The list of celebrated individuals commemorated with a blue plaque in Canterbury should be more diverse, believes the city's civic group.

The Canterbury Society is now appealing for new nominations which it hopes will address the "imbalances" in representation.

Currently, of the 17 blue plaques across the district, only one is a woman - Herne Bay benefactor Ann Thwaytes - and none are from an ethnic background.

Prof Jan Phal, who chairs the working group on the scheme for the society, admits the list is dominated by older, white males.

"They really reflect how the city was in the past and we are slightly hampered because those nominated have to have died at least 20 years ago," she said.

The framework for awarding the plaques is set by Historic England which is now encouraging nominations for recipients from more diverse backgrounds.

The society says: "The criteria for the selection of the plaques will reflect those proposed by the city council and by English Heritage. No one will be listed on the basis of gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

"However, the working group will pay due regard to the overall balance of shortlisted cases, and to the current imbalances in representation."

The 17 blue plaques in the district recognise notable people with associations to the area who have contributed to "welfare and happiness and are regarded as eminent by the majority of their profession".

Among them are authors Ian Fleming, actor Peter Cushing, sculptor Henry Moore, statistician William Sealy Gosset, racing driver Count Louis Zborowski, who built the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang cars, and oil painter Alfred Palmer.

"In the past women didn't get as much of a chance to shine and were possibly held back and there wasn't such a wide ethnic make up as there is now, but that's the way everywhere, " said Prof Pahl.

"Obviously, you don't want to put up plaques to people who don't merit it but if all the nominations are white males, you might have to think again.

"A stumbling block is that someone could have made a significant contribution in their field but still be almost unknown to the wider community."

The society is working with the city council on Canterbury's scheme as part of its support for local heritage.

"The last blue plaques were put in Canterbury in 2003 which, considering how many famous people have been associated with the city is quite poor," said Prof Pahl.

"So the society thought that we could make a start in asking for nominations for Canterbury while raising funds for plaques which cost about £500 each.

"I personally would like to nominate Catherine Williams, whose family owned the tannery and Tower House and were great benefactors to the city.

"She was also mayor during the war, wrote the book Though the Street Burn and was very much involved in making arrangements and defence preparations for the city."

The city council's aims is to create a blue plaque trail across the district but it lacks the funds to do so at present.

"We are trying to get the ball rolling again in Canterbury and raise money for the scheme," said Prof Pahl.

The guidelines for nominations and forms can be found by visiting www.canterburysociety.org.

The current blue plaque recipients across the district:

John Blaxland (1769 – 1845) and Gregory Blaxland (1771 – 1852) lived at Watergate House in Fordwich from 1769 to 1806. The Blaxland brothers were pioneers and explorers of Australia, and are important figures in Australian history.

Thomas Byrne VC (1867 – 1944) lived in Notley Street, Canterbury from 1914 to 1944. Byrne won his VC at the battle of Omdurman on September 2, 1898.

Joseph Conrad (1857 – 1924) an author who lived at Oswalds, Bishopsbourne from 1919 to 1924.

Thomas Sidney Cooper (1803 – 1902) - a celebrated landscape and livestock artist who lived at Vernon Holme, Harbledown from 1849 to 1902.

Peter Cushing (1913 – 1994) lived at Seaway Cottage, Whitstable from 1959 to 1994.

John Deane (1800 – 1884) lived at 65 Island Wall, Whitstable from 1848 to 1854. He was the co-inventor of diving apparatus and the diving helmet.

Ian Fleming (1908 – 1964) wrote ‘You Only Live Twice’ at the Duck Inn, Pett Bottom in 1964.

1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum (1850 – 1916) lived at Broome Park, Barham from 1911 to 1916.

Henry Moore (1898 – 1986) a sculptor who lived at The Orchard, Marley lane, Kingston from 1934 to 1940.

Professor Cyril Northcote Parkinson (1909 – 1993) lived in Harkness Drive, Canterbury from 1988 to 1993. He created the famous ‘Parkinson’s law’ .

The Philosophical and Literary Institute opened in Guildhall Street in 1825. The building was incorporated into the former Debenhams.

James Simmons (1741 – 1807) lived in Canterbury High Street (now ASK Restaurant) from 1802 to 1807. Simmons was a MP, Alderman and Mayor and was responsible for reshaping Canterbury into a ‘Georgian’ town.

Mrs Ann Thwaytes (1789 – 1886) benefactor of Herne Bay and the clock tower, lived in Central Parade from 1835 to 1841.

Alfred Palmer ROI (1877-1951) Artist and founder of the East Kent Arts Society lived in Fordwich from 1910-1951.

William Sealy Gossett (1876-1937) Statistician known as ‘Student’ famous for ‘student’s t-distribution’ born and lived at 6 St Martin’s Hill.

Count Louis Zborowski (1895-1924) constructed two Chitty Chitty Bang Bang racing cars here at the former Bligh Brothers Coachworks 1921-1922.

Marcel Duchamp, artist - Downs Park, Herne Bay.

For more on Blue Plaques across Kent, click here.

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