Attenborough
When I was little I wrote a piece of fan mail to David Attenborough, saying how I wanted to be just like him and also providing a shit-quality snot-and-crayon drawing of a bonobo or something for him to enjoy.

Couple of weeks later having brekkie before school, I get a posh-looking piece of post, back when morning post was actually before 8am. My mum was curious; 7-year-old-girls don't get much post with embossed envelopes,and I was all like 'Prolly just David Attenborough.' She was like 'Nah, probably your Nan.'

I opened it at the breakfast table and it was indeed a hand-written-in-scrawly-old-man-writing letter from David Attenborough himself, thanking me for my correspondence, suggesting I go to university to study a biology related subject when I was older, and wishing me good luck in my future endeavors. LEGEND.

I think my mum was surprised to say the least (she didn't know I'd posted the fanmail in the first place) as I nonchalantly placed it in my schoolbag and proceeded with my Rice Krispies.

I'll try to scan the letter and get it on here if anyone's interested - I still have (and treasure) it and still want to be like David Attenborough. Not least because he makes the time to personally respond, by hand, on posh stationery, from his home address to young, slightly obnoxious, over-achieving children who just want to be among the beasts.
(dancebiscuits, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 15:49, 25 replies)

Did you go to university
and study a biology related-subject?
( A Rory Borealis here under duress, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 15:54, closed)

Nah, I did archaeology
I sucked at science and didn't like the way animals are treated for the sake of it. But I am still nice to any passing chimps I meet.
(dancebiscuits, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 16:30, closed)

That explains
why you're so pleasant to people on here
( A Rory Borealis here under duress, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 16:33, closed)

Is there any fact about Attenborough,
which will cause me to like him any less than maximum likeage?

I'm betting no.
(eViLegion Chief Commissioner of the Scottish Lunacy Board, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 15:59, closed)

Betting on him being next up for Yewtree

(Bonzodog29 is an unemployed sponge of the worst kind, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 16:04, closed)

That would probably break my soul.

(eViLegion Chief Commissioner of the Scottish Lunacy Board, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 16:09, closed)

Like anyone here has a soul.

(Bonzodog29 is an unemployed sponge of the worst kind, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 16:16, closed)

My "AH!" soul.

(eViLegion Chief Commissioner of the Scottish Lunacy Board, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 16:17, closed)

NOOOOOOOO! NEVER!
Get off my post immediately young man or woman *swots nose with rolled-up newspaper and squirts with water*. I will not have you sullying my Attenborough breakfast with a predictable 'bet he's a paedo though' comment, some things are too good to be brought down to that level.
(dancebiscuits, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 16:30, closed)

What sort of grown up responds to the letter of a 7 yr old
Unless he is a Gary Glitter.... Ask yourself that question
(Bonzodog29 is an unemployed sponge of the worst kind, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 16:35, closed)

i doubt it

( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 16:07, closed)

Awesome story. Interested.

(mersault, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 16:06, closed)

OK dokes, I'll dig out the letter from my parents' gaff next time I go
...and fire-up the scanner
(dancebiscuits, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 16:31, closed)

I like this.
One of the most influential people in my life.
(oneinthepink is at your cervix m'lady, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 16:16, closed)

I met him last year at a works do
When I first saw him he looked really old and doddery and I felt incredibly sad that one of my heroes should be so ravaged by time. Then he got up to do a talk about Alfred Russell Wallace and the birds of paradise and it was like looking at a completely different man - fired and energised by his passion for the subject. Afterwards he got cunted on the free wine and stayed up late telling stories. Incredible.
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 16:17, closed)

Fucking. Wicked.
The man is brilliant.
(dancebiscuits, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 16:32, closed)

would love to have a pint with him

( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 16:38, closed)

Might as well call it a day and close qftw here.
All other celebs are cunt compared to Attenborough.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 16:35, closed)

I don't know.
Unless he's immortal, we could do with finding the next best thing.
( Muns, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 16:42, closed)

The next best thing was clearly Patrick Moore
So essentially we need a job lot of them, to replace a whole generation. Brian Cox isn't bad, but he's simply not enough.
(eViLegion Chief Commissioner of the Scottish Lunacy Board, Fri 6 Dec 2013, 9:26, closed)

Michael Palin
would be up for a shout as well.
( social hand grenade I was a lurker before you were a lurker, Fri 6 Dec 2013, 11:53, closed)

folks, we have a winner

( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 16:39, closed)

But where is the evidence
I cry fake! (I don't mean it, but on this site you do shit like that)
(justin(e), Mon 9 Dec 2013, 14:24, closed)

Hey, I think it kind and thoughtful. I like to hear stories about the famous and how they manage to resist turning into obnoxious, self-aggrandizing jerks by going a little bit out of their way in order to let a fan feel better.
( tromboner cherophobia is my kind of fun, Thu 5 Dec 2013, 17:29, closed)

I like this
Have a click
(andythepieman Is surfing the waves of indifference on, Fri 6 Dec 2013, 12:35, closed)