Features: Celebrating voices that deserve the spotlight

This is where stories come alive. Our Features hub highlights the trailblazers, changemakers, unsung heroes, and villains who have left their mark on history, culture, and the community. From global icons to local legends, we showcase individuals whose lives changed history, inspire, challenge, and uplift.

Each profile is more than a biography — it's a celebration of resilience, creativity, and impact. Whether you're discovering a revolutionary thinker, a cultural pioneer, or someone quietly changing the world, these stories remind us that greatness comes in many forms — and every voice matters.

Rosa May Billinghurst – suffragette and women’s rights activist

Lewisham’s famous women: Rosa May Billinghurst ( 1875 – 1953) Rosa May Billinghurst (commonly known as May Billinghurst) was born on 31 May 1875 at 35 Granville Park, Lewisham. She was the second …

A vote of her own

6 February 2018 marked 100 years since the Representation of the People Act 1918 – the act which allowed some women in the UK the right to vote. This was a major landmark in the history of our …

Edith Lanchester – socialist and feminist

Lewisham’s famous women: Edith Lanchester (1871-1966) Many people know of the famous Catford born actress Elsa Lanchester, but what do you know of her socialist and feminist mother, …

Clemence Dane (Winifred Ashton) – Novelist and playwright

Lewisham’s famous women: Clemence Dane (1888-1965) Clemence Dane was born Winifred Ashton on 21 February 1888 in Westcombe Park Road, Blackheath. In 1897, the family moved to 22 Westwood Hill, …

Eleanor Marx – socialist campaigner

Lewisham’s famous women: Eleanor Marx (1855 – 1898) Although commonly remembered as the daughter of Karl Marx, Eleanor Marx achieved a great deal in her own right as a feminist, a socialist, a …

Marie Lloyd – music hall star

Lewisham’s famous women: Marie Lloyd (1870-1922) Marie Lloyd is considered to be the greatest and most popular of the music hall artists. She lived for several years in Lewisham between 1887 …

Enoch Powell and the “Rivers of Blood” speech: A catalyst for racism in Britain

Enoch Powell was a prominent British politician who served in various capacities from the 1950s to the 1970s. He is, however, best remembered for his infamous “Rivers of Blood” speech …

The importance of gatekeeping in protecting Black culture

Gatekeeping is a term used to define the practice of controlling, regulating, or limiting access and admission to something. In the context of cultural preservation, gatekeeping can become a …

Understanding the fine line: Cultural appropriation vs cultural appreciation

Katy Perry recently apologised and acknowledged that she “did it wrong” regarding two separate performances where she was accused of cultural appropriation. Performing at the American …

Darcus Howe: The radical voice of Black Britain

Darcus Howe, a Trinidad-born activist, writer, and broadcaster, played a significant role in the fight for racial equality in Britain. With his roots in the Black Power movement, Howe used his …

Inspirational women: NASAs human computers

The woman who inspired me most outside of my family has to be my primary school teacher. Through her, I learned to love history and poetry and went on to discover more phenomenal women such as …

Richard the Lionheart

Richard the Lionheart, also known as Richard I of England, was a central figure of the Third Crusade and one of the most famous warriors of his time. Born on 8 September 1157, Richard was the third of …