Book description
David Bellamy is a natural story teller whose memoir will be packed
full of funny anecdotes and observations. It is the story of how a city
boy, brought up in the middle of London, went for a trip into the
countryside one day, an event which was to transform his life by setting
in motion the amazing love of nature which would make famous this
larger-than-life character. In his infectious style he illumines on,
amongst other things, the fact that his father, the manager of a branch
of Boots, had to grease his hair straight - because in those days
managers of Boots weren't allowed to have curly hair! Then there was the
time he and his brother discovered an exploded bomb, kept in the garden
shed - and then accidentally blew off the front of the house with it. He
reveals his secret passion is ballet dancing - and how his mother only
found out about it when she saw him on stage at the Fairfield Hall in
Croydon. His career as an academic, then author, broadcaster, consultant
and television personality, spans 35 years and his main passion -
campaigning for the environment - have led to many adventures including
his being twice imprisoned in the Third World. Professor David
Bellamy, botanist, writer and broadcaster has become one of the
best-known and respected personalities in Britain. His numerous
television and radio broadcasts communicate to thousands of people his
enthusiasm and concern for the natural world. David Bellamy's travels
take him across the world heralding the message that a new, enlightened
view of conservation is needed. He is the author of 80 scientific papers
and 34 books, many of which are bestselling children's titles. He has
written and presented numerous television programmes both for the BBC
and for independents. His programmes have won many national awards,
including the Richard Dimbleby Award at BAFTA. He is president, patron
or trustee of numerous conservation and environmental organisations and
founded the Conservation Foundation in 1982. His interests are ballet
and children.
