Crime & Safety
David Attenborough ‘overwhelmed’ by 100th birthday wishes
In a recorded audio message shared the night before his birthday, the legendary broadcaster and naturalist said he had hoped to mark the occasion “quietly,” but has been inundated with messages from around the world.
The milestone will be marked with a live event at the Royal Albert Hall that will air on the BBC on Friday (May 8), the same day the TV legend turns 100.
David Attenborough’s career as TV star turns 100
Sir David was born on May 8 1926, in London, the son of an academic and principal of University College, Leicester.
Before joining the BBC in 1952, he studied geology at the University of Cambridge and served two years in the Royal Navy, before earning his reputation with the groundbreaking Zoo Quest series, which he hosted for 10 years on the BBC.
In 1965, he became controller of BBC Two, overseeing the advent of colour TV, and he later became BBC director of programming, but life as a broadcast executive did not appeal, and he returned to his passion for filming wildlife.
His recognisable whispering voice became a household sound in 1979 when he was seen mingling and bonding with a family of gorillas in Life On Earth and its sequel, The Living Planet, in 1984.
The following year, he was knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth II before being awarded a Knight Grand Cross honour in 2022.
The TV presenter has two children, Susan and Robert, with his late wife Jane, whom he married in 1950, while his late brother Richard was a well-known actor and film director, who starred in movies such as The Great Escape, Doctor Dolittle and Jurassic Park.
In recent years, Sir David, who resides in Richmond, has presented shows including Dynasties, Prehistoric Planet and Planet Earth III.
Sir David Attenborough left ‘overwhelmed’ by 100th birthday wishes
Sir David said: “I had rather thought that I would celebrate my 100th birthday quietly, but it seems that many of you have had other ideas.
“I’ve been completely overwhelmed by birthday greetings from pre-school groups to care home residents and countless individuals and families of all ages.”
He offered his heartfelt thanks to everyone who reached out.
Sir David said: “I simply can’t reply to each of you all separately, but I would like to thank you all most sincerely for your kind messages.
“I wish those of you who have planned your own local events tomorrow a very happy day.”
His centenary will be marked by a live event at the Royal Albert Hall, which will feature music from his programmes, stories and reflections from public figures and leading advocates for the natural world.
The event will be broadcast on BBC One.
Elsewhere, the Natural History Museum’s immersive exhibition presented by Sir David will be adapted into a free five-minute show and displayed at Outernet London, Tottenham Court Road, beginning May 8.
Sir David will guide viewers through the history of humanity and the planet, before offering a glimpse of London’s future.
Environmental organisations and animal charities have also joined in the celebrations.
PETA has named a rescued bull “Sir Attenbullock” in his honour.
Sir Attenbullock was one of the first animals saved through PETA India’s Delhi mechanisation project.
A new species of wasp has also been named after Sir David Attenborough to mark his centenary.
The National History Museum (NHM) paid tribute to Sir David by naming the insect native to the Patagonian lakes of Chile as Attenboroughnculus tau.
The specimen, which was collected in 1984 in the Valdivia province of Chile, may be the only record of the entire species’ existence, according to the NHM, and was found by chance four decades later after someone peeked into a drawer.
The museum said the naming is in recognition of the “incredible work that Attenborough has done to show us the wonder and beauty of nature, but also to inspire generations of scientists to pursue careers in natural history”.
Others named after him include a wildflower, butterfly, grasshopper, dinosaur and ghost shrimp.
What is your favourite David Attenborough series? Let us know in the comments or in the poll above.
Catherine Xu, a postgraduate student at Exeter College, was elected president of the historic debating society in March and was due to start the position at the beginning of the next academic year, from September.
But she has been stripped of the position by an Election Tribunal which found that she rigged the election, by orchestrating a scheme to impersonate legitimate voters in the 2026 election during the spring term.
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The student newspaper The Cherwell reported that the tribunal sat on April 25 and 26, and found that Ms Xu distributed a stack of Oxford Union membership cards to individuals not entitled to vote, instructing them to cast votes in other members’ names.
