JOHN
BLASHFORD-SNELL
Born in 1936,
John was educated
at Victoria
College, Jersey
and subsequently
entered The
Royal Military
Academy, Sandhurst.
His family
roots lie
in Jersey
where his
paternal grandfather
was a sea
captain. His
Father was
an Army Chaplain
and his Mother
is well remembered
for her care
of animals
as well as
the people
of their parishes.
John grew
up amongst
a menagerie
of wounded
and orphaned
wildlife,
which generated
his interest
in conservation.
He married
Judith in
1960, they
have two married
daughters
and live in
Dorset.
In 1968 Emperor
Haile Selassie
of Ethiopia
invited the
British Army
to send a
team to explore
and make the
first descent
of the infamous
Blue Nile.
Captain John
Blashford-Snell
of the Royal
Engineers
was commissioned
to select,
train and
lead the 60
strong party.
The success
of this immense
expedition
led to even
tougher assignments
such as the
first vehicle
crossing of
the complete
Darien Gap
in 1971-2
and in 1974-5,
navigating
almost all
the 2,700
miles of the
great Zaire
River. Both
these ventures
had strong
environmental,
medical and
scientific
objectives.
Thus John
has become
one of the
world’s
most renowned
and highly
respected
explorers
and his innovative
method of
negotiating
white water
in inflatable
boats has
been adopted
as a world-wide
sport.
In 1969,
following
the success
of the Blue
Nile Expedition,
JBS and his
colleagues
formed the
Scientific
Exploration
Society, their
aim being
to 'foster
and encourage
scientific
exploration
world-wide'.
The SES became
the parent
body for several
world-wide
ventures with
the support
and involvement
of HRH The
Prince of
Wales.
Inspired
by the spirit
of Sir Francis
Drake's voyage
400 years
ago, John
poured his
energy into
raising funds
and selecting
a team to
run Operation
Drake. As
a result of
the success
of this venture,
the Fairbridge
Drake Society
was formed
to help under-privileged
young people
and subsequently,
at the request
of the Government
and large
number of
organisations,
a second and
much larger
global youth
programme
was organised.
In 1984 JBS
launched Operation
Raleigh and
by 1992 over
10,000 young
men and women
from 50 nations
had taken
part in challenges
and worthwhile
expeditions
all over the
world, returning
home as true
young pioneers
intent on
putting something
back into
their own
communities.
In 1991,
John retired
from the Army
and as Director
General of
Operation
Raleigh. Following
many requests
to use his
wealth of
experience
to provide
similar opportunities
for mature
people, he
set up Discovery
Expeditions
with his son
in law Julian
Matthews.
With his
indefatigable
energy, John
has found
time to write
thirteen books,
including
his autobiography
'Something
Lost Behind
the Ranges'
published
in 1994 and
his new book
'Mammoth Hunt'
on the quest
for the giant
elephants
of Nepal,
published
by Harper
Collins.
He Also broadcasts
and appears
on a variety
of wildlife
and entertainment
programmes.
His presentations
can be humorous
or serious
and he lectures
around the
world on leadership,
motivation
and team building
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