Dick Strawbridge
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel
Richard Francis "Dick" Strawbridge, MBE
, (born 3 September 1959), is a British
engineer, television presenter and environmentalist
. He is often referred to as "Colonel Dick".
, Northern Ireland
, attending Ballyclare High School
from 1971–76.
He was married to Brigit Strawbridge and the couple have two children, James and Charlotte, but the couple separated in 2010. Strawbridge is the owner of a large moustache
, which he claims is "the best in showbiz".
in 1979, after attending Welbeck DSFC (becoming head of college) and joined the Royal Corps of Signals
in January 1980. Promoted to Lieutenant
in April 1981, and Captain in October 1985, he became a Major
in September 1991. He was awarded an MBE in 1993 for his distinguished service in Northern Ireland, promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
in June 1999, and left the army in November 2001.
(on which his team, Brothers in Arms, were series champions and on which he took over from Robert Llewellyn
as the main presenter in Series 11), three series of It's Not Easy Being Green
for BBC Two
, the six-part BBC Two series Crafty Tricks of War of which he was the main presenter, Planet Mechanics
, and as a regular guest presenter on Coast
. Following his switch of career to television, Strawbridge often refers to himself as a "telly tart".
and Junkyard Wars, winning the Scrapheap Challenge trophy in series 3 with his two younger brothers David and Bobby as 'Brothers in Arms', and the Junkyard Megawars trophy in 2003. On 5 June 2008, it was announced that he would be returning to Scrapheap Challenge
for its 11th series. Dick took over from Robert Llewellyn
as the main presenter with his expert team of 'Dick's Diamonds', including his technical mate Jim Milner. The series was shown on Channel 4 in 2009 and will return in 2010.
for BBC Two. In series one, which was shown on 28 March 2006, the family moved to a new home near St Austell, Cornwall and attempted to live as green a life as possible, using renewable energy and environmentally friendly resources. The second series started in Spring 2007 with a different format: Dick and his son James aided several members of the public in larger and smaller ecology projects around the country. Series three saw another format change as the programme took on more of a 'magazine' theme.
, examining the workings of the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge
, a role he revived in the 2007 version of Coast, presenting a short part of the program on the failure of Exercise Tiger
. In Series 4 of Coast, July 2009, Strawbridge examined the terrain of the Normandy landing beaches. Since then Dick has become very much part of the Coast team, appearing in many episodes mainly using his engineering and military history experience. Some his favourites have been visiting off-shore wind turbines in Denmark and exploring the beaches of Normandy.
, and was the co-host and resident "boffin" on the 2005 game show
, Geronimo!. He also appeared as a regular team captain in the US series, Junkyard Mega-Wars.
Dick also starred in The Big Idea, in which he tested out amateur inventions, and featured in the short series The Re-Inventors, a series of five, hour-long programmes commissioned by the UK digital channel UKTV History
and first broadcast through the week of 11 December 2006. Each episode featured Strawbridge and his son James reconstructing an invention of historic significance, with only a limited budget (£500), a limited time of two days and limited facilities (a specially constructed mobile workshop) to construct a modern version. They then try it out against the real thing. UKTV History also shows "Crafty Tricks Of War" from time to time.
On 21 February 2008 edition of Ready Steady Cook
on BBC2, Strawbridge cooked spotted dick
. Dick Strawbridge currently presents Planet Mechanics
on the National Geographic Channel
.
On 13 November 2009, Dick was a guest on Robert Llewellyn
's CarPool
.
In summer 2010, he appeared in Celebrity Masterchef, reaching the final alongside Christine Hamilton
and eventual winner Lisa Faulkner
.
On 20 November 2010, Dick appeared on the Children in Need Special of Bargain Hunt.
where much of the filming for all three series of It's Not Easy Being Green was done. With his son James he runs eco courses at the farm in order "to share our experiences, demonstrate all the systems we have invested in, and offer eco advice". The courses include "how to make your own biodiesel
", "harness wind power", "make the most of water power", and "eco-engineering".
Lieutenant-Colonel (UK)
Lieutenant colonel is a rank in the British Army and Royal Marines which is also used in many Commonwealth countries. The rank is superior to major, and subordinate to colonel...
Richard Francis "Dick" Strawbridge, MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, (born 3 September 1959), is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
engineer, television presenter and environmentalist
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
. He is often referred to as "Colonel Dick".
Background and personal life
The third of seven children, Strawbridge was born in Burma and raised and educated in County AntrimCounty Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, attending Ballyclare High School
Ballyclare High School
Ballyclare High School is a co-educational, non-denominational grammar school in Ballyclare, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. There are approximately 1,200 pupils at the school, taught by around 90 teachers. It was opened in the 1890s in the village of Doagh, a few miles south-west of Ballyclare...
from 1971–76.
