Cruise Ship Speakers & Instructors


	THE CRUISE SHIP ENRICHMENT AGENCY
	www.cruiseshipenrichment.net
	SOCIAL HISTORIANS

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		Melinda Bates White House Social History (NO politics!)

Coming from:		Woodstock, Virginia USA

Melinda Bates is the first person in history to be a Special Assistant to the President and Director, White House Visitors Office for all eight years of any administration. From her elegant East Wing office she organized events both large (the annual Easter Egg Roll) and small (Presidential birthday parties.) Thanks to her historic years there Melinda is a leading authority on White House social history and the author of a popular memoir, A Walk Through the White House. She does not discuss politics, but only our common history we all can share.


		Bill Belew Western Civilization, Origins to Social Networks PhD, Professor of Western Civilization and Writing, Novelist

Coming from:		Sunnyvale, California USA

Bill held a Top Secret Clearance during his years in the US Navy as Intelligence Officer serving at the peak of the Cold War Era. Bill then spent nearly 20 years in the Far East – Japan, China, Russia and India where he taught university, created and grew his own language school throughout Japan and Far East Russia. Bill is fluent in Japanese and converses in Chinese and Russian. Bill paid his sizable Silicon Valley mortgage as a professional blogger while also living within walking distance of the tech titans. He and his 13-yo daughter co-author a popular series for young adults.


		Jennifer Hastings Caithness Social Historian British and Irish Social History and Literature

Coming from:		Reading, Berkshire UK

Jennifer is a social historian, with a special interest in telling forgotten or less well-known stories. Born in the Caribbean of British and Irish heritage, Jennifer grew up just outside London, and lived and worked in Sydney, Australia, for five years after graduating from university. Returning to the UK, for the last 25 years Jennifer has pursued a successful freelance career as a Museum and Heritage Learning Specialist and Consultant. She greatly enjoys cruise ship speaking, presenting lively and engaging talks on British and Irish social history.


		Eva Eliscu Dining and Culinary History

Coming from:		San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico USA

Eva Eliscu is a Swedish born culinary consultant and lecturer on the history and customs of the dining table and producer of the San Miguel’s Annual "Food in Film Festival” in Mexico. She was educated in Sweden, Switzerland and the US. She has dual citizenship in both the European Union and the United States and is a permanent resident in Mexico. She is fluent in Swedish, English, survival French and continuing to learn Spanish. She has experience as a cruise ship guest speaker and has presented her lectures at International Libraries, gourmet and culinary groups, to food and wine festivals , as well as special interest groups.


		Barbara GB Ferguson World Affairs Middle East & Arabian Gulf / Mediterranean

Coming from:		Arlington, VA USA

Focusing on specialized history, cultural insights and intriguing stories about destinations, Barbara’s expertise derives from her background as an international correspondent for 20 years. Based in Paris and London for 18 years before being transferred to Washington, D.C., she reported from 46 countries. Her unique professional perspective enables her to speak with any audience about different cultures, regions, peoples, and history with conviction, compassion, and often humor. Barbara speaks fluent French and conversational Arabic.


		Karin Fernald Actor & Social Historian of l8th & l9th Centuries Specializing in Letters & Diaries

Coming from:		London, UK

Karin is an actor, writer and speaker, who researches and creates a vivid picture of a character and a historical period. She is a NADFAS speaker and is known for her entertaining lectures on writers and diarists from the late 18th and early mid 19th centuries, mostly connected with the arts. Extensive research into diaries and letters bring subjects to life. Lectures are illustrated by slides of contemporary pictures and portraits from a wide variety of sources.


		Dr Robyn Ferrell Art History \| Social History \| Culture Studies

Coming from:		Vaucluse, NSW Australia

Dr Robyn Ferrell is a writer and researcher in art and culture studies. She is currently honorary professor at the University of Sydney, and has taught art history and theory, cultural studies, philosophy and creative writing at several universities throughout Australia. She trained as a journalist on the Sydney Morning Herald before completing her doctorate in philosophy. Dr Ferrell has written several books on art and the culture industry, and writes regularly for newspapers and magazines.


