Hamish de Bretton-Gordon – Chemical Warrior, In conversation with Stewart Collins

Following the 2020 literary week event featuring ‘War Doctor’ David Nott, the Petworth festival invites people to discover another tale this year on the 31st of October.

For thirty years, Hamish de Bretton-Gordon has served and volunteered in conflict zones around the world. As the army’s foremost chemical weapons expert, he built a first-hand understanding of how to prevent attacks and train doctors on the frontline – saving countless lives in the process. After suffering near-death experiences time and again, Hamish discovered he had a ticking time bomb in his own chest: a heart condition called Sudden Death Syndrome that could kill him at any moment. But with a new awareness for the fragility of life, Hamish has unearthed evidence of multiple chemical attacks in Syria and continues to advise the government at the highest level, including after the 2018 Novichok poisoning in Salisbury.

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon OBE is co-founder & director of Doctors Under Fire with Professor David Nott.