Top 25 Dick Strawbridge Quotes

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.

Although I am the oldest with the biggest moustache, my brothers are progressively taller; I put it down to the extra potatoes they were able to eat after I left home.

I was still a serving officer when I competed in ‘Scrapheap Challenge,’ initially as a major and then a lieutenant-colonel when I was joined by my brothers in a team called ‘Brothers in Arms.’

I was quite capable at school, but I spent a lot of time in detention.

I love a challenge and a bit of fun.

With a little bit of common sense, anything is achievable.

For a nation that spends a lot of time talking about the weather, we don’t seem to realise just how much sunshine we actually get. Maybe that’s because we tend to concentrate on the negative aspects.

I’m a very simple person.

My daughter, Charlotte Strawbridge, has recorded an album, and my favourite song from that is ‘Empires Made Of Sand.’

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.

Cooking is about ingredients.

Who doesn’t like playing with a railway? I think we’ve all got Thomas the Tank Engine in our blood.

Life is all about energy and passion and living it.

All insulation takes energy to make it, but that is not a reason not to invest in it. The savings, for both the planet and the bank account, can be impressive.

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

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

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

I passed the 11-plus and went up to the senior school, where my two older sisters had already gone. I was in the ‘A’ stream, but in the third year, they asked me to give up Latin; no one had ever got 7 per cent before.

Nature is so phenomenal.

When I started presenting ‘Scrapheap Challenge,’ I was rubbish at tuning V8 engines.

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

I left the Army in 2000 and went into industry before I started appearing on TV in 2003. My best job there was on a series called ‘Crafty Tricks Of War’ for the BBC. I loved that because it celebrated how clever and inventive people are and the ingenuity that goes into solving problems.

My body was built through years of good food – and beer.

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

For me, London seemed to be frantic without going anywhere.