SOME CRUISE TESTIMONIALS
“It has been an absolute delight to work with Peter, a very fine speaker indeed who has packed the Neptune Lounge with each of his talks, even in excellent weather (which is always a speaker’s enemy!). I would certainly recommend us using him again and a lot more often.”
Cruise Director, Fred Olsen’s Balmoral, 2008
“Peter is a good speaker with a very interesting subject. He had a full house on all his talks. It was good to have him onboard. I hope to have him back as guest speaker in the future.”
Cruise Director, Fred Olsen’s Black Watch World Cruise, 2009
“Peter was a very competent speaker with a good varied topic area and certainly he had a very strong following. The guests enjoyed his lectures which were delivered very well.”
Cruise Director, Cunard’s Queen Victoria World Cruise, 2010
"I wanted to tell you how much my wife and I enjoyed your most interesting talks on Berlin and Rudolf Hess. We were both impressed by the presentations; just the right speed and amount of humour. We have been cruising with Fred Olsen for ten years and look forward to the talks from visiting speakers on the cruise and yours has [sic] certainly been the best.”
Unsolicited letter from a passenger on Fred Olsen’s Black Watch, 2013
“The Major General’s lectures were outstanding – the best speaker I have heard in a long time – very informative and entertaining – lectures delivered professionally with excellent knowledge and good humour – particularly impressed by the quality of the talks – an interesting and unexpected highlight of the cruise.”
Composite of Passenger Comments from Saga Pearl, August 2016
“Engages with his audience very well and whilst he is dealing with sometimes controversial subjects, he delivers the information in a professional and respectful manner with many fascinating personal experiences shared. Please thank Peter, on our behalf for his valuable contribution to the Insights programme . We look forward to welcoming him onboard Cunard in the future”
Cunard Feedback after Queen Victoria cruise to the Baltic, June-July 2022
SOME SCHOOLS FEEDBACK
“Peter Williams' erudite and authoritative talk on Military Spying in Cold War Berlin is a fascinating professional and personal insight into the work of BRIXMIS in the 1980s and is extremely well received by the pupils.
To a focused and accessible historical and political background he adds the kind of perspective and colour gathered from his own experience as a military intelligence officer which brings the Cold War to life. Lively and witty, his talk is one of the highlights of the weekly U6 Current Affairs programme at Bryanston School.”
Ian McClary, Head of Sixth Form Enrichment, Bryanston School, January 2014
“That talk on 'My Life as a Cold War Spy' was excellent! The boys are harsh critics and had only kind, warm and appreciative words to say about your thrilling and greatly informative lecture.”
Stephen Rathbone, Academic Director, Radley College, November 2015
“Peter Williams is among the best speakers I have ever enjoyed listening to. He is every inch an officer and a gentleman and, as such, is a fantastic role-model for young people, particularly those with half-an-eye on the military or international intelligence.
Despite having had a career that culminated in top secret work as a multi-linguist and information-gatherer in covert military missions, Peter has retained all of his humility and perfect manners; the students find him approachable and friendly and he is unfazed, open and honest when it comes to Q&A at the end of his talks. Importantly, Peter does not assume any significant prior knowledge about this period in modern History on behalf of his audience and gives excellent contextual information at the start of his talk to ‘fill them in’ and make his stories more easily understandable and relevant, even to non-history students.
In a nutshell, Peter delivers an informative and enlightening account of the frosty relations between East and West in the late 20th century with wry humour and a cut-glass English accent – I very highly recommend him!”
Mark Coates, AST/Lead Practitioner, The Connaught School Aldershot, January 2014
Peter Williams brings a strong sense of connection to all that he covers. His well-illustrated and deep understanding of European history, Cold War politics and the Secret World enables him to hook his audience with a fascinating take on his subject. He opens his audiences’ eyes by showing the relevance of his historical takes to current events and has the unique ability to combine high politics and low comedy in a mix that gets the dullest audience laughing and the knowledgeable looking happily thoughtful. His presentations are satisfying both to the expert and to the average punter.
I noticed that after each talk, he tends to be besieged by many members of his audience, keen to follow up on many of the quirky and little-known points that he makes. They always come away amused and satisfied. He is a man who is invariably well worth hearing.
Major General Bill Robins, St Peter & St Paul Buckingham, June 2016
It was a very interesting talk and we appreciated the opportunity to host you at our school. The highlight of the talk was your manner - you came across as erudite, engaging and a very confident speaker. The personalised PowerPoint, featuring a photograph of the school, was a welcome touch.
Our students of course appreciated the event, and here are a couple of quotes from them: “He makes me want to go back in time and be there!” and “I did not know recent history could be so fascinating”.