		Dr Michael Fopp History - Social & Military National Museum Director, Pilot & Historian. PhD, FRAeS

Coming from:		Soulbury, Buckinghamshire UK

Michael is the son of an Australian Battle of Britain fighter pilot and grew up surrounded by aeroplanes. He has been a member of the elite Mounted Branch of London’s Metropolitan Police for over 10 years before being appointed Director of the London Transport Museum in 1985. He then went on to be Director of the Royal Air Force Museum. Since retirement in 2010 he has devoted his time to the Guild of Air Pilots & Navigators as well as lecture on transport and aviation history.


		Dr Amanda Goodheart Parks Historian & Educator

Coming from:		Westfield, MA USA

Dr. Amanda Goodheart Parks is a historian specializing in bringing the past to life for audiences of all ages on land and at sea. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and she specializes in women’s history, maritime history, aerospace history, cultural history, and U.S. history. She recently appeared in the History Channel miniseries, “The Titans That Built America,” and her work in museum education was awarded by the American Alliance of Museums in 2021. She serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Salve Regina University History Department.


		Kathryn Harding History \| Art appreciation \| Wellbeing

Coming from:		Warmingham, Sandbach, Cheshire UK

An enthusiatic and engaging presenter, Kathryn is passionate about sharing her knowledge of British History with her audience. She is also very interested in Art and not only takes art classes but also has an array of talks about artists and their artworks. Kathryn's other passion is about improving people's health and wellbeing. Kathryn runs a successful Occupational Health Business and has over 20 years experience of promoting Health and Wellbeing and so is ideally suited to share her knowledge with her audiences.


		Rachel Kolsky Social & Modern Historian

Coming from:		London, UK

Engaging, knowledgeable and well-researched Rachel Kolsky is a prize-winning London Blue Badge Tourist Guide. Focussing on the 'human stories behind the buildings' Rachel's presentations are filled with images past and present, anecdotes and information imparted in a fun, informative and interesting way. From cinemas to shopping to famous personalities, memories of all aspects of London's rich and varied social history come flooding back. She is a trustee of her local independent cinema, The Phoenix, East Finchley. Rachel’s first book, "Jewish London", was published in March 2012.


		Sandy Leong Historian \| Vikings \| Age of Exploration \| Tudors Far East \| Australia \| Japan \| Mediterranean \| General Interest

Coming from:		Loughborough, Leicestershire UK

Sandy Leong is a historian, with a gift for storytelling that brings history to life. As a qualified teacher, teaching in schools, colleges, and as a guest lecturer at universities, in the UK and Far East. She is married to a Malaysian and has spent time living and working in the Far East, giving her a privileged opportunity to get to know that part of the world. She is a published author, writing on personal development topics. She demonstrates her deep personal commitment to improving people’s lives through education and by bringing communities together.


		Dr Jeremy Lloyd History \| Architecture, \| Inventions & Something Different! PhD, BSc

Coming from:		Nottingham, Nottinghamshire UK


Jeremy offers something different. He covers a wide range of interesting topics and his talks are visually attractive, humorous and engage with a diverse audience.


		Rie Natalenko History and Literature Speaker & Craft Instructor Craft Instructor/ Literature/History

Coming from:		Templeton, CAN NZ

Rie Natalenko has a doctorate in writing, specialising in Screen and History. She has a Masters degree in Education and an Honours degree in Literature. Much of her university and college teaching was in the areas of screenwriting, film-making and film studies. Rie enjoys creating as well as writing. She is an also an accomplished Arts and Craft Instructor and an experienced felter, knitter, crocheter, spinner and weaver.


