With the London scheme poised to go national, Observer writers make their cases for a few of the many overlooked, snubbed or merely forgotten figures who richly deserve recognition
The London blue plaques scheme, which commemorates the places where notable people lived or worked, is the oldest of its kind. Now it’s to be made national. While many cities and communities already have their own system of plaques or memorials to celebrate local history, it’s still an achievement to receive national recognition. So our writers have picked overlooked figures, local heroes and important locations that they think should be recognised as part of British cultural history.