A former Wiltshire College student enjoyed a real career highlight when he appeared on Sir David Attenborough’s latest BBC TV programme.

Simon Matthews, currently curator of birds at the Al Wabra wildlife preservation centre in Qatar, featured with Sir David in the Birds of Paradise programme shown on BBC2 last week.

The famous broadcaster and naturalist has been a lifelong fan of the exotic bird species.

He said: “For me birds of paradise are the most romantic and glamorous birds in the world. And this is a film I have wanted to make for 40 years.”

Filming took place in the forests of New Guinea and the desert-based Al Wabra preserve, founded by Qatari prince Sheikh Saoud Bin Mohammed Al Thani and home to more than 2,000 animals.

Mr Matthews, a former student at Wiltshire College Lackham, was approached by the Al Wabra director to take up his current role while working as a senior bird keeper at Waddesdon Manor in 2012.

After gaining a HND in animal management at Wiltshire College, he volunteered at the Cotswold Wildlife Park, and spent time at Chester Zoo before joining the manor’s aviary in 2008.

At Al Wabra, one of the leading institutions for breeding endangered and threatened species of animals and birds, his reputation has grown further, but filming with the BBC is his biggest career highlight to date.

He said: “We were contacted about filming the birds of paradise and David was only mentioned after the initial confirmation of filming.

“The filming took place in November 2013 – it was a very exciting and busy 10 days with the crew and David was the cherry on the cake, definitely one of the highlights of my career.

“David was very easy to get on with and I had some great conversations with him. He’s very passionate about the birds of paradise, and he really enjoyed all the filming.”

Mr Matthews, 31, originally from Frome, looks after a wide variety of bird species at the centre and has just been given another reason to celebrate as wife Hayley, also a former Lackham student, has just given birth to their first child, a baby boy, Jake.

Hayley, from Chippenham, graduated with a BSc honours degree in animal science and management before moving on to gain a role at Whipsnade Zoo.

They formed a relationship after leaving college and until recently worked together at Al Wabra, with Hayley the assistant curator of mammals for just under two years. She is currently at home in the UK before returning to Qatar.