Blue plaque voting

To vote, email the name your icon, from the shortlist below, in the subject line to vote4icons@southwark.gov.uk.

The deadline for nominations is August 31 2010

Dr Alfred Salter

1873 to 1945
Established the Solarium in Bermondsey

Alfred Salter was born and educated in Greenwich, studied medicine at Guy's Hospital, London, qualifying in 1896, and was awarded the Golding-Bird gold medal and scholarship in public health, and the Gull research scholarship in pathology.

In 1900 he married Ada Brown and in the same year established, along with his wife, his own medical practice treating the local, working class people of Bermondsey, offering his services free of charge for those unable to pay.  

Anne Winifrede O'Reilly

1891 to 1963
Worked in Camberwell, tutoring non evacuated children during the war

In 1939 Anne O'Reilly returned to teaching, organising home tuition in Camberwell for children who had not been evacuated during the war. She was in charge of Peckham Central School in 1940, where she spent six years and pushed through the introduction of International Studies into the curriculum (bringing together English, Geography, Art, Literature, and Music) and a more comprehensive approach to education. 

O'Reilly then went on to volunteer for the Camberwell Youth Committee, Londoner's Meals Service Centres, known as 'British Restaurants', providing food for those affected by the bombing, delivering food to over 3,000 across south London. Her contributions to the war effort were recognised and she received an OBE in 1942.

As Principal at Walworth School in 1947, Anne O'Reilly managed one of the first comprehensive, mixed-gender schools and was a legendary figure to many families in Southwark, and held the post with distinction until her retirement in 1955.  

James Peters

1879 to 1954
First black rugby union player for England, stayed at Fegan's orphanage in Southwark

Born in Lancashire, Peters, known as "Darkie Peters", was the first black man to play rugby union for England. In his career Peters played for Bristol Rugby Club, and rugby union for Devon. While at Devon Peters was forced to sit out of games against the South African team as the players refused to play against a black man. Subsequently Peters did not play another game for the England team and was eventually forced out of rugby union in 1912. At 34 Peter returned to the North West of England to play rugby league, playing for Barrow in 1913 and St. Helens in 1914.

Leslie Illingworth

1902 to 1979
Second World War and satirical cartoonist, lived in Dulwich Village

Leslie Illingworth started his career as a cartoonist, depicting the events of the Second World War, working for the Western Mail, Daily Mail and later for Punch Magazine, as chief cartoonist, where his work took more of a satirical approach.

A collection of Illingworth's work can be found at the National Library.

Lt. Col. Robert Rogers

1731 to 1795
Soldier and explorer and commander of 'Roger's Rangers' in the American colonies, lived and buried in Southwark

Lt. Col. Robert Rogers, was a British soldier who won his fame in North America during the Seven Years' War (1756-63) and who founded and commanded a renowned regiment of Rangers.  He also fought later in the American War of Independence.  He is looked upon as a founding father by the American Rangers and so managed to be a British and an American hero.

Rogers lived in Southwark in his later years and is buried in St. Mary Newington Churchyard at the Elephant and Castle.

Anthony James Leggett KBE, FRS

Born 1938 
Camberwell born, 2003 winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics

Known as a world leader and pioneer for his theory of low-temperature physics, shaping the understanding of normal and superfluid helium liquids, and strongly coupled superfluids. Leggett set directions for research in the quantum physics of macroscopic dissipative systems and use of condensed systems to test the foundations of quantum mechanics.

His awards include the Maxwell Medal and Prize in 1975, the Paul Dirac Medal in 1992; Nobel Prize in Physics in 2003, and the Wolf Prize in Physics in 2002/03.

Harrison Weir

1824 to 1906
Artist, lived in Peckham Rye and educated at Albany Academy in Camberwell

Harrison Weir, English gentleman, artist, and 'The Father of the Cat Fancy', organized the first cat show in England, in the Crystal Palace, London, in 1871. Born in Sussex, Weir started his career drawing illustrations of wildlife for Illustrated London New in 1842. In 1889 Weir produced his first book, 'Our Cat and All About Them' describing and illustrating the pedigree cats of the time.

John Lawson Johnston

1839 to 1900
Creator of Bovril and lived in Bovril Castle (Kingswood House, Dulwich)

John Lawson Johnston created Johnston's Fluid Beef in Canada, 1874. He sold the businesses in 1880 moved back to England, and lived in Bovril Castle where he developed the Bovril brand further. Johnston sold the company in 1896 for £2 million.

John Ruskin

1819 to 1900
Author, artist and poet, lived in Camberwell for many years from 1843

John Ruskin was a British art critic and social thinker, author, poet and artist. Lived in Camberwell for 21 years.

Martin Ruane

1946 to 1998
Camberwell-born renowned British wrestler known as Giant Haystacks, Loch Ness, and The Loch Ness Monster

Camberwell born, Martin Ruane, weighing over 48 stone was better known around the world as professional British wrestler Giant Haystacks.

He began his career in 1967 and in the 1970's was a household name, along other well-know wrestlers such as Big Daddy. In 1995 Ruane move to the USA to further his career but in 1998 Ruane died of cancer.

Michael Croft's National Youth Theatre 

Founded 1956
Alleyn's School, Dulwich, London

The National Youth Theatre was founded by Michael Croft in 1956. The National Youth Theatre set out to provide the opportunity for young people to use the creative medium of the arts for social and personal development.

Members of the National Youth Theatre alumni include Orlando Bloom, Liza Tarbuck, Sophie Ellis Bexter, Michael Kitchen, Sir Ben Kingsley, Helen Mirren, and Sir Derek Jacobi

Dame Muriel Spark DBE

1918 to 2006
Famous writer who lived in Camberwell from 1955 to 1965

Muriel Spark's well known books are The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The Ballad of Peckham Rye, The Comforters, Robinson, Memento Mori, and The Bachelors. They were written during the time she lived in Camberwell.

Spark received in 1965 a James Tait Memorial Prize; 1992 a US Ingersoll Foundation TS Eliot Award; in 1997 a David Cohen Prize; shortlisted twice for the Booker Prize in 1969 and 1981. In 1993 she became Dame Muriel Spark DBE (Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire).

Sir Alexander Paterson

1884 to 1947
Prison reformer, who lived in Bermondsey for 21 years and after whom Paterson Park is named

Following his graduation from Oxford University, Paterson moved to Bermondsey to join the Oxford Medical Mission, working with young under privileged youth in the area. He spent 21 years in Bermondsey and during this time wrote several books including Across the Bridges. 

Paterson served in the British Army during World War I, reaching the rank of Captain and receiving a Military Cross. In 1922, he was appointed Commissioner of Prisons and Director of Convict Prisons, a position he held until his retirement in 1946. He was knighted in 1947 and died shortly afterwards in London at the age of 62. 

The Pumphouse Museum and Educational Trust

Pumphouse for the Surrey Docks built in 1929, later used as Rotherhithe's heritage museum

The Pumphouse Museum and Educational Trust is home to Roman artefacts to present day finds that give insight into the lives and history of one of London's oldest villages, Rotherhithe. One of the main attractions of the museum is the replica wedding cake for Queen Elizabeth, designed and iced by Peek Freans.