A project has been launched to find hidden heroes in local history and help celebrate their achievements.

Medway Council is calling on residents to share their stories about the Towns' hidden historical heroes for its Heroes in Time initiative.

Medway is home the tallest Norman castle in the country and second oldest cathedral, and it has connections with literary genius Charles Dickens and merchant-adventurer Will Adams, the first westerner to become a Samurai.

But many residents may not know about Medway's links to other important figures in history. For example Sarah Forbes Bonetta, the protégée of Queen Victoria, who lived in Canterbury Street, Gillingham.

Sarah was an African orphan who became the protégé of Queen Victoria and was known for her talent for music. Her life was celebrated at Gillingham Community Hub last year, as part of Black History Month.

Sir David Frost, a nationally and internationally known presenter and journalist, is another example of a hidden Medway hero. Sir David was a pupil at Barnsole Primary School, and the former Gillingham Grammar School, but many people are unaware of his link to Medway.

Sir David was an award-winning broadcaster who famously interviewed US president Richard Nixon in the wake of his resignation over Watergate, immortalised in the movie Frost/Nixon.

Local heroes can include people from the past with a Medway connection and who deserve to be recognised, for example, they could have played a significant role in local or national society, or their achievements could be more specific to a community or culture.

Medway Council is working with schools to encourage and support learning about Medway’s Heroes in Time.

Cllr Martin Potter, the council’s portfolio holder for education and schools, said: “Medway’s Heroes in Time is an innovative project which aims to extend children’s understanding and knowledge of our rich history.

"Celebrating members of the community, who we may not be aware of, or not know about their Medway connection, will help schools teach pupils about our history whilst inspiring them with local role models.

"I would encourage residents to nominate a person from our past if they think they could be a History Hero and I look forward to finding out more about Medway’s fantastic past."

To nominate a hidden hero, or a story that celebrates Medway’s history, email with as much information as you know to historyhero@medway.gov.uk