10 inspirational women who came from Portsmouth

As a Nursing Officer for Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC), Diana helped train midwives and became an examiner of the Central Midwives Board. She was later promoted to colonel, and finally to Colonel Commandant. She was also awarded the Royal Red Cross, given to those who have shown exceptional services in military nursing.

Hertha was an engineer, mathematician, physicist and inventor. She was awarded the Hughes Medal - recognising original discoveries in physical science - by the Royal Society for her work on electric arcs and ripples in sand and water.

Emma is a world champion player of English billiards, and has also excelled in snooker. She reached three Ladies World Snooker Championship finals between 2006 and 2015, but has yet to win the coveted title.

Marjorie Bowen was an author who wrote historical romances, supernatural horror stories and biography. Her total works include more than 150 volumes, and her books are particularly sought after and revered by aficionados of gothic horror.

As a model Marilyn Cole became Playboy magazine's first full-frontal nude centrefold. She was also named the magazine's January 1972 Playmate of the Month and the 1973 Playmate of the Year - the only Briton to hold that title.

Having attended Portsmouth High School, Samantha came into the limelight when she took part in the 2008-09 single-handed circumnavigation yacht race Vendee Globe, where she came fourth. In 2009 she was named the YJA (Yachting Journalists Association) Yachtsman of the year.

As an author Michelle is best known for her first novel Goodnight Mister Tom, which won the 1982 Guardian Prize for British children's books. The book has since been adapted several times for stage or screen. Two of her other popular works are Back Home and A Little Love Song.

Alison is a film producer, whose credits include Elizabeth (1998), Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Saving Mr. Banks (2013). She also has three children, including pop singer Lily Allen and actor Alfie Allen.

Katy is a former Olympic swimmer representing Great Britain. In 2003 she became the British swimmer to win a World Championship title when she won the women's 200m backstroke. A year later she was given an MBE for services to swimming.

Beatrice, known as 'Tilly', was an aeronautical engineer and motor racer. During World War II she invented 'Miss Shilling's orifice', a fix for the Rolls-Royce Merlin engines of the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire fighters, which could lose power or even completely cut out during certain manoeuvres.