We are delighted to announce the speakers that will be joining the TANKFEST 2026 lecture stage.
Sergeant Anthony “Chez” Cherrett, Craig & Martha
Anthony Cherrett is a current-serving tank commander in the British Army, an amateur armoured historian, and a dedicated tank fanatic. With a deep passion for military history and armoured warfare, Anthony has combined professional experience with historical research to explore the evolution of tanks.
As the Project Lead and Researcher for Operation Mother, Anthony is spearheading the effort to locate and recover HMLS Centipede (“Mother”), the world’s first successful tank prototype, believed to be buried in Bovington. Through extensive research and fieldwork, Anthony is working to uncover a lost piece of history that shaped modern armoured warfare.
Will Ward
Will Ward has been interested in military history since childhood and moving to Dorset 26 years ago became a Friend of Tank Museum, volunteering in the library and writing for Tracklink. Through a longstanding interest in Auxiliary Units, the stay behind force created in case of a German invasion during WW2, and their links with the wartime SAS, he met the daughter of Major Peter Weaver and subsequently wrote his biography. He is a member of CART and a major contributor to their website.
Survive History
Louee Dessent is a presenter, producer and host of the Survive History YouTube channel. After completing a Master’s Degree in Ancient History at Oxford University, Louee spent most of his career working as a digital journalist at ITN and ITV News. He also worked as Head of Social Video at History Hit, before launching his own YouTube channel in 2023. Through the immersive Could You Survive series, his channel aims to get as close as possible to the daring, dirty and dangerous experiences of soldiers through the age.
Mike Nicholas
Mike works as an Educator here at The Tank Museum.
He is a military historian who specialises in the First and Second World Wars, as well as the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.
He has presented talks here at the Museum, as well as other esteemed organisations such as the National Army Museum, the British Modern Military History Society, the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute, and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Andrew May
Andrew is the author of DD Sherman Tank Warriors, which follows the compelling story of the 13th/18th Royal Hussars in the Second World War and their key role in spearheading the assault on Sword Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944.
Tom Carradine
Tom Carradine is a performer, musical director and historian who has spent the last 12 years championing community singing, Music Hall and the songs that shaped everyday life in the early 20th century. Best known for his Cockney Sing-a-long shows, he has become a familiar figure at venues including Wilton’s Music Hall, Brick Lane Music Hall and Leeds City Varieties, as well as through his work with The Players Theatre. Alongside this, Tom has a deep interest in the music of the First World War and has performed on numerous occasions at Talbot House, the former soldiers’ club just behind the lines at Ypres, now a living museum. He is also the co-host of the podcast The A to Z of Wartime Song with his long-time collaborator and vintage singer Lili Redman, exploring the stories behind the songs that helped people laugh, cry and carry on during the dark days of both world wars
Dick Taylor
Lieutenant Colonel Dick Taylor RTR (Retd) is a well-known and much-published expert on the history of British tanks. His many books include volumes on the Challenger, Chieftain, Matilda and Valentine. He is a former tank commander and tank gunnery specialist. During a long career in the British army he served in, amongst others: Afghanistan, Iraq, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan. He is the official historian of the Royal Armoured Corps, has an avid interest in modern and military history and writes military history books for a hobby.
Mick Graham
Mick has had a lifelong enthusiasm for military vehicles, especially main battle tanks—so much so that he joined the 4th Royal Tank Regiment in 1979 after spending almost 15 years in the Regiment and becoming a Gunnery instructor on Chieftain. In 1993, it was finally time to move on! But the memories never left him! Mick spent many years doing various jobs as a civvy and became a forklift instructor for almost 20 years, teaching many industrial machines, predominantly in the Oil industry in Aberdeen. Only seven years ago, Mick’s wife Marian said, “Didn’t you used to paint before I met you?” Mick replied, “Well, kind of, but I never took it seriously, and started painting again, but just as a hobby.” At this point, Mick’s bones were creaking (age)! He taught 50-ton forklifts during the day, in all weathers at the Tyne Dockyards and Aberdeen. He painted during the night! Something had to Give! Mick decided to take a leap of faith on 8 October 2021, and, hoping for the best, left his full-time job and took up painting full-time.
Lt Col Matthew Whitchurch MBE
A highly experienced Royal Engineers officer with 44 years’ service, “Sticky” is a proven trainer of trainers in battlefield studies, a leading practitioner of applied military history, and a prolific contributor to RE Journal on reforming training, future force design, mine warfare, and fortifications. Having served in eight wars, instructed at the British Staff College, Iraqi War College and Land Warfare Centre, and led over 130 battlefield tours—including extensive NATO work on the Eastern Front—he was commissioned in 2026 as a Category B Reserve Lt Col with 77 Brigade and continues to mentor and advise internationally.
Hamish De Bretton Gordon OBE
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon is a world leading expert in chemical, biological and nuclear (CBRN) weapons. Hamish served 23 years in the British Army including service as Commanding Officer of the UK CBRN Regiment and NATO’s Rapid Reaction CBRN Battalion.
