good evening I thought this evening nothing ventured nothing gained is not a
nothing ventured nothing gained is not a
nothing ventured nothing gained is not a life story
life story
life story it’s the lessons learned in 30 years of
it’s the lessons learned in 30 years of
it’s the lessons learned in 30 years of travel and exploits and it starts with
travel and exploits and it starts with
travel and exploits and it starts with even the best made plans can go wrong
even the best made plans can go wrong
even the best made plans can go wrong when I started traveling four of us two
when I started traveling four of us two
when I started traveling four of us two boys two girls got together and we
boys two girls got together and we
boys two girls got together and we planned to spend a year traveling
planned to spend a year traveling
planned to spend a year traveling overland through Africa we bought a Land
overland through Africa we bought a Land
overland through Africa we bought a Land Rover we made all the preparations all
Rover we made all the preparations all
Rover we made all the preparations all the provisions you can imagine you may
the provisions you can imagine you may
the provisions you can imagine you may want when we set off we got through
want when we set off we got through
want when we set off we got through Europe from the Sahara Desert then the
Europe from the Sahara Desert then the
Europe from the Sahara Desert then the two boys stole the Land Rover vanished
two boys stole the Land Rover vanished
two boys stole the Land Rover vanished that left me and the other girl Lesley
that left me and the other girl Lesley
that left me and the other girl Lesley all our hopes and dreams crashing down
all our hopes and dreams crashing down
all our hopes and dreams crashing down everything we’d planned but we hadn’t
everything we’d planned but we hadn’t
everything we’d planned but we hadn’t gone all that way to give up the trouble
gone all that way to give up the trouble
gone all that way to give up the trouble was we were abandoned in Nigeria which
was we were abandoned in Nigeria which
was we were abandoned in Nigeria which at that point ran out of fuel so there
at that point ran out of fuel so there
at that point ran out of fuel so there was nothing on the roads what would you
was nothing on the roads what would you
was nothing on the roads what would you do we acquired two semi wild horses and
do we acquired two semi wild horses and
do we acquired two semi wild horses and we put our sleeping bags on their back
we put our sleeping bags on their back
we put our sleeping bags on their back to saddles and may bridles out a string
to saddles and may bridles out a string
to saddles and may bridles out a string and set off riding across West Africa it
and set off riding across West Africa it
and set off riding across West Africa it was hard because it was semi desert and
was hard because it was semi desert and
was hard because it was semi desert and we learned we started learning to
we learned we started learning to
we learned we started learning to survive we learned how much stamina we
survive we learned how much stamina we
survive we learned how much stamina we had and that the more we look the more
had and that the more we look the more
had and that the more we look the more we dug the more stamina we found in
we dug the more stamina we found in
we dug the more stamina we found in ourselves that we didn’t find until we
ourselves that we didn’t find until we
ourselves that we didn’t find until we had to find it luckily there was a bit
had to find it luckily there was a bit
had to find it luckily there was a bit of a rainy season left puddles that the
of a rainy season left puddles that the
of a rainy season left puddles that the horses drank and so did we
horses drank and so did we
horses drank and so did we when we reached Cameroon the land ahead
when we reached Cameroon the land ahead
when we reached Cameroon the land ahead was jungle jungles no good for horses so
was jungle jungles no good for horses so
was jungle jungles no good for horses so we sold the horses and we went on
we sold the horses and we went on
we sold the horses and we went on hitchhiking into the centre of Africa
hitchhiking into the centre of Africa
hitchhiking into the centre of Africa where we were stopped again by an even
where we were stopped again by an even
where we were stopped again by an even bigger rainy season turned all the roads
bigger rainy season turned all the roads
bigger rainy season turned all the roads to mud no way through lateral thinking
to mud no way through lateral thinking
to mud no way through lateral thinking according to our map there was an
according to our map there was an
according to our map there was an enormous River near bangy going down
enormous River near bangy going down
enormous River near bangy going down into the Congo River down to Brazzaville
into the Congo River down to Brazzaville
into the Congo River down to Brazzaville we’d go that way
we’d go that way
we’d go that way so we bought a dugout canoe and two
so we bought a dugout canoe and two
so we bought a dugout canoe and two paddles and set off down the river
