Bill Openshaw

Bill Openshaw worked as a government radio engineer and later a prison officer. In 2014, upon semi retirement, he began working as a State Room Guide at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. With a life long interest in military history, he has been a Napoleonic re enactor with the 68th Durham Light Infantry for over 25 years. In 2016, Bill was asked to conduct the military research for a new museum for the Percy Tenantry Volunteers at Alnwick Castle. Raised in 1798 by the 2nd Duke of Northumberland, Bill spent several years searching through many hundreds of records held in the castle archives. With the information he amassed, he had his first book published entitled, "To the call of bugles - The history of the Percy Tenantry Volunteers 1798-1814', published by McNidder & Grace. During his research he became aware of the numerous documents belonging to Lord Hugh Percy, who was a prominent figure in the early years of the American Revolution. As the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution is upon us, Bill's new book, 'The road to Lexington, - Letters and papers of lord Percy 1768-1776', brings a new perspective of the beginning of the war as seen through British eyes, primarily, Percys. A second volume entitled' Redcoats in New York and Rhode island' has now also been published. Bill is married with two grown up children and one grandson and still can be found at Alnwick Castle.