		Helen Pointer Caricaturist & Artist

Coming from:		Caterham, Surrey UK

As an artist Helen is quick to set her audience at ease and is marvellous at caricaturing. She provides an absorbing, effective and spontaneous style of presentation, using her art to exemplify her perceptive facilitation of group work. By pulling people out from the audience Helen guides you through personal impact and interpersonal skill areas whilst sketching humorous caricatures – it’s interactive, gripping and novel, and people come away understanding so much more about their choices. Helen’s starting points deals with the everyday issues that face us all.


		Mike Rendell Social Historian & Author Eighteenth Century Social History

Coming from:		Sherborne, Dorset, Dorset UK

After a thirty-year stint as a lawyer Mike retired to become a historian. He writes, blogs and gives talks on all aspects of life in the 18th Century. He is custodian of a treasure trove of old family papers – everything from shopping lists to recipes and household accounts, dating back to the early 1700s. His talks cover such questions as what did the Georgians eat and drink, what did they do for entertainment, and why etiquette was so important. He talks about everyday life in the England of Dr Johnson – and of Jane Austen.


		Jane Robinson Social Historian Author specialising in social history through women's eyes

Coming from:		Haddenham, Buckinghamshire UK

Jane Robinson is the acclaimed author of ten books and has been described by the BBC as ‘one of our most original and engaging social historians.’ She specialises in writing popular and accessible books about history seen through women’s eyes. Jane read English at Oxford; then worked in the antiquarian book trade in London, specialising in voyages and travel, before becoming a full-time writer and lecturer. She’s a frequent guest speaker at literary festivals, for national museums and libraries, university alumni groups, & massed Women’s Institute Federations.


		Rina Tillinger Anglo-American History Engaging, Educational, Entertaining

Coming from:		Angmering, Littlehampton UK

From the Midwest US and the Northwest UK, Rina Tillinger speaks on Anglo-American history with a dash of culture-clash comedy. She is the female Bill Bryson! Rina wrote a weekly humour column called Yankee Doodles about amusing differences between America and Britain in The Chester Chronicle. An accomplished paper and fabric cutter, she also makes unique cards, coasters, pictures, earrings, mounts and scarves. Rina regularly gives talks to the Cheshire Women’s Institute, U3A, Rotary Club, Inner Wheel and Probus Club.


		Jonathan Walker Social History

Coming from:		Birmingham, West Midlands UK

Trained in presentation techniques by the BBC Jonathan subsequently made guest appearances on BBC Local Radio and has given talks to both national and international audiences. Jonathan went on to run his own consultancy business but is now retired living in Birmingham in the West Midlands. Retirement provided the opportunity to transfer his analytical and presentation skills to the social and domestic world. Jonathan’s talks range from humorous and enlightening explorations of the way we behave, to nostalgic trips down memory lane, and provide entertainment suitable for a variety of audiences and destinations.


		William Whobrey Historian PhD Medieval and German Studies

Coming from:		Monterey, California USA

With over 20 years experience in ocean and river cruise lecturing, Bill Whobrey has brought to cruise guests the same expertise, enthusiasm, and dedication that have served his students at Yale and Stanford universities. Having grown up in Germany, his early interest in history, language, and literature propelled him to a PhD in Medieval and German Studies from Stanford University. Bill spent 25 years teaching and lecturing on topics ranging from medieval epics, Icelandic sagas, Viking history, to medieval manuscripts and books. With his engaging speaking style, lively presentations, and insightful commentary, Bill has enriched the experience of many cruise guests over many years.


		Jack Wilson Destination & Port Lecturer Local & Maritime Historian

Coming from:		Southampton, Hampshire UK

Jack spent most of his working life in Social Housing in the South of England, working for local Councils and Housing Associations. For the last several years he has been running his own consultancy in Housing Management and Care and has pursued a long-standing interest in Local History to qualify as a Green Badge Tourist Guide. Jack and his wife have always enjoyed travelling, and have been cruising since 2002. Jack has worked as a port lecturer and enrichment speaker talking on maritime subjects and social history.