Key Personalities

Dr Phil Harding
Honorary President

Well known to all fans of Time Team, Phil has been the Honorary President of the Defence Archaeology Group since its formal foundation which took place in Admiral Lord Nelson’s cabin on HMS Victory. As well as providing advice, Phil plays an active part in many of the excavations.

Dr Peter Buxton (Surg Cmdre RN Retd)
Director

As the Director of the Defence Archaeology Group, Peter provides overall leadership and counsel to the various Op NIGHTINGALE collaborations and presides over the governance of DAG through its quarterly board meetings. Peter holds a Master’s Degree in Archaeology and, after 36 years’ service, has recently retired as Surgeon Commodore Medical Director General (Naval) of the Royal Navy. He has participated in several archaeological excavations in this country and abroad. Whilst his principal interest is landscape archaeology his trowel has seen plenty of use as well. He is particularly interested in the Iron Age and Early Mediaeval archaeology of north-west Europe.

Lt Col Les Richardson
CMgr MCMI

Senior Army Project Leader

Les is the Senior Army Project Lead and Treasurer of DAG, he has been involved with Op NIGHTINGALE programme since 2013. As a Medical Support Officer within the Royal Army Medical Corps, Les has some 36 years military experience of healthcare delivery and support to operations and deployments worldwide. He is currently undertaking an MSc and MBA programme and provides the Project & Business leadership and planning.  As an “experienced excavator” he regularly assists on Archaeological digs. Les is qualified as a MH First Aider and has a Level 3 Award in Health, Welfare and Recovery.

Vicki Score

Vicki Score BA MSc MCIfA
Archaeological Advisor

Vicki has been involved with Defence Archaeology Group since its foundation in 2012 and as of 2017, was formally elected as Archaeological Advisor and a Trustee.  Vicki is currently Deputy Director of University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS), with considerable expertise in directing and managing major archaeological projects. As well as working in the professional sector, Vicki also does a large amount of work with community archaeology groups. In 2017 she was awarded the Marsh Archaeology Award for Community Archaeologist of the year in recognition of her tremendous work.