‘Everyone’s being talked at by me . . .’ 

When not hunched over a hot screen writing these ocean pearls of wisdom, I’m also committed to a community outreach policy of getting out on the road, onboard ships or into venues connecting with the great wider public with illustrated talks.

Not confined just to indoors, my fascination with Liverpool’s history also means that I frequently lead guided tours of the city for groups and individuals both on foot and aboard coaches. I’m also capable of branching out to lead exploration of the historic city of Chester and the model village of Port Sunlight.

I have been known to stray off purely maritime topics in talks, for example in John Lennon: Man, Myth or Monster? But even this subject contains maritime elements to be teased out of the life of Lennon. 

Take your pick from the topics below – although being a flexible kind of guy I am also open to new suggestions and can devise a new speech for your special occasion:

• The Lusitania sinking: Misfortune or Murder? 
• Titanic: the world’s largest manmade moving object meets the natural version
• Much more than just Titanic: the rise and fall of Liverpool’s world-famous White Star Line 
• Cunard: Sam’s big passenger line idea still steams on
• Living in the wrong place: Liverpool Homefront during the WWII Blitz
• Liverpool Western Approaches Battle of the Atlantic HQ 
• Surviving The Cruel Sea: Nicholas Monsarrat – a novel war hero
• John Lennon: Man, Myth or Monster?
• Actually, it was our idea: a guide to Liverpool ‘firsts’
• Musings of a Merseyside multi-media wordsmith. Peter Elson looks back on career from hot metal to home working.
• The Three Charleses – linking the kings Charles I, II and III
• The reign of change – the second Elizabethan age
• The Liverpool & Manchester – the world’s first intercity railway steams towards its 2030 bicentenary
• Seeds of destruction: Liverpool Botanic Gardens, an imperilled former horticultural world leader 

So, what could be better?

Well, there’s a combination of not only an illustrated talk but also the big bonus of wine tasting in Fizz & Ships, with wine expert Jane Clare. In possibly the first ever attempt to bring the viticultural and maritime worlds together, we take an illustrated voyage along Liverpool’s legendary shipping routes tasting fine wines at each of ports of call. 

So don’t sit around feeling embarrassed in front of friends because you lack knowledge of the hot maritime topics of a century or more ago, instead just call me on mob: 0753985 6961 or text: peterelson01@gmail.com

Go on – you know you want to!