Top 10 Greatest Britons
Discussion
What do we reckon then.. the choice is thus:
Brunel
Churchill
Cromwell
Darwin
Diana
Elizabeth I
Lennon
Nelson
Newton
Shakespeare
For me the shortlist comes down to:
Shakespeare - For underpinning the literary heritage ofthe English language and in spite of his work being used as an instrument of torture by generations of teachers...
Darwin - For his postulates on evolution. These completely reshaped life sciences, in which he made probably the most significant theorectical breakthrough ever.
Churchill - A dog that sells cheap car insurance.
Brunel
Churchill
Cromwell
Darwin
Diana
Elizabeth I
Lennon
Nelson
Newton
Shakespeare
For me the shortlist comes down to:
Shakespeare - For underpinning the literary heritage ofthe English language and in spite of his work being used as an instrument of torture by generations of teachers...
Darwin - For his postulates on evolution. These completely reshaped life sciences, in which he made probably the most significant theorectical breakthrough ever.
Churchill - A dog that sells cheap car insurance.
It should be Churchill, without a doubt. The others were all significant in History, but he led us through our darkest hours. Without his guts and never say die attitude it is too horific what the future might have held. This website wouldn't have existed for a start...
Winston should win, but the sentimental public will probably vote for Diana....IMO: good humanitarian but she didn't exactly change the course of history.
Winston should win, but the sentimental public will probably vote for Diana....IMO: good humanitarian but she didn't exactly change the course of history.
I really have to say Churchill or Lennon, purely because my ignorance of history and historical people shows that I know bugger all about a queen who was married to this country in the 16th century, or a be-quilled playright who was treated with certain amounts of disdain in his day much like, say, Stephen King is today.
Some of my heroes omitted from the top ten would be people like Charles Babbage, John Cleese and Roland Rat.
Some of my heroes omitted from the top ten would be people like Charles Babbage, John Cleese and Roland Rat.
Flasher, no disrespect to Winston, but everything you said about Churchill could also be applied to Nelson, but IMHO Nelson achieved more.
Without the victory at Trafalgar Napoleon would have easily invaded England. The intent was there, he had the ships, only the channel stood in his way. The British land forces would have stood no chance of repelling his huge army. This really was make or break in the same was as the Battle of Britain.
However one could argue that Nelson was 'greater' because
1) he did the fighting
2) he died doing it (very British!)
3) he redefined naval warfare in the process.
4) he got more totty than Chrucill.
5) he didn't just ensure the survival of Britain, he actually completely anihalated the French fleet, consequently leading to Napoleons eventual downfall and paving the way for the British Empire.
He'd be my choice anyway...
Without the victory at Trafalgar Napoleon would have easily invaded England. The intent was there, he had the ships, only the channel stood in his way. The British land forces would have stood no chance of repelling his huge army. This really was make or break in the same was as the Battle of Britain.
However one could argue that Nelson was 'greater' because
1) he did the fighting
2) he died doing it (very British!)
3) he redefined naval warfare in the process.
4) he got more totty than Chrucill.
5) he didn't just ensure the survival of Britain, he actually completely anihalated the French fleet, consequently leading to Napoleons eventual downfall and paving the way for the British Empire.
He'd be my choice anyway...
sorry.. didn't post the link ...
www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/greatbritons/
it was on BBC2 last night.. but evidently, you lot were too busy watching lesbians..
www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/greatbritons/
it was on BBC2 last night.. but evidently, you lot were too busy watching lesbians..
All made the top 100, but not the top ten..
AlexH said: Heres some names to throw into the ring: Sir Frank Whittle, John Logie Baird, Wellington.
Same for Thatcher, Alexander G Bell, Faraday, Chaucer, Babbage, Stephen Hawking, Beckham, Caxton, Bevan, Baden-Powell, Berners-Lee, Tony Benn, Blair, John Lydon, John Peel, Emmeline Pankhurst and here's an odd one - Enoch Powell came in at about #55 !
No Roland Rat though.. sorry Spooks..
SGirl said: How can you have Lennon and not McCartney in there??
Wouldn't vote for either of them anyway.
Incorrigible - related to?? Come on, tell all!
IKB, Great^5 Uncle
How can you have Lennon and not McCartney in there??
The answer they gave last night was "Wings", agree with Mr Tony though
I will assume that most PHers do not want or think Diana is suitable to win.
So I think it is all our responsibility to cast a vote for someone other than Diana.
Take the 2 minutes to vote, just to try and cancel out all the women / granny votes that will be received for Diana.
It's your duty......
So I think it is all our responsibility to cast a vote for someone other than Diana.
Take the 2 minutes to vote, just to try and cancel out all the women / granny votes that will be received for Diana.
It's your duty......
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