Who Should Appear On Our Future Banknotes?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/currency/10020432/Sir-Winston-Churchill-to-appear-on-new-5-banknote.html

The idea seems good but why have we had to wait until 2016, and why include a quote from a long past speech "“I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.” ?

/// Bank of England's new £5 note in a redesign that governor Sir Mervyn King said could lead to it being redefined as "a Winston". ///

/// “Our banknotes acknowledge the life and work of great Britons. Sir Winston Churchill was a truly great British leader, orator and writer," Sir Mervyn said on Friday. ///

Get ready for 'a Maggie'

[FredPuli43]

Other countries choose great artists, so Elisabeth Frink or George Best?

What are we going to call the Churchill notes ? The Churchill seems too obvious and the Winnie, suggests a teddy bear now, rather than the great man's wartime nickname. How about the Sweaty? Yes, I know it sounds very disrespectful but I'm trying to gauge what people, Londoners in particular, will call it.

[jim360]

In about 50 years' time we may well have a Maggie. And a Blair... :O

It is a pity we've had to wait so long, but hey, I'm mainyl interested in money so I can spend it.

I'd quite like to see people like Paul Dirac on notes, since I'm of the opinion that scientists influence our lives far more than artists. Still, if we are going on the artists theme, Turner would be a good start.

[Sharingan]

Alan Turing would be a good choice- not holding my breath though.

[doctordb]

Tim berners-lee.

[jim360]

Turing - another good one. He's been so rehabilitated of late that I'd be amazed if he didn't get a look in.

On a personal note I always feel it's a shame that the "cult of Turing" has obscured everyone else who worked at Bletchley Park. Still, that's the way things go sometimes.

[Kromovaracun]

I actually quite like the Elizabeth Fry design, but Winston Churchill does make sense given his status as national icon.

[Kromovaracun]

Philip Astley, the inventor of the modern circus, might be an interesting choice, too.

[Sharingan]

Yeah but the public usually need a hook to get them interested in something and if Turing gets everyone interested in Bletchley Park then hopefully more people will learn about it because it's truly amazing

[Ellipsis]

Tommy Flowers then?

[Gromit]

Jimmy Carr.

Well, he'e everywhere else you look.

[jake-the-peg]

I don't think living people are featured on bank notes so Tim Berners-Lee will have to wait.

And we've not really had a politician before as far as I can recall whereas we've had Newton and Darwin and Churchill's an instantly recognisable face around the world so it's probably a good choice.

We'll have to wait a while for another politician to be appropriate but I'd like to see Llyod George.

He lead the country through the first world war as Churchill did the second and most importantly he was important in the parliament act that established true democracy in the UK.

[B00]

"Get ready for 'a Maggie' "

Margaret Thatcher :-)

[Wharton]

How about a crowd scene of 'Coco the Clowns' representing the British public?

[AliceTickband]

'bout time we had a Turing.

[jake-the-peg]

You know what?

After reading Turing's biography I really don't think many of us would have liked him very much!

Mind you that's much the same for Newton and he was one of the first on a bank note.

I know there's some controversy about his importance (Churchill's not immune to controversy either) But I think Alexander Flemming's got to be a short list candidate.

There ae probably few people who's work is responsible for so many of us being alive and kicking today

[FredPuli43]

Nah, Wharton, Coco himself was Russian,wasn't he ? We need a British clown as the crowd model :) Richard Hearne, "Mr Pastry", is nearest, though not an auguste like Coco.

[ST24]

Harold Wilson

[Wharton]

Boris thingummy looks like a clown but he would have to dead.....hmmm :-)