Tweet
Press Association Mediapoint, UK
June 16, 2013 Sunday 12:01 AM BST
SIGMUND FREUD TOPS REFUGEE POLL
by Lucy Bogustawski, Press Association
Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud has been voted the refugee who has
made the most significant contribution to British life.
The founder of psychoanalysis, who created an entirely new approach to
the understanding of the human personality, came top of the national
poll with 50% of votes.
Freud fled to the UK to escape Nazi persecution. He is regarded as one
of the most influential - and controversial - minds of the 20th
century.
He was followed by German physicist Max Born, who gained 21% of votes.
Born was awarded a Nobel Prize for his contribution to the development
of quantum mechanics.
One in ten respondents (10%) cited the French refugee and writer of
Les Miserables, Victor Hugo, who settled in the UK after fleeing
persecution from Napoleon, as their first choice from a list of
prominent refugees who have made a contribution to science and
technology, the arts, culture and sport over the years.
The Britain Thinks' poll coincides with the launch of Refugee Week
2013, a nationwide festival of events to celebrate the positive
contribution that refugees have made to British society over the
centuries under the theme Our History and Heritage.
More than 2,000 people who took part in the survey also thought that
radar, developed in part by the Austrian scientist and refugee Hermann
Bondi, was one of the 20th century inventions that had made the
greatest contribution to British life.
The nation's long standing affection for fish and chips as a popular
national dish, first introduced to the UK by French Protestant
refugees and Jewish settlers from Portugal, received 17% of the vote
followed closely by the high street department store M&S, co-founded
by Russian refugee Michael Marks (11%).
An overwhelming majority (94%) believed that the full history of
Britain, including the role the country has played in protecting
refugees, should be taught in schools.
Chairman of Refugee Week Maurice Wren said: ``From as early as the
arrival of the Armenians who settled in this country during the 12th
century, the UK has enjoyed a proud tradition of welcome for those
seeking sanctuary.
``The results of the survey show the valuable contribution that
refugees have made to British history and heritage.
``It is interesting to see that the great British public consistently
rank science and technology inventions more highly than the equally
positive contributions to British cultural and sporting life made more
recently by refugees.'
Contemporary refugee figures such as Fabrice Muamba, the former Bolton
footballer who fled the Democratic Republic of Congo as a child, and
Rita Ora, the Kosovan singer-songwriter managed by rapper Jay-Z who
moved to the UK with her family during the 1990s Balkan conflict, also
featured in the survey, polling six and four per cent respectively.
Mr Wren added: ``Throughout the centuries, refugees have brought a
wealth of talent, skills and knowledge with them to help make the UK
the rich, diverse, and vibrant nation it is today.''
Now in its 15th year, Refugee Week, which runs from June 17 to 23, has
launched an online interactive timeline which charts refugee movements
to the UK throughout the centuries.
For more information visit www.refugeeweektimeline.org.uk.
June 16, 2013 Sunday 12:01 AM BST
SIGMUND FREUD TOPS REFUGEE POLL
by Lucy Bogustawski, Press Association
Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud has been voted the refugee who has
made the most significant contribution to British life.
The founder of psychoanalysis, who created an entirely new approach to
the understanding of the human personality, came top of the national
poll with 50% of votes.
Freud fled to the UK to escape Nazi persecution. He is regarded as one
of the most influential - and controversial - minds of the 20th
century.
He was followed by German physicist Max Born, who gained 21% of votes.
Born was awarded a Nobel Prize for his contribution to the development
of quantum mechanics.
One in ten respondents (10%) cited the French refugee and writer of
Les Miserables, Victor Hugo, who settled in the UK after fleeing
persecution from Napoleon, as their first choice from a list of
prominent refugees who have made a contribution to science and
technology, the arts, culture and sport over the years.
The Britain Thinks' poll coincides with the launch of Refugee Week
2013, a nationwide festival of events to celebrate the positive
contribution that refugees have made to British society over the
centuries under the theme Our History and Heritage.
More than 2,000 people who took part in the survey also thought that
radar, developed in part by the Austrian scientist and refugee Hermann
Bondi, was one of the 20th century inventions that had made the
greatest contribution to British life.
The nation's long standing affection for fish and chips as a popular
national dish, first introduced to the UK by French Protestant
refugees and Jewish settlers from Portugal, received 17% of the vote
followed closely by the high street department store M&S, co-founded
by Russian refugee Michael Marks (11%).
An overwhelming majority (94%) believed that the full history of
Britain, including the role the country has played in protecting
refugees, should be taught in schools.
Chairman of Refugee Week Maurice Wren said: ``From as early as the
arrival of the Armenians who settled in this country during the 12th
century, the UK has enjoyed a proud tradition of welcome for those
seeking sanctuary.
``The results of the survey show the valuable contribution that
refugees have made to British history and heritage.
``It is interesting to see that the great British public consistently
rank science and technology inventions more highly than the equally
positive contributions to British cultural and sporting life made more
recently by refugees.'
Contemporary refugee figures such as Fabrice Muamba, the former Bolton
footballer who fled the Democratic Republic of Congo as a child, and
Rita Ora, the Kosovan singer-songwriter managed by rapper Jay-Z who
moved to the UK with her family during the 1990s Balkan conflict, also
featured in the survey, polling six and four per cent respectively.
Mr Wren added: ``Throughout the centuries, refugees have brought a
wealth of talent, skills and knowledge with them to help make the UK
the rich, diverse, and vibrant nation it is today.''
Now in its 15th year, Refugee Week, which runs from June 17 to 23, has
launched an online interactive timeline which charts refugee movements
to the UK throughout the centuries.
For more information visit www.refugeeweektimeline.org.uk.