Candidate Profile

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EXPERTISE
History - Naval
Tall Ships
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH:
BIOGRAPHY
Mike Cheshire joined the Royal Navy in the early 1960's at HMS Ganges as a Radio Communications Operator and travelled the world extensively.

In the Mid 1970's Michael undertook Officer training at the Naval College at Dartmouth, and became a Communications Specialist, and again went to sea in Destroyers and Frigates. It was in the mid 1980's Michael became a Warfare Officer and saw active service in the Gulf and in the Falklands, and has travelled world wide during his active Naval Career.

For the last 6 years of Michael's Naval Career, he was the Commanding Officer of HMS VICTORY (Admiral Lord NELSON's flagship during the Battle of Trafalgar) where his real interest in history began to expand.

His career out of the Service has been as a Management Consultant, Open University Lecturer, Local Councillor, School Governor and Parish Councillor and more recently as a Speaker and Resident Historian on Viking Ocean Cruise Liners.

As a Guest Speaker on his specialist subjects of Maritime History, but more recently he has been appointed a the Viking Resident Historian where he has delivered a number of "iconic" lectures very successfully and has developed and delivered / facilitated a number of "Round Table" discussions and debates with the passengers that have all proved to be of great value and they have been enjoyed by those that attended. These appointments have expanded knowledge and historical portfolio of presentations further.

Michael also conducts tours around the Viking Ocean Cruise ships to explain the Bayeux Tapestry and the relationship with the Battle of Hastings.

Michael was appointed as an MBE by Her Majesty in 1998, and he lives in Wales with his wife. He has two daughters and 4 grandchildren
PRESENTATIONS
1. The Flagship of the Royal Navy - HMS VICTORY
2. Admiral Lord Nelson - From Sickly Boy to National Hero
3. Lady Hamilton - Heroione or Survivor
4. The Battle of St Vincent
5. The Battle of Teneriffe (Santa Cruz)
6. The Battle of Copenhagen
7. The Battle of the Nile
8. The Battle of Trafalgar
9. The Battle of Jutland (WW1)
10. Nelson in the West Indies
11. The battle of San Juan Hills
12. The French & Indian Wars prior to the American War of Independence
13. Nelson and the Naples connection
14. The Boston Tea Party
15. The Russian Revolution
16. The Hanseatic League
17. The Bayeux Tapestry
18. Chinese Civilisations
19. Egyption Civilisations
20. History of India
21. History of Great Britain
22. The Vikings
23. The History of Spain
24. The Roman Empire
25. History of the Venetian Republic
26. The Italian Renaissance
27. Canadian Exploration
28. Pirates and treasure hunters
29 The History of the Netherlands
30. Explorers and the Age of Discovery
31. Island in History
32. Pre-Columbian civilisation
33. This history of Navigation
34. The Ottoman Empire
35. The history of Argentina
36. The history of Brazil
37. The history of North West Africa
38. The history of France
39. The history of Germany
40. The explorers of South America
41. Putting Oceans in context
42. The Venetian Republic
43. Vikings on the move
44. The history of Australia
45. The history of New Zealand
46. The history of Indonesia
47. Pacific Exploration
48. How the Spice Age changed the world
49. The American Revolution
50. The history of the Amazon
51. The history of Cuba
52. Egyptian Civilisation
53. Glaciers - rivers of ice
54. The indigenous peoples of the Pacific North West

Forum/Round Tables
1. NATO - is the alliance still relevant?
2. Women in War
3. The importance of the Mediterranean
4. Is Canada independent with a British Monarch as the head of state?
5. Is there a special relationship between the US and the UK?
6. The Strategic Gaps - how important are they in the 21st century?
7. Nelson in the Caribbean
8. Lady Hamilton - from pauper to riches back to pauper again.
CRUISE HISTORY / EXPERIENCE
As a previous Commanding Officer of HMS VICTORY, I have undertaken a number of Appointments focussing on Maritime History with Viking Cruises, P&O, Fred Olsen and Cunard. My presentations deal with the most famous battles fought by Admiral Nelson and his Love affair with Lady Hamilton. These presentations always provides positive feedback. More recently, I have been asked to take up appointments as a Resident Historian with Viking Ocean Cruises.

March 2016 - The Viking Star cruise in the Mediterranean was my first experience with Viking Cruises. The enrichment programmes I presented were in accordance with my Core Subject of Nelson and his Battles and his experiences as a Naval Commander. I was also had the great privileged of presiding over the ANZAC celebrations onboard as there were a number of Australian and New Zealand guests onboard on the day. The small ecumenical service was based upon that which is conducted on Rememberence Day in the UK, and I the feedback from the Guests were very positive indeed.

Autumn 2016 - Viking Star. West Indies explorer cruise for 14 days. I delivered six enrichment presentations, not only on my core subject on Admiral Lord Nelson, but I was asked to preset a maritime perspective of the American Civil War and on other the battle of San Jaun. It was an exciting cruise, and it was a great pleasure presenting my subjects. I look forward to doing many more in the future if possible. As we were at sea on Trafalgar Day (21st October) I was able to give an informal presentation on the Battle of Trafalgar, and we made the "immortal memory" toast (with Rum) on the actual day. This was really enjoyed by the passengers and some of the crew members why had not seen anything like this before.

March 2017 - Viking Sky - Ancient Empires and Holy Lands. On this cruise I will be delivering my enrichment programme based upon Nelson transit through the Mediterranean Sea that culminated int he Battle of the Nile. it is with this cruise I introduced a new presentation that focussed on Nelson and his attachment to Naples (as we are visiting Naples, this is quite appropriate), and of course his meeting and subsequent feelings for Lady Hamilton, who he met the first time in Naples and the Ambassadors wife.

