Should East Midlands Airport be renamed after David Attenborough?

Award-winning naturalist, Sir David Attenborough, has been revealed as the international icon residents would choose to represent East Midlands Airport.

Sir David Attenborough has received a knighthood, the freedom of the City of Leicester and over 30 honorary degrees from universities across the world. Now, Midlands’ residents have voted to rename their local airport after the great man.

Over half (55 per cent) of residents picked the broadcaster in the survey, which was commissioned by HolidayExtras.com, following the news that Birmingham Airport could be renamed Shakespeare’s Airport to attract international visitors to the region.

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His passion for nature and conservation blossomed as a student at the University of Leicester and Attenborough was the top choice to represent the airport out of other local famous sons and daughters from the region. Maid Marian, Robin Hood’s sweetheart, came a distant second with one in five votes. Followed closely in popularity by the famous skating duo Torvill and Dean and footballer Gary Lineker. Designer Paul Smith was a fashionable choice among male voters with four times as many votes as super-middleweight world champion Carl Froch.

Ant Clarke Cowell, Communications Director at Holiday Extras, commented “While we’re not aware of any plans to change the name at East Midlands Airport, popular British figures such as Robin Hood and Shakespeare have been used to highlight other UK airports, so we decided to find out who the people of the East Midlands would choose as their international icon.”

“During the time that I studied at Leicester Uni it was clear to me what an iconic figure he was to the people of the region and how proud residents of the city are of his achievements.”

“Sir David Attenborough is admired across the globe as well as by East Midlands’ people. His passion for natural history and broadcasting first began at the University there, and it’s great to see East Midlanders choosing to recognise him in this way.”