In a demonstration that our Government of the time was not entirely devoid of a sense of humour, it was announced on 6 May 2016 that the name Boaty McBoatface would be given to a remotely–controlled submarine that would be carried by the Attenborough.
And in a detail that would have delighted millions of Beatles fans, the submarine is yellow in colour.
Science minister Jo Johnson (brother of you–know–who) said, "The ship has captured the imaginations of millions, which is why we're ensuring that the Boaty name lives on through the sub–sea vehicle that will support the research crew, and the polar science education programme that will bring their work to life."
You can read more about the announcement in the Telegraph. Meanwhile, here on the ITV News website you can read about a petition calling for naturalist Sir David Attenborough to be renamed Sir Boaty McBoatface, which eventually received over 3,800 signatures.
David Attenborough actually came fourth in the Natural Environment Research Council's naming poll, with 2.95% of the vote – beating It's Bloody Cold Here (2.85%) into fifth place. Boaty McBoatface's winning percentage was 33.16. Other suggestions were Poppy–Mai (second with 10.66%) and Henry Worsley (third with 4.21%).
Poppy–Mai Barnard was diagnosed with a malignant rhabdoid tumour and a brain tumour in February 2016, when she was 15 months old. Given just two days to live at the time, she first made headlines the following month, when her father "married" her in order to fulfil his promise of giving her a dream wedding. Poppy–Mai "lost her battle with cancer" in May 2016, a few days before Mr. Johnson's announcement.
Henry Worsley was a British explorer and Army officer, who died in January 2016 (aged 55) while attempting to complete the first solo and unaided crossing of the Antarctic. He crossed more than 900 miles, but was forced by exhaustion and ill health to call for help, 126 miles from his journey's intended end. Rescued and flown to a hospital in Punta Arenas, in the Patagonia region of southern Chile, he died of peritonitis.
© Haydn Thompson 2017