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.
Cavell broke the rules, so that would make her eminently suitable to appear on a bank note. On the other hand, she paid the penalty for it, which bankers do not.
Strictly based on my own loose morals and lust it would be Sarah, the former Duchess of York (she is, after all, where the crown is concerned, "Wallis-dead" already)... but, from a logical point of view it would have to be Virginia Woolf .... if for no other reason than refuting Pink Floyd's theory that "Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way.". Yeah, a pocketful of rocks really is quite right.
Though I like the quote, please not her, I've had it up to (points to upper- lip) here with Virginia. As it's exactly a half century since the Profumo affair, I nominate Christine Keeler.