The Cherwell also reported that Yolanda Liu, who was elected to the secretary’s committee, was also found to have participated in the scheme, having received about six cards from Ms Xu and distributed at least one.
Reports say the scheme was discovered by Leo Zhou, a candidate for the secretary’s committee, who discovered students casting ballots using other members’ identification and challenged them.
The president-elect was found guilty on six of seven charges, including using membership records to influence the election, procuring the impersonation of members at the poll, and conspiracy.
A charge that she intimidated Mr Zhou was found not proven.
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The Cherwell reported her conduct was described as ‘wholly incompatible with the standards of behaviour that would be acceptable for a president of the society’.
Ms Xu was barred from holding any office, appointed role or official position in the Oxford Union, from sitting on any committees and from being nominated in any current or future election, and was suspended as a member until the end of Trinity term.
Ms Liu was found guilty of conspiracy and she was likewise suspended and disqualified from the current election.
Ms Xu and Ms Liu have both been approached by this newspaper for comment.
They have both previously denied wrongdoing, and Ms Xu told the Telegraph she ‘strongly rejects’ the findings and called for an appeal.
Ms Liu likewise disputed the findings and said she intends to appeal.
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The election will be re-run on Monday, May 11, with previously named candidates appearing automatically on the ballot except for Ms Xu.
It is the second president-elect of the Oxford Union in a row to be removed from office, following the scandal in which George Abaraonye ‘celebrated’ the death of Charlie Kirk.
The disgraced Oxford University student lost the vote of no confidence from members of the union by a landslide at 70 per cent.
The Oxford Union has been approached for comment.
Thames Valley Police South Oxon and Vale of White Horse officers have been responding to various incidents in the town, including the drugs stop, a spokesperson for the force said on Thursday afternoon.
In one incident, officers tried to flag down a vehicle which had been linked to drugs activity and the driver initially failed to stop.
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A spokesperson for the force said: “Officers attempted to stop a vehicle flagged with a drugs marker (police intelligence linking it to suspected drug activity).
“The vehicle tried to evade police but was safely stopped and blocked in. All three occupants and the vehicle were searched.
“The car was seized under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act which allows police to seize vehicles being driven without insurance.”
Also in Didcot, officers from the neighbourhood policing team stopped a suspected drink-driver, assisted by a local police dog unit.
Searches revealed the driver was “not over the drink-drive limit but was also in possession of drugs”, the force said.
The driver was charged in custody and is due to appear in court in July, police say.
Also during the patrols in Wallingford, a banning letter was issued on behalf of Waitrose to a persistent shoplifter. An investigation is ongoing,
In Grove, officers were deployed to secure a property following the arrest of the occupant, ensuring it remained safe while further searches were arranged.
And in Harwell, a suspect was arrested following an alleged burglary.
Oxford United Walking Football Club sent its overs 50s and 65s squads to the Mallorca Walking Football Tournament from April 30 to May 4.
Mark Quainton, who joined the club just 15 months ago and turned 54 during the tournament, led the over 50s teams as player-manager.
The team comprised players in their 50s and 60s and three over the age of 70,with some competing in their first oversees tournament.
In the group stage, they faced strong opposition from teams representing Glasgow, Morocco and Poland.
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Morocco, who played its national team, emerged as the standout team when they entered the knockout stages unbeaten.
Oxford adapted by making key tactical decisions ahead of the knockout rounds, including a formation change.
The adjustments paid off as the over 50s team edged passed Morocco in what was described as a ‘dramatic’ semi-final, decided by penalties
In both the semi-final and final, goalkeeper Stephen Bellinger produced crucial saves while Quainton and Marc Cresswell helped secure the victory.
The win sparked emotional celebrations by players, teammates and supporters, including their former Glasgow rivals.
Quainton said: “We were all shocked and it still hasn’t sunk in but it means the world to us as players and as a club.
“We all support Oxford United, so to represent the badge and win a trophy abroad is a dream come true. It proves that no matter your age, you can still achieve something special.”
Oxford now hope to return next year to defend their title.
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