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bikebuoy, don't you think a person's athleticism needs to be supplemented by some sort of deeper/greater contribution if the person him/herself is to be counted as the Greatest Living Englishman?
I mean, Bryony Shaw might be a lovely person; I have no idea one way or the other. But I would hardly think that being a windsurfer carries her to transcendent levels of national contribution.
bikebuoy, don't you think a person's athleticism needs to be supplemented by some sort of deeper/greater contribution if the person him/herself is to be counted as the Greatest Living Englishman?
Being English would be a bigger help.
The evil genius! 
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Eddie Baby
Les Cagill!
I think you probably need to be a member of the Order of Merit to be even considered so that excludes everyone suggested apart from Hockney and Attenborough. Although Roger Bannister has been pretty special in two areas.
Michael Caine.
I am still struggling to recall greatest living English person ...
Aaarrghhh ... where are your greats? Where?
Most of the ones you lot have posted are 60% nearly person.
Where are your least offensive greats that know how to do the right things?
Alan Hinkes
[url= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Hinkes ]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Hinkes[/url]
Aaarrghhh ... where are your greats? Where?
Order of Merit
[url= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Merit ]Link[/url]
mefty - Member
Aaarrghhh ... where are your greats? Where?
Order of Merit
Link
Where is the ordinary mortal in that list?
Are you fishing for a nomination Chewy?
bearnecessities - Member
Are you fishing for a nomination Chewy?
I am not great so no need to be nominated.
p/s: slight hijack ...
This Lord is tasked with reforming NHS - Ara Darzi, Baron Darzi of Denham ... very intelligent person and he is a surgeon ...
The Junior Doctors are arguing against him and his NHS reform? 😆
[url= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ara_Darzi,_Baron_Darzi_of_Denham ]Here the information. [/url]
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1988 Pipe Smoker of the Year 😀
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won an olympic gold at a time when we didn't win much and didn't really have any cash or organisation
set records that still stand and others that stood for 10/20 years
did pretty well as a clean pro against others that were usually as dirty as a monkeys bum
then he goes on to help set up a resurgent sport and push the technology advances
then sets up a successful uk company that gets loads of people out on bikes
then becomes an advocate for cycling provision and changing attitudes to cyclists to help get people out on bikes of all types, for all who want to
pretty good commentator too
Joss Naylor.
The climber Joe Brown.
Joss Naylor.
+1
Bonnington could also make the shortlist.
Of the top of my head either Tim Berners-Lee or Jonathan Ive (I'm no apple fan but he's had a huge impact globally).
With Mick Jagger and John Cale for contributions to music.
Where is the ordinary mortal in that list?
The question posed is who is the greatest living Englishmen, one would hope he/she is not a ordinary mortal.
Bonnington could also make the shortlist.
hated by quite a few people for his lack of Shackleton esque leadership
Andy Green.
Not a particular fan but as a sportsman Mo Farah must be up there. Olympic and World 5000m and 10000m champion.
First clean athlete too!
"Which living English-person has made the greatest contribution to our humble little planet" would be my criteria. Sports people are just doing something they are talented at for our casual amusement 😉 🙂 The answer... no idea
scotroutes - Member
Surely it's Cliff?
No, he's a Barbarian or something like that now. 🙂
Most of the ones you lot have posted are 60% nearly person.
It generally takes a few years to achieve greatness.
Paul Gascoigne probably defined a generation but not always in a good way.
But I the Eddie Izzard one; its a good shout.
hhmmm ... still struggling to see your living greats. Where are they hiding?
mefty - Member
Where is the ordinary mortal in that list?
The question posed is who is the greatest living Englishmen, one would hope he/she is not a ordinary mortal.
Yes, but the problem is that most of them are ordinary.
If an ordinary mortal can be in that list then s/he is no ordinary mortal. Yes? See?
slowoldman - Member
Most of the ones you lot have posted are 60% nearly person.
It generally takes a few years to achieve greatness.
I doubt that is possible coz they are either born with greatness or they merely pretending to be great.
if Group Captain Geoffrey Leonard Cheshire, Baron Cheshire VC, OM, DSO & Two Bars, DFC was still alive then all your suggestions would seem ludicrous in comparison.
If I had to pick an entertainer...
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I doubt that is possible coz they are either born with greatness or they merely pretending to be great.
I think you are mis-remembering Malvolio:
In my stars I am above thee; but be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.
Lord Norman Foster without a doubt.
Obvious, had more balls than any Englishman that I know![u][/u]
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No explanation required.
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*Runs away...
I'll change my mind from earlier and agree with Mackem...big Sam Allardyce (for us up and sending the Toon doon).
Surely it's Cliff?
<goodness gracious me voice> Indian </goodness gracious me voice>
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Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes. If only for the name.
Why was Ghandi deleted?
He was a subject of the order was he not?
He had English values of freedom and democracy.
He lived here did he not?
I like Ranulph Fiennes , don't get me wrong, but isn't he just a massive posho ? Apologies if this is untrue but the Eton thing and all. Flame on!
don't get me wrong, but isn't he just a massive posho ?
Whats that mean then?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranulph_Fiennes
a long varied and interesting life, probably being born who he was helped a lot but that doesn't enable you to do what he has done
Frankenstein - MemberWhy was Ghandi deleted?
not living, not English and was a bit of a creepy, class obsessed racist pervert lol
slowoldman - Member
I doubt that is possible coz they are either born with greatness or they merely pretending to be great.
I think you are mis-remembering Malvolio:
In my stars I am above thee; but be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.
Okay okay if you see greatness from Malvolio's perspective whoever he is.
My view is that unless you have the "the quality of greatness in your gene" try as you might you can only improved slightly. However, that slight improvement might be enough for you to interpret as "greatness" but for me that is still a nearly person.
Anyhoo, it looks like it's not easy to find the living greats from the publicly known list, which I am not surprised of coz living greats will not want to be associated with inflated ego of being listed as "great".
There have been some "amusing" artists, politicians and sports people suggested here but the GREATEST living Englishman is this man:
[url= http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/2013/higgs_postcard.jp g" target="_blank">http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/2013/higgs_postcard.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Who the **** is he?