17 July 2019 14:22
Andy Prada has amassed a huge amount of knowledge on tunnelling and engineering in the Loos Salient, particularly through his association with The Durand Group. This will be a an interesting talk on an usual perspective to the Great War. It will also be of great interest to anyone going, or thinking of going, on the tour in September - more details available at the talk.
His seminal film: "One of Our Mines is Missing - The Fighting Tunnels of Vimy Ridge" was broadcast in five continents and he has since then produced several further DVD / Blu rays on the work of the Group together with the first of a two part series on Engineering activities in the 1915-18 Loos Salient: "The Battle of Loos - Fighting for the French Coalfields".
In September 2018 Andy project directed LoosBigwalk2018 - a two day 26km weekend walk across the Loos battlefield including a one kilometre stretch underground through the famous Hulluch Subway. The event included an evening programme of rare films and a Royal Engineers supported service of remembrance. He also designed 26 full colour graphic tableaux - telling the engineering story - placed strategically around the event route.
In a 35 year career working extensively for HM armed Forces and NATO Andy occasionally cuts news and features for BFBS and also for FORCES TV, available on Freeview.
In addition to "Undermined" - the second film in the Loos series - he is currently working on a book: "Blood, Rust & Chalk - Engineering the Loos Salient", commissioned by Pen & Sword and due for publication next year.