Slessor discusses U.S. and UK contrasts

Slessor, practioner-in-residence, took a break from his career as a BBC documentary film director to teach at CSC 1965-66. He said he was hired by Dorset Graves, the namesake of the lecture series.

His comments about Chadron and the High Plains focused on differences between his home and host countries in three general areas: geography, history and hospitality.

In more than 20 trips to the U.S., Slessor said he’s been west of the Missouri River at least 17 times.

“You live in a fascinating corner of a marvelous country. The vastness . . . is brought home to me every time I get in the car. At the crest of the pines [about 15 miles] south of Chadron, you can see 80-90 miles . . . . I’m sure you can see the Black Hills. If the light is right, it’s fantastic. It bowls me over every time,” Slessor said.

Although Great Britain is about the size of Nebraska, it has about 64 million residents compared to two million in the U.S.

“You drive 150 miles, maybe not before breakfast, but here that’s nothing.” Slessor said.

In discussing the differences of history in the two countries, Slessor pointed out the youth of the U.S.

“One hundred fifty years to you was just this side of Magna Carta. To me, 150 years was the day before the day before yesterday,” Slessor said.

He shared three examples of subjects he interviewed for the BBC. One was an elderly Sioux tribal member in Pine Ridge who had seen the 7^th cavalry. Another was the son of the man who handled Butch Cassidy’s getaway horse. The third was a 101-year-old man in Colorado, in 1963, who was alive when President Lincoln was shot.

“I feel I’ve touched the face of history in a very real sort of way,” Slessor said.

Slessor said he has experienced noteworthy hospitality in the region around Chadron. As an example he shared a recent experience of meeting a woman in downtown Chadron, began a conversation with her about good places to eat and within 10 minutes was enjoying a steak with the woman and her husband.

“I’ve never met a westerner I didn’t like. You’re among the most friendly, warm and outgoing people I know and I’ve been around a bit,” Slessor said.

In addition to the Graves Lecture, Slessor has been speaking in various CSC classes and community gatherings. He will speak about his overland journey as a young man from the English Channel to Singapore Nov. 12 in the Student Center Scottsbluff Room at 7 p.m.

He will review his stay in the Chadron area Nov. 19 in the Sandoz Center at 7 p.m. Contact Sarah Polak at 308-432-6966 or spolak@csc.edu or Joy at 308-432-6059 or jomelanuk@csc.edu for details.