Londoners are calling for a Tube station to be renamed in a clever tribute to Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday
Londoners have called for Transport for London to rename a Tube station after Sir David Attenborough as the nature broadcaster celebrates his 100th birthday. The station? Well, Borough Underground Station of course. The board at Borough station read “Happy Birthday Sir David…This world wouldn’t be same without you in it. We would love to see Borough Station renamed Sir David Attenborough Station.’
People took to reddit to share their views. One person said: “We should rename ALL stations to David Attenborough to show our appreciation.”
Another added: “Better to rename a park after him.” While another joked: “He lives in Richmond, so rename that. Or better still, dig until Richmond Hill and give him his own station accessible from his house via, let’s say, a lift operated by an elaborate ants nest intelligence.”
Someone else said: “I love the tribute to him but I don’t think the station should renamed. I remember some stations being temporarily renamed as part of a marketing stunt a few years back and it caused serious confusion. There are better ways to recognise him – perhaps a statue in one of the royal parks which are visited by over 70m people annually. Or rename a wing in the natural history museum perhaps.”
It wasn’t just TfL who wished Sir David a happy birthday, the royals did so too. David Attenborough received special message from the King, who was assisted by clever animals in delivering a handwritten note to him.
In the note, the King recounted a seven-decade friendship with the naturalist that began when the then nine-year-old Prince Charles visited the set of the BBC children’s programme Zoo Quest in 1958 with his sister Princess Anne.
He wrote: “Dear David. My wife and I are delighted to learn that you will be celebrating your 100th birthday on May 8 and wanted to send you our warmest congratulations on such a special occasion.
“It is amazing to think that you and I have known one another for more than 60 years.
“Indeed, I believe we first met in 1958, almost a decade before the age of colour television. And, of course, our paths have crossed many times since.
“Over those decades you have revealed the beauty and wonders of nature to audiences around the world in new and marvellous ways.
“In so doing you have shared my determination to highlight the urgent need to protect and preserve this precious planet of ours and all life on Earth for future generations.
“Thank you then for all that you have done. And on behalf of the whole nation I wish you a very happy 100th birthday.”
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