Great and the good . . .

LAST YEAR, millions of people across the country racked their brains to decide who were the ten Great Britons of all time.

Now the search is on to find one person to be awarded the honour of being called the greatest southerner.

BBC South has been running its Great Southerner competiton this month, and the winner will be announced on Monday.

They received hundreds of nominations from Radio Solent listeners and the leading five formed a shortlist.

Each of the finalists have strong links to the south, either by way of birth, or because their work and achievements took place in this region.

Only one is alive and able to speak for himself, but all have someone fighting their corner to convince you that theirs is the Greatest Southerner.

Producer Helena Harland said: "We have had a tremendous amount of interest." Here Nathalie Snuggs profile the five who have been chosen and looks at who has been left out.

Jane Austen (1775-1817)

As the Hampshire-born novelist who brought us Mr Darcy (and thus Colin Firth), in Pride And Prejudice, Jane Austen is already a strong contender in the eyes of many women.

The fact that her novels are still enjoyed over 200 years after they were written, is testament to the quality and popularity of her work.

Tom Carpenter is a trustee of the Jane Austen House in Chawton and, in his opinion, she deserves the acclaim.

"Jane Austen is huge fun," he pointed out. "With her, you get two for one. You get a highly accurate sociological picture of English life at that time, along with wonderful stories full of romance, drama and comedy.

"Her novels appeal to modern audiences with little need for change."

This timelessness is borne out by the popularity of modern adaptations of her work, including Pride And Prejudice, Sense And Sensibility, and Clueless, adapted from Emma.

It was her brilliant use of English that made this possible, insisted Tom. "She used language amazingly powerfully, hitting the target every time.

Tom sums up Jane Austen's case best with this quote from Northanger Abbey: "The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid."

ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL (1806-1859)

When Isambard Kingdom Brunel died at the relatively young age of 53, he left behind an extraordinary engineering legacy.

Born in Portsmouth in 1806, he followed in his French father's footsteps to become one of the most influential figures of the industrial revolution.

Dr Stuart Moy, director of education at the School of Civil Engineering and the Environment at the University of Southampton, said: "Brunel was miles ahead of his time and had the strength of character to ignore detractors and prove them wrong.

"He was told that the Maidenhead Bridge, which would form part of the Great Western Railway, was impossible to build and would collapse. It's still standing."

Dr Moy believes that although Brunel's genius lay first and foremost in design, it was his drive and determination that made him great:

He added: "He had the vision and strength of purpose not just to design things, but to carry them out too. That is what made him outstanding."

Matt Le Tissier (1968- )

When footballing legend, Matt Le Tissier scored the first of his 209 goals for Southampton in 1986, it was clear that there was something special about the man whose silky-smooth ball-skills led him to be christened "Le God" by adoring fans.

Nevertheless, few could have predicted that 18 years later, he would be competing for the title of Greatest Southerner.

But his unswerving loyalty to Saints, despite numerous offers from perhaps more glamorous clubs, coupled with his deserved reputation as a genuinely nice guy, earned him a place in the final five.

At first, he did not know what to make of it:

"When I first heard, I was very surprised.

"But once I got over the shock of it all, I was proud to have been nominated.

"But there are people on that list who I don't think I really deserve to be next to," said Matt.

"I don't think my chances are particularly great, to be honest, and I wouldn't be upset to lose out to anyone on the list," he added.

Matt may not feel worthy of being in such illustrious company, but someone who believes he is, is the chairman of the Southampton Independent Supporters' Association, Nick Illingsworth.

"Matt didn't build bridges, lay the foundations for modern day healthcare, or write wonderful books.

"But what he has done is bring happiness to a lot of people in the south, both as a great footballer, and with his charity work.

"He put Saints back on the world map and single-handedly kept them in the Premiership, bringing hope at a time when there wasn't a lot to smile about."

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE (1820-1910)

When a Japanese nursing student visited Pat Morgan's home in West Wellow, in Hampshire recently, Pat mentioned that Florence Nightingale was buried at the church down the road.

