University of Leicester celebrates Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday
Bake Off stars Dr Josh Smalley and Dr Rahul Mandal with the Sir David Attenborough-themed cake.
A tree planting and a showstopping cake rustled up by a dream Great British Bake Off team were highlights of the University of Leicester’s celebrations to mark Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday.
The University, which has strong historic links with Sir David and his family, masterminded a programme of celebrations for the big day, Friday 8 May 2026.
Sir David spent his formative years on campus from 1932 after his father Frederick Attenborough was appointed as the second Principal of University College Leicester – which later become the University of Leicester. He stayed in Leicester until leaving to study at Cambridge University in 1945.
Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah planting the tree outside College House.
Today saw current University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah, join colleagues for the planting of an amelanchier lamarckii tree on campus, as a permanent honour to mark Sir David’s centenary year. The tree forms the centrepiece of a specially created jungle-themed garden outside College House, which was the Attenborough’s family home in the 1930s and 1940s.
Speaking at the planting ceremony, Professor Canagarajah said: “Sir David’s voice, his curiosity and his unwavering commitment to telling the story of the natural world have inspired generations. And for many of us, those stories sparked the first sense of wonder that led us into education, research and public service.
“Sir David Attenborough has reached that historic centenary milestone and in doing so, he has created a legacy that will live a lot longer. A legacy, I am proud to say, of which we are a part.
“There are spaces at the University that bear his name and that of his illustrious family. David’s parents Fred and Mary Attenborough left abiding impacts upon this university as did the Attenborough sons and we honour them not just by raising a glass to them, but by being like them and living their values.
“By committing to changing the world through education – Fred Attenborough was Principal here and paved the way for steering Leicester from a small, underfunded college toward full university status. Through our mission to harness the potential of education to benefit the wider community, we honour the work of the Attenborough family.
“Through world changing research – we draw attention to the issues and challenges that face the world.
“Through our commitment to caring and giving back, to helping humanity and rebuilding societies, we honour Mary Attenborough who supported refugees, as well as the family as a whole who are dedicated to helping others.”
The tree planting preceded a birthday celebration for University colleagues, during which a special birthday cake that was six days in the making was unveiled.
The cake was designed by University of Leicester chemist, Dr Josh Smalley, a former finalist of the Great British Bake Off. He enlisted the help of 2018 Bake Off winner, Dr Rahul Mandal, to turn the ambitious design into reality.
Josh said: “The cake concept was to try and celebrate the incredible career of Sir David – which is no mean feat as he’s spent over seven decades in broadcasting.
“No one on the planet has seen more of it than him. It comprises three tiers of cake, journeying across the planet, with each section representing a different ecosystem – from the icy Arctic and sweeping African plains to lush rainforests and the depths of the ocean. And atop all of this is a chocolate Earth.”
Josh added: “As the University celebrates a remarkable 100 years of Sir David Attenborough, this cake serves as more than just a tribute. It’s a reflection of Leicester’s spirit: curious, creative, and deeply connected to the world around us.
“And, in true Bake Off fashion, it’s a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful stories are told not just through words, but through what we create.”
Other University initiatives to mark the occasion included a robotic pitch marker painting a giant birthday message for Sir David on the Fielding Johnson lawn.
Public screenings of Sir David’s Ocean documentary drew the crowds to the University’s Attenborough Arts Centre, while this Sunday 10 May sees a public picnic taking place at the Attenborough Arboretum, in Carisbrooke Road, between 11am and 3pm.