McCartney's music a legacy for Britons

Published on Monday 3 March 2008 21:12

FORMER Beatle Sir Paul McCartney, chef Jamie Oliver and footballer David Beckham head a list of 21st-century Britons whose legacies will be remembered most by future generations.

Sir Paul was named the celebrity who people believe will have the most impact on people in years to come, followed by Oliver and Beckham.

One in three people said Sir Paul would be remembered not only for his music, but also for founding his music academy in Liverpool.

Oliver came second in the poll for his work bringing healthy eating in schools into the limelight, while Beckham finished a close third with nearly one in five people saying he will be remembered for his football academy.

The former Beatle's ex-wife, Heather Mills – who received a multi-million-pound divorce settlement last week – fared less well with the public.

Just 2 per cent of the 2,000 people polled said she would be remembered for her charity work by future generations.

Model Jordan – real named Katie Price – fared worst of all, with just 1 per cent of respondents saying she would go down in history despite her books, topless glamour shots, reality TV shows and marriage to singer Peter Andre.

The research showed that, despite the nation's obsession with celebrities and money, most would rather be remembered for having a positive impact on people's lives or passing on their knowledge, than for being rich and famous.

When asked to think about what they would most like to be remembered for, six in ten Britons said having a positive influence on someone's life was far more important than fame or fortune.

Passing on knowledge was a key priority for one in ten Britons, compared with just 1 per cent who said they wanted to be known by future generations for being rich.