Talk about timing. A baby born just two minutes before midnight on Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday has been given the middle name Attenborough in tribute to the broadcaster and conservationist.
Ambrose Attenborough Whyte was born at 11:58 p.m. on May 8 at Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, according to SWNS. He weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces.
His father, Stephen Whyte, 35, said he and his partner, Lauren Evans, 27, had both been fans of Sir David all their lives.
“It wasn’t until the morning of the 8th that she mentioned that it was David Attenborough’s 100th birthday and it’d be really cool if our son was born on the same day,” Stephen Whyte, from Powys, Wales, said.
“I suggested that if he was born, then we should give him the middle name of ‘Attenborough’ in honor of the conservationist.
“With Lauren’s hard work and the help of the surgeons, our baby was delivered by forceps at 11:58 p.m., it was so close to being the 9th that we just had to.”
The couple had an induction appointment scheduled for May 7, and Lauren only realized during labor that the baby might arrive on Attenborough’s birthday.
Stephen said the decision to use the name was made at the hospital and that they had planned something else for months.
“It was completely spur of the moment.
“We had another name in mind which we’d picked months in advance, not sure if I should say in case we have another one and want to use it for them instead, but we changed it at the last minute.”
Stephen said the couple grew up watching Attenborough documentaries with their parents and said that shaped their love of animals.
“We’ve both been fans of him our whole lives. Both of our parents used to let us stay up late to watch his documentaries when we were younger.
“We definitely owe at least some of our love of animals to his documentaries; we both love nature and animals.
“We have some cats at the moment, but hope that one day when we own a house we can get some more; maybe even have a small holding with some farm animals.”
Stephen said he hopes Ambrose will grow up with the same interest in wildlife.
“We’re hoping to minimize screen time, but when he’s a little older we’re planning on showing him the odd nature documentary.
“So hopefully he’ll be a fan of David Attenborough from a young age and shows an interest in wildlife the way we have.
“If he wants to be just like David Attenborough when he grows up that’d be amazing. I really hope he can make even a fraction of the impact in the world which David Attenborough has.”
Ambrose also has a 4-year-old sister, Lyra, who Stephen said “adores animals as well.” He said she has pet tarantulas, lizards and a snake.
“We’d just like to express our gratitude to David Attenborough for his decades of work to educate the world on the beauty of the natural world and playing a significant role in protecting and conserving it.”
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