This document provides biographical information on several famous people from the 20th century UK, including politicians Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, humanitarian Princess Diana, artist David Hockney, writer George Orwell, musician John Lennon, and actor Richard Attenborough. It discusses their notable accomplishments and contributions in their respective fields of politics, charity work, art, literature, and entertainment.
2. Famous Political Figures
Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill
was a British politician and author, best
known as Prime Minister of the United
Kingdom during the Second World War.
Churchill was famous for his stubborn
resistance to Hitler during the darkest
hours of the Second World War.
After winning the Second World War, he
was shocked to lose the 1945 general
election to a resurgent Labour party. But,
under the Conservatives he returned to
power in the 1950 election - accepting much
of the post war consensus and end of the
British Empire.
3. Margaret Thatcher (1925-still alive)
Margaret Thatcher was Britain's first
female prime minister, who became a
pivotal figure in British and world
politics.
Mrs Thatcher was elected Prime Minister
in the Conservative landslide of 1979.
She was successful in reducing
inflation, deflationary monetary policies
caused a serious economic recession,
in which unemployment rose to 3
million.
The remaining years of her premiership
were overshadowed by her
controversial and dogmatic decision to
stick with the poll tax.
4. Famous Humanitarians
Princess Diana (1991-1997)
She was admired for her groundbreaking
charity work.
Her natural sympathy and oneness with
patients was much admired. In 1987,
Princess Diana was one of the first well
known celebrities to be photographed with
avictim of AIDS.This was important in
changing attitudes to the disease. At the time,
many thought the disease could be contacted
by touch alone.
Another of her high profile charities, was her
involvement in the campaign to ban
landmines. In January 1997, she visited mine
fields in Angola to inspect the clearing of
landmines.
5. Famous Artists
David Hockney (1937-still alive)
David Hockney became one of Britain's most
celebrated artists. He became seen as a leading
figure of the 'pop art' movement - though it was
a title he was not keen on.
Many of his works are autobiographical in
nature. They are reflective and often abstract,
quite different in style to the realist painters of
the Old Masters.
He retained a close connection to his native
in Yorkshire. In 1989, he painted a large
scale piece 48" * 120" on Salts Mill, Saltaire,
Yorks.
7. Famous Military
Douglas Haig (1861-1928)
Douglas Haig was a Scottish soldier who
rose through the ranks of the British Army to
overall commander of the British Army on the
Western Front during the later years of World
War One.
He has come to symbolise, fairly of unfairly,
much of the popular impression of bungling
generals responsible for sending troops over
the top during the bitter trench fighting of the
war.
After the war, General Haig was made 1st
Earl Haig and helped organize the Royal
British Legion for the care of ex-servicemen.
8. Famous Writers
George Orwell (19031950)
George Orwell has proved to be one of the
twentieth centurys most influential and thought
provoking writers. His relatively small numbers
of books have created intense literary and
political criticism.
The two great novels of Orwell were Animal
Farm and 1984. Animal Farm is a simple
allegory for revolutions which go wrong, based
primarily on the Russian revolution.
9. Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963)
C.S. Lewis was an author, essayist and
Christian apologist. He is best known
for his children's classic series -The
Chronicles of Narnia.
C.S.Lewis died a few years later in
1963 from renal failure. His death
occurred on same date as the
assassination of J.F. Kennedy.
Since his death, his books and
influence have continued to grow. He
has been rated as one of the top
English writers of all time and his books
have been translated into numerous
languages.
10. Beatrix Potter (1866-1943)
Beatrix Potter became one of the best
selling childrens author of all time.
Devoted to her beloved lake district, she
also donated over 4,000 acres of Lake
farmland to the National Trust.
Potter wrote 23 books. Some of her best
know titles include:
揃 The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1902)
揃 The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin (1903)
揃 The Tailor of Gloucester (1903)
揃 The Tale of Benjamin Bunny (1904)
揃 The Tale of Two Bad Mice (1904)
揃 The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle (1905)
揃 The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan
(1905)
揃 The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher (1906)
揃 The Story of A Fierce Bad Rabbit
(1906)
11. Famous Musicians
John Lennon (1940-1980)
John Lennon was a key member of the
Beatles. He went on to have a distinguished
solo career, and became an icon of the
1960s counter-culture revolution.
