Why doesn't anyone mention Nik Kershaw on here - an Ipswich boy who not only is celebrating his birthday today (1st March) but also is releasing a new album in June 2004 !
Paul, Felixstowe

My vote goes to John Constable, by far and away the most famous ( around the world!)of all the nominees.He still does far more in promoting the good qualities of the county and is thus the true icon.
Don, Saxmundham

I would like to vote for King Edmund who died for suffolk and left his name to Bury St. Eds.He qualifies on every count except one,its not PC to be a christian martyr these days.
Celia Lakenheath

I think John Louis should have got a mention for all he's done in putting & keeping Ipswich Speedway on the map, but Constable's paintings are known around the world & show what a beautiful part of the world we live in
Neil, Ipswich

Am I missing something, or should heroes be people who have died for their country. These people were famous in their own way, but heroes?No way
e.g.David, Needham

my vote is for Elizabether garret Anderson, she brought woman into the medical profession and did loads for the poor in london, eg. setting up a hospital for them.
shirley taylor, blaxhall

John Constable gets my vote! He has made the Stour Valley a world-wide tourist attraction (his contribution forms a major part of the £250 million income every year in East Anglia). I am afraid Britten did nothing for the area not even a piece about Suffolk so he cannot be classed as really a local hero.
Martin - Dedham

I think people are missing the point here. We are talking about a local hero not anyone famous. Young people look up to heroes and the only winner can be Roger Osborne. He was the one to give us hope in the dark times when the canaries were the better team. The other candidates have their merits but do they inspire are youngsters?
Carl, Bury St Edmunds

St Edmund
terry of Newmarket

My hero has got to be sir alf ramsay as his currently the only manager to have won the world cup for england and also won the top division league for ipswich which was season 1961/62.he has also been honored with a statue on portman rd.
e.g. Dominic, Ipswich

Just thