Michael Gordon Oldfield (Mike Oldfield) is a Reading born composer and multi-instrumentalist who changed the world of music with his seminal album Tubular Bells, in which he played all the instruments.

Written at the age of 17, the album was the first launched by record label Virgin Records. The success of the album made the Virgin empire possible and Sir Richard Branson a British icon.

His subsequent albums informed an entire generation of composers about progressive rock, symphonic rock and other styles that span from ambient to new age as well as pop, folk and classical music.

His contributions to British music also include writing and performing for the London Olympics and the Royal Wedding.

With millions of records sold and a remarkable impact in the history of music, we suggest that Mike Oldfield should be knighted.