Event marking 70 years since the First Overland raises funds for GWT

On Sunday 31 August 2025, Land Rover enthusiasts assembled with 130 Land Rovers in Belgrave Square, Central London to mark and celebrate the 70-year Anniversary of the First Overland Journey.

Where it all began

Back in 1955, a group of six students from Oxford and Cambridge Universities set off from The Grenadier pub in London, heading overland to Singapore in two iconic Series I Land Rovers, an adventure that would be remembered for many years to come.

We were honoured to be chosen by the event organisers, Land Rovers of London and Grammar Productions, as the sole beneficiary of funds raised at this anniversary celebration.

An Emotional Reunion

There was an emotional reunion with Tim Slessor, one of the original members of the First Overland Team.

The 95-year-old was surprised with a replica of one of the original Land Rovers, ‘Oxford’ outside The Grenadier pub. Tim was then driven to meet the other 129 Land Rovers who had gathered in Belgrave Square, then the cavalcade set off out of London heading for Henley-on-Thames.

A Warm Welcome at the Wing

The Bremont Watch Company, a valued and loyal partner of the Trust, hosted the afternoon reception at their headquarters, The Wing, and by three o’clock the Land Rovers were pouring in from London.  Fish and chips, coffee and soft drinks awaited the crews and they were welcomed by GWT representatives – soon overwhelmed by ardent Land Rover enthusiasts queueing to buy the new Limited Edition ‘Land Rover motif’ t-shirts and Christmas cards depicting a GWT 4×4 in action in Nepal.

Stories from the Road: A Warm Welcome and Tales of The Last Overland

After a morning of mutual vehicle admiration, the Land Rover owners gathered for a welcome address by Bremont CEO Davide Cerrato. This was followed by a Q&A session with Alex Bescoby and Marcus Allender, team members of The Last Overland expedition, who shared stories of their epic 2019 journey from Singapore to London via Nepal in a Land Rover named ‘Oxford’

A Grand Finale: Limited Edition Art Auction and Heartfelt Thanks

The final item on the programme for the day was the opportunity to buy at auction a Limited Edition piece of digital art, created by Shane Aquart (AKA ‘Dready’) depicting one of the GWT Landrovers in action in Nepal.  This brought a fabulous, emotional day to an end, and the Trust would like to thank all those who came together to coordinate this most enjoyable and successful of gatherings, namely, Land Rovers of London, Grammar Productions, The Bremont Watch Company and ‘Dready’.

Should anyone wish to watch ‘The Last Overland’ documentary, free of charge, please head to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3I1sn9avpI.

Furthermore, a more recent film by Grammar Productions, with which The Gurkha Welfare Trust has been involved, ‘The Last Burma Star’, will be available on SKY History channel in November (release date to follow).