This is the first in an - irregular - series concerning those Britons who, in the opinion of Keith Telly Topping, have done considerable ... stuff. And all that. All comments and suggestions for future inclusions, although welcome, will be completely ignored. This one's personal!
1. Field Marshal Sir Arthur Wellesley, First Duke of Wellington, KG, KP, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS. Born - Dublin, Ireland c. 29 April 1769. Died - Walmer Castle, Kent 14 September 1852. Quite simply, the man responsible for more dead Frenchmen in history. And, therefore, worthy on a place on anyone's list of Top Chaps.
2. Douglas Robert Jardine. Born - Bombay, India 23 October 1900. Died - Montreux, Switzerland 18 June 1958. A fine writer and a war hero he may have been but his place on this list is for one sole, solitary reason. He was the first man to prove conclusively that Australians are fine sportsmen but they do not like it up 'em. And, if you give it them they will, likely, squeal like a bunch of girls.
3. John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE. Born - Heswell, Cheshire 30 August 1939. Died - Cuzco, Peru 25 October 2004. Because he played Half Man Half Biscuit on the BBC and got paid for it. A legend of self-deprication, honesty and integrity.
4. John Graham Mellor. Born - Ankara, Turkey 21 August 1952. Died - Broomfield, Somerset 22 December 2002. For writing Death or Glory and Complete Control and 1977 and daring to be different. My guitar hero.
5. Thomas Topping. Born - Newcastle upon Tyne 4 December 1981. Died - Newcastle upon Tyne 27 April 1991. My dad. Survived the Spanish 'flu, the Great Depression, Dunkirk, an ear infection that almost killed him in his thirties and a lifetime of supporting the Magpies, and still managed to raise three sons, hold down a job and keep the garden tidy. That's what I call being a hero.
Next time, whenever that is, five further Great Britons ... and who they pissed off to achieve that distinction.
1. Field Marshal Sir Arthur Wellesley, First Duke of Wellington, KG, KP, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS. Born - Dublin, Ireland c. 29 April 1769. Died - Walmer Castle, Kent 14 September 1852. Quite simply, the man responsible for more dead Frenchmen in history. And, therefore, worthy on a place on anyone's list of Top Chaps.
2. Douglas Robert Jardine. Born - Bombay, India 23 October 1900. Died - Montreux, Switzerland 18 June 1958. A fine writer and a war hero he may have been but his place on this list is for one sole, solitary reason. He was the first man to prove conclusively that Australians are fine sportsmen but they do not like it up 'em. And, if you give it them they will, likely, squeal like a bunch of girls.
3. John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE. Born - Heswell, Cheshire 30 August 1939. Died - Cuzco, Peru 25 October 2004. Because he played Half Man Half Biscuit on the BBC and got paid for it. A legend of self-deprication, honesty and integrity.
4. John Graham Mellor. Born - Ankara, Turkey 21 August 1952. Died - Broomfield, Somerset 22 December 2002. For writing Death or Glory and Complete Control and 1977 and daring to be different. My guitar hero.
5. Thomas Topping. Born - Newcastle upon Tyne 4 December 1981. Died - Newcastle upon Tyne 27 April 1991. My dad. Survived the Spanish 'flu, the Great Depression, Dunkirk, an ear infection that almost killed him in his thirties and a lifetime of supporting the Magpies, and still managed to raise three sons, hold down a job and keep the garden tidy. That's what I call being a hero.Next time, whenever that is, five further Great Britons ... and who they pissed off to achieve that distinction.
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