Notable achievers whose efforts were not recognised

Gustav Hamel (1889-1914) – aviator

The German-born Briton flew the world’s first scheduled flight on Sept 9 1911, aged just 21, carrying mail between Hendon and Windsor, covering the 20 miles in 15 minutes.

Katherine Bradley (18461914) and Edith Cooper (1866-1913) – poets

The lovers – who were also aunt and niece – published their acclaimed verse under the pseudonym Michael Field. Their work touched on female sexuality and proved groundbreaking, although it was perhaps not fully appreciated at the time. They died within a year of each other, both of cancer.

Clara Collet (1860-1940) – economist and women’s rights activist

The researcher was a family friend of Karl Marx and his daughter, Eleanor. Collet lived across London but it was her time in the East End, during the age of Jack the Ripper, that saw her focus on “women’s work”. Her investigations concluded that many women were forced into prostitution due to a meagre income, and proposed to combat this through the introduction of a minimum wage.

Noel Griggs (1887-1941) – photographer

His striking 1934 Chimney depicting Battersea Power Station has been included in the National Media Museum’s collection of some of the most important photographs ever taken.

Sir Hugh Sinclair (18731979) – intelligence officer Dartmouth Collegeeducated Sinclair was chosen to head up MI6 after a successful career in the Royal Navy, leading to him being director of Naval Intelligence.