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Sir Laurens van der Post
The time Gary Waterworth Owen spent with Sir Laurens was inspirational and provided critical input and mentoring in driving forward Gary’s concept of Culture Conscious Conservation, the ResponseABILITY Alliance, Lengthen Your Stride and Get REAL ( Responsible, Environmentally Aware Leadership.)
“I have tried to take no heed of the morrow - not in an irresponsible way but as an act of trust in a life given in trust. In that sense I go from day to day, and although I love the instant I have a sense of immense distance and a great open horizon in front of me. It seems that the footsteps are extremely important and that, if I look after the footsteps, and lengthen my stride, the miles will take care of themselves.” - Sir Laurens van der Post
Explorers and writers, such as Sir Laurens van der Post and Sir Wilfrid Thesiger, often wrote of the ancient link between humanity and nature, and how within our fast moving cultures of today, much of this link has been forgotten. By visiting the unspoiled places where nature has been allowed to exist since time began, this connection is rekindled.
The extraordinary life of Sir Laurens van der Post (1906-1996) is not easily encapsulated. He was the author of many books, which have sold in the millions, two of which have been produced as feature films, and two more of which served as the basis for two award-winning public television series about the Kalahari Bushmen. Besides writing books, he was been a journalist, soldier, prisoner of war, advisor to British heads of state and other political leaders, a close confidant of Prince Charles, godfather to Prince William, an educator, humanitarian, philosopher, explorer, conservationist and more.
Born in 1906 in the interior of southern Africa, Laurens was inspired by the Kalahari Bushmen, becoming the principal chronicler of the people who created the first blueprint for life on Earth. In the 1970's Laurens met Prince Charles through mutual friends. In 1987 he took Prince Charles on a five-day retreat to the Kalahari, telling the prince, ''This is the real Africa.'' He was also one of C.G. Jung's closest friends for two decades. Laurens dedicated much of his life to emphasizing the meaning and value of indigenous cultures in the modern world, a world he felt is in danger of losing its spiritual identity to technology, prejudice, empty values and a lack of understanding of the interconnectedness of all life on Earth.
In 1983, Swiss psychiatrist C.A. Meier delivered a fascinating paper at the 3rd World Wilderness Congress in Inverness, Scotland. "Wilderness and the Search for the Soul of Modern Man" addressed not only the tragedy of our vanishing natural wilderness and the need to preserve it, but also the necessity of preserving man's 'inner wilderness'. "A Testament to the Wilderness" consists of Meier's original address and thoughtful and provocative responses by nine concerned writers from around the world including Sir Laurens.
Explorers and writers, such as Sir Laurens and Sir Wilfrid Thesiger, often wrote of the ancient link between humanity and nature, and how within our fast moving cultures of today, much of this link has been forgotten. We believe that by visiting the unspoiled places where nature has been allowed to exist since time began, this connection is rekindled.
In 1979 his Chelsea neighbour Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister and she called on his advice with matters dealing with southern Africa, notably the Rhodesia settlement of 1979–80. In 1981 he was given a Knighthood.
In Memory of Past Allies:
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