David Bellamy
Kingswood Heritage Museum has an extensive collection of images of the many celebrities who have grown up in and visited the area, and many of these images are featured in one of the Museum’s new exhibitions for 2025.
This month’s “Memory” features the late David Bellamy OBE, who was an influential botanist, television presenter, author and environmental campaigner in Britain and across the world. He became extremely well known for his unique, energetic style of presenting to television audiences in the 1970s and 1980s.
David first came to attention in broadcasting when covering the Torrey Canyon disaster, and his exuberant and demonstrative presentation of science topics featured on a wide range of programmes. He wrote, appeared in, or presented hundreds of television programmes on botany, ecology, environmentalism, and other issues. His presentation style was frequently parodied by impersonators, most notably Lenny Henry, and his distinctive voice appeared in many adverts.
The featured photograph illustrates a visit by David to Willsbridge Mill in the late 1980’s.
If you were present when David visited Willsbridge Mill please share your memories with Kingswood Heritage Museum by email at kingswoodmuseum@gmail.com, or by phone on 0117 9605664.