Ballakermeen High School, Douglas, Isle of Man, May 2017
MARLBOROUGH COLLEGE SUMMER SCHOOL
“The course students received a clear, but down-played, account of considerable bravery and ingenuity on the part of the BRIXMIS ‘operatives’ who scored highly in the fulfilment of their role. Perhaps it did not become a Major General to suggest that he revelled in some of the boyish and successful tasks which he and his colleagues accomplished against the odds, but reading between the lines it was plain that both he and they did so.
This was an interesting, eye-opening and well thought out course which exposed what had been, to me and others on it, a completely unknown area of military activity which must have played a significant part in the eventual ending of the Cold War.”
His Honour Sir Michael Turner, Course Student 2014
Thank you for a splendid week of illustrated talks, and most impressively, all without notes. It was superb and absolutely fascinating.
Mr Jeffrey Prett, Course Student 2022
CHARITY AND OTHER ADULT AUDIENCES
“Excellent talk.” “Major General Williams was a delight. I thoroughly enjoyed his talk. He had a good sense of humour and made a tricky subject entertaining.” “He injected humour at the right moments, was articulate and clearly spoken.”
Oxfordshire Ladies Luncheon Club, Randolph Hotel, Oxford, May 2018
"Your talk on Rudolf Hess drew the largest number of members that we have had in over ten years for the January dinner. You brought the whole subject alive with your tremendous presentation, which was delivered with aplomb and great good humour. You would be greatly welcomed back on another occasion and I would heartily recommend both the topic and you in general (forgive the pun) to others."
Stephen Fletcher JP FRSA, Recorder, The Cheshire Pitt Club, January 2017
“Thank you so much for giving such a wonderful talk on Rudolf Hess. I thought your talk was outstanding. It had all the plusses: very well researched, very well illustrated, very well delivered (with a nice light-hearted touch) and very informative. It was a real tour de force and I can quite understand why you are a star performer on cruise ships!”
General Sir John Learmont, President of Curry Rivel Royal British Legion, November 2015
“Peter Williams came to address our Parents’ Society in January 2014. The talk attracted one of the largest audiences we have seen, and they all left feeling that their enthusiasm had been duly rewarded.
For the youngsters, it was an extraordinary insight into a world which in many cases they did not know to have existed. For those who remember the Cold War, it was an extraordinary insight into the kind of everyday life experienced by those suspicious and hostile towards their counterparts on the other side of the Iron Curtain.
The talk was beautifully illustrated, wittily delivered, and drew an enthusiastic, quick-fire patter of questions, all succinctly answered. I would happily recommend this talk to anyone considering either a Sixth Form lecture, or a talk for parents.”
Dr. Timothy Hands, Master, Magdalen College School Oxford, HMC Chairman 2013-14
ARLEY HALL, CHESHIRE - CHARITY TALK ON 5TH APRIL 2017
"I really cannot thank you enough for coming to Arley to give that simply wonderful lecture. It was absolutely fascinating to hear about your exploits in part of what must rank as a most unusual and distinguished military career. Everyone present will have learned a huge amount and you made it all such fun - quite unlike many such occasions. You could probably tell from the questions how much interest you had generated; they could have gone on much longer but of course time (and probably your voice) intervened.
We think the whole event was a great success - so many people have already said so. e raised a significant sum, but importantly it was all so enjoyable. All the people at the event are much in your debt and I am sure will be spreading the word."
Viscount Ashbrook, Arley Hall and Gardens
Talk at Radley College on 2nd March 2016
On Wednesday the 2nd of March 2016, Radley College had the pleasure of listening to Major General Peter Williams in the Coffee Shop. He gave a quick overview of his fascinating military career, but the main focus of the talk was about Russia. It was very interesting to hear about his time in Russia, trying to sell them NATO. The main point which came across was simply that the Russians are “different” to Westerners. This is mainly due to their history and culture.
I was really intrigued to learn a bit more about the rulers of Russia and how they were portrayed in Russia. For example, Krushchev, who took over from Stalin, is considered a great, powerful leader because he ignored and did not fear the West. This is in stark contrast to Brezhnev, who listened to everyone’s opinion and was hence blamed for losing control in Russia during the 1980s.
Moreover, Major General Peter Williams spoke about the media’s role in society. He suggested that media censorship is one of greatest causes of the vast polarisation. He also expressed the reason Putin is so popular in Russia - because he conveys strength and creates a sense of patriotism in Russia, he makes the people feel secure.
After his speech, the audience were free to ask questions. One boy asked about Russia’s relationship with China and Georgia. He believed that Georgia was very much a satellite state which wants to join NATO but is not able to, and said the relationship with China is not what it used to be, as there is less of a reliance on their goods. However, they still trade raw materials and are considered allies. Finally, Major General Williams described Russia as a “mafia state run by an alpha dog which will implode.” The only question is when and why?
It was a thoroughly enjoyable talk and a big thanks must go out to Mrs. Scammell Jackson for organising the event.
History Correspondent: Ollie Martyn-Hemphill, F Social 6.1