(posted 7834 days ago)Who is the greatest south Londoner?
Nov 12 2002By Richard Evans, South London Press
THE identity of the greatest Briton has been the question on everybody's lips over the last few weeks because of the BBC series.But we want to know who deserves the title of the greatest ever south Londoner?
Is it someone listed below or somebody else? The South London Press has set up a phone vote so you can let us know what you think.
We will use the results to draw up a short-list of five finalists.
Ken Livingstone: 'Red Ken' was born in Streatham and went on to lock horns with Margaret Thatcher as head of the Greater London Council (GLC). Although the GLC was scrapped, Ken bounced back to become London's first elected mayor.
Rio Ferdinand: Born in Peckham, the Manchester United player has twice shattered the world record transfer fee for a defender.
William Mildin: The 14th Earl of Streatham was the inspiration for Tarzan of the Apes. In 1868, he was shipwrecked off West Africa and spent 11 years living in the jungle.
John Major: Born in Brixton, he married Norma in St Matthew's Church and cut his political teeth at Lambeth town hall, long before he became Prime Minister.
Charlie Chaplin: Born in Kennington, he became one of the most famous figures in movie history, directing such classics as The Great Dictator.
Jade Goody: The Bermondsey babe might not have won this year's Big Brother, but she was certainly the star of the show. Has to be included for enriching all our lives with gems such as asking if Wales was the capital of England, or if Sherlock Holmes invented the toilet. Priceless.
Boris Karloff: The Dulwich-born actor appeared in all manner of creepy films, most famously as Frankenstein's monster.
Lloyd Honeyghan: The 'Ragamuffin Man' shocked the world when he knocked out Donald Curry, the world's best pound-for-pound boxer, in the American's backyard.
David Bowie: The man who gave us Ziggy Stardust was born in Brixton and became one of the greatest recording artists ever.
Michael Caine: The Bermondsey actor has starred in such films as Get Carter and The Italian Job.
Henry Cooper: A ripped glove stood between the Bellingham boxer and an historic knockout of Cassius Clay. The man who was to become Muhammad Ali was saved by the bell at the end of the fourth round and a problem with his glove meant he got extra time to recover before stopping Henry on cuts in the fifth.
Naomi Campbell: The Streatham supermodel's inclusion on the list might raise a few eyebrows, but there's no other south Londoner the male employees at the South London Press would rather step out with!
WHO is the greatest south Londoner ever? The vote line number is: 0901 380 2848. Calls cost 25p and the line is open until Monday, November 25 at 9am.