One of the world’s most famous names in travel, a celebrated astronomer and a champion heavyweight boxer are all in the running to secure a prestigious green plaque from us.
A dozen names in total are now on the shortlist announced today (18 June) and the general public are now invited to have their say on who the final six should be to receive a plaque.
The list includes Thomas Cook, founder of the worldwide travel agency Thomas Cook and Son; 17th-century astrologer and author William Lilly; boxer Jack Gardner, who was crowned heavyweight champion of Great Britain; and World War I hero Captain Robert Gee.
Other notable names in the list include women’s rights campaigners and sisters Kathleen and Nora Corcoran, from Loughborough, and George Fox, from Fenny Drayton, founder of the Quaker movement.
Voting closes on 30 July and the six finalists will then be announced shortly afterwards. People can vote for up to six favourites online at www.leicestershire.gov.uk/greenplaques or by requesting a postal form on 0116 305 4112.
This is the fifth round of the green plaque scheme but the nominations keep coming, which shows just how many well-known people and places have called Leicestershire home over the centuries.
"Our judges had a tough job selecting the final 12, but they’ve come up with an exciting and varied shortlist. I hope people will again get behind their favourites and vote for them.
Person:Councillor Louise Richardson, cabinet member for green plaques
The full shortlist is:
- Thomas Cook, from Loughborough, innovator of the conducted tour and founder of worldwide travel agency Thomas Cook and Son;
- Captain Robert Gee, from Countesthorpe, awarded the Victoria Cross medal during the First World War after single-handedly attacking a German machine gun post;
- Jack Gardner, from Market Harborough, crowned heavyweight boxing champion of Great Britain in 1950;
- Sisters Kathleen and Nora Corcoran, from Loughborough, prominent figures in the Leicestershire suffragette movement;
- 17th-century astrologer and author William Lilly, from Diseworth;
- George Fox, from Fenny Drayton, founder of the Quaker movement;
- Royalist commander Lord Loughborough, from Ashby-de-la-Zouch, who played a crucial role in how the English Civil War was fought in the Midlands;
- Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay, a historian, essayist, poet and politician from Rothley;
- Eric Pinkett, from Barrow-upon-Soar, founder of Leicestershire County School of Music and Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra;
- Arthur Newberry Choyce, from Hugglescote, a First World War poet;
- Author John Nichols, from Hinckley, compiled and published the most authoritative history of Leicestershire ever written;
Colonel John Cridland Barrett, who was based at Glen Parva Barracks, awarded the Victoria Cross medal for his bravery in the First World War.