My Heroes

These are my heroes. Who are yours?

Political Heroes

Admiral Arthur Phillip - first Governor of NSW. For establishing one of the world's most successful countries from just one boat load of convicts.

Deng Xiaoping - controversial choice. Whilst Tianneman Square was not his finest hour, he was responsible for pulling one billion Chinese into the Twentieth Century

Nelson Mandela - for sticking to his principles and his conviction. For also living up to unbearable expectations on his release. For showing depth of character by pardoning his captors and almost single-handedly ending apartheid


Winston Churchill - no explanation needed. The ultimate anti-appeaser.



Lee Kuan Yew - the first and only benevolent dictator. For single handedly dragging Singapore from 3rd world to 1st world status in just one generation.

Rudy Guiliani - for being a true hero to New Yorkers during the Autumn of 2001.





Milton Friedman - for being right about everything light years ahead of his time. For championing liberty and small government.


Ayan Hirsi Ali - for courage. Immense courage. The Netherlands should for ever be shamed for forcing her exile.

Literary Heroes

Ayn Rand - author of Atlas Shrugged.

The most influential book i have ever read.

George Orwell - anti-fascist campaigner and champion of the oppressed. And author of 'Why I Write' - a tirade against the latte-Left.

Michel Houellebecq. Author of Atomised and Platform. Books that challenge the way you think.

Alexandre Dumas - author of the greatest ever work of fiction - 'The Count of Monte Cristo'.






Musical Heroes

Thom Yorke - OK Computer and The Bends are as good as music gets. Paul Weller - the Jam are from my home town, Woking. Every schoolkid wanted to be in that band.

Bono. "I've had enough of Irish Americans who haven't been back to their country in twenty or thirty years come up to me and talk about the resistence, the revolution back home. And the glory of the revolution, and the glory of dyin' for the revolution. Fuck the revolution! They don't talk about the glory of killing for the revolution. What's the glory in takin' a man from his bed and gunnin' him down in front of his wife and his children? Where's the glory in that? Where's the glory in bombing a Rememberance Day parade of old-aged pensioners, their medals taken out and polished up for the day. Where's the glory in that? To leave them dyin', or crippled for life, or dead, under the rubble of a revolution that the majority of the people of my country don't want." Stirring stuff. Love him for this alone, despite the recent move into more fashionable causes.




The songs. The man. The greatest.