Proud to be British

The winners of the Morgan Stanley Great Britons Awards were announced last night at a ceremony at London's Guildhall. The entrants were nominated by the British public. There were 11 judges.

Category winners were:
THE ARTS - Dame Helen Mirren, DBE
BUSINESS - Stuart Rose
CAMPAIGNING - Laurie Pycroft
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES - Sir David Attenborough, KBE
PUBLIC LIFE - David Robinson, OBE
SCIENCE & INNOVATION - Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, KBE
SPORTS - Zara Phillips, MBE
SPECIAL ENVIRONMENT AWARD - Sir Nicholas Stern, KBE

Overall Great Briton 2006:
Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, KBE
The 57 year old professor pioneered a DNA based method of biological identification, an invaluable means of identifying criminals, errant fathers and victims of crimes and disasters. It is also crucial in the development of cloning. The techniques form the basis of the National DNA Database. A single hair is enough to provide a DNA profile.

The judges felt it would be hard to find a British scientist who has had so much impact on human life.

All the winners make one proud to be British. Information about category winners can be found in the pages of today's Telegraph.

In a week when we are commemorating the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union, without diminishing one's sense of being a Yorkshireman and an Englishman, one hopes to be able to identify oneself as British - and,without being in favour of European Union, in being European.
Without insincerity also a world citizen, a unique human being part of the family of man.