Exhibition pays tribute to women as public votes for heroes’ inductee
THE Wallace Monument in Stirling celebrates the life and achievements of memorable Scots who played a key role in shaping the nation’s history. Now the public is being offered the chance to vote for the first female inductee into the Hall Of Heroes.
A new exhibition was unveiled yesterday as part of its campaign to introduce the first female figurehead to the Hall of Heroes.
Officials are giving visitors the opportunity to vote for their choice as to whom will join other greats in the famous gallery including King Robert The Bruce, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Burns.
The 14-strong shortlist is a who’s who of remarkable women who have made history in the areas of Art, Culture, Sport, Science, Engineering, Medicine and Public Life.
Among them is doctor and suffragette Elsie Inglis, founder of the Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women.
Also included is Maggie Jencks, who co founded the Maggie’s Centres to help threat cancer patients across the country.
Others include Gaelic poet Mairi Mhor nan Oran; Glasgow artist Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh; folk singer, lecturer & musician Jean Redpath; and champion swimmer Nancy Riach.
Other shortlisted names are automobile engineer, racing car driver and entrepreneur Dorothee Pullinger; the first British woman marine engineer Victoria Drummond; the first female science graduate from Edinburgh University Chrystal MacMillan; and scientist, astronomer, mathematician and writer Mary Somerville (1780-1872).
Scotland’s first female archaeologist, Christian Maclagan; Second World War heroine Jane Haining; and missionary Mary Slessor complete the shortlist category.
Stuart Kerr, founder of Stuco Design said: “We purposefully placed the exhibition next to the Wallace Sword - a powerful symbol of Wallace’s fight for equality - to represent the determination and courage shown by each of the women on the shortlist who managed to achieve greatness in their time.
“The display tells the stories of the 14 remarkable women and shows visitors how they earned their place on the shortlist.” in the Public Life