July 2011 - John Sherlock returns from his third lecturing tour - this one was on board P&O Cruises' ship Arcadia. His lectures series "Europe's Greatest Architects" features many British buildings, and the series promotes Friends membership of the UK's Historic Houses Association.

Here are some of the comments fed back from his tours:

"Many thanks for ... your entertaining and informative talks ... I was hooked from the start ... Your excellent timeline gave the historical dimension ... "

"Can I also add how much I enjoyed your lectures - they went deep enough to encourage the need to know more, but were not too technical, which would have scared off a novice. It was good to see your audiences increasing each time."

"Thanks ... for the lectures on the cruise. You have definitely changed me, I now cannot help reading building facades on the television or when I am travelling... and this has prompted me to understand more about architecture."

Commenting on the lecture series, John says "The history of architecture is an aspirational subject - something that most people wish they knew more about, if only they had the time to learn. Indeed many people feel a slight (usually undisclosed) embarrassment that, on entering a great cathedral or palace, they are not able to read the rudimentary architectural language of the building.

"In fact the 'language of architecture' has a vocabulary that can be easily learnt. Once learnt, there is great satisfaction in recognising key elements (such as a Greek column or a Roman arch) and identifying how these elements have been integrated into building design across the centuries and across the continent."

John Sherlock is an unbridled enthusiast for his subject. His work with JDD specialises in heritage visitor destinations. He has completed in-depth projects for The National Trust, The Crown Estate and individual member houses of The Historic Houses Association. In each case, his work is focused on how the building and landscape can be better understood and 'read' by the visitor.