Candidate Profile

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EXPERTISE
History - Art & Culture
Music
Travel & Destinations
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH:
BIOGRAPHY
After a successful career in Financial Services, Bill became UK Chairman of the Consumer Credit Trade Association. He took early retirement and embarked on a completely different career path as a Tour Manager, escorting groups of travellers to worldwide destinations.

His eclectic list of talks largely reflect his experiences during his ten years as a Tour Manager, mixing personal highlights with amusing anecdotes about his journeys around the world. His love of Art, History and Music feature strongly in his extensive list of lectures. Bill is also an accredited Arts Society lecturer.



PRESENTATIONS
THE MEDITERRANEAN

RAMBLINGS OF A TOUR MANAGER
Join me in a tour of my most and least favourite European destinations visited during ten years of escorting groups overseas. Hear about little known holiday destinations, mad dictators, magnificent scenery and disastrous developments.

MORE RAMBLINGS OF A TOUR MANAGER - THINGS I'D RATHER FORGET
Hear about my most embarrassing moments as a Tour Manager including unbooked hotels, unpredictable customers, missing transport and much more.

NAPOLEON, JOSEPHINE AND ST HELENA
Napoleon dominated European and Global affairs for more than a decade while leading France in the Napoleonic Wars. During this period, he fell madly in love with Josephine de Beauharnais and they married in 1796. Finally defeated in 1815 at The Battle of Waterloo, he was exiled to the island of St Helena, where he lived out his final days.

THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND ART OF SALVADOR DALI
Considered by many as the greatest ever exponent of the Surrealist movement, Dali's expansive artistic repertoire included film, sculpture, and photography. To the dismay of many of his admirers, his eccentricity often drew more attention than his artistic endeavours.

WHEN GAUGIN VISITED VAN GOGH
In 1887 Vincent van Goch visited Paul Gaugin at his studio in Paris, greatly admired his artwork and invited him to his "Yellow House" at Arles, Provence so that they could paint together. Thus began eight tumultuous weeks with tragic consequences.

EDOUARD MANET, GODFATHER OF MODERN ART
Despite an upper class upbringing, Manet adopted a bohemian lifestyle and scandalised the French art world with his radical interpretations of urban life.

FRANCIS BACON, MAVERICK OF BRITISH ART Once described by Margaret Thatcher as "that man who paints those dreadful pictures", the raw, visceral nature of Bacon's work has divided both critics and the public for years. Since his death in 1992, his works have commanded record prices at auction.

LUCIAN FREUD AND THE QUEEN Grandson of Sigmund and brother of Clement, Lucian Freud is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever painters of the human form. In 2000 HRH Queen Elizabeth II agreed to his request to paint her portrait, with dramatic consequences

THE AMERICAS

ELLIS ISLAND AND THE MAKING OF AMERICA
Of the 9 million immigrants who arrived in America in the early 20th century, two thirds were processed at Ellis Island. Religious persecution, unemployment, political strife, family connections and the lure of adventure contributed to the greatest migration in modern history.

CUTTING THE CANAL
Reducing the journey from New York to California by 8000 miles, creating the Panama canal was the world's largest engineering project at the time. It also accounted for over 25000 deaths in its construction. Nowadays over 13000 ships use the canal, paying almost $2b dollars in tolls each year.

GETTING KICKS ON ROUTE 66 Talk 1 - ILLINOIS, MISSOURI AND KANSAS
Chicago, America’s third biggest city, has a rich heritage encompassing the blues, the prohibition era, award winning architecture and was the home of the current President. Route 66 starts here and we journey through the states of Illinois, Missouri and Kansas.

GETTING KICKS ON ROUTE 66 Talk 2 - OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS
We start to pass through cowboy country as we cross Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle, stopping off in Oklahoma City to view the monument to the 1995 bombing, which until 9/11 was America’s worst terrorist atrocity.

GETTING KICKS ON ROUTE 66 Talk 3 - NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA
As we head for Santa Monica and the end of Route 66 we visit ghost towns, drive across deserts and visit my favourite motels, gas stations and diners in New Mexico, Arizona and California.

THE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL WORLD OF WALT DISNEY
Cultural icon, considered by many as the greatest talent in the history of animated film and holder of the record number of Oscars awarded to an individual, his legacy continues to this day.

SOUTH EAST ASIA & FRENCH POLYNESIA

THE AMAZING STORY OF THE WHITE RAJAHS OF SARAWAK
Having helped the Sultan of Brunei repel invaders in 1841, adventurer James Brook was gifted the state of Sarawak. Thus began the extraordinary dynasty that ruled for over 100 years before it was ceded to the United Kingdom after the second world war.

EXPLORING CHINA
With its status as the world's most populous country and, according to the World Bank, now boasting the world's biggest economy, China casts a huge shadow over other nations. It is also host to a remarkable legacy of historical sites.

HONG KONG
Renown for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour, Hong Kong is one of the world's most densely populated regions. Since transfer from British to Chinese rule in 1997, Hong Kong has continued to thrive with a higher degree of autonomy than any other part of China.

SINGAPORE - LION CITY
Comprising 63 islands with a port among the largest and busiest in the world, Singapore has become one of the world's most prosperous places. Despite its glittering skyscrapers and cosmopolitan population it is also home to some of the world's strictest social controls.

