However, with this change the only woman represented on British currency is gone. Of the 15 people (including Matthew Boulton and James Watt both on the £50 note) who have been on UK currency only two of them have been women (Florence Nightingale being the other). This seems rather unfair given the obvious contributions many British women have given to the world at large in the last century alone. I would suggest that any of the following are worthy of inclusion [1]:
Rosalind
Franklin Scientist, 1920-1958
The
unsung hero of DNA, Franklin's
X-ray images of the double helix provided the data that Francis Crick and James
Watson used to make their hypothesis on its structure. She died of ovarian
cancer at 37, just four years before the Nobel prize was claimed by her
contemporaries.
Dorothy
Hodgkin Chemist, 1910-1994
A
Nobel prize-winning chemist, Hodgkin's research into the molecular structure of
insulin has helped save millions of lives. As one of the first people to use
X-rays to determine the structure of molecules, she also confirmed the
structure of penicillin and vitamin B12 and helped pave the way for DNA
research.
Agnes
Hunt Nurse, 1867-1948
Recognised
as the first orthopaedic nurse, Hunt pioneered disability care when she opened
a convalescent home for children in Shropshire
in 1900. She received the Royal Red Cross for her nursing of soldiers during
the First World War. Her project developed into what is now The Robert Jones
and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic
Hospital.
Daphne
Jackson Physicist, 1936-1991
Britain's first
female physics professor. Had a distinguished career in nuclear, medical and
radiation physics at the University
of Surrey. Later she
worked to promote science careers to women and set up a scheme to help women
return to science after childbirth.
Amy
Johnson Aviator, 1903-1941
After
becoming the first woman to fly solo from Britain
to Australia
in 1930, the pioneering aviator went on to set a slew of long-distance flying
records. She died after going off-course in bad weather while transporting RAF
aircraft around the country for the Air Transport Auxiliary during the Second
World War.
Vera
Lynn Singer, Born 1917
The
original "Forces Sweetheart" sent messages to British troops and
performed song requests on her radio programme Sincerely Yours during
the Second World War, as well as touring overseas to perform for soldiers. Last
year, the "We'll Meet Again" singer was the oldest living artist to
top the UK
album chart.
Emmeline
Pankhurst Suffragette,
1858-1928
The
pioneer of women's rights founded the Women's Social and Political Union in
1898 and led the British suffragette movement, which in 1918 won the vote for
women over the age of 30. Although the political activist came under fire for
her militant tactics, she supported the government during the First World War.
Violette
Szabo SOE Operative,
1921-1945
Code
named "Louise", Szabo was a secret agent in the Second World War,
leading a French resistance network to sabotage bridges and communication lines
ahead of the D-Day landings. She was caught, sent to Ravensbruck concentration
camp, and executed. Posthumously awarded the George Cross.
