The time has come for Southwark to vote on which worthy person or place will be honoured with a Blue Plaque for 2016.
The selection of this year’s Southwark Blue Plaques nominations took place on July 12, after all the borough’s recommendations were gathered and counted by Veronica Alden, chair of the Southwark Heritage Association.
The first of four nominations went to Sir James Black OM, the Nobel Prize winning pharmacology who practised at King’s College Hospital in 1984. Black received his Nobel Prize for medicine in 1988 for the development of two major families of drugs: beta blockers, which treat coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and heart failure, and an anti-ulcer histamine.
Surrey Docks Farm has been nominated for providing a free community resource for Southwark residents of all ages, seven days per week. The farm site has a rich history, once part of a great shipyard.
Thirdly, Gertrude Lawrence was born at 6 Bath Terrace, Newington, in 1898. She is most famous for the final stage role as Anna in Roger and Hammerstein’s original production of The King and I.
The fourth nomination went to Kirkaldy’s Testing Museum in 99 Southwark Street, which set international standards in testing materials. Today, the museum preserves Kirkaldy’s unique Universal Testing Machine.
Votes for one nominee can be made by email to sha@southwark.org.uk or news@www.newsatden.co.uk or via one of the many designated voting boxes at your nearest library by September 15.