Olympic 'Lord of the Rings' Coe named Greatest Briton of 2005

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2006

LONDON (AFP) — Lord Sebastian Coe, the former Olympic champion who masterminded London's successful bid for the 2012 Games, was named as the Great Briton of 2005 at a ceremony.

Coe won the public vote, beating off competition from seven other category winners at the glitzy bash at The Guildhall in London.

Round-the-world yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur won the sport category, beating off England cricket hero Andrew Flintoff. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver was rewarded for his battle for better school dinners in the campaigning bracket.

Animator Nick Park, creator of modelling-clay film stars Wallace and Gromit, won the creative industries gong, while Carphone Warehouse mobile phone store founder Charles Dunstone scooped the business prize.

Author Alan...