There’s only one week left to cast your vote for this year’s Southwark Blue Plaques scheme.
Seven potential winners have been selected after a public nomination process earlier this year, and the deadline for votes is September 15.
More than 50 of the borough’s best loved people and places of old have been recipients from the scheme, run in association between Southwark Heritage Association, Southwark Council and the News.
Past winners include Sir Michael Caine, Sam King, Charlie Chaplain and Robert Browning. To cast a vote, you can email owen@southwarknews.co.uk or admin@southwark.org.uk.
This year’s nominees include:
Thomas Middleton
Middleton wrote seven masterpieces, covering all four genres of dramas and was only matched as a playwright by his contemporary Shakespeare.
He was born in the City of London in 1580 and lived at Newington Butts from 1603. He died in 1627 and was buried in St Mary’s Newington church.
Kennington Theatre
Once host to plays, musical comedies, and musical hall events in Kennington Park Place.
The Theatre suffered bomb damage in WW2 and was demolished to make way for the Kennington Park House flats which stand in its place.
Eric Allendale Dubuisson
Born in the West Indies, Eric was invited to join Motown-inspired The Foundations as trombone player in the 1960s.
The Foundations are recognised as one of the original UK multicultural bands, and achieved chart success in England, the US and Canada.
In the 1970s Eric and his partner owned a shop at 38 Peckham Rye. He also lived in Hollydale Road, Peckham Hill Street and St Mary’s Road.
Half Moon pub
The historic Half Moon pub in Herne Hill was nominated for its connection to Welsh poet and author Dylan Thomas, who drank there regularly.
And for its proximity to Milkwood Road, believed to have inspired Thomas’ famous work, Under Milk Wood.
Mayflower Inn
Formerly the Spread Eagle (1550), this pub had connections to the famous Mayflower ship that transported the Pilgrims to settle America in 1620.
The ship’s captain Christopher Jones is said to have part-owned the Inn at the time.
Sir James Black OM
Black won a Nobel Prize in 1988 for developing two landmark anti-ulcer drugs and Beta blockers.
He spent his later years working at laboratories in Half Moon Lane, which after his death were repurposed by Judith Kerr Primary School.
Southwark Charities
An organisation with a history spanning almost 400 years. Forty seven charities over this time have been formed with the aim of helping the poor of the borough, and these were brought under the Southwark Charities umbrella in 2010. One such significant charity celebrating its 300th anniversary this year was founded by Edward Edwards in 1717, who set up Alms houses in Nicholson Street, SE1.