A highly respected wildlife television producer and conservationist from Chew Magna has died.

Richard Brock, who passed away on December 30, at the age of 86, always had a passion for wildlife.

Richard studied zoology and botany at Cambridge University and joined the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol as a general assistant moving into television in 1964.

Richard’s big break came when David Attenborough, then Head of BBC2, invited him to produce his series set in Southeast Asia. Eastward with Attenborough was released in 1973 and was the start of a successful working partnership between the two.

The pair collaborated again on the groundbreaking series Life On Earth (1979). Richard was Series Producer for the second of David’s epic Life trilogy - The Living Planet broadcast in 1984.

Richard went on to make a multitude of programmes for the NHU but left the BBC after 35 years, concerned about its lack of willingness to address the state of the environment.

He went on to set up his own production company, Living Planet Productions, which made over 100 films on a wide range of environmental topics.

A highly determined conservationist, Richard also set up The Brock Initiative, and the Wildlife Winners and Losers YouTube channel highlighting conservation issues using his own and archive footage.

Richard had lived in his beloved cottage in Chew Magna near the River Chew since the 1970s.

Richard leaves his ex-wife Gillie, his sister Cherry, her husband Mark, and their children Julius, Emily and William and their families.