Blue Plaque 2007 finalists announced

Southwark Council's 2007 blue plaque campaign, supported by the Southwark News, is in its sixth year and is designed to pay homage to the borough's famous and worthy sons and daughters, places and events.

It is understood to be the only scheme in the country that asks the public to decide who should be recognised. Each year it attracts thousands of votes from Southwark people, Londoners and beyond.

Previous blue plaque recipients have included Michael Caine, Rio Ferdinand and the Peek Frean's biscuit factory. The plaques are placed in locations significant to the person or place within Southwark.

2007 Short list:

Edward Turner (1901 – 1973). Motorcycle designer and managing director of Triumph Motorcycles.

John Thomas Trunley - The Fat Boy of Peckham (1898 – 1944). Local celebrity and businessman. Known for his rotund shape – weighing 12 stone by the age of six.

Bert Hardy (1913 – 1995). Widely respected photographer, well known for his work for Picture Post during the Blitz and local photos of the Elephant and Castle.

Sir Henry Cooper (b. 1934). Heavy weight boxing champion. He won 40 of the 55 fights during his 12 year career. Retained the British champion title for 12 years.

John Harvard (1607 – 1638). Born in Southwark and migrated to New England where he founded Harvard University.

Sir Robert Hunter (1844 – 1913). Co-founder and first chairman of the National Trust.

Rotherhithe Picture Research library and Sands Film Studios. Established in 1976 the film studio is best-known for the making of Little Dorritt in 1988.

Anne Shelton (1928 – 1994). A popular singer during World War Two, particularly with the RAF. Awarded an OBE in 1990.

Clubland. Pioneering Methodist youth clubs set up by the Reverend James Butterworth. The clubs gained support from celebrities all over the world, including Bob Hope and Bobby Kennedy.

Samuel Jones and Co. Ltd. Peckham. A celebrated maker of stationary and other products. Well known for its company icon of a Camberwell Beauty butterfly.

Ida Lupino (1918 – 1995). A film star before becoming one of the first woman directors in Hollywood.

Cllr Lorraine Zuleta, executive member for culture, leisure and sport, said:

"People in Southwark love the fact that we make the effort to recognise and celebrate people from all walks of life in this campaign. Our borough is proud of its heritage and the people that make it the vibrant and diverse place it is."

Voting closes in February 2008.