Land Rovers Celebrate 70 Years of First Overland
September 2, 2025
On Sunday 31 August 2025, more than 200 Land Rovers took to the streets of London, accompanied by the Band of the Grenadier Guards, to mark the 70th anniversary of the First Overland expedition – the legendary 1955 road journey from London to Singapore.
Land Rover convoy entering Belgrave Square, London – (c) Ethan Harvey – Grammar Productions
The convoy gathered at Belgrave Square before heading west to Bremont HQ “The Wing” in Henley-on-Thames, where adventurers, celebrity overlanders, and fans joined together in tribute.
The Passenger’s Book containing messages of thanks for Tim Slessor from across the globe – (c) Ethan Harvey _ Grammar Productions
At the heart of the celebration was Tim Slessor, who turns 94 next month. Slessor was one of the original six young men on the 1955 expedition, and today remains one of only three surviving members. He is also the author of the best-selling First Overland, a book that has become a cornerstone of the travel writing genre and continues to inspire adventurers worldwide. Messages of support flooded in from across the globe — from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States — underlining the enduring impact of the journey he made.
Tim Slessor & Alex Bescoby watch the Grenadier Guards play outside the Grenadier Pub – (c) Ethan Harvey – Grammar Productions
Highlights of the day included:
- A spectacular convoy of over 200 Land Rovers, from vintage Series I models to the latest off-roaders
- A moving performance by the Band of the Grenadier Guards
- A reunion of the First & Last Overland teams
- A special Q&A hosted by celebrity overlanders, attended by global enthusiasts
- All proceeds supporting the Gurkha Welfare Trust, helping Gurkha veterans and their families in Nepal
“Today, I felt the same joy I had driving into Singapore all those years ago. I could never have imagined that 70 years on our journey could have one final hurrah,” said Tim Slessor, original First Overlander and author of First Overland.
“The First Overland is about friendship, courage, and the great British spirit of adventure. To see hundreds of Land Rovers roll out in its honour, 70 years later, was extraordinary,” said Alex Bescoby, organiser and leader of the 2019 Last Overland recreation.
The Last Overland in Assam, (c) Leopold Belanger, Grammar Productions
Global Release of The Last Overland
To coincide with the celebration, the documentary series The Last Overland has been made freely available worldwide and you can watch below:
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