Wikipedia

John Blashford-Snell

ColonelJohn Nicholas Blashford-SnellCBE(born 22 October 1936) is a formerBritish Armyofficer,explorerand author. He foundedOperation Raleighand the Scientific Exploration Society.[1]

John Blashford-Snell
Birth nameJohn Nicholas Blashford-Snell
Born(1936-10-22)22 October 1936(age 88)
Hereford,Herefordshire,England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/ branchBritish Army
Years of service1954–1991
RankColonel
Service number453555
UnitRoyal Engineers
AwardsCommander of the Order of the British Empire
Spouse(s)
Judith Sherman
​
(m.1960)​
Children2

Early life and education

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John Nicholas Blashford-Snell was born on 22 October 1936 inHereford,England,the son ofAldermanthe Reverend Leland John Blashford-Snell (1903–1978),MBE,PrebendaryofHereford Cathedral,and formerly of theRoyal Army Chaplains' Department,[2][3]and Gwendoline Ives Sadler.[4][5]Blashford-Snell grew up inHerefordshireandJerseyand was educated atVictoria College, Jerseyfrom 1950.[6][7]Blashford-Snell joined the British Army and attended theRoyal Military Academy Sandhurstas an officer cadet after which he was commissioned into theRoyal Engineerson 2 August 1957.[8]

Military service

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Having served his initial two years of his commission as aSecond LieutenantBlashford-Snell was promoted to the rank ofLieutenanton 2 August 1959[9]and thenCaptainafter four years on 2 August 1963.[10]Further promotion followed to the rank ofMajoron 31 December 1968[11]andLieutenant Colonelon 30 June 1976[12]before reaching his final rank of Colonel on 30 June 1982. After 37 years of service, Blashford-Snell retired from the British Army on 30 December 1991.[13]

He was the subject ofThis Is Your Lifein 1976 when he was surprised byEamonn Andrews.

Expeditions

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In 1969, Blashford-Snell founded the Scientific Exploration Society.[14]

Amongst his expeditions were the first descent of theBlue Nileat the behest ofHaile Selassie,during which he inventedwhite-water rafting'by accident' (in 1968); crossing of theDarién Gap(1971 to 1972) and overseeing the first north–south vehicular journey fromAlaskatoCape Horn;and a complete navigation of theCongo River(in 1974 to 1975).[6]He was awarded theSegrave Trophyin 1974[15][16]and theLivingstone Medalby theRoyal Scottish Geographical Societyin recognition of his leadership of the expeditions.[17]

In 1978, Blashford-Snell establishedOperation Drake,which later developed intoOperation Raleigh,an educational initiative for young people, of which he was Director General until he retired from this post in 1991.[18]

In 1993, Blashford-Snell was awarded thePatron's Medalof theRoyal Geographical Society.[19]

In 2006, Blashford-Snell helped the London hatmakersJames Lock & Co.to design a hat to meet the needs of explorers.[20]Since 2001, he has been the Hon. Life President of the Centre for Fortean Zoology.[21]He is also a member ofthe Ghost Club.[22]In 2010 he was made an Honorary Fellow ofLiverpool John Moores University[23]

His publications include an autobiography,Something Lost Behind the Ranges(1994).

Blashford-Snell has been a member ofThe Explorers Clubsince 1974. In 1992, he was awarded the Sweeney Medal in honour of his outstanding contributions to the welfare and objectives of the organization.[24]

Personal life

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Blashford-Snell married Judith Sherman in 1960.[25][26]They had met whilst Blashford-Snell was still at Sandhurst; Sherman was attending the women's officer training unit. They have two daughters, Victoria and Emma.[27]

