A LOCAL historian is planning a safari to search for the grave of his great-grandfather, who died more than a century ago while exploring Southern Africa.

Graham Woodcock, 79, hopes to find the spot where his ancestor Dr Ralph Holden died of fever in 1861 while searching for the river Cunene, which is now the border between Angola and Namibia.

Mr Woodcock, who is a consultant solicitor for Haslingden firm Woodcock and Sons, is joining forces with a Swedish historian and seeking sponsorship for the safari next year, which is likely to cost more than £6,000. He said: "If I'm going to do it, I will have to do it soon before I'm too old."

Mr Woodcock, of Helmshore Road, Haslingden, has spent several years researching the life of Dr Holden, a landowner who lived in Palace House, Burnley, and Holden Hall, Haslingden.

Dr Holden had mounted many expeditions to Africa when he decided to find the great river he had been told about by natives.

He set off from the Cape with a herd of oxen and servants but his servants fell ill with fever. By the time he fell ill himself, he had already given them all his medicine.

Dr Holden managed to reach Swedish explorer Charles John Andersson's fortified camp where he met his old friend and fellow explorer Frederick Green.

Frederick rode to get him drugs but by the time he returned, Dr Holden had already died, aged 33. Frederick later wrote to Charles Andersson, saying he had buried Dr Holden near the camp under a great tree and put an inscription on it. Mr Woodcock said: "When I first read this, I said to myself, I must find that tree and that grave.

"The inscription will have disappeared by now but many trees in Africa live to a great age. The local tribes are superstitious about death and graves and we hope to find out from the elders if anything has been handed down about Dr Holden."

If he can find the spot where the camp stood, he plans to carve an inscription to Dr Holden on a boulder. A Swedish historian, who is researching the life of explorer Charles Andersson, plans to join Mr Woodcock on the ten-day safari across the uninhabited region.

Anyone interested in sponsoring the expedition can contact Mr Woodcock on 01706 214290.

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