John Blashford-Snell
Colonel John Nicholas Blashford-Snell OBE (born 22 October 1936) is a former British Army officer, explorer and author.
John Blashford-Snell was educated at Victoria College, Jersey and at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, then commissioned into the Royal Engineers.[1]
Amongst his expeditions have been the first descent of the Blue Nile (in 1968); crossing of the Darién Gap (1971 to 1972) and overseeing the first north–south vehicular journey from Alaska to Cape Horn; and a complete navigation of the Congo River (in 1974 to 1975).[1]
In 1969, he founded the Scientific Exploration Society.[2]
In 1978 he established Operation Drake, which later developed into Operation Raleigh, an educational initiative for young people, of which was Director General until he retired from this post in 1991.[3]
He was awarded the Segrave Trophy in 1974.[4][5]
In 1993, he was awarded the Patron's Gold Medal of the Royal Geographical Society.[6]
In 2006 Blashford-Snell helped the London hatmakers James Lock to design a hat especially to meet the needs of explorers.[7] Since 2001 he has been the Hon. Life President of the Centre for Fortean Zoology.[8] He is also a member of the Ghost Club.[9] In 2010 he was made an Honorary Fellow of Liverpool John Moores University[10]
His publications include an autobiography, Something Lost Behind the Ranges (1994).
[edit] Works
- In the Steps of Stanley, London, Hutchison 1975. ISBN 0091250803
- Expeditions: the Experts’ way, edited by John Blashford-Snell and Alistair Ballantine. London, Faber 1977. ISBN 0571111165
- A taste for adventure, London, Hutchinson 1978. ISBN 0091360102
- In the wake of Drake John Blashford-Snell and Michael Cable. London, W.H. Allen, 1980. ISBN 0352307501
- Operation Drake London, W.H.Allen, 1981. ISBN 0491029659
- The expedition organiser’s guide by John Blashford-Snell & Richard Snailham ; written for the Scientific Exploration Society. London, Daily Telegraph, 1982.
- Mysteries : encounter with the unexplained. London, Bodley Head 1983. ISBN 0370304799
- Operation Raleigh : the start of an adventure London, Collins, 1987. ISBN 0002176246
- Something lost behing the ranges :the autobiography of John Blashford-Snell. London, HarperCollins, 1994. ISBN 0002550342
- Mammoth hunt :in search of the giant elephants of Nepal by John Blashford-Snell and Rula Lenska. London, HarperCollins, 1996. ISBN 0002556723
- Kota Mama : retracing the lost trade routes of ancient South American peoples by John Blashford-Snell and Richard Snailham. London, Headline, 2000. ISBN 0747222819
- East to the Amazon : in search of Great Paititi and the trade routes of the ancients by John Blashford-Snell and Richard Snailham. London, John Murray 2002. ISBN 0719560322
[edit] References
- ^ a b Jersey Evening Post
- ^ Scientific Exploration Society, accessed 25 January 2010
- ^ About Operation Raleigh
- ^ This is North Devon
- ^ Royal Automobile Club
- ^ Gold Medal Recipients, Royal Geographical Society, accessed 25 January 2010
- ^ Country Life, "Hats off to Blashers", 29 June 2006
- ^ Permanent Directorate, Centre for Fortean Zoology, accessed 25 January 2010
- ^ History of the Ghost Club
- ^ [1], Honorary Fellowships 2010, Liverpool John Moores University, accessed 7 November 2010
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Intrepid explorer defeated by train trip, BBC News, 29 November 2001
- John Blashford-Snell heads back to the jungle, Times Online, May 16, 2009