July 2017 - September 2017 - Viking Sky - Viking Homelands. On this cruise I was appointed as the Resident Historian. It was on these 3 cruises that I delivered 2 Iconic Lectures (Imperial Russia and the Hanseatic League) and developed and facilitated 3 Round Table Discussions. I was fully engaged with the Port Visits and was able to add value to the Passenger's Experience whilst ashore. I was, and still am, fully and totally supported by my wife, Wendy.

November 2017 - December 2017 - Viking Sea - West Indies Explorer. Again, I am appointed as the Resident Historian and I have been asked to deliver 3 " Iconic Lectures" on the Ages of Discovery, Pirates and Treasure Hunters and the Bayeux Tapestry. These 4 cruises will have 2 Round Table discussions, namely: the UK/US Special Relationship and Nelson and the West Indies Connection.

2019 - Viking sky and Viking Jupiter. These Cruises were a little different in that I was asked to undertake “tour visits” of the Bayeux Tapestry” where there are scents of the Tapestry in the Forward and Aft stairwells. These tours appeared to be well received and the guests were really interested in the whole “Battle of Hastings” story and the relevance of the Vikings with it. There were a number of different presentations to deliver all of which were relevant to the areas were about to visit. For example, the History of France, Netherlands, Spain, the Roman Empire and the Italian Renaissance was delivered before arrival. This was well received by guests who had a broad understanding of their location.

2020 - Viking Sky. January/February 2020. 3 x 1 week cruises and 1 x 2 week cruises was different in that some of the guests were only onboard for short periods of time and were very attentive and questioning.

2021 - This was the year of the Covid - no cruises taken as there were either cancelled or postponed

2022 - `This year saw us cruising on the Mediterranean, Alaska and a Repositioning from Barcelona to San Juan across the Atlantic. There were plenty of presentations to deliver, some of which were my first time - the history of West Africa was a good example. I felt the the guests were really engaged with the "forums" especially the one entitled "NATO - is this an outdated alliance?" So much so that we had to put on two forums to cater with the demand. The several "Sea Days" saw the 6 Bayeux Tapestry tours full and once again, they were very well received and guests were fully engaged.

2023 - South Atlantic crossing from Rio to Barcelona. 21 day Repositioning cruise . There was a wide range of presentations provided - I gave seven in total, together with 4 x forums. The NATO forum was, once again, a great success so much so that the venue was changed to a larger theatre size area, which was full to capacity. Bayeux Tapestry tours was also a great success, with guests fully engaged.
ADDITIONAL RELEVANT INFORMATION
Whilst onboard I and my wife take part fully in all activities that we can with the ship and we always volunteer to be escorts for shore excursions whenever we can. Whist onboard, we have been asked to "host" dinner or lunch tables, which we are always delighted to do.
We are committed to ensuring that Guests leave our company with a smile on their faces.
RECENT PAST CRUISES COMPLETED
The following recent Cruise History has been recorded for this candidate.
SHIP REF CRUISE DESCRIPTION NIGHTS SAILING FROM DEPARTURE DATE
Viking Mars MA240323 Italian Sojourn 7 Civitavecchia (for Rome) Saturday, March 23, 2024
Viking Orion OR20821 Alaska & the Inside Passage 10 Seward (Anchorage), Alaska Sunday, August 21, 2022
Viking Orion OR220811 Alaska & the Inside Passage 10 Vancouver Thursday, August 11, 2022
Viking Venus VE220313 In Search of the Northern Lights 12 Bergen Sunday, March 13, 2022
Viking Venus VE220301 In Search of the Northern Lights 12 Tilbury Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Viking Sky SK220202 Greek Odyssey 10 Piraeus (Athens) Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Viking Sky SK220119 Cities of Antiquity & the Holy Land 14 Civitavecchia (for Rome) Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Viking Sky SK200207 Turquoise Caribbean Seas 7 Miami, Florida Friday, February 7, 2020
Viking Sky SK200124 Panama Canal & Central America 14 Miami, Florida Friday, January 24, 2020
Viking Sky SK200117 Turquoise Caribbean Seas 7 Miami, Florida Friday, January 17, 2020
Viking Sky SK200110 Turquoise Caribbean Seas 7 Miami, Florida Friday, January 10, 2020
Viking Jupiter JU191101 Mediterranean Odyssey 12 Venice Friday, November 1, 2019
Viking Jupiter JU191020 Mediterranean Odyssey 12 Barcelona Sunday, October 20, 2019
Viking Sun SU190914 World Cruise 2019 - 2020 Sector 2 14 Bergen Saturday, September 14, 2019
Viking Sun SU190831 World Cruise 2019 - 2020 Sector 1 14 Greenwich, London Saturday, August 31, 2019
Viking Sky SK190327 Scandinavia & the Kiel Canal 10 Amsterdam Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Viking Sky SK190314 In Search of the Northern Lights 12 Bergen Thursday, March 14, 2019
Viking Sky SK190302 In Search of the Northern Lights 12 Tilbury Saturday, March 2, 2019
Viking Sun SU180728 Viking Homelands 14 Stockholm Saturday, July 28, 2018
Viking Sun SU180714 Viking Homelands 14 Bergen Saturday, July 14, 2018
Viking Sun SU180707 Viking Shores & Fjords 7 Amsterdam Saturday, July 7, 2018
Viking Sea SE171106 West Indies Explorer 10 San Juan Monday, November 6, 2017
Viking Sky SK170729 Viking Homelands 14 Stockholm Saturday, July 29, 2017
Viking Sky SK170311 Cities of Antiquity & the Holy Land 14 Civitavecchia (for Rome) Saturday, March 11, 2017
Viking Star ST160417 Passage through Western Europe 14 Barcelona Sunday, April 17, 2016