In 1969 the Beatles had started to split up; it
was John Lennon who was the main factor
behind this. After 1970, John Lennon
created a very successful solo career, often
with the help of his second wife, Yoko Ono.
John Lennon was shot dead in 1980, by
David Chapman an obsessed fan. The
death shocked the world, both musical and
non musical.
12. Cliff Richard (1940-still alive)
Cliff Richard is one of the UK's most durable
pop / rock stars gaining number one hits over
five decades. He has sold over 260 million
records and has achieved 14 numbers ones in
5 consecutive decades - 1950s, 1960s, 1970s,
1980s, and 1990s.
Outside of music, Cliff is involved in numerous
charities and foundations. He donates 10% of
his income to charities, preferring charities
involved research into better medical
treatment.
He has also been involved in several films, of
which, The Young Ones (1961) is perhaps
best known.
13. Bob Geldof (1951- still alive)
In 1975, Bob Geldof became the lead singer of
the Boomtown rats a punk rock band. By 1978,
they had achieved their first UK hit single Rat
Trap and later achieved a second hit with 'I
Don't like Mondays'.
In 2005, he organised a Live 8 concert,
coinciding with the Make Poverty History
campaign. He sought the co-operation of
leading G8 leaders such as Tony Blair to write
off third world debt.
He remains a powerful figurehead for
motivating Western attitudes to pay more
attention to the problems and challenges of the
poorest parts of the world.
Bob Geldof was knighted in 1986 and is often
affectionately known as 'Sir Bob'
14. Paul McCartney (1942- still alive)
Paul McCartney was a key member of the
Beatles and also pursued a very successful
solo career. According to the Guinness book of
records he is the best selling artist of all time.
After the break up of the Beatles, Paul
McCartney successful pursued a new career
path forming a new band - The Wings and also
recording many solos such as the most covered
song of all time - Yesterday. The Mull of Kintyre
performed by the Wings was the first single to
sell more than 2 million.
Paul McCartney has produced over 60 gold
discs and has sold over 100 million singles.
15. Famous Actors
Sir Alec Guinness (1914-
2000)
Alec Guinness was one of the most formidable
and versatile actors of the post war period.
Appearing in roles as diverse as Fagan in Oliver
Twist, to the greatest Ealing comedies, and to
Ben Obi Won Kenobe in Star Wars, Alec
Guinness was much loved for his commanding
performances - rich in diversity and depth of
character.
Unlike some actors, Alec Guinness was a
master of disguise. He could fit into different
characters so well, one felt one was watching a
particular character - rather than watching the
famous actor - Alec Guinness.
He was knighted in 1959 and died 5 August
2000, aged 86. He was survived by his wife and
one son.
16. Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993)
After several minor roles in films such
asThe Lavender Hill Mob, Audrey was
chosen to playGigia hit West end play. She
was given an award by the Theatre world for
best debut performance. Her first film
wasSecret People in 1952.
Although she was one of Hollywoods great
stars of the 1950s and 1960, she didnt allow
her fame to go to her head; often she would
be quite happy to stay at home with her
family. Her son wrote a moving tribute to his
mother in this books Audrey Hepburn, an
Elegant Spirit: A son remembers.
After returning from Somalia in 1992 Audrey
Hepburn developed cancer of the colon. The
disease proved to be untreatable in January
1993 she died in Switzerland aged 63.
17. Richard Attenborough (1923-still alive)
Richard Attenborough is an important and
iconic British actor, director and later film
producer. Some of his films have become
classics of British cinema and captured
the mood of the nation.
Early films of Richard Attenborough
included:
In Which We Serve (1942)
A Matter of Life and Death (1946)
Brighton Rock (1947)
Richard was knighted in 1976 and made
a life peer in 1993 as Baron
Attenborough.