Clacton Arts & Literary Society

Benedict Allen, a brilliant storyteller and explorer, burst upon the Arts and Literary Society on Monday evening with a non-stop commentary of his adventures in the Amazon basin and the rain forests of that area.   It was breathtaking just listening to his mishaps and near death experiences, such being chased by assassins in canoes, who kept missing him when they lost control of their boats;  his terrible decision to kill and eat a dog when lost in the rain forest so that he could survive.   We had graphic details and pictures of his initiation ceremony in Papua New Guinea and, many years later, the dreadful time when his guides stole all his equipment and left him to die.   But he didn’t!

During the second half of his show, he took us to Siberia and his attempt to cross the vast icy plains to Alaska.   This was a truly remarkable story and we were shown so many photographs of his husky team of 10 very individual dogs, so hard working and so very endearing.  He got lost in a snow storm and lost his dogs, but they went in search of him and he of them – they found each other – and Benedict abandoned his attempt to reach Alaska so that he and his dogs might survive.    This was a very exciting and memorable evening with a charming and articulate raconteur.

The sponsors for this evening were Fred Olsen Travel Ltd.
 

                                                           Audrey Owens
                                                                Press Officer