He was married to Brigit Strawbridge and the couple have two children, James and Charlotte, but the couple separated in 2010. Strawbridge is the owner of a large moustache
Moustache
A moustache is facial hair grown on the outer surface of the upper lip. It may or may not be accompanied by a type of beard, a facial hair style grown and cropped to cover most of the lower half of the face.-Etymology:...
, which he claims is "the best in showbiz".
Army career
Strawbridge received a commission in the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in 1979, after attending Welbeck DSFC (becoming head of college) and joined the Royal Corps of Signals
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
in January 1980. Promoted to Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in April 1981, and Captain in October 1985, he became a Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in September 1991. He was awarded an MBE in 1993 for his distinguished service in Northern Ireland, promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in June 1999, and left the army in November 2001.
Television career
Strawbridge is best known to the general public as an engineering and environmental expert on such television programmes as Scrapheap ChallengeScrapheap Challenge
Scrapheap Challenge is an engineering game show produced by RDF Media and broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK. In the show, teams of contestants have 10 hours in which to build a working machine that can do a specific task, using materials available in a scrapheap. The format was exported to the...
(on which his team, Brothers in Arms, were series champions and on which he took over from Robert Llewellyn
Robert Llewellyn
Robert Llewellyn is an English actor, presenter, and writer. He is best known as the mechanoid Kryten in the hit sitcom Red Dwarf, and for his role as presenter of Scrapheap Challenge.-Early career:...
as the main presenter in Series 11), three series of It's Not Easy Being Green
It's Not Easy Being Green
It's Not Easy Being Green is a television series on BBC Two starring Dick Strawbridge and focusing on how to live an environmentally friendly, low impact life...
for BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
, the six-part BBC Two series Crafty Tricks of War of which he was the main presenter, Planet Mechanics
Planet Mechanics
Planet Mechanics is a British TV program shown on the National Geographic Channel. The programme was broadcast on Sunday at 7:00 pm. The show has ended after the first series.-Background:...
, and as a regular guest presenter on Coast
Coast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
. Following his switch of career to television, Strawbridge often refers to himself as a "telly tart".
Scrapheap Challenge
Dick began his career in television as the 'Yellow Team Leader' for six episodes in the first ever series of 'Scrapheap' He has to date appeared in over 30 programmes of Scrapheap ChallengeScrapheap Challenge
Scrapheap Challenge is an engineering game show produced by RDF Media and broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK. In the show, teams of contestants have 10 hours in which to build a working machine that can do a specific task, using materials available in a scrapheap. The format was exported to the...
and Junkyard Wars, winning the Scrapheap Challenge trophy in series 3 with his two younger brothers David and Bobby as 'Brothers in Arms', and the Junkyard Megawars trophy in 2003. On 5 June 2008, it was announced that he would be returning to Scrapheap Challenge
Scrapheap Challenge
Scrapheap Challenge is an engineering game show produced by RDF Media and broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK. In the show, teams of contestants have 10 hours in which to build a working machine that can do a specific task, using materials available in a scrapheap. The format was exported to the...
for its 11th series. Dick took over from Robert Llewellyn
Robert Llewellyn
Robert Llewellyn is an English actor, presenter, and writer. He is best known as the mechanoid Kryten in the hit sitcom Red Dwarf, and for his role as presenter of Scrapheap Challenge.-Early career:...
as the main presenter with his expert team of 'Dick's Diamonds', including his technical mate Jim Milner. The series was shown on Channel 4 in 2009 and will return in 2010.
It's Not Easy Being Green
Dick, along with his family, have filmed three series of It's Not Easy Being GreenIt's Not Easy Being Green
It's Not Easy Being Green is a television series on BBC Two starring Dick Strawbridge and focusing on how to live an environmentally friendly, low impact life...
for BBC Two. In series one, which was shown on 28 March 2006, the family moved to a new home near St Austell, Cornwall and attempted to live as green a life as possible, using renewable energy and environmentally friendly resources. The second series started in Spring 2007 with a different format: Dick and his son James aided several members of the public in larger and smaller ecology projects around the country. Series three saw another format change as the programme took on more of a 'magazine' theme.
Coast
Also in 2006, Strawbridge appeared as a one-off presenter on the BBC2 series CoastCoast (TV series)
Coast is a BBC documentary series first broadcast on BBC Two television in 2005. A second series started on 26 October 2006, a third in early 2007 and a fourth in mid-2009...
, examining the workings of the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge
Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge
The Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge or Tees Transporter Bridge is the furthest downstream bridge across the River Tees, England. It connects Middlesbrough, on the south bank, to Port Clarence, on the north bank. It is a transporter bridge, carrying a travelling 'car', or 'gondola', suspended from...
