Shots Across the Water by Patrick Nash

Join us with Patrick Nash and his new book Shots Across the Water. How one man walked and hitchhiked the width of Africa in a journey that would not be possible today.

Patrick always had itchy feet. At 18, he worked his passage on a cargo ship from Liverpool to Melbourne, Australia, with just £50 in his pocket. He spent two summers sleeping on Greek beaches. So by the time he finished university in 1980, it was no surprise to anyone—except perhaps himself—that Patrick wanted to travel some more before settling down. With £250 in his money belt and a spirit full of naïve optimism, he embarked on an extraordinary journey that would take him across 11 countries in Africa, from Israel and the Gaza Strip to Morocco, navigating political and social landscapes that would be impossible for a solo traveller today.

His adventures were fraught with danger, from getting stuck in sandstorms and being arrested in Niger to being shot at by border guards in the Central African Republic. Yet, despite the challenges, Patrick chose to travel like the locals, hanging onto packed lorries , trekking through rainforests; staying in remote villages and more than one police cell!

But what struck him most profoundly during his journey was not the incredible natural beauty he saw or the hardships he endured. It was the kindness and hospitality he found in the people he met along the way.

His journey through Africa not only opened his eyes to the lives of others but also transformed him in ways that would guide his life and career for years to come.
About the author:

Originally from south London, Patrick went to university and lived in Bristol where he set up a workers’ cooperative selling vegetarian food, which became one of the UK’s largest cooperative businesses. He went on to have a 40-year career as a social entrepreneur working in ecological development and mental health in education before setting up a company that became the largest UK provider of charity helplines and one of the largest employers in one of the poorest parts of Wales. Patrick has won many business awards, lectures on social enterprise and, in 2023, wrote the book Creating Social Enterprise. He is now an author, coach and traveller again and lives in Pembrokeshire.

The event will start promptly at 7.00pm.

Tickets £7

Includes glass of wine/soft drink and a discount off the book when purchased on the evening.

Author talks are held in our basement which is fully accessible via a nearby lift. Please ask a member of staff who will accompany you.

To keep up to date with events at Stanfords,

Please ensure we have an up-to-date contact email address or telephone number when booking your ticket so that we can contact you with any updates.

Host or Publisher Stanfords