Background
He was the son of Mary (née Saxton) and Frederick August Attenborough of Stapleford in Nottinghamshire.
He was the son of Mary (née Saxton) and Frederick August Attenborough of Stapleford in Nottinghamshire.
He was educated at schools in Long Eaton.
This school was founded by Samuel Clegg, the headmaster, in 1910. From 1918 to 1920 he was a research student, and a fellow from 1920 to 1925. From 1925 to 1932 he was principal of the Borough Road Training College (became the West London Institute of Higher Education in 1976) in Isleworth.
Attenborough was principal of University College, Leicester from 1932 to 1951, and lived with his family on campus in College House (which now houses part of the University"s Mathematics department).
During the Second World War, the Attenboroughs took in two Jewish refugee girls who lived with them in College House. Under Attenborough"s guidance, the University College grew in size and reputation and eventually became the University of Leicester, receiving its Royal Charter in 1957.
The university"s Attenborough Building, which includes an 18-storey tower and is the tallest building on the campus, was named in his honour. The building was opened in 1970.
They had three children:
Richard Samuel Attenborough (1923–2014), Lord Attenborough, the actor and director
David Frederick Attenborough (born 1926), now Sir David, the television naturalist
John Michael Attenborough (1928–2012), Executive at Alfa Romeo.