Speaker Lineup

Over the last few decades Tony Robinson has emerged as Britain’s foremost face of popular history, the creator of a worldwide comedy icon, and an award winning writer of children’s books and television.

Tony presented twenty seasons of Channel 4’s archaeology series ‘Time Team’, and played Baldrick in ‘Blackadder’. He has been involved in many other television series and documentaries as a writer, producer and presenter, most recently the recent Channel 4 series ‘Time Crashers’. He is currently working on ‘The Somme – The First Twenty-four Hours’ for Discovery.

Tony is an award-winning children’s writer with over thirty authored books, including his current series for Macmillan, Tony Robinson’s Weird World of Wonders. He has also written several books for adults including Tony Robinson’s History of Australia, and he has recently published his autobiography, No Cunning Plan.

From 1996 – 2000 he was Vice-President of British Actors Equity. Between 2000 and 2004 he was a member of the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party. In 2012 he was made a Fellow of Cardiff University, has been awarded Honorary Doctorates by Exeter University, Oxford Brookes, the Open University and the University of Chester, and has Honorary MAs from Bristol University and the University of East London. In 2008 he was presented with the ‘Outstanding Contribution by an Individual’ award by the Museums and Heritage Association, and the James Joyce award by University College, Dublin. He has been an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society since 2008, and received a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2013.

Julian Richards is an archaeologist, writer and TV broadcaster. He was a key figure in writing and broadcasting the popular BBC 4 series Meet the Ancestors. Julian has recently been back on TV with a new series called Stories From the Dark Earth: Meet the Ancestors Revisited. Much of Julian’s career has focused around British Prehistory, for a decade he ran the Stonehenge Environs Project with Wessex Archaeology, a detailed study of Stonehenge and its surrounding landscape. Julian went on to author Stonehenge – the story so far.

While at Wessex Archaeology, Julian taught as much as he could, mainly working with Bristol University Continuing Education, where he met Mick Aston. Mick and Julian taught summer schools for blind students dealing with a diverse range of subjects, from war and conflict archaeology, to the prehistory of Wessex. Julian is still involved in education projects such as What’s Under Your School?, a programme teaching children about archaeology. Outside of archaeology Julian’s interests lie in art and old fast cars but most importantly of all, he holds a Blue Peter badge!

Julian says he has never for a moment regretted his choice of career and continues to find the past a fascinating place to explore.

A senior lecturer at Durham University, David is an expert in the Archaeology of Northern England. His main research interests focus on the social archaeology of the 1^st Millennia AD and the development of Christianity. Part of this entails carrying out fieldwork at the site of an Anglo-Saxon monastery on Holy Island, in collaboration with DigVentures. He also runs a number of other fieldwork projects including the major field school at the Roman Fort at Binchester Co. Durham. A key component of his work encompasses ensuring the local community groups are involved in the archaeology and helping them understand their heritage.

“There is still so much to find, in archaeology we continue to make new discoveries and develop fresh understandings about even the most well-trodden areas. I’ve come to realise that life is so much more than making money and live in a world where history is always with us.”

Dr. Janina Ramirez is a cultural historian, broadcaster and author based at the University of Oxford.

Janina’s career began with her Bachelors Degree at the University of Oxford in English Literature, she then went on to study an MA and PhD at the Centre for Medieval Studies at York. Her postgraduate studies focussed on the art, literature and culture of Anglo-Saxon England, and her interests have continued to branch out ever since and she can boast of detailed knowledge on everything from classical architecture to the symbolism of birds in Anglo-Saxon art.

Janina uses television, radio, publications and social media to share her knowledge to, in her words, ‘everyone who cares to listen’. Janina embraces the Digital Revolution and continues to welcome new methods of communication and ways of interacting with non-traditional audiences worldwide through digital media. She has presented numerous BBC Four documentaries including Treasures of the Anglo-Saxons and The Hundred Years’ War.

Professor Christopher Gerrard has a joint honours degree in Archaeology and Geology, and PhD from the University of Bristol under the supervision of Professor Mick Aston and Richard Harrison. Chris has worked in commercial archaeology in both Spain and the UK. He started lecturing in 1992 at Winchester University, and in 2000 he joined the archaeology department at Durham University.  

At Durham, Chris leads the research team that worked on identifying and analysing the remains of the Scottish soldiers found under Palace Green Library Cafe (Durham Cathedral). Chris has directed fieldwork with the Mick Aston at Shapwick. He has also worked in North-East Spain for many years and has a particular interest in the transition from Islamic to Christian societies and their landscapes. Chris is regularly published in academic journals and books on all of his discoveries across Europe.

Helen Geake had originally trained to become a secretary, however, after reading about archaeology and attending lectures by Mick Aston her passion for the subject was ignited and she decided to study medieval archaeology at University College London. She was fortunate enough to join the excavation at Sutton Hoo as an undergraduate. Hands up if you’re jealous!

Helen’s love for archaeology inspired her to continue her studies at the University of York where she obtained a PhD researching Anglo-Saxon cemeteries. Helen’s first appeared in the public eye in 1998 when she joined Time Team. She was a main presenter for the show and was Time Team’s expert on anything Anglo-Saxon. Since Time Team Helen has also presented on ITV’s Britain’s Secret Treasures, and she has also played a key role at the Portable Antiquities Scheme’s base at the British Museum, training and supporting volunteer recorders.

Both her on screen and behind the scenes work connect archaeological research with public understanding of its importance, interest and value.

Teresa Hall is the long-term partner and co-worker of Mick Aston. Teresa is a landscape historian and has an interest in the early church.

She has continued the Winscombe Village Survey that was started by Mick, which includes the digging of test pits throughout the village to trace the varied fortunes of the surrounding villages. Mick’s work continues, and his legacy lives on through Teresa.

