Top childhood dreams revealed as UK adults name J.K. Rowling most inspiring Brit

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The research from Learning & Work Institute was launched to highlight its launch of the 2016 Festival of Learning, an initiative designed to encourage adult learning.

According to the findings, some 86 per cent of Brits feel it is never too late to chase dreams, develop skills and switch careers – sounds like good news for the UK’s skills crisis.

J.K. Rowling, the creative mind behind the Harry Potter brand, was named the most inspiring living Brit. 

The former secretary is only too happy to tell her fans of the struggles she faced in getting her books published. Plenty of doors closed in her face as publishers failed to see the magic in her boy wizard, and other titles under her pseudonym.

By popular request, 2 of @RGalbrath‘s rejection letters! (For inspiration, not revenge, so I’ve removed signatures.) pic.twitter.com/vVoc0x6r8W

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) 25 March 2016

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Behind Rowling in second place is British astronaut Tim Peake, followed by Victoria Pendleton, the Olympic cyclist aspiring to become a jockey.

Elsewhere, the story of Eddie the Eagle, another Olympian, has been retold as aHollywood film, which may have helped the high-flying daredevil rank in at fourth.Meanwhile, Jamie Oliver, the celebrity chef-cum-political campaigner, tied in fifth place with West Ham boss Karren Brady.

It’s not the first time Brady has been named a role model – previously it was UK students that ranked her in a joint position with Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Continue reading on the next page and discover the top ten dreams UK adults had as children – sound familiar?

By Zen Terrelonge

Image: Shutterstock

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