"Oxford' Land Rover leaving Thailand tomorrow on journey to London

By Linda Khoo

BANGKOK, Sept 3 -- The “Oxford” Land Rover, which is on a historic and challenging road journey from Singapore, will leave Thailand tomorrow to continue its expedition for the next 90 days to its final destination in London.

The “SNX 891" four-wheel 1955 Series One Land Rover, which made its way from London to Singapore under The Oxford & Cambridge Far Eastern Expedition (The First Overland) from Sept 1, 1955 to March 6, 1956, is now journeying in the reverse direction.

It arrived in Thailand after travelling through Singapore and Malaysia on Aug 25.

In a statement, The Last Overland team said the team travelled from Hatyai to Surat Thani in Thailand, followed by Hua Hin and Bangkok.

It said the team made a special stop at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club, due to its historical connection with the First Overland in 1955.

Present at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club event were members of the British Embassy, members of the land rover owners club, Jaguar Land Rover Thailand.

“Now, 64 years later, the team of eight, including Alex Bescoby, award-winning filmmaker and co-founder of Grammar Productions, and Nat George, grandson of Tim Slessor (a member of The First Overland), will drive the original 1955 ‘Oxford’ Land Rover Series I to retrace that first overland expedition.

“It is an expedition that will take them through over 20 countries including Nepal, China, Uzbekistan, Iran and Bulgaria. The aim is to arrive in London within 100 days of setting out from Singapore,” it said.

-- BERNAMA