The girl was overwhelmed and went to pay her respects to the woman whose work laid the foundations for modern nursing, and who had been an inspiration to her and her fellow students in Japan.

"Florence Nightingale was a woman ahead of her time, whose legacy lives on around the world," said Pat, who is secretary of the Wellow History Society.

"I wish we had her around today. I am sure she would have found ways around the problems in healthcare that we are now experiencing."

Florence's work transformed nursing, from a profession carried out by 'women of ill-repute', into a respectable profession.

"She was a born organiser with a unique ability to get people to do what she wanted, even if they didn't want to," added Pat.

"She worked tirelessly for the poor and underprivileged, and I believe she sacrificed herself for the greater good by never marrying."

Florence never expected any plaudits for her work, although she received many, including the Royal Red Cross and The Order of Merit.

Before she died, she turned down the offer of a resting-place at West-minster Abbey.

Instead, she left instructions for a simple burial at St Margaret's Church, near the family home at Embley.

JOHN POUNDS (1766-1839)

Millions of children every day receive a free school education in this country. The person they have to thank for that is an 18th century cobbler from Portsmouth.

John Pounds' work with vagrant children led to the Ragged School movement and began the concept of a universal education for all.

Chairman of the John Pounds of Portsmouth Heritage Appeal, Geoff Worthington, said that Pounds left a timeless message that crossed gender, race and background.

He explained: "After an accident left him crippled and unable to fulfil his ambitions as a shipwright, he picked himself up, dusted himself down, and didn't give up.

"He was a working class over-achiever who was motivated enough to drag himself up by the bootstraps and make a difference.

"And the difference he made was to give kids hope when they had none."

When Pounds died in 1839, the philanthropist, Rev Doctor Thomas Guthrie, paid this glowing tribute: "I confess that I feel humbled . . .that man is an honour to humanity. He deserves the tallest monument ever raised on British shores."

SO WHO THE DICKENS WAS LEFT OUT?

Ted Bates (1918-2003) Southampton Football Club legend.

William Cobbett (1763-1836), political reformer and writer, lived in Botley

Sir Christopher Cockerell (1910-1999), Inventor of the hovercraft, lived in Lymington, Bassett and Hythe.

Lord Denning, (1899-1999), judge, born in Whitchurch.

Charles Dickens, (1812-1870), pictured, writer, born in Portsmouth.

Charles Burgess Fry (1872-1956), Hampshire cricketer, Saints and Pompey footballer

Lady Godiva (c1000), famous for riding through the streets of Coventry naked. Believed to have been born in Fifehead Manor built on the site of the ancient Manor of Wallop.

Nat Gonella (1908-1998) jazz musician from Gosport

General Charles Gordon (1833-1885), military man, Southampton

Benny Hill, (1924-1992), pictured, comedian, born Southampton.

Bert Hinkler (1892-1933), chief test pilot for A.V. Roe & Co. in Southampton. Famous for becoming the first person to fly solo from England to Australia.

Augustus John, (1878-1961) artist, Lived in Fordingbridge.

Sir John Everett Millais (1829-1896), artist, Southampton.

Reginald J Mitchell (1895-1937), pictured right, creator of the Spitfire, which was built in Southampton.

Lord Louis Mountbatten (1890-1979), navy captain and the first leader of the Commandos. The family home is Broadlands at Romsey.

Lord Nelson, (1758-1805), pictured, naval commander killed during the Battle of Trafalgar. His flagship, HMS Victory, is in Portsmouth dry dock.

Ken Russell (1927-) film director, Southampton

Leopold Stokowski (1882-1977), conductor from Nether Wallop.

Dr Issac Watts, (1674-1748), father of the English hymn, from Southampton.

William I of England (c1028-1087), founder of the New Forest

HOW TO VOTE:

You can vote for your Great Southerner by either calling 08700 100456 and registering your vote - calls cost 10p, or by logging onto www.bbc.co.uk/radiosolent

The results will be announced on Radio Solent mid-morning next Monday, and on South Today from 6.30pm.