Five Young Men in a Van

Non-Fiction

Pages: 72 Ratings:

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This is a true story of youthful exuberance overcoming adversity and achieving great things.

Imagine five young 19-year-old military cadets embarking on a 4,000-mile road trip across Europe and Asia Minor to Iran, having only recently qualified to drive. This dramatic and often hilarious tale illustrates how fortitude can overcome the dangerous mix of overconfidence, ineptness and high spirits.

Set in the very different political world of the mid-1960s, this book follows the successes and mishaps of the five as they struggle to reach Iran’s notorious “Valley of the Assassins” high in the hazardous Elburz Mountains and explore the infamous “Eagle’s Nest” Fortress at Alamut.

What could possibly go wrong?

After serving 19 years in the British Army, Nicholas O. Williams followed a career in computing and telecommunications engineering. As a consultant and later as a partner in an international firm, he advised state-owned enterprises and corporations around the world on the commercial, financial and regulatory issues around IT matters. He also later helped implement the London congestion charging scheme!

Nicholas lives with his wife Denise in the beautiful Wiltshire Wylye Valley close to his immediate family and follows an active interest in local affairs. He still corresponds regularly with Rog and Pete.