Cooking, Courage & Commando Life
Join CSgt Mike Beaton MBE for a powerful session exploring how food fuels survival. Through live cooking, real ration packs, and personal stories from a 40-year career, discover what it truly takes to endure life as a Marine.
Step into the world of adventure and survival with CSgt Mike Beaton MBE, whose remarkable 40-year journey in the Royal Marines brings a rare and authentic perspective to life on the frontline. In this engaging, family-friendly session, Mike uses food as a powerful gateway into the realities of survival, demonstrating how nutrition, ingenuity, and resilience are essential tools for Royal Marines operating in some of the world’s most extreme environments.
Through a live cooking demonstration, audiences will discover how meals are prepared under pressure, often in challenging and unpredictable conditions. Get up close with real ration packs, learn what fuels elite commandos, and hear firsthand stories that chart Mike’s journey from a young recruit in 1986 to a lifetime of service.
This interactive experience invites questions, conversation and a chance to taste elements of life in the field. Along the way, Mike shares insights into teamwork, endurance, and the mental strength needed to survive and thrive as a Marine. Blending storytelling and practical demonstration, this session offers a memorable exploration of what it means to live, and eat, on the edge of adventure.
The talks will take place at 11 - 12 and 2pm - 3pm.
This event is free with a valid museum ticket.
This summer event series celebrates the story and spirit of the Royal Marines in anticipation of the opening of our new Royal Marines Experience later this year. This event is made possible with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
