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England captain David Beckham is likely to become a part of our national heritage, while his wife ‘Posh Spice’ will simply become part of pop history, reveals a new report on the nation’s heritage.

The Heritage Report was commissioned by Lloyds TSB Private Banking and compiled by The Future Foundation. A fascinating insight into Brits’ views on our national heritage, it also reveals which famous figures, institutions and icons the public currently views as representative of tradition and lasting values, and those that will top the heritage league tables in 50 years’ time.

Celebrity Women

Celebrity women feature prominently in the heritage league tables. Unsurprisingly perhaps, most people (79%) believe Princess Diana made such an impact on the history and hearts of the nation that she will still remain a key part of our heritage in 50 years’ time. And while the Prince of Wales' companion Camilla Parker-Bowles is unlikely to match Diana’s standing, there is a growing recognition of her significance. More than a quarter of us (26%) believes that over the next half century she will have real ‘heritage appeal’.

In the year of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, the Royal Family will be pleased to note they top the heritage league tables – alongside William Shakespeare – with the vast majority of us (88%) considering the institution to be part of our national heritage.

Morecambe and Wise

However, being around for hundreds of years is not critical to our overall view of what heritage means. Also featuring strongly are more recent figures, such as The Beatles (76%), the 1966 England football team (63%) and comedy duo Morecambe and Wise (60%).

In fact, some age old traditions are already beginning to slide out of perception of what constitutes national heritage. While the Last Night of the Proms was voted for by 63% of the survey sample, only 43% of 18-24 year olds regarded it as a key part of heritage. And the death knell could be ringing for the bells of Morris dancers, as only 24% of respondents in the younger age group rated their heritage value – less than half of the current overall response, of 52%

The Heritage Report – the first report of its kind into British attitudes to their national heritage – is based on new research and historical data that is being made available publicly for the first time today .

David Beckham looks set to become a heritage star of the future. While the legendary 1966 England World Cup team is viewed by 63% of the nation as part of our current heritage, nearly half the population (49%) expects Posh’s hubby to score on future heritage league tables.

Comedy Legends

And while British comedians from the past are now regarded as a proud part of our heritage, the current stable are not expected to last the course. While over half of us (60%) believe comedy legends Morecambe and Wise are a part of our heritage, only 14% think Brummie comedian and chat show host Frank Skinner has got what it takes.

The report was commissioned primarily to establish which individuals or institutions are regarded as part of our current and future national heritage. The key attributes arising from the qualitative research were durability, belonging to the past, and quality. This - perhaps - accounts for The Beatles coming above The Rolling Stones in the heritage league tables. While 75% thought the 'Fab Four' should be part of national heritage, only 51% voted for The Rolling Stones. This could be because of the demise of the Liverpudlian group, but this formula fails to work for The Spice Girls, who despite Union Jack-sporting stardom in the nineties, rate as potential heritage material with only 13% of the population.

Some More Findings:

Nearly a quarter of the country thinks the national anthem should still be played at the start of films and plays (21%)

William Shakespeare and The Beatles are more part of British heritage than the Royal Family, or parliament, according to the younger population (18 – 24 year olds)

Morris dancing is struggling to maintain its heritage links, as far as the younger generation is concerned, with only one in four thinking of the hobby as being part of national heritage

Red post boxes occupy a special place in the hearts of our older generation, and are second only to the Royal Family, in the heritage league table, by 1%. Those who agree the Royal Family is part of our national heritage - 91%; and those who agree red post boxes are part of our national heritage – 90%

A high proportion of Scottish people regard the Royal Family is part of our heritage with a staggering 85% giving them the vote

The soaps look as though they are here to stay with more than a third of Britain (36%) saying they thought Eastenders would be part of national heritage in 50 years’ time

Camilla Parker Bowles is doing well in her battle to win over the affection of the nation with more than a quarter of people believing she will be part of our heritage in 50 years’ time

The nation is quite united in its views about heritage with all the regions - South West and Wales; Midlands; North England; the South East and Scotland – showing only slight percentage differences

79% 0f respondents agreed that Princess Diana would still be a part of our national heritage in 50 years time. By the time the same number of years have elapsed 41% agree Harry Potter will have the same standing and the Millennium Dome gets a 24% vote of confidence

Melanie Howard, Co-Founder of The Future Foundation, said: “There is no doubt that we have a very strong cultural heritage but what makes up heritage is actually extremely varied. Essentially our research shows that heritage is about things that have a root in the past, but which will also endure into the future. Alongside that, it is also those things and people we take to our hearts, which explains the high ranking of figures associated with tragedy such as Princess Diana and The Beatles.”

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