paddles and set off down the river
paddles and set off down the river straightaway we realized it was too
straightaway we realized it was too
straightaway we realized it was too strong to turn back we were committed
strong to turn back we were committed
strong to turn back we were committed the first night we made a lot of
the first night we made a lot of
the first night we made a lot of mistakes there was nowhere to camp the
mistakes there was nowhere to camp the
mistakes there was nowhere to camp the jungle had no clearings so we parked
jungle had no clearings so we parked
jungle had no clearings so we parked beside a cliff of sand and at dusk we
beside a cliff of sand and at dusk we
beside a cliff of sand and at dusk we set up our mosquito nets in the canoe
set up our mosquito nets in the canoe
set up our mosquito nets in the canoe and settled down to sleep
and settled down to sleep
and settled down to sleep the mosquitoes were ferocious but
the mosquitoes were ferocious but
the mosquitoes were ferocious but eventually we fell asleep and then until
eventually we fell asleep and then until
eventually we fell asleep and then until the rain started pouring rain in the
the rain started pouring rain in the
the rain started pouring rain in the middle of the night I woke Leslie work
middle of the night I woke Leslie work
middle of the night I woke Leslie work as well but she jumped up she staggered
as well but she jumped up she staggered
as well but she jumped up she staggered she tripped she fell overboard and
she tripped she fell overboard and
she tripped she fell overboard and vanished into the river and that cliff
vanished into the river and that cliff
vanished into the river and that cliff of sand we were parked beside got
of sand we were parked beside got
of sand we were parked beside got undermined by all this rain and it fell
undermined by all this rain and it fell
undermined by all this rain and it fell forward onto the canoe which started to
forward onto the canoe which started to
forward onto the canoe which started to sink could anything has to go wrong but
sink could anything has to go wrong but
sink could anything has to go wrong but no I found Lesley dragged her back on
no I found Lesley dragged her back on
no I found Lesley dragged her back on board and we spent till dawn
board and we spent till dawn
board and we spent till dawn bailing out the sand and water from then
bailing out the sand and water from then
bailing out the sand and water from then on we learned to sleep on the sandbanks
on we learned to sleep on the sandbanks
on we learned to sleep on the sandbanks mid-river no mosquitoes and the trip was
mid-river no mosquitoes and the trip was
mid-river no mosquitoes and the trip was nearly three months long we learned a
nearly three months long we learned a
nearly three months long we learned a lot we had wanted to stick to the
lot we had wanted to stick to the
lot we had wanted to stick to the riverbanks because we thought we’d be
riverbanks because we thought we’d be
riverbanks because we thought we’d be closer to the land if we capsized
closer to the land if we capsized
closer to the land if we capsized because we didn’t know how to paddle but
because we didn’t know how to paddle but
because we didn’t know how to paddle but we learned and we also realized that
we learned and we also realized that
we learned and we also realized that closer you are at the bank that’s where
closer you are at the bank that’s where
closer you are at the bank that’s where the fallen trees are half submerged and
the fallen trees are half submerged and
the fallen trees are half submerged and rocks that’s where the dangers are and
rocks that’s where the dangers are and
rocks that’s where the dangers are and we looked out mid river where the
we looked out mid river where the
we looked out mid river where the current was racing along and we went out
current was racing along and we went out
current was racing along and we went out to join it there was one point where the
to join it there was one point where the
to join it there was one point where the river made sharp air spend between
river made sharp air spend between
river made sharp air spend between cliffs we could hear the water roaring
cliffs we could hear the water roaring
cliffs we could hear the water roaring ahead of us but we paddled faster
ahead of us but we paddled faster
ahead of us but we paddled faster because the only way to control a canoe
because the only way to control a canoe
because the only way to control a canoe is speed faster we had to go faster
is speed faster we had to go faster
is speed faster we had to go faster whirlpools broke out both sides of us
whirlpools broke out both sides of us
whirlpools broke out both sides of us ahead of us we just kept paddling we
ahead of us we just kept paddling we
ahead of us we just kept paddling we were by this time shrieking with
were by this time shrieking with
were by this time shrieking with excitement and by the time we came out
excitement and by the time we came out
excitement and by the time we came out of that very long ass friend we were
of that very long ass friend we were
of that very long ass friend we were yelling with the excitement and
