Norway's Land of the Northern Lights

Paul Fellows is Chairman of the Cambridge Astronomical Association and a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. He presents the public observing season at the University of Cambridge leading live outdoor stargazing shows and giving indoor public lectures each week. These attract audiences of 200+ and are aimed to appeal to people of all levels from the complete beginner who wants to know where to start, yet also adding something even for the more knowledgeable.
Paul’s experience with stargazing began at age 14 when he built his own 8-inch reflecting telescope and experienced the “wow” moment of seeing the rings of Saturn for the first time. Now with some 45 years of stargazing under his belt he runs his own private observatory where he images the sky, taking pictures of galaxies, clusters, nebulae and planets. Many of his own images will appear in his talks. He has been a regular speaker on cruise ships since 2016.
He was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the public understanding of science and astronomy in the 2025 new year honours.

Jackie has a background in childminding and training childminders, skills that involved plenty of cutting and sticking, which naturally led to her lifelong love of card making, paper crafting, and scrapbooking. When she’s not sharing her creative talents in craft sessions, Jackie can often be found cruising the seas or exploring the great outdoors with her trusty binoculars in hand, volunteering as a Marine Mammal Surveyor with ORCA. She also enjoys curling up with a good book, tackling a challenging jigsaw, or spending time with her dog. If you spot her out in nature, feel free to say hello, she might help you discover some amazing wildlife!

John is an experienced ukulele teacher and lifelong performer whose career in music began at just 15, playing guitar in Merseyside folk clubs. His passion for performing has remained central throughout his varied career across music, radio and entertainment.
He began as a mobile DJ before turning professional, going on to establish international discotheques in Hilton Hotels worldwide and working in hospital radio and commercial broadcasting. After relocating to Norway in the 1980s, he spent a decade working in the film industry and became fluent in Norwegian, with regular visits to international film festivals including Cannes and Los Angeles.
John later ran his own business in Canada, which involved frequent travel across Asia, before returning to the UK to establish further businesses in estate agency. In retirement, he returned to music and now performs regularly across the North West of England, including appearances at Liverpool’s Cavern Club and international performances in Memphis and France. He currently teaches ukulele to beginners and improvers, both privately and on cruise ships.

Sharon Gill originates from The Isle Of Man. She left The Isle of Man to study Fashion Design and Illustration at Lancashire University where she specialised in knitwear, knitted textile design and illustration, winning design competitions for Patons Wools and Wolsey Tights along the way. After completing a Master’s Degree at Trent Polytechnic Sharon worked for knitwear companies who supply top High Street Stores. About these years she said “I used to like watching some of the current soaps and spotting my jumper designs being worn by the characters!” 

The opportunity arose to retrain to teach and Sharon completed her Post Graduate Certificate in Education at Loughborough University and has spent the last 15 years using her knowledge and skills to help and inspire others. Her teaching experience is across all age groups and artistic subjects, from Reception Primary Classes to Adult Education. She is currently teaching part time at her local College of Further Education, involved with young adults with additional learning needs. In the summer months she also helps with The Isle of Man” Beach Buddies” craft workshops, where small groups of children and carers create seaside inspired art using beach drift waste. She is an active member of The Isle of Man Art Society, exhibiting and selling her work, twice yearly at local exhibitions. 

Ian Wright is a retired Police Officer, having served in the Metropolitan Police for thirty years. Prior to joining up he worked in a variety of jobs from bus conducting and shops to accountancy and insurance. He also took a degree in Environmental Science and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education in Maths and Physics, both at the University of East Anglia.
Being a trained teacher led to Ian being involved in various aspects of training during his police service and he also worked with schools in Lambeth and Southwark. The last ten years of his police career were spent in recruitment and in a unit making enquiries and preparing cases for civil actions and inquests. Prior to joining the police Ian also served as a private soldier in the 10th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (T.A.V.R.).
Ian has been playing bridge since he was at school and has played in the Sussex League for many years. Prior to the covid pandemic he taught bridge at Brighton College and initiated a project to teach mini- bridge in primary schools in the Brighton area. He has been teaching bridge on Fred Olsen cruises since 2018.
When Ian retired from the police he formed his own training company and now runs courses to prepare candidates for assessment centres. Attendees are mostly university students but also include candidates for the police. Ian is very keen on the ‘great outdoors’ and regularly leads walks for his local Ramblers group and is a walks leader for HF Holidays. Ian lives in Brighton and London with his partner, Hilary, a retired librarian

Being an interpreter for 34 years, I spent most of my time in Courts, prisons, police stations etc. Fortunately,  I was never the one in handcuffs! Life was hectic and 18hr days the norm. Gaining Legal qualifications and Counter Terrorist Clearance certainly added spice to life. Given the chance to do it all again, would I? In a heartbeat.

Pauline served her time as a comedienne and has performed in every venue imaginable. Her many television appearances include, The Comedians, Saturday Royal and Wogan. But since 1986 Pauline has been hailed as one of Merseyside’s favourite theatrical daughters and one of the country’s finest actresses. Her first role was at the Liverpool Playhouse in “Chicago” as “Mama Morton” which was swiftly followed by “Rose” in “Gypsy”. Then followed many different roles including musical comedy and straight roles. In 1992 she became Willy Russell’s favourite “Shirley Valentine” and has continued to play “Shirley” all over the country.

Many other plays and productions too numerous to mention have taken place since but her toughest role to date was in “Unprotected” at the Everyman which went on to be an award winner at the Edinburgh Festival in 2006 and a Scouse ology in 2007. Pauline co-presented with Roger Phillips for two years on Radio Merseyside and has sung many times with the Philharmonic Orchestra. She also plays a mean baddie in Panto and has been very successful as the Wicked Queen and Baroness Hard-up at the Floral in New Brighton.
Pauline is Merseyside’s Queen of Comedy and continues to be one of Britain’s hardest working stand-up comics.

K‑lo is one of the industry’s most versatile comedy vocal entertainers, effortlessly blending powerhouse vocals with her signature tongue‑in‑cheek humour. Whether delivering one of her acclaimed tribute shows or her flagship hit “Are You Sitting Comfortably?… Let’s Drink Gin,” she guarantees something for everyone. With performances spanning London’s West End to New York, K‑lo brings warm, endearing comedy and exceptional vocals to every stage. Trained in dance, acting and singing from a young age—and nicknamed “Toppy” for her soaring top notes—she has even performed for Her Majesty the Queen. Today, she tours the world delighting audiences of all ages.