Probus Club of Yeovil

Name: Probus Club of Yeovil
Start: 2025-10-13T10:00:00+00:00
End: 2025-10-13T13:00:00+00:00
Location: Quicksilver Mail

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Monday, 13 October 2025

Time: 11:00 - 14:00
Venue: Quicksilver Mail, Yeovil , BA20 2RG
Price: Free but must be notified in advance - see website

Talk by Colonel John Blashford-Snell "Crossing the Darien Gap", the first ever vehicle crossing between Panama and Colombia in 1971-2

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The Probus Club of Yeovil is a friendly group of retired, or semi-retired, men to promote fellowship. We meet monthly for lunches at the Quicksilver Mail on Hendford and are seeking to welcome members.

Col. John Blashford-Snell is a former British army officer, explorer & author. In 1971-72 he oversaw the first north -south vehicular journey from Alaska to Cape Horn. Part of this journey involved crossing the Darien Gap-thick uncharted jungle & swamp in Panama & Columbia. An expedition to drive two newly introduced Range Rovers 17,000 miles through North & South America was initiated & Funded by the MoD. It entailed crossing a 250 mile stretch of extremely inhospitable land in the isthmus of Central America, through which there was no discernible route. The terrain was regarded as impassable, consisting of thick rain forest, several sizeable rivers & an extensive swamp. The area is home to all manner of ferocious, biting, poisonous creatures & vicious thorny toxic plants.