yelling with the excitement and
yelling with the excitement and exhilaration when we reached Brazzaville
exhilaration when we reached Brazzaville
exhilaration when we reached Brazzaville the end of our journey we tied the canoe
the end of our journey we tied the canoe
the end of our journey we tied the canoe up at the war from went to immigration
up at the war from went to immigration
up at the war from went to immigration office to get our passports stamped they
office to get our passports stamped they
office to get our passports stamped they said that people had never arrived from
said that people had never arrived from
said that people had never arrived from the center of Africa by canoe before
the center of Africa by canoe before
the center of Africa by canoe before therefore we were spies and they
therefore we were spies and they
therefore we were spies and they arrested US
arrested US
arrested US they locked Leslie up but before they
they locked Leslie up but before they
they locked Leslie up but before they could lock me I realized I had to keep
could lock me I realized I had to keep
could lock me I realized I had to keep some control of the situation and not
some control of the situation and not
some control of the situation and not show fear if you show fear you give
show fear if you show fear you give
show fear if you show fear you give people power over you so I went for the
people power over you so I went for the
people power over you so I went for the control sides and said no I can prove
control sides and said no I can prove
control sides and said no I can prove that we came from the center of Africa
that we came from the center of Africa
that we came from the center of Africa our canoe it’s unlike anything you’ve
our canoe it’s unlike anything you’ve
our canoe it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen here let me show it to you let
ever seen here let me show it to you let
ever seen here let me show it to you let me prove that our story’s true and I
me prove that our story’s true and I
me prove that our story’s true and I marched and they came with me we went to
marched and they came with me we went to
marched and they came with me we went to the dock I showed them the canoe
the dock I showed them the canoe
the dock I showed them the canoe thank God they believed me they set us
thank God they believed me they set us
thank God they believed me they set us free they even put us on television that
free they even put us on television that
free they even put us on television that was a bit of a shock from there free
was a bit of a shock from there free
was a bit of a shock from there free again we went back into the jungle six
again we went back into the jungle six
again we went back into the jungle six months later we reached Rhodesia no
months later we reached Rhodesia no
months later we reached Rhodesia no Zimbabwe where Leslie left me to get
Zimbabwe where Leslie left me to get
Zimbabwe where Leslie left me to get married
married
married lovely girl was still in touch but when
lovely girl was still in touch but when
lovely girl was still in touch but when she left I had quandary two people is
she left I had quandary two people is
she left I had quandary two people is wonderful to travel because you share
wonderful to travel because you share
wonderful to travel because you share the workload and you look after each
the workload and you look after each
the workload and you look after each other what did I have the courage to
other what did I have the courage to
other what did I have the courage to travel alone even with a horse perhaps
travel alone even with a horse perhaps
travel alone even with a horse perhaps if I could the whole world would be open
if I could the whole world would be open
if I could the whole world would be open to me could I do it alone
to me could I do it alone
to me could I do it alone I went I thought I’d try I went south
I went I thought I’d try I went south
I went I thought I’d try I went south brought a horse in a horse sale and rode
brought a horse in a horse sale and rode
brought a horse in a horse sale and rode for 4000 miles around southern Africa
for 4000 miles around southern Africa
for 4000 miles around southern Africa and our force travel that actually led
and our force travel that actually led
and our force travel that actually led me into long horse journeys usually only
me into long horse journeys usually only
me into long horse journeys usually only a thousand miles of time through some of
a thousand miles of time through some of
a thousand miles of time through some of the wildest parts of the world what I
the wildest parts of the world what I
the wildest parts of the world what I love about horses is that they give you
love about horses is that they give you
love about horses is that they give you such freedom they carry you they carry
such freedom they carry you they carry
such freedom they carry you they carry your luggage they swim the rivers across
your luggage they swim the rivers across
your luggage they swim the rivers across the mountains for proof drive at night I
the mountains for proof drive at night I
the mountains for proof drive at night I camp in the wild
