The “Great Britons”

Back in 1972, at the height of promotions on the forecourt, Shell launched a “Great Britons” giveaway at their UK Petrol stations. 20 Postcard size prints could be collected with Shell petrol and kept in an album. The 20 Britons were chosen by the Historian Sir Arthur Bryant. This is who he chose:

• Alfred the Great
• Henry VIII
• Elizabeth I
• Geoffrey Chaucer
• Queen Victoria
• Sir Winston Churchill
• George Stephenson
• Sir Edward Elgar
• Sir Christopher Wren
• Isambard Kingdom Brunel
• John Churchill (First Duke of Marlborough)
• Florence Nightingale
• Horatio Nelson
• Captain Cook
• Oliver Cromwell
• William Shakespeare
• Duke of Wellington
• Scott of the Antarctic
• Sir Francis Drake
• Sir Isaac Newton

An interesting list. I don't think Elgar would feature on many such lists although personally I'm delighted to see him there. Other questionable choices are Marlborough and Scott and perhaps Captain Cook. Churchill aside there are no politicians (of the modern sort that is!). But logical choices otherwise ?