Names announced for Salisbury Cathedral's peregrines after public vote

After over 1,500 votes were cast, the winning names for the peregrine falcon chicks at Salisbury Cathedral have been announced.

The public were able to choose from a list of names which honoured people from the medical profession.

Here are the four names that were chosen:

• Flo - for Florence Nightingale, the 'Lady with the Lamp' who grew up nearby in Wellow and nurse in the Crimean War

• Eliza - for Dr Elizabeth Garret Anderson, who, in 1865, became the first female doctor registered in Britain

• Xander - for Sir Alexander Fleming, the Scottish microbiologist and physician who discovered penicillin

• Teddy - for Dr Edward Jenner, who created the first vaccine in 1796 for smallpox

The medical theme was chosen to celebrate the amazing work done by the Sarum South team who held vaccinations at the Cathedral at the beginning of this year.

Gary Price, Salisbury Cathedral's Clerk of Works, who announced the names said:

"It's great that so many people participated in the vote and have taken such an interest in our peregrines. Around 188,000 people have watched their every move on our webcams, and soon they will be treated to the sight of them fledging, after which visitors to the Close will be able to watch them soaring overhead, as they are taught how to hunt by their parents - an awesome sight."

Meanwhile, during the Facebook live, Gary picked out the names for the two adult peregrines.

15 names of black medical pioneers were put into a bowl and the Clerk and Works randomly chose the winners.

The male is called James after James 'Africanus' Beale Horton, a military doctor who championed self-government for West Africa colonies, while the female is named Mary after Mary Seacole, who set up a 'hospital' in the Crimea and later practiced as a 'doctoress' in London.

The live stream cameras at the bottom the Spire are still rolling and you can follow the progress of the four chicks born this year.

They are expected them to fledge soon, which is when they take flight from the nest for the first time.

The youngsters will stay around the Cathedral for at least month after fledging, honing their skills and preparing to strike out on their own.

You can see them by going to the Salisbury Cathedral website.

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