camp in the wild
camp in the wild I didn’t have a tent I had hammock we
I didn’t have a tent I had hammock we
I didn’t have a tent I had hammock we tried to sling between trees and it kept
tried to sling between trees and it kept
tried to sling between trees and it kept me away from the insects and the damp of
me away from the insects and the damp of
me away from the insects and the damp of the ground often I stayed in villages
the ground often I stayed in villages
the ground often I stayed in villages and in the villages its people it’s
and in the villages its people it’s
and in the villages its people it’s important to give people some way of
important to give people some way of
important to give people some way of relating to you some way of interacting
relating to you some way of interacting
relating to you some way of interacting I had photos photos of mother father
I had photos photos of mother father
I had photos photos of mother father home so they could see I’m not a foreign
home so they could see I’m not a foreign
home so they could see I’m not a foreign devil I’m just a person like anyone and
devil I’m just a person like anyone and
devil I’m just a person like anyone and I took photos as well of stove amazing
I took photos as well of stove amazing
I took photos as well of stove amazing and ordinary things like vegetables and
and ordinary things like vegetables and
and ordinary things like vegetables and fear of farm animals in our country
fear of farm animals in our country
fear of farm animals in our country because that’s the kind of thing you can
because that’s the kind of thing you can
because that’s the kind of thing you can build a conversation without a language
build a conversation without a language
build a conversation without a language the other thing I learned was always to
the other thing I learned was always to
the other thing I learned was always to smile step forward and introduce myself
smile step forward and introduce myself
smile step forward and introduce myself and often people would ask me to speak
and often people would ask me to speak
and often people would ask me to speak at public event you know the
at public event you know the
at public event you know the installation of a new chief for whatever
installation of a new chief for whatever
installation of a new chief for whatever reason they would ask me to speak and I
reason they would ask me to speak and I
reason they would ask me to speak and I realized you know you see a funny face
realized you know you see a funny face
realized you know you see a funny face in all the crowd you people just want to
in all the crowd you people just want to
in all the crowd you people just want to hear the sound of your voice it didn’t
hear the sound of your voice it didn’t
hear the sound of your voice it didn’t matter that they couldn’t understand so
matter that they couldn’t understand so
matter that they couldn’t understand so I would got used to being able to say
I would got used to being able to say
I would got used to being able to say you thank you for your welcome and to
you thank you for your welcome and to
you thank you for your welcome and to thank them all for their kindness to me
thank them all for their kindness to me
thank them all for their kindness to me because all they wanted was snow what I
because all they wanted was snow what I
because all they wanted was snow what I sounded like after 20 years one other
sounded like after 20 years one other
sounded like after 20 years one other point being a woman it wasn’t more
point being a woman it wasn’t more
point being a woman it wasn’t more difficult being a woman I was if
difficult being a woman I was if
difficult being a woman I was if anything more of a novelty the less of a
anything more of a novelty the less of a
anything more of a novelty the less of a threat in Papua New Guinea I was
threat in Papua New Guinea I was
threat in Papua New Guinea I was initiated into manhood this was because
initiated into manhood this was because
initiated into manhood this was because I was yet again travelling by River in a
I was yet again travelling by River in a
I was yet again travelling by River in a dugout canoe and I’d set out to paddle
dugout canoe and I’d set out to paddle
dugout canoe and I’d set out to paddle down new guineas longest river the CP it
down new guineas longest river the CP it
down new guineas longest river the CP it would take me three months and in one
would take me three months and in one
would take me three months and in one village they decided to initiate me into
village they decided to initiate me into
village they decided to initiate me into manhood because I was doing what no
manhood because I was doing what no
manhood because I was doing what no woman could do according to them it was
woman could do according to them it was
woman could do according to them it was a painful and frightening ceremony it’s
a painful and frightening ceremony it’s
a painful and frightening ceremony it’s meant to be
meant to be
meant to be from frightening because you if you go
from frightening because you if you go
from frightening because you if you go through pain and fear and come out on
