Who is your greatest living Englishman?

The problem with Churchill - as others had said above - is that he is a very complex character. Do we judge him as a war leader alone, or on the full length of his life? Even during the war, his record had blemishes - including the Norway campaign which later paved the way for his ascent to PM. https://www.dailyscandinavian.com/forgotten-fiasco-norway-1940/

With the benefit of hindsight, he was a lot of a nasty *******, but needed to be to beat Hitler and Hirohito, who were also nasty ********. During his career, he lead the UK during while what could be considered war crimes were committed - Invasion of Iran, allegations of torture of prisoners, rape of civilians, the bombing of Dresden and shooting shipwreck survivors. These can be explained as part of war, but other events before and after the war that were just as bad - concentration camps in Malaya and Kenya in the 1950s - and sending the army to deal with strikers in 1911 and the Black and Tans in NI.

He was a complex character, but so are people. Does his good outweigh his bad? Arguably. Was he the greatest Englishman ever? - probably not, but it depends on how you define "greatest". Did he do as much for the population at Clement Attlee? - possibly not, but the country did bad stuff under Attlee too (abducting and deporting Chinese war heroes from Liverpool in 1946/7 for example). So how do you compare?

 

Those whose names are carved on the Menin Gate.
.

 

It's worrying in this thread that some folk are mistaking dead Englishmen for living Englishmen...

 

Can the thread be split? It's an interesting thread (well they both are) but ought to be separate.

 

Not sure what constitutes ‘great’. & am uncomfortable with the question being biased towards men. Open another thread for the girls, I can think of more.. ​

 

I agree with Attenborough as number one.

Curveball, but someone who maybe should be on the runners up is Tom Robinson. He was part of the punk movement that worked to change people's perceptions of gay people. He also made some good records. He's on radio 6 music too. No way nominating him for number one, that is DA for me.

 

It's not biased towards men. I specifically asked only about men. Ones who were alive too.

If I was asked about my favourite footballer would I feel uncomfortable because I couldn't put down Geoff Boycott?

Plus you can use your own definition of "great". Like I know a great goal when I see one.

 

Nominating a 'Great Living Englishman' is difficult because 'Greatness' is something that is conferred when someone has died and their contribution to society is looked at retrospectively ?

Look at the 'great' painters, poets, composers etc. I don't think any of then were regarded as 'great' in their lifetime. Likewise with those who improved society.

 

At the moment, I’d nominate our Alf..

 

Interesting..

 

You win, close the competition, he is awesome! (Somebody’s going to tell me he’s not a man next)

 

I’m his 4th or 5th human companion in his 17 years. Deaf & blind now, but arrived to me in good state, 14 months ago.
Good lad. So gentle & unassuming.
Humans, of course. Dave Attenborough. Changed my life for better.

 

Mange tout