British documentary film maker, author to speak at Lodgepole library

British documentary film maker and author Tim Slessor will speak at the Nancy Fawcett Memorial Library in Lodgepole on Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. The appearance is part of Chadron State College's pilot Practitioner-in-Residence program.

Slessor's presentation is titled "Immigrants," and is free and open to the public.

After military service in Britain's Green Berets, Slessor went "up" to Cambridge. Three years later, on graduation, he set out with five friends to drive overland from the English Channel to Singapore – in two works-provided Land Rovers.

The three documentaries they shot were shown on BBC, NBC, and subsequently worldwide. Tim's book First Overland became a best-seller.

In 1957, Slessor joined the BBC as a trainee. Within a few years, he was making films all over the world – in Australia, India, Africa, Europe, and, not least, in the U.S. It was his growing fascination with the American West that led him in 1965 to take a year's "time out" to teach English at Chadron State College.

On returning to the BBC, he worked on more "western" documentaries including several programs in Alistair Cooke's "America" series. For these and other programs, he received a Peabody Award and a citation from the Western Heritage Center in Oklahoma City.

"Our ability to attract celebrities, such as Mr. Slessor, speaks to the reputation of the Center and the College's commitment to the history of the region," said Sarah Polak, director of the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center.

For more information, contact Norma Michelman at (308) 483-5714.