through pain and fear and come out on
through pain and fear and come out on top of it then we for the rest of your
top of it then we for the rest of your
top of it then we for the rest of your life you’ll that bit stronger after 20
life you’ll that bit stronger after 20
life you’ll that bit stronger after 20 years I reached Madagascar Madagascar is
years I reached Madagascar Madagascar is
years I reached Madagascar Madagascar is different it actually it’s spreaded to
different it actually it’s spreaded to
different it actually it’s spreaded to split off Africa in dinosaur times and
split off Africa in dinosaur times and
split off Africa in dinosaur times and everything there evolved in isolation
everything there evolved in isolation
everything there evolved in isolation its flora and fauna is extraordinary the
its flora and fauna is extraordinary the
its flora and fauna is extraordinary the poverty there was equally mind-blowing
poverty there was equally mind-blowing
poverty there was equally mind-blowing it’s hard to imagine from our background
it’s hard to imagine from our background
it’s hard to imagine from our background but it made me really think again I went
but it made me really think again I went
but it made me really think again I went the head of UNICEF and he challenged me
the head of UNICEF and he challenged me
the head of UNICEF and he challenged me find a project to help fight poverty in
find a project to help fight poverty in
find a project to help fight poverty in Madagascar so I started looking I formed
Madagascar so I started looking I formed
Madagascar so I started looking I formed a charity the dot will trust British
a charity the dot will trust British
a charity the dot will trust British registered and looked for a project
registered and looked for a project
registered and looked for a project I felt inadequate on a lot of ways
I felt inadequate on a lot of ways
I felt inadequate on a lot of ways because what do I know I know about
because what do I know I know about
because what do I know I know about writing books radio and making films and
writing books radio and making films and
writing books radio and making films and obstacles I know about obstacles and
obstacles I know about obstacles and
obstacles I know about obstacles and travel then I found a radio drama series
travel then I found a radio drama series
travel then I found a radio drama series which is using scandal entry and
which is using scandal entry and
which is using scandal entry and suspense to carry information to bring
suspense to carry information to bring
suspense to carry information to bring awareness to the population about mother
awareness to the population about mother
awareness to the population about mother and child you know why
and child you know why
and child you know why perhaps clinics were used for why
perhaps clinics were used for why
perhaps clinics were used for why children should be vaccinated all the
children should be vaccinated all the
children should be vaccinated all the very first step stuff that Madagascar
very first step stuff that Madagascar
very first step stuff that Madagascar needed so that any age agencies that
needed so that any age agencies that
needed so that any age agencies that were there could be more effective they
were there could be more effective they
were there could be more effective they needed those first steps nutrition
needed those first steps nutrition
needed those first steps nutrition hygiene aids awareness
hygiene aids awareness
hygiene aids awareness family planning all these things could
family planning all these things could
family planning all these things could be threaded into our story
be threaded into our story
be threaded into our story I got a studio equipped a full studio at
I got a studio equipped a full studio at
I got a studio equipped a full studio at National Radio and set up a network of
National Radio and set up a network of
National Radio and set up a network of 50 rural radio stations in addition to
50 rural radio stations in addition to
50 rural radio stations in addition to our national broadcast I received
our national broadcast I received
our national broadcast I received funding from unit new US aid UNICEF and
funding from unit new US aid UNICEF and
funding from unit new US aid UNICEF and unfpa
unfpa
unfpa iron producer for technicians actors the
iron producer for technicians actors the
iron producer for technicians actors the lot and production started but there was
lot and production started but there was
lot and production started but there was something missing
something missing
something missing I wanted radio to be two-way I don’t
I wanted radio to be two-way I don’t
I wanted radio to be two-way I don’t just want to broadcast I want to listen
just want to broadcast I want to listen
just want to broadcast I want to listen as well and I said how about these with
as well and I said how about these with
as well and I said how about these with you know radio groups and they said no
you know radio groups and they said no
you know radio groups and they said no it can’t work it never has worked that’s
it can’t work it never has worked that’s