, a role he revived in the 2007 version of Coast, presenting a short part of the program on the failure of Exercise Tiger
Exercise Tiger
Exercise Tiger, or Operation Tiger, were the code names for a full-scale rehearsal in 1944 for the D-Day invasion of Normandy. During the exercise, an Allied convoy was attacked, resulting in the deaths of 946 American servicemen....
. In Series 4 of Coast, July 2009, Strawbridge examined the terrain of the Normandy landing beaches. Since then Dick has become very much part of the Coast team, appearing in many episodes mainly using his engineering and military history experience. Some his favourites have been visiting off-shore wind turbines in Denmark and exploring the beaches of Normandy.
Other TV appearances
Strawbridge also had a major role in the BBC's commemoration of the 60th anniversary of D-DayD-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
, and was the co-host and resident "boffin" on the 2005 game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
, Geronimo!. He also appeared as a regular team captain in the US series, Junkyard Mega-Wars.
Dick also starred in The Big Idea, in which he tested out amateur inventions, and featured in the short series The Re-Inventors, a series of five, hour-long programmes commissioned by the UK digital channel UKTV History
UKTV History
Yesterday is a television channel broadcasting in the United Kingdom as part of the UKTV network of channels. The channel originally launched on 30 October 2002 and relaunched in its current format on 2 March 2009. The channel is available on satellite through Sky, cable services primarily through...
and first broadcast through the week of 11 December 2006. Each episode featured Strawbridge and his son James reconstructing an invention of historic significance, with only a limited budget (£500), a limited time of two days and limited facilities (a specially constructed mobile workshop) to construct a modern version. They then try it out against the real thing. UKTV History also shows "Crafty Tricks Of War" from time to time.
On 21 February 2008 edition of Ready Steady Cook
Ready Steady Cook
Ready Steady Cook was a BBC daytime TV cooking programme it first debuted on 24 October 1994 and the last edition was broadcast on the 2 February 2010. The programme was hosted by Fern Britton from 1994 until 2000 when celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott became the new host...
on BBC2, Strawbridge cooked spotted dick
Spotted dick
Spotted dick is a British steamed suet pudding containing dried fruit commonly served with custard. Spotted refers to the dried fruit and dick may be a contraction or corruption of the word pudding or possibly a corruption of the word dough or dog, as "spotted dog" is another name for the same...
. Dick Strawbridge currently presents Planet Mechanics
Planet Mechanics
Planet Mechanics is a British TV program shown on the National Geographic Channel. The programme was broadcast on Sunday at 7:00 pm. The show has ended after the first series.-Background:...
on the National Geographic Channel
National Geographic Channel
National Geographic Channel, also commercially abbreviated and trademarked as Nat Geo, is a subscription television channel that airs non-fiction television programs produced by the National Geographic Society. Like History and the Discovery Channel, the channel features documentaries with factual...
.
On 13 November 2009, Dick was a guest on Robert Llewellyn
Robert Llewellyn
Robert Llewellyn is an English actor, presenter, and writer. He is best known as the mechanoid Kryten in the hit sitcom Red Dwarf, and for his role as presenter of Scrapheap Challenge.-Early career:...
's CarPool
Carpool (web series)
Carpool is a web series presented by English actor and comedian Robert Llewellyn. In each episode he interviews a guest while giving them a lift in an eco-friendly car . The guests are often well-known British television personalities such as Jonathan Ross or Ade Edmondson...
.
In summer 2010, he appeared in Celebrity Masterchef, reaching the final alongside Christine Hamilton
Christine Hamilton
Christine Hamilton is a British television personality and author, and the wife of former British Member of Parliament Neil Hamilton who was Minister for Corporate Affairs between 1992-1994....
and eventual winner Lisa Faulkner
Lisa Faulkner
Lisa Tamsin Faulkner is an English actress and television personality.-Early life:Faulkner was educated at Tiffin Girls' School, Kingston upon Thames.When Faulkner was 16, her mother, Julie, died of cancer...
.
On 20 November 2010, Dick appeared on the Children in Need Special of Bargain Hunt.
Other activities
Strawbridge lives at Newhouse Farm in CornwallCornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
where much of the filming for all three series of It's Not Easy Being Green was done. With his son James he runs eco courses at the farm in order "to share our experiences, demonstrate all the systems we have invested in, and offer eco advice". The courses include "how to make your own biodiesel
Biodiesel
Biodiesel refers to a vegetable oil- or animal fat-based diesel fuel consisting of long-chain alkyl esters. Biodiesel is typically made by chemically reacting lipids with an alcohol....
", "harness wind power", "make the most of water power", and "eco-engineering".