Animal Management students inspired by Sir David Attenborough have received a hand written letter from the great naturalist himself.

Clair Cartwright, a Level 2 Diploma in Animal Care student who attributes her passion for wildlife to Sir David’s TV documentaries, suggested that her English Skills group should write to their idol inviting him to visit Reaseheath’s Animal Centre and Zoo.

More than 40 Level 2 students composed letters and Course Manager Sam Sturgess collected and posted them off. A few weeks later a handwritten response from Sir David arrived, thanking the students for their invitation but sadly declining it through pressure of his TV work.

Sir David wrote:

Dear Sam Sturgess

“Thank you for sending me letters from your students. It is most kind of them to invite me to visit Reaseheath College and meet them. I am sure I would greatly enjoy doing so, but sadly my programme making work keeps me so busy that I am unable to accept such invitations.

I would be most grateful though if you would thank them on my behalf for their invitation and tell them how delighted I am that they think so highly of my programmes.”

Best Wishes    David Attenborough

Clair and her fellow students were, needless to say, over the moon and the letter will be framed and displayed in our Animal Centre.

Said Clair: “Sir David’s films inspired me from a very early age. He became my hero and fuelled my passion for the natural world, ultimately leading to me coming to Reaseheath to study. A lot of my fellow students admire his work too so it seemed a good idea to invite him to meet us.

“It was amazing to receive a handwritten letter from him, and although sadly he’s too busy to visit, it’s something we will all treasure.”