BORNEO
Borneo is the world’s third biggest island and the only island to be occupied by three countries. It is estimated have at least 222 species of mammals, 420 birds, 100 amphibians, 394 fish, and 15,000 plants. What is it really like and why is it losing so much of its rainforest?

SABAH AND BRUNEI
Kota Kinabalu is the capital of the Malaysian state of Sabah, home to many endangered species and scene of the infamous WW2 Death March. Bandar Seri Bagawen, capital of the tiny Sultanate of Brunei, which has benefited from vast oil revenues, is Borneo’s most affluent city yet still contains the world’s largest water village amidst the opulence of its mosques and palaces.

SARAWAK AND LABUAN
Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, is Borneo’s most cosmopolitan city. Yet inland, native Dayaks still live a traditional way of life in tribal longhouses. On the island of Labuan almost 4000 mostly Australian and British servicemen are buried in the war cemetery which is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

FRENCH POLYNESIA - PARADISE ON EARTH
Comprising 118 islands, 67 of which are inhabited and stretching over an expanse of 1200 sq miles, French Polynesia is considered by many to be the most exclusive and beautiful holiday getaway in the world.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA Occupying over half of the world’s second largest island, Papua New Guinea is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. It houses over 1000 distinct ethnic groups speaking in excess of 800 languages. It was invaded by the Japanese in 1942, which resulted in heavy losses and a crushing defeat for the Japanese Empire.

INDONESIA With a population exceeding 250 million, Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous nation. It also boasts more islands (in excess of 17500) than any other country, is the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, and has more volcanoes than any other country.

FOR CRUISES INVOLVING AUSTRALIA!

THE ASHES Competing for the smallest trophy in international sport, Australia and England have fiercely contested its ownership for over 130 years. Hear about its history, its combatants and some of the extraordinary performances that have illuminated cricket's oldest competition.

ROCK ‘N ROLL MUSIC

MY ROCK AND ROLL HEROES
Starting in the USA, a new type of music exploded across the planet in the mid 1950s. Hear about its birth, its cultural impact and the personalities who helped turn the world music scene upside down. Who are my heroes? You'll have to come along to find out!

THE RISE AND FALL OF ELVIS
Born in abject poverty in Tupelo, Mississippi in 1935, within 20 years he was the the most famous and controversial musician in the world. Hear how his life was tragically cut short following his Hollywood career and Las Vegas residencies.

THE EVERLY BROTHERS
Still the biggest selling musical duo of all time, their incomparable harmonies inspired and influenced many other artists. Despite personal animosity and frequent separations, they were still performing together as guests of Simon and Garfunkel as recently as 2004.

THE BIG O
Sometimes referred to as the "Caruso of Rock", Roy Orbison captivated millions with his operatic voice, deep emotional ballads and complex song structures. Following several personal tragedies, his career was soaring to new heights in The Travelling Wilburys before his sudden and premature death in 1988.

SOMETHING OF THE BEATLES
Hear about their unprecedented rise to fame in the UK and their subsequent breakthrough across the globe. How did their music evolve and what caused their premature break up in 1970?

THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED
On February 3, 1959, rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. The Big Bopper Richardson were killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, together with the pilot, Roger Peterson. Conspiracy theories abound. What really happened?

MORE ROCK AND ROLL HEROES
Join me to hear about two more rock 'n roll acts from the 1950s and why their music influenced so many performers in later years.
CRUISE HISTORY / EXPERIENCE
Cruise Report MV Aegean Odyssey Mar 2013: (reference provided by Bill)
Bill Powell - featured Guest Lecturer for the sailing Bangkok to Singapore.
Not only did Bill give terrific, informative and interesting talks, he did so with a passion for his subject and humour in his presentation style. This was very much appreciated by our audiences as he found an immediate connection and bond with them. Bill threw himself into the role of ‘Social Host’ and was very gracious in giving up his personal time to listen to, talk to and dine with our passengers. This is a very important aspect of our Lecturers contract and Bill fulfilled this obligation wholeheartedly.
I would highly recommend Bill Powell as a Guest Speaker and would be happy to offer further information for anyone wishing to engage him in such a role.
Alison Lewin, Cruise Coordinator
ADDITIONAL RELEVANT INFORMATION
My travel talks reflect my experiences and interests internationally, but particularly in South East Asia and the USA. My music talks focus on rock 'n roll and its most revered performers.
RECENT PAST CRUISES COMPLETED
The following recent Cruise History has been recorded for this candidate.
SHIP REF CRUISE DESCRIPTION NIGHTS SAILING FROM DEPARTURE DATE
Celebrity Reflection RF221031 Spain, Azores & Bermuda 13 Barcelona Monday, October 31, 2022
Enchanted Princess N216N Mediterranean Adventurer 14 Southampton Friday, June 3, 2022
Enchanted Princess N215N Spain, France & Portugal 14 Southampton Friday, May 20, 2022
Celebrity Eclipse EC191027 Hawaii Cruise 15 Los Angeles, California Sunday, October 27, 2019
Balmoral L1703 Central America & the Mardi Gras 46 Southampton Saturday, February 4, 2017
Balmoral L1608 Old England to New England 34 Southampton Saturday, April 16, 2016
Balmoral L1517 The Amercan Deep South 35 Southampton Monday, September 14, 2015