Woman On Banknote

[FredPuli43]

The Bank of England is considering which woman to have on a banknote, a proposal not advanced further by Mervyn King saying that we have one already, the Queen!

Who would you have? She must be dead and not controversial. I propose Mrs Pankhurst, whose campaign was violent , thus controversial, but that fact is now overlooked. Mary Seacole has, of course, been suggested, but I feel that, although acknowledged in her own time, she is primarily supported now because she is something of an icon simply because she happened to be black. That does not strike me as a valid reason, however desirable.

[FredPuli43]

OG, setting fire to the Prime Minister's house, might be seen as fair comment now! Not so sure about burning cricket pavilions and a church though, but Mrs Pankhurst is now revered and such embarrassments get forgotten

[emmie]

she fought for emancipation of women, that is an estimable feat in my book.

[Khandro]

Why does it have to be a woman, more tokenism? The Swiss have Alberto Giacometti on one of their's, why not an artist?

[emmie]

it's not tokenism, i think the only one apart from the Queen has been Elizabeth Fry, and that is the one they are replacing.

[emmie]

and Florence Nightingale, all the rest as far as i know have been men, so hardly tokenism

[Sir Alec]

Thanks to em for suggesting Amy Johnson. She was my granddad's cousin. It would be lovely to see a distant relative on a note!

[emmie]

i think it would be a splendid choice.

[FredPuli43]

Or a female artist? Mabel Lucie Attwell wouldn't be controversial and we could have one of her twee verses underneath her picture.

[emmie]

why would it matter if they were a little controversial, surely no one is so good all their lives,

[jno]

Beryl Cook

[jake-the-peg]

Dorothy Hodgkin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Hodgkin

[whiskeryron]

// Margaret Thatcher would be good,
a symbol of Strength over Adversity.//

You have got to be kidding right ?

WR.

[whiskeryron]

// Mmmm.... if the value was quite low, say a ½p banknote, Maggie could be an option. I could put up a hook in the bathroom. //

Like it OG. Lol.

WR.

[whiskeryron]

If the choice is not to be a female can I suggest Guy Fawkes posing outside No 10.

WR.

[bazwillrun]

Edith Sitwell

[FredPuli43]

Yes, Edith Sitwell was certainly distinctive to look at. No forger would dare try to reproduce that nose. What memorable poetry did she write? Christies have her picture by the gents' bog. Never understood whether that was some criticism.

[mikey4444]

Barney has said it all !

[jno]

the Duke of Wellington was at least as divisive a prime minister as Thatcher, and he's been on a note. On the other hand, they waited 120 years after his death before putting him there, so they should do the same for Thatcher.

[mushroom25]

Edith Cavell.

[FredPuli43]

Edith Cavell, brought low by treachery. A perfect symbol for the pound and the economy!