Our Team

The CICERONI Team includes Helen Greasby who is responsible for bookings, Chloe Pepper who is responsible for tour operations and marketing, Stephen Brook who is responsible for finance and administration and James Hill, who is our resident Tour Manager in Italy with responsibility also for the Balkans and North America. Tom Duncan, CICERONI’s founder, leads tours regularly and continues to develop new tours so that our clients are not without fresh and exciting places to visit each year. Finally, and not least, our programme of visits and study days is led and supported by a wonderful team of lecturers and tour managers. A selection of ‘Team CICERONI’ biographies can be explored below.

Lecturers

Tom Duncan founded CICERONI Travel in 1999. Its programme of tours and study days reflect his interests in art history, archaeology, music and horticulture.

Juliet Barclay studied at the Central School of Art & Design. She has published numerous books and articles on Caribbean architecture and culture.

Jimi Blake trained at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin. In recent years he has created his own remarkable garden, “Hunting Brook”, in Co Wicklow.

A Chicago native, John is an award-winning architecture docent. He enjoys giving talks and tours for local historical societies and adult education groups.

Helen Clifford is a specialist in historic and contemporary silver. She trained at Cambridge, the Royal College of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Helen Dillon is Scottish by birth and has lived in Ireland for over forty years. She is justly regarded as Ireland’s most exciting and innovative gardener.

Charles Freeman is a freelance academic historian, author of many books on Mediterranean culture and Historical Consultant to the Blue Guides.

Deborah Gage is an art historian and dealer based in London's Bond Street. She is also curator of the collection at Firle Place, Sussex.

James Hill is our Italian, US and Caribbean tours director. British born, he has been resident in Italy for 25 years and is an authority on its culture.

Peter Hill is a pianist, writer and broadcaster. He has a discography that ranges from Bach to the present day and gives lectures, masterclasses and recitals around the world.

Matthew Hirst is Curator at Woburn Abbey & Gardens, and the former Head of Arts & Historic Collections at Chatsworth House Trust.

Caroline Holmes is a garden historian, award-winning writer and design consultant. She lectures for Cambridge University ICE, NADFAS, the RHS, RA and many museums.

Graduate of Exeter University in Latin and Ancient History, Gillian is an award-winning freelance writer, author, public speaker and presenter.

James Howard is a professional actor and trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He has worked extensively on stage, including the National Theatre Exchange.

Rachel Lamb trained in horticulture and garden design and is a highly experienced gardener within the Mediterranean. In Sicily since 2002, she has developed the San Giuliano gardens near Syracuse.

Glòria Lomas, graduate in Tourism of the University of Barcelona, has spent 25 years as an official guide for Catalonia. Based in Girona, she specialises in ancient and medieval history.

James Lomax was a curator at Temple Newsam, Leeds for 30 years. He specialises in English decorative arts of the long 18th century.

Mauricio Macarrón is a graduate in history from the Complutense University in Madrid. He has been
leading cultural tours in and around Madrid since 1989.

An architectural historian by training, Hugh currently works independently in the fields of cultural heritage. He travels and lectures widely internationally and has a particular interest in the history of collections.

Glorianne is a lecturer in International Relations at the University of Malta. She also lectures on European Studies at the Institute of Tourism Studies, and an active tour guide.

Paula Nuttall gained her PhD from the Courtauld Institute of Art. She is a specialist in the Renaissance, with a particular interest in artistic relations between Flanders and Florence.

Gavin Plumley is a writer and broadcaster specialising in the art and culture of Central Europe, particularly during the final years of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

John Osborne taught Classics at Marlborough College. He also worked for the British Council in Iran and Turkey. He has a special enthusiasm for Bulgaria - its history, culture and people.

Rosalind Savill, Director of the Wallace Collection, London, 1992-2011, specialises in eighteenth century French decorative arts, especially Sèvres porcelain.

Viennese by birth, Ingrid Sawerthal completed her studies at the University of Vienna School for Interpreters and has a minor in art history. Since 1997 she has been working as licensed guide in Austria.

Christopher Smith is Professor of Ancient History at the University of St Andrews and was Director of the British School at Rome from 2009 to 2017.

Peteris Stumburs is a guide and interpreter based in Riga Latvia. When time allows his other great passion is organic farming.

Tour Managers

Stephen Brook is the co-owner and a Director of CICERONI Travel where he has worked since 2005. He is responsible for Finance and Administration.

James Hill is our Italian, US and Caribbean tours director. British born, he has been resident in Italy for 25 years and is an authority on its culture.

Susie Hunt worked as a journalist for the BBC and ITV for 15 years and has spent the last 13 years managing PR and marketing for ornamental gardens in the Cotswolds area.

After a career in academic publishing Geoffrey Nuttall now writes on renaissance Lucca and teaches art history at the Courtauld Institute of Art.

David Sketchley was educated at Downside School. He has worked with CICERONI Travel for many years as our local tour manager in Spain and Portugal.

The CICERONI Team

Tom Duncan founded CICERONI Travel in 1999. Its programme of tours and study days reflect his interests in art history, archaeology, music and horticulture.

Stephen Brook is the co-owner and a Director of CICERONI Travel where he has worked since 2005. He is responsible for Finance and Administration.

Chloe Pepper is our Operations Manager and also responsible for CICERONI Travel's Media and Marketing.

Helen Greasby will join CICERONI Travel in early March 2023. As Reservations Manager she is responsible for Client Liaison.