Professor Carenza Lewis is based at the University of Lincoln, and is a familiar face to many due to her television appearances, notably being regular presenter on Time Team from 1993 to 2005. She cleverly combines her research with teaching in archaeology, history and heritage with public engagement.

Carenza is committed to involving members of the public in the research process to the shared benefit of the individuals, community, society, heritage and academia. The discovery of an ichthyosaur vertebrae (a type of marine dinosaur) when she was 7 years old set her on the path to becoming an archaeologist. She tries to recreate this wonderful opportunity for young people by creating the Higher Education Field Academy, encouraging them to get their hands dirty and get a taste of academia through a hunt for history beneath their feet.

“Archaeology is just the best subject in the world, it never loses its ability to intrigue, surprise, puzzle and enthral me”

Dr. Mike Heyworth MBE discovered his love for archaeology aged 14 after taking part in an archaeological dig. He knew from then on that archaeology was the career for him. He joined a local archaeology group and would dig at weekends and during the summer.

Mike’s early start to his career paid off and he became Director of the Council for British Archaeology (CBA). The CBA is an independent charity that brings together members, supporters and partners to give archaeology a voice across the UK and safeguard it for future generations.

Mike is also involved with many other archaeological organisations; including the All Party Parliamentary Archaeology Group and Portable Antiquities Scheme Advisory Group. Mike is a vocal advocate for digital archaeology and has been directly involved with many of the technologies that make it possible, such as the Archaeology Data Service. Mike was awarded his MBE for services to heritage in 2007

Phil Harding is a British field archaeologist. He became a household name due to being a regular on Channel 4’s TV series Time Team from 1994 to 2013. As a young boy he became fascinated with the Stone Age, learning flint knapping from his uncle Fred. His first archaeological finds came from digging up his own backyard, much to his mother’s annoyance.

Phil’s relentless enthusiasm for archaeology has undeniably inspired countless others to enter the discipline. Bringing this enthusiasm, and his hat, to the public eye through Time Team he has secured a lasting legacy by cementing archaeology in the public consciousness He was voted Archaeologist of the Year in 2013 by the readers of Current Archaeology Magazine.

“Thank-you everyone for expressing an interest in archaeology. Sharing our love for the past is what it is all about and it helps keep archaeology alive”

Francis began his career by training as an archaeologist at Trinity College, Cambridge. He describes his student experience as “three wonderful years being a typical 60’s student”. He initially worked at a brewery before emigrating to Canada and landing a job at the Royal Ontario Museum. This led to his most well known discovery and excavation of Flag Fen. He made frequent appearances on Channel 4’s Time Team.

Francis has successfully brings archaeology to a wider audience through a number of wonderful books, radio and television programs. Now a retired archaeologist he has turned to a quieter life of sheep farming, writing and blogging. He has also recently embarked upon crowdfunding his own series of crime fiction novels through Unbound.

“Lighten up- archaeology is too important to be taken seriously”

Professor Stewart Ainsworth is currently based at the University of Chester, and was formerly a senior investigator and project officer for English Heritage. He originally trained as a surveyor, before he joined the archaeological section of the Ordnance Survey.

He made appearances on Time Team he was affectionately known as the ‘lumps and bumps’ man as he is a landscape archaeologist and specialises in surveying, recording and investigating archaeological sites.

He is president of the Friends of Epiacum, the Roman fort on the southern edge of Northumberland, which he has surveyed and studied in depth.

John Gater was a staple of Time Team for 20 years, earning him the nickname the “geophys wiz”. He once calculated that he and the Time Team crew had walked the equivalent distance from the earth to the moon with geophysics equipment.

As part of the team he played an important role in educating the British public on the role of science in archeology and made many of Time Team’s discoveries possible. In this role John was able to draw on a wealth of experience, as he completed his first geophysical survey a stunning 45 years ago.

After graduating from Bradford University in 1979 he entered commercial archeology and is still active in this field, holding the role of Director of Archeology at SUMO Geophysics, the largest company of this type in the UK. He has also written a book in on archaeological geophysics in cooperation with Chris Gaffney (Revealing the Buried Past). Despite all these remarkable professional achievements in the realm of archeology, it is rumoured that his true passion is Real Ale.

Ben Garrod is an evolutionary biologist, primatologist and broadcaster. He is currently a teaching fellow at Anglia Ruskin University and completed his PhD on the ‘Primates of the Caribbean’ at UCL. Over the past decade he has been prolific on British television, helping educate the public and presenting shows such as Secrets of the Bones on BBC Four and Attenborough and the Great Dinosaur.

He is also a successful author, having written the So You Think You Know About Dinosaurs series, aimed at ‘young dinosaur enthusiasts’. He has also published extensively in the academic world, primarily in the fields of primatology and osteoarchaeology. Ben’s work has taken him all across the globe, especially on projects to protect great apes. Outside of his work Ben is active in number of charitable organisations and is a trustee of the Jane Goodall society.

Dan is a historian who has researched, written and presented several documentaries on British and world history for the BBC, including the BAFTA award winning Battlefield Britain. Dan says he was immersed in the idea of presenting from a young age, starting with family video ‘documentaries’ and pieces to the camera outside the Pyramids, or on the Champs-Elysees, at age 5.

In an interview for HistoryNet.com he says “I consider myself someone who eats, sleeps and breathes history. I write it, read it, research it, tweet it, Facebook it, film it, record it, speak it”. Just as his twitter handle @TheHistoryGuy, asserts he aims to one day be the go-to guy for all things history. He believes that the digital medium is great for history as a discipline as it is so flexible and makes history so immediate.

“History is where the present and the future come from”