David Attenborough a hero of non-fiction

Sir, – The tragic heroes of literature often learn to bitterly regret their lives. Shakespeare’s Macbeth laments: “that which should accompany old age, as honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have.”

The opposite of the tragic hero can also live a dramatic life. It was heart-warming to watch the BBC, irrepressibly and rightly proud, celebrate the 100th birthday of a hero of non-fiction last Friday.

David Attenborough’s immense contribution to television documentaries over many series of groundbreaking, accessible and often astonishing programmes, expanded our understanding of the natural world and the animals and plants living in it. Life on Earth was epic, and much that followed improved on the high standards it set.

Rarely has old age been honoured by such troops of friends and admirers, and rarely has it been more richly deserved. – Yours, etc,