An interesting question that came up during a job interview : candidates were asked to name, or describe, the their heroes.
This got me thinking :
Nelson Mandela - would have to be on my list : he would have been well within his rights to seek revenge for what happened to him and the millions of South Africans who suffered under apartheid.
Instead, he did what was best for the nation : a truly great statesman.
Fidel Castro - for me one of the great men of our time.
Bob Geldof - raised the issue of hunger and poverty in the early 1980's and has campaigned tirelessly for the poor ever since.
George Soros - one of the most influential men in the financial world and a philanthropist who has given away literally hundred of millions of pounds to charity.
John Maynard Keynes - ecocnomic genius who's policies informed Roosevelts
"New Deal" and who's work in the international financial system almost singlehandedly saved the economic system of the 1930/40's.
George Best - for sheer talent, good looks and for giving joy to millions of football fans (and non-fans alike).
Lech Walesa - prime mover in the Polish workers movement.
Tony Benn - British MP and one of the greatest orators I've ever heard.
His stance on Iraq, Cuba, workers rights, even distribution of wealth, British Miners strike, opposition to US foreign policy and his fifty years as sitting MP : one of the great men of our time.
Jane Tomlinson - battled against cancer for years, raised millions and sadly died earlier this year.
A real heroe.
Sean kelly - naturally!
Pete Sampras - always impressed me, courteous to a fault and a gentleman,
and a magnificent player.
Jack Nicklaus/Tiger Woods - see Sampras.
The Beatles - no need to say anymore.
The millions of unsung heroes : nurses, doctors, firemen/women, policemen/women, ambulance drivers, charity workers, carers and teachers who efforts and endeavours all help us at some point in our lives.