Dick Strawbridge

For over 20 years, I was in the Army, and it's given me a real love of history. ”

Life is all about energy and passion and living it. ”

I just think our British cuisine and the different influences we pull together make it special when it comes to food. ”

When I joined the Army in the late '70s, there was a real threat from Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, so all of the '80s, I was engaged in what could be classed as conventional operations - that involved digging lots of trenches in Germany. ”

I was captain of the rugby side at Shrivenham - as were my two brothers after me. ”

I had an idyllic childhood with the freedom to go and play. ”

As one of seven children, our family life was full of energy and fun - we all knew how to laugh and work hard. ”

I love the whole idea of family and what gets left behind when you are gone. I'm very proud of my children; I was one of seven. ”

Sadly, I have very vague memories of Burma. The family was forced to leave when the generals took over. ”

Nature is so phenomenal. ”