it can’t work it never has worked that’s where I said well I can’t know that I
where I said well I can’t know that I
where I said well I can’t know that I haven’t tried the windup radio had just
haven’t tried the windup radio had just
haven’t tried the windup radio had just been invented so I ordered the first lot
been invented so I ordered the first lot
been invented so I ordered the first lot off the production line they arrived and
off the production line they arrived and
off the production line they arrived and we trained like the opinion leaders in
we trained like the opinion leaders in
we trained like the opinion leaders in the villages how to discuss what they’d
the villages how to discuss what they’d
the villages how to discuss what they’d heard in the programs tell us what they
heard in the programs tell us what they
heard in the programs tell us what they understood didn’t understand like didn’t
understood didn’t understand like didn’t
understood didn’t understand like didn’t like which gave us a wonderful
like which gave us a wonderful
like which gave us a wonderful opportunity always to improve so we
opportunity always to improve so we
opportunity always to improve so we could use the feedback to continually
could use the feedback to continually
could use the feedback to continually make it more relevant and make it more
make it more relevant and make it more
make it more relevant and make it more useful to their lives so that we ran for
useful to their lives so that we ran for
useful to their lives so that we ran for five years yes out of a country of 30
five years yes out of a country of 30
five years yes out of a country of 30 million we ended up with 10 million
million we ended up with 10 million
million we ended up with 10 million faithful listeners and if ever one of
faithful listeners and if ever one of
faithful listeners and if ever one of our programmes was late to arrive at a
our programmes was late to arrive at a
our programmes was late to arrive at a rural station the people crowds of
rural station the people crowds of
rural station the people crowds of people would pick at the station we want
people would pick at the station we want
people would pick at the station we want to know what happens next so that we met
to know what happens next so that we met
to know what happens next so that we met all our objectives and it was wonderful
all our objectives and it was wonderful
all our objectives and it was wonderful to be able that the objectives were to
to be able that the objectives were to
to be able that the objectives were to make what other people did more
make what other people did more
make what other people did more effective sometimes I wonder what
effective sometimes I wonder what
effective sometimes I wonder what training I’ve had for this but then I
training I’ve had for this but then I
training I’ve had for this but then I think of the challenges I’ve been
think of the challenges I’ve been
think of the challenges I’ve been through and I’ve skipped through 30
through and I’ve skipped through 30
through and I’ve skipped through 30 years this evening but when I think yes
years this evening but when I think yes
years this evening but when I think yes I’ve been arrested in fact probably 10
I’ve been arrested in fact probably 10
I’ve been arrested in fact probably 10 times now I have a chapter that I call
times now I have a chapter that I call
times now I have a chapter that I call tested exits from tight corners what to
tested exits from tight corners what to
tested exits from tight corners what to do when you know when the prison door
do when you know when the prison door
do when you know when the prison door comes open my one thing is just don’t
comes open my one thing is just don’t
comes open my one thing is just don’t let it look behind me whether I play
let it look behind me whether I play
let it look behind me whether I play sick whether I play nuisance I have a
sick whether I play nuisance I have a
sick whether I play nuisance I have a whole raft of different fullbacks on how
whole raft of different fullbacks on how
whole raft of different fullbacks on how to deal with being under arrest
to deal with being under arrest
to deal with being under arrest it’s never easy but don’t let me give
it’s never easy but don’t let me give
it’s never easy but don’t let me give anyone the idea that travel is only
anyone the idea that travel is only
anyone the idea that travel is only glamorous or easy or wonderful it also
glamorous or easy or wonderful it also
glamorous or easy or wonderful it also has its difficult moments really this
has its difficult moments really this
has its difficult moments really this evening what I want to say is don’t be a
evening what I want to say is don’t be a
evening what I want to say is don’t be a passenger in life take part in it if
passenger in life take part in it if
passenger in life take part in it if you’ve got something helpful to say stay
you’ve got something helpful to say stay
you’ve got something helpful to say stay up say it smile step forward you only
up say it smile step forward you only
up say it smile step forward you only live once
”
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