FIFTY years on from a pioneering expedition to explore the cause of river blindness along the Nile, the explorer John Blashford-Snell will be joined next month by two Jersey volunteers to recall their experiences.
Peter Picot and Richard Le Boutillier, among those who responded to publicity in the Jersey Evening Post, will be taking part in an event hosted by the Jersey Scientific Exploration Society to help raise funds for a bursary to assist Islanders seeking similarly worthwhile overseas projects.
It was 100 years after Sir Henry Stanley traversed Africa, settling the question of the source of the Nile and navigating some of the Zaire River, that the Scientific Exploration Society launched one of Britain’s largest expeditions to research the cause of the “river blindness” disease along the river’s 2,700-mile course.
Some 165 servicemen, medical experts and scientists from ten nations, led by the explorer John Blashford-Snell, used giant inflatable boats and innovative jet craft to navigate the giant river’s huge rapids. Land Rovers, Range Rovers, a train and an army Beaver plane supported the four-month project.
President Mobutu and the Zaire government, the British Ministry of Defence, the Natural History Museum, the Daily Telegraph, Survival Anglia TV and over 340 companies and individuals backed the venture. The late Duke of Edinburgh also gave valuable help.
In Jersey, the involvement of young people was made possible by the Royal Trust Co of Canada (CI) and the Jersey Evening Post, which, with the support of its then chairman, Frank Walker, organised a competition to identify two young Islanders to join five others in the team.
Ultimately, all those involved were to be congratulated by Queen Elizabeth II and the involvement of young people led Prince Charles, then the Prince of Wales, to found Operations Drake and Raleigh, which helped to develop leadership in over 50,000 young men and women. The current Prince and Princess of Wales were among participants in Operation Raleigh.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Zaire River Expedition, the Jersey Scientific Exploration Society will be holding a presentation at the Arts Centre on Friday 25 October, with members of the expedition speaking of their time on the adventure. Tickets are available from the Jersey Arts Centre.
Presentations are also being held in London at the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) on 2 October and at the Royal Geographical Society on 12 November.
