk / museuminfo@scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk Website: www.scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk 195

SCOTLAND

SPORT

Greig Thomson Salmon and trout fly-fishing instructor and agent Greig was introduced to fishing at a very young age, ever since it has not only been his passion in life but his obsession. Having represented his country on an international level, Greig brings to Salmo International a wealth of experience in both game fishing and in business. Greig set up Salmo International to bring to the market a brand that has a modern approach to fishing and that Scotland caters for both the new generation of angler and old. Salmon and trout fishing is very much a sport open to the masses now, unlike many years ago, so it is important to nurture the next generation and provide accessible, productive and quality fishing to suit all budgets.

Greig is born and bred on the East coast of Scotland and is passionate about the local area, conservation and sharing the dramatic rivers and landscape with tourists, encouraging repeat visits. While he travels extensively, taking fishing parties across Canada, Europe and Russia, he always, without fail, enjoys returning back to his native Scotland.

Top tips: when planning your holiday, research the local areas as much as you can; listen to the locals: and never travel without your fishing rod.

Contact: Greig Thomson / Will Holt Telephone: 07528 624 200 / 07941 200 200 Email: Greig.thomson@salmofishings.com / willh@consolidatedpr.com Website: www.salmointernational.com 196

River Tay Scotland

Index

SCOTLAND

WALES

Elizabeth (Libby) Clegg

Dave Quarrell

Athlete - Loughborough

Project Manager, BAE Systems (Glascoed, Monmouthshire)

Libby Clegg is a Paralympic silver medalist and World gold medalist whom competes in the T12 100m and 200m sprint. She suffers from a deteriorating eye condition known as Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy disease. Libby has only slight peripheral vision in her left eye, and is registered blind. At just 16, she burst on the scene at the Assen 2006 IPC Athletics World Championships, winning a silver medal and just missing out on a second medal. The teenager from Newcastleton in the Scottish Borders Scotland is committed to inspiring others to achieve their potential. She regularly speaks to groups of young children through her work with the Champions in Schools charity and does regular work with the Royal Blind Society to inspire and motivate young people to work through their difficulties.

Although Dave would describe himself as not being the athletic type, he is setting out on a mammoth walk on 5th May 2012, to walk the entire perimeter of Wales – that’s more than 1,000 miles along the Wales Coast Path and the Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail.

Dave is undertaking his challenge in memory of his father Gerry who sadly passed away last year after being diagnosed with stomach cancer. His tribute is particularly fitting as Gerry worked for the Welsh Wales Government, and was instrumental in setting up the project to develop the Wales Coast Path. Without Gerry’s vision Dave wouldn’t be able to consider walking round the entire nation of Wales.Dave is an ordinary person inspired to step outside of his comfort zone and undertake something extraordinary. He aims to raise £20,000 for Cancer Research Wales and will finish his walk on 26th July 2012, on the eve of the Olympic Games and what would have been his father’s birthday.

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Gordon Hood Telephone: 07789 000 456 Email: Gordon@therugbypartnership.com Website: www.elizabethclegg.co.uk Index

Contact: Dave Quarrell Telephone: 07793 891822 Email: dave@walkwales1027.com Website: www.walkwales1027.com 197

WALES Ross Beese Marketing Manager - TYF Adventure Born and bred in Wales, dragons’ blood runs through my veins. I started surfing 12 years ago at the age of 18 and fell in love with the ocean. I've travelled all over the world and settled in St Davids six years ago, it's the only coastal national park in the UK and blows me away on a daily basis.

My number one tip is to try coasteering – a sport TYF pioneered in St Davids more than 26 years ago, a mad mix of scrambling, swimming, Wales traversing and leaping along the foot of the stunning coastline, exploring and discovering.

Tip number two – give surfing a go. Stunning blue flag beaches, consistent rolling waves and sand bottoms make Wales the perfect destination for beginners. Tip number three – kayak the bitches. A world-famous tidal race just off the coast of St Davids. A magical place to test your kayaking skills and get a serious blast of adrenaline.

Appearance fee may apply.

Contact: Ross Beese Telephone: 01437 721611 Email: Ross.b@tyf.com Website: www.tyf.com 198

SPORT Anne-Marie (Arry) Beresford-Webb Health and Recreation Policy Officer Arry is a true inspiration. She is currently running the entire perimeter of Wales along the Wales Coast Path and Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail, a distance of more than 1,000 miles. That’s 39 marathons in only 42 days – a remarkable undertaking by anyone’s standards, but doubly so when you consider she’d never run a marathon before in her Wales life before setting out on this challenge. Arry is undertaking this challenge in aid of charity – the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff and the GOZO CCU foundation, where both of her parents were cared for before they passed away, and hopes to raise £25,000. Despite the niggling injuries and testing conditions, Arry always has a smile on her face and does not know the meaning of the word ‘quit’. She is lively and engaging and a delight to speak to.

She embodies the meaning of perseverance and commitment and is the newest member of the ultra-marathon community.

Contact: Arry Beresford- Webb / Bran Devey Telephone: Arry 07958 778424 / Bran 029 2077 2403 or 07747 767443 Email: arrytbb@googlemail.com / bran.devey@ccw.gov.uk Website: www.dragonrun1027.wordpress.com Index