Corresponding with Sir David Attenborough

Way back before you were born, in August 1989, my mate and future Friends of Charles Darwin co-founder Nigel ‘Fitz’ Longhurst (1954–2014) and I were down the pub arguing, as you do, about fish. I maintained the bream was the best fish, while Fitz perversely insisted it was the trout. So we decided to ask Sir David Attenborough to adjudicate:

Ever the gent, Sir David was quick to reply in the same spirit as our original letter, taking the opportunity to correct me on my grammar. (In my defence, I actually did mean best—as in, the best fish in the world.)

Today marks Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday. Many happy returns, Sir David. Thank you for inspiring so many people with the wonders of the natural world. And thank you for taking time to humour a couple of puerile, beer-drinking dickheads.