28/04/2026
It was an exceptional evening at the Lit & Phil, with a very large turnout at Hansom Hall and many others joining online via Zoom to hear Alastair Fothergill OBE speak on “Nearly Forty Years in the Field with Sir David Attenborough.”
Alastair Fothergill is a highly acclaimed producer of nature documentaries for television and cinema, as well as a director and co founder of Silverback Films. The audience was treated to fascinating insights into the making of some of the world’s most iconic wildlife documentaries, including Planet Earth, Frozen Planet, Our Planet, and Wild Isles.
The talk offered remarkable behind the scenes stories, particularly around the meticulous planning and complex logistics required to film in remote and often hostile environments, such as the Arctic and Antarctic regions. These insights were brought vividly to life through stunning images and video footage, many featuring Sir David Attenborough in the field.
One memorable anecdote described filming four tonne “beachmaster” elephant seals on the beaches of South Georgia, where Sir David was famously armed with little more than a broom handle for protection. Such stories not only entertained but also illustrated the dedication and risks involved in capturing these extraordinary moments on film.
Throughout the lecture, Alastair emphasised the importance of the natural world and the need to protect it—an issue clearly resonating with the audience, as reflected in the thoughtful and engaged questions at the end of the talk.
The vote of thanks was eloquently delivered by Richard Graves.
The lower photograph shows (from left): Denise Hopkins, Robert Attenborough, Cecilia Attenborough, Alastair Fothergill, Hazel Graves (President of the Lit & Phil) and Richard Graves.
