Greatest Living Englishman
Discussion
Going to go wide and suggest....John Major. No, wait, hear me out.
Made it to highest political office from very humble beginnings on his own merit rather than from being in the islington landowner PPE cadre.
Improved the whole of the UK by achieving some kind of resolution in Northern Ireland.
Handed over one of the West's best performing economies to Labour in 1997.
Since stepping down has been a quiet voice of reason in the background, and has not sniped at his successors / cashed in / supported iffy goverments in the 'stans.
Spends significant time and effort on charity activity.
Made it to highest political office from very humble beginnings on his own merit rather than from being in the islington landowner PPE cadre.
Improved the whole of the UK by achieving some kind of resolution in Northern Ireland.
Handed over one of the West's best performing economies to Labour in 1997.
Since stepping down has been a quiet voice of reason in the background, and has not sniped at his successors / cashed in / supported iffy goverments in the 'stans.
Spends significant time and effort on charity activity.
John Major? Even as a bit of a leftie I like him as a bloke. I have a lot of respect for the way he gracefully left office and went to watch cricket at Lord's, but greatest living Englishman? Nah. Macca is certainly the godfather of British popular music, but without him John Lennon would still have done his stuff and there are many other artists who have done their share.
It is difficult to see beyond TBL. In bringing together already maturing technologies it was inevitable that someone would have invented the Web, but they didn't and he did. Unfortunately though, it also means that Vint Cerf (an American) is inherently greater than any living Englishman, which is clearly wrong.
It is difficult to see beyond TBL. In bringing together already maturing technologies it was inevitable that someone would have invented the Web, but they didn't and he did. Unfortunately though, it also means that Vint Cerf (an American) is inherently greater than any living Englishman, which is clearly wrong.
1 said:
There is a thread running about Heather Mills where some people are suggesting Paul McCartney is the greatest living Englishman. Personally I think he is a popular entertainer and nothing more, but it got me thinking who I would nominate.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Tim Berners-Lee has to be up there for his impact on society. Who would you nominate as the greatest living Englishman?
ONE PERSON.http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Tim Berners-Lee has to be up there for his impact on society. Who would you nominate as the greatest living Englishman?
Eric 'Winkle' Brown, he's Scottish but that's close enough.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Brown_%28pilot%2...
"A British former Royal Navy officer and test pilot who flew 487 different types of aircraft, more than anyone else in history. He also holds the world record for most aircraft carrier landings performed (2,407) and is the Fleet Air Arm's most decorated living pilot."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Brown_%28pilot%2...
"A British former Royal Navy officer and test pilot who flew 487 different types of aircraft, more than anyone else in history. He also holds the world record for most aircraft carrier landings performed (2,407) and is the Fleet Air Arm's most decorated living pilot."
RobGT81 said:
Eric 'Winkle' Brown, he's Scottish but that's close enough.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Brown_%28pilot%2...
"A British former Royal Navy officer and test pilot who flew 487 different types of aircraft, more than anyone else in history. He also holds the world record for most aircraft carrier landings performed (2,407) and is the Fleet Air Arm's most decorated living pilot."
"British" isn't "English".http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Brown_%28pilot%2...
"A British former Royal Navy officer and test pilot who flew 487 different types of aircraft, more than anyone else in history. He also holds the world record for most aircraft carrier landings performed (2,407) and is the Fleet Air Arm's most decorated living pilot."
Otherwise I'd nominate myself
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