John Blashford-Snell
Encyclopedia
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
.
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).
In 1969, he founded the Scientific Exploration Society.
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.
He was awarded the Segrave Trophy
in 1974.
In 1993, he was awarded the Patron's Gold Medal of the Royal Geographical Society
.
In 2006 Blashford-Snell helped the London hatmakers James Lock to design a hat especially to meet the needs of explorers. Since 2001 he has been the Hon. Life President of the Centre for Fortean Zoology
. He is also a member of the Ghost Club. In 2010 he was made an Honorary Fellow of Liverpool John Moores University
His publications include an autobiography, Something Lost Behind the Ranges (1994).
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 22 October 1936) is a former British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer, explorer and author.
John Blashford-Snell was educated at Victoria College, Jersey
Victoria College, Jersey
Victoria College is a fee paying States of Jersey-provided school in membership of the HMC, in St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands. The castellated neo-gothic architecture is a landmark overlooking the town.-History:In the 1590s, Laurens Baudains - a wealthy farmer from St...
and at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, then commissioned into the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
.
Amongst his expeditions have been the first descent of the Blue Nile
Blue Nile
The Blue Nile is a river originating at Lake Tana in Ethiopia. With the White Nile, the river is one of the two major tributaries of the Nile...
(in 1968); crossing of the Darién Gap
Darién Gap
The Darién Gap is a large swath of undeveloped swampland and forest separating Panama's Darién Province in Central America from Colombia in South America. It measures just over long and about wide. Roadbuilding through this area is expensive, and the environmental toll is steep. Political...
(1971 to 1972) and overseeing the first north–south vehicular journey from Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
to Cape Horn
Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island...
; and a complete navigation of the Congo River
Congo River
The Congo River is a river in Africa, and is the deepest river in the world, with measured depths in excess of . It is the second largest river in the world by volume of water discharged, though it has only one-fifth the volume of the world's largest river, the Amazon...
(in 1974 to 1975).
In 1969, he founded the Scientific Exploration Society.
In 1978 he established Operation Drake
Operation Drake
Operation Drake was a round-the-world voyage with the participation of young people from many countries. The voyage was centred around the brigantine Eye of the Wind. She left Plymouth in October 1978 and returned to London two years later, in December 1980.Named after Sir Francis Drake, who had...
, which later developed into Operation Raleigh
Raleigh International
Raleigh International is a UK-based youth and sustainable development charity that aims to help people of all backgrounds and nationalities to discover their full potential through their work to improve communities and protect the environment....
, an educational initiative for young people, of which was Director General until he retired from this post in 1991.
He was awarded the Segrave Trophy
Segrave Trophy
The Segrave Trophy is awarded to the British national who accomplishes the most outstanding demonstration of the possibilities of transport by land, sea, air, or water. The trophy is named in honour of Sir Henry Segrave, and has been awarded in most years since 1930.A subsidiary award, the Segrave...
in 1974.
In 1993, he was awarded the Patron's Gold Medal of the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
.
In 2006 Blashford-Snell helped the London hatmakers James Lock to design a hat especially to meet the needs of explorers. Since 2001 he has been the Hon. Life President of the Centre for Fortean Zoology
Centre for Fortean Zoology
Centre for Fortean Zoology is an organisation dedicated to cryptozoology, and allied disciplines. It is a non-profit organisation registered with the British Government, and its Hon. Life President is the British explorer John Blashford-Snell....
. He is also a member of the Ghost Club. In 2010 he was made an Honorary Fellow of Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University is a British 'modern' university located in the city of Liverpool, England. The university is named after John Moores and was previously called Liverpool Mechanics' School of Arts and later Liverpool Polytechnic before gaining university status in 1992, thus...
His publications include an autobiography, Something Lost Behind the Ranges (1994).
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
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