Works

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  • Where the Trails Run Out,London, Hutchinson 1974.ISBN0091213606
  • In the Steps of Stanley,London, Hutchison 1975.ISBN0-09-125080-3
  • Expeditions: the Experts' way,edited by John Blashford-Snell and Alistair Ballantine. London, Faber 1977.ISBN0-571-11116-5
  • A taste for adventure,London, Hutchinson 1978.ISBN0-09-136010-2
  • In the wake of DrakeJohn Blashford-Snell and Michael Cable. London, W.H. Allen, 1980.ISBN0-352-30750-1
  • Operation DrakeLondon, W.H. Allen, 1981.ISBN0-491-02965-9
  • The expedition organiser’s guideby John Blashford-Snell & Richard Snailham; written for the Scientific Exploration Society. London,The Daily Telegraph,1982.
  • Mysteries: encounter with the unexplained.London, Bodley Head 1983.ISBN0-370-30479-9
  • Operation Raleigh: the start of an adventureLondon, Collins, 1987.ISBN0-00-217624-6
  • Something lost behind the ranges:the autobiography of John Blashford-Snell.London, HarperCollins, 1994.ISBN0-00-255034-2
  • Mammoth hunt: in search of the giant elephants of Nepalby John Blashford-Snell and Rula Lenska. London, HarperCollins, 1996.ISBN0-00-255672-3
  • Kota Mama: retracing the lost trade routes of ancient South American peoplesby John Blashford-Snell and Richard Snailham. London, Headline, 2000.ISBN0-7472-2281-9
  • East to the Amazon: in search of Great Paititi and the trade routes of the ancientsby John Blashford-Snell and Richard Snailham. London, John Murray 2002.ISBN0-7195-6032-2
  • From Utmost East to Utmost WestBradt 2022ISBN978-1784778446

References

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  1. ^Leonard, Tom (29 September 2006)."I often think I must be mad".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved9 May2016.
  2. ^"No. 34207".The London Gazette.11 October 1935. p. 6379.
  3. ^Crockford's Clerical Directory, Oxford University Press, 1975
  4. ^Debrett's People of Today, Debrett's Peerage Ltd, 2006, p. 155
  5. ^The International Who's Who 1996-97, sixtieth edition, Europa Publications, 1996, p. 164
  6. ^ab"College Characters – Colonel Blashford-Snell".Jersey Evening Post.24 September 2002. Archived fromthe originalon 26 July 2011.Retrieved9 May2016.
  7. ^Calkin, Jessamy (5 December 2015)."Col John Blashford-Snell: the last of the great adventurers".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved9 May2016.
  8. ^"No. 41191".The London Gazette(Supplement). 4 October 1957. p. 5759.
  9. ^"No. 41780".The London Gazette(Supplement). 4 August 1959. p. 4876.
  10. ^"No. 43071".The London Gazette(Supplement). 2 August 1963. p. 6526.
  11. ^"No. 44754".The London Gazette(Supplement). 31 December 1968. p. 13911.
  12. ^"No. 46953".The London Gazette(Supplement). 6 July 1976. p. 9284.
  13. ^"No. 52792".The London Gazette(Supplement). 14 January 1992. p. 497.
  14. ^"About the SES".The Scientific Exploration Society. Archived fromthe originalon 2 October 2008.Retrieved25 January2010.
  15. ^This is North Devon
  16. ^"Royal Automobile Club".Archived fromthe originalon 28 September 2007.Retrieved23 January2010.
  17. ^"John Blashford-Snell".Retrieved27 August2015.
  18. ^About Operation Raleigh
  19. ^Gold Medal RecipientsArchived9 October 2009 at theWayback Machine,Royal Geographical Society, accessed 25 January 2010
  20. ^Country Life,"Hats off Blashers", 29 June 2006
  21. ^Permanent DirectorateArchived24 February 2021 at theWayback Machine,Centre for Fortean Zoology, accessed 25 January 2010
  22. ^History of the Ghost ClubArchived1 March 2009 at theWayback Machine
  23. ^"Honorary Fellowships 2010".Archived fromthe originalon 16 September 2010.Retrieved7 November2010.,Honorary Fellowships 2010, Liverpool John Moores University, accessed 7 November 2010
  24. ^"Sweeney Medalists of the Explorers Club".Archived fromthe originalon 26 February 2021.Retrieved24 January2015.
  25. ^"Index entry".FreeBMD.ONS.Retrieved9 May2016.
  26. ^"Index entry".FreeBMD.ONS.Retrieved9 May2016.
  27. ^Calkin, Jessamy (3 December 2015)."Col John Blashford-Snell: the last of the great adventurers".Retrieved2 December2016.
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