As the year moves towards a close it is natural to look back and at the Perfect Gentleman we have been sitting over a glass or two of port and a cigar and musing on the Top Ten Gentlemen on the year. It’s a list with quite a slant towards sport but in the year of the London Olympic’s that is hardly surprising.
So a few picked themselves and a few were harder to decide on but they are Gentlemen one and all!
- Bradley Wiggins
Even the French hailed him as a Gentleman when he slowed the Peleton to wait for a rival who had been sabotaged and punctured with carpet tacks. On top of that he won the Tour de France and an Olympic medal in the same year and now he’s the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2012.
- Jonathan Marray
Wimbledon men’s Doubles Winner this year having got a wild card entry to the tournament. He proved his Gentlemanly status by pointing out to the umpire that he had touched the net, conduct that is incredibly rare in today’s ultra competitive world of sport. He ended the year as World no 17 ranked doubles player. Rated by us as a genuine gent.
- James Bond
In his 50th year and still dressing stylishly, sipping Martinis and saving the world from a series of ghastly baddies. This award is for James Bond as Ian Fleming created him rather than any one specific incarnation over the years.
- Charlie Watts
As the Rolling Stones hit 50, the quiet, and impeccably Savile Row suited Drummer continues to be as stylish as he ever was.
- Hugh Bonneville
On the small screen where he plays the Robert, Earl of Grantham he typifies what the world thinks of as the Perfect Gentleman and he looks just great in white tie.
- Tom Hiddleston
From an acting family and having graduated from RADA he has risen to prominence with roles in War Horse and Avengers. He is a true self effacing British Gent with a nice line in the ‘steely eyed sneaky baddy’, an area which has been a speciality of some famous British Gentlemen from previous generations.
- Jean Dujardin
French actor, film director, producer and comedian best known for his Oscar winning role in The Artist, alongside that scene-stealing hound. He looks just dandy in black tie and proves that a Frenchman can be a Gentleman.
- Mo Farah
The quiet man of British Athletics who does his talking on the tracks. He is charming and totally unassuming and he turned out to be a winner, twice, at the London Olympics.
- Alistair Cook
England Cricket captain at 27, record century-getting batsman who just appears to get better the more pressure is piled on his young broad shoulders.
- Damian Lewis
Exceptionally dapper old Etonian actor. He is intelligent and worldly. His role in Homeland is bringing him to the attention of a whole new audience.