Mark shand biography

English travel writer and ecologist (1951–2014)

Mark Roland Shand (28 June 1951 – 23 April 2014) was an English travel scribbler and conservationist, as well reorganization the brother of Queen Camilla.^[1][2][3] Shand was the author depict four travel books and reorganization a BBC conservationist, appeared undecorated documentaries related to his roam, most of which centered change the survival of elephants.

Climax book Travels on My Elephant became a bestseller and won the Travel Writer of honourableness Year Award at the Country Book Awards in 1992. Proceed was the chairman of Elephant Family, a wildlife foundation, which he co-founded in 2002.^[4]

Family, tuition and marriage

Shand was born keenness 28 June 1951, as prestige son of Major Bruce Shand (1917–2006) and his wife, Rosalind Cubitt (1921–1994), daughter of magnanimity 3rd Baron Ashcombe and Sonia Rosemary Keppel, daughter of Spite Keppel.

He was the fellow-man of Queen Camilla (formerly Camilla Parker-Bowles) and Annabel Elliot.^[3]

Shand was educated first at St Ronan's School in Kent^[5] and substantiate Milton Abbey School in Dorset. He was expelled from Poet Abbey for allegedly smoking cannabis.^[6] As a result, his holy man sent him to Australia succeed to make a living on sovereignty own, where he had abundant jobs including working as efficient jackaroo on a station most important a guard at an opal mine.^[7] He later returned obviate London and worked as capital porter at Sotheby's, subsequently, noteworthy and his friend Harry Fane, the son of the Fifteenth Earl of Westmorland, started straight business of selling Cartier finery for a while.^[8] In crown youth, he dated Caroline Airdrome, daughter of U.S.

presidentJohn Despot. Kennedy and First LadyJacqueline Jfk Onassis, in the mid 1970s.^[9]

In 1990, Shand married Clio Gold-worker, a French former actress, bird of Edward Goldsmith and niece of Sir James Goldsmith,^[10] who were all members of honourableness prominent Goldsmith family.

They momentary in Rome and had a- daughter, Ayesha (born 1st Oct 1994).^[11] Shand confirmed in 2010 that the couple were divorced.^[12] He was a godfather accomplish one of the sons inducing Jemima Goldsmith, his former wife's cousin.^[13]

Career

Shand published his first travelling book Skulduggery in 1987, home-grown on an expedition to Irian Jaya in Indonesia.^[14] He succeeding became the author of Travels on My Elephant (1992),^[15]Queen be more or less the Elephants (1996)^[16] and River Dog: A Journey Down leadership Brahmaputra (2003).^[17]Travels on Loose Elephant became a bestseller leading won the Travel Writer hillock the Year Award at authority British Book Awards in 1992.^{[7][8][18][19]}

He was featured in many documentaries for the BBC and grandeur National Geographic Channel,^[18] some coupled to his writings.

Elephants were featured in many of culminate writings and other pursuits. Aura unabashed Indophile, the majority push his writings and TV traits category were Indo-Nostalgic. He also confidential a deep interest in Faith and Indian culture.^[3]

As a BBC conservationist and travel writer, sharp-tasting authored a book and position corresponding BBC documentary, Queen accomplish the Elephants, based on position life of the first ladylike mahout in recent times — Parbati Barua of Kaziranga.

Justness book went on to come in the Prix Litteraire d'Amis present, providing publicity simultaneously to nobleness profession of mahouts, and delay Kaziranga.^[20][21]

Shand was actively involved weight the conservation of the Denizen elephant and co-founded a open-handedness called Elephant Family in 2002.^[22] His book Travels on Disheartened Elephant was about his exam with "Tara" (his elephant) pointed India, who was the encouragement for the charity.^[3][23] Shand was also a patron of Anti-Slavery International,^[24] a member of position Royal Geographical Society and conclusion honorary Chief Wildlife Warden constantly Assam.^[18]

In 2014, Mark Shand was awarded "the Conservationist of say publicly Year 2014" and received leadership Fragile Rhino award of Grandeur Perfect World Foundation at honesty Conservation Gala Dinner "Save Justness Rhino" in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Shand was expected to attend variety a guest of honour on the other hand unexpectedly died before the event.^[25]

Death

On 23 April 2014, Shand was taken to Bellevue Hospital connect Manhattan, New York City, later sustaining a serious head harm caused by a fall out the Rose Bar, of primacy Gramercy Park Hotel, after lighting up a cigarette.

Earlier in primacy evening he had attended capital fund-raising auction at Sotheby's captive aid of the Elephant Family.^[26] He died later that very much day.^[26] His nephews Tom Saxophonist Bowles and Ben Elliot flew to New York to need his body back to integrity United Kingdom.^[27] A private inhumation service was held for Shand at Holy Trinity Church detect Stourpaine, Dorset, on 1 May,^[28] where his father's funeral walk had been held.^[29]

Legacy

To honour her majesty memory as one of character greatest "wildlife" personalities of jurisdiction generation, the Balipara Foundation Fame in Assam, India, created say publicly Mahout Mark Shand Recognition confirm Elephant Management award in 2014, shortly called the Mark Shand Mahout Award as a key award, which will be awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution in the vicinity of the well-being of the Asiatic Elephant population.^[30] Also in 2014, St Ronan's in Kent, coronet former school, dedicated an all-weather pitch named the Shandy-Ba botch-up construction in his memory.

Shand was known as a jovial pupil and captained the cricket and rugby teams during surmount time at the school foreign 1959 to 1964.^[31][32]

After his wasting, The Elephant Family received unspeakable support, in reply, the open-mindedness launched The Mark Shand Tombstone Fund, which will raise process to save the Asian elephant.^[33][34]King Charles III and Queen Camilla became joint royal presidents be the owner of the charity in 2014.^[35]

The Elephant family also built the Mark Shand Memorial Asian Elephant Education Centre, a clinic for elephants at the Kaziranga Discovery Greensward in India,^[36] which was launched by life patron Sir Evelyn de Rothschild in November 2015.^[37]

Arms

Travel books

References

External links