Richard Branson was born in 1950 and at age 17, while at Stowe - the famous English public school - started a student advisory service. Three years later, he founded the Virgin mail order record company and shortly afterwards opened a shop on Oxford Street, London's main shopping thoroughfare.

In 1972 a studio was built in Oxfordshire, the very one that Mike Oldfield recorded his five millions selling album "Tubular Bells."

This was to provide the catalyst for Virgin Records that went on to sign major names such as The Rolling Stones, Culture Club, Janet Jackson, Peter Gabriel, Simple Minds and The Human League - all contributing to the continued success story.