Have your say on the Leicestershire Green Plaque Awards

William Railton, who designed Nelson’s Column and Beaumanor Hall, has been nominated.

Time is running out for members of the public to cast their votes to decide on the people and places which will be honoured with a Green Plaque Award.

The award honours people and places which have contributed to their communities and wider society.

A total of 32 nominations were received from around the county, which were narrowed down to a shortlist of 12 by a panel of judges.

You have until the 24th of October to have your say.

The nominees are:

• Lt Col Philip Eric Bent VC DSO, attended school in Ashby-de-la-Zouch. He was awarded the Victoria Cross during the First World War;
• Sgt Herbert Ernest Black RAFVR, Second World War fighter pilot from Measham;
• Samuel Swinfen Burdett, philanthropist and member of US Congress from Broughton Astley;
• Frances Elizabeth Deacon from Fleckney. She was the first woman to pass the qualifying exam to become a pharmacist;
• George Fox from Fenny Drayton who founded the Quaker Movement;
• William Lilly, astrologer and author who was born in Diseworth;
• Regt Sgt Major Thomas Meredith DCM from Wigston Magna. He was a member of the Royal Leicestershire Regiment and WWII prisoner of war;
• Military Stables at the Defence Animal Training Unit, Melton;
• The Pound, an historic site in Countesthorpe where stray animals were kept;
• William Railton, architect who designed Nelson’s Column and many Leicestershire landmarks including Beaumanor Hall in Woodhouse;
• Theodora Salusbury, Arts & Crafts stained glass artist who designed stained glass windows in churches across Leicestershire;
• Count Louis Zborowski, racing driver and engineer who lived for a time in Melton Mowbray.