Who in Southport would you nominate for a prestigious Blue Plaque?
For the first time, people in Southport can put forward nominations for the Historic England scheme – with nominations needing to be submitted by this Sunday (28th July 2024).
As the blue plaque scheme prepares to go beyond London and become national, Historic England is asking the public for nominations for the “famous” and “overlooked”.
We have many candidates in Southport, with people able to nominate via the Historic England website here.
We have many candidates including:
- Christiana Hartley, the social and welfare rights activist who was Southport’s first female Mayor and the founder of the Christiana Hartley maternity hospital
- Hollywood actor Anthony Quayle
- Former Everton, Southport and Northern Ireland Manager Billy Bingham
- Historian AJP Taylor
- Red Rum trainer Ginger McCain
- Philanthropist William Atkinson, who created landmarks including The Atkinson, Christ Church and St Peter’s Church
- Southport showman and leisure and entertainment champion Herbert Silcock Sr
- Merseybeat musician Ted ’Kingsize’ Taylor
- Ground-breaking former Southport MP Lord Ronnie Fearn
Who else would you suggest?
Historic England, the government advisory body, said that opening up nominations for the iconic ceramic signs will help “more people celebrate their heritage”.
Although there have been regional variations, the official blue plaque scheme previously only operated in London.
But in February, Daphne Steele, the first Black matron in the NHS – dubbed a “quiet revolutionary” by RCN Magazine – became the first person to be commemorated with an official blue plaque outside London. The pottery designer Clarice Cliff has also been honoured, in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
Historic England says it is “looking for nominations for people who have made an exceptional impact in their field, community or wider society”.
They added: “This is your opportunity to suggest someone you feel should be honoured with a national blue plaque.
“The scheme is open for nominations from across England (excluding Greater London, as English Heritage run the blue plaque scheme in the capital).
Who to nominate
“We are looking for nominations for people who have made an exceptional impact in their field, community or wider society. They do not have to be famous or currently well-known, but they do need to fit with our overall aims and criteria for the scheme.”
The key criteria include:
- At least 20 years must have passed since the candidate’s death
- They must have made a significant contribution to human welfare or happiness; and/or to have made an exceptional impact in their field, community or on society at large
- At least 1 building in England associated with the figure must survive in a form that the commemorated person would have recognised, and it must be visible from the public highway
Historic England is are seeking nominations of people from all walks of life, throughout history. Your nomination could help raise the profile of individuals who have achieved great things and deserve to be better known.
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