Romsey MP Sandra Gidley has pledged to fight for Hampshire heroine Florence Nightingale's place in the school's curriculum.

As reported in the Daily Echo yesterday, the Wellow-based Lady of the Lamp has been threatened with the axe from the Key Stage One National Curriculum for five to seven-year-olds. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has suggested that teachers "jaded" with the founder of modern nursing teach about 16th century female Irish pirate Grace O'Malley instead.

The Lib Dem spokesman for women, Mrs Gidley says she will launch an Early Day Motion in Parliament in a bid to save Florence Nightingale.

"What's the point in getting rid of her?" she said. "She was quite a character - not the sweet, charming, smiling individual you often hear about. You had to be a fairly feisty woman to achieve what she did during the Victorian period.

"There's a lot more to her. If teachers need a pirate to enthuse them and to enthuse their pupils, it's a really damning statement about teaching today.

"If teachers can't make Florence Nightingale exciting, they shouldn't be teaching."

Mrs Gidley will be inviting other MPs to add their names to the motion to campaign for former Embley Park resident Florence to stay in the schools' curriculum.

She added that she'd never heard of Grace O'Malley, who was twice imprisoned, and slaughtered hundreds of Spaniards in battle around 1588.

Yesterday, Romsey historian Phoebe Merrick told the Daily Echo that Florence Nightingale had made breakthroughs in nursing, and even helped design Winchester's Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

NASUWT teaching union spokesman, Ron Clooney, added that the legendary medical figure was the latest victim of political correctness.

Florence, who never married and died in 1910 aged 90, is buried at St Margaret's Church in East Wellow.

What do you think? Contact me on 023 8042 4495 or e-mail claire.moriarty@soton-echo.co.uk.