John Cotterill spent 37 years as a regular Army officer , serving all over the world. He is now a professional battlefield tour guide , guiding groups and families to battlefields all over Europe. He was a founder member of the International Guild of Battlefield Guides , passing their Accreditation in 2004 and becoming a Fellow of the Guild in 2025. His tours and talks cover both World Wars and the history of the Sherwood Foresters. . He led 200 volunteers in Nottinghamshire's commemoration of the Great War Centenary and is now involved in assembling and researching the county's Second World War Roll of Honour. He is a member of the Western Front Association and the Campaign for Real Ale. John was born in Derbyshire and now lives in Nottingham.