Shortlist for green plaque is revealed

A POET from Rothley, a Loughborough building linked to the historic Luddite attack and a nurse from the Crimean War are in the running to secure a prestigious green plaque from Leicestershire County Council.

A dozen names are on the shortlist, and the public are now invited to have their say on who the final six should be to receive a plaque. The shortlist in full is: • Former home of Heathcoat & Boden’s lace factory, Loughborough, site of the Luddite attack of 1816

• Pestilence Cottage, at Old Woodhouse, also known as the Plague Houses

• Eric Pinkett, of Loughborough, founder of Leicestershire County School of Music and Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra

• Lord Macaulay, of Rothley, historian, essayist and poet

• Ann Ayre Hely, from Ravenstone, who was a nurse during the Crimean War

• Seaman Tommy Brown, from Hinckley, awarded the George Medal during the Sec- ond World War

• Melton Drill Hall, headquarters for both the Leicestershire Yeomanry and Territorials during the First World War

• George Fox, from Fenny Drayton near Hinckley, founder of the Quaker movement

• Army captain Robert Gee, who spent his childhood in Countesthorpe, awarded the Victoria Cross during the First World War

• John Theodore Kenney, from Kibworth, who illustrated the Thomas the Tank Engine books

• William Pearson, from South Kilworth, a co-founder of the Royal Astronomical Society

• George Spencer, of Lutterworth, industrialist and benefactor.

Voting closes on July 31, 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.

Coun Pam Posnett, cabinet member for green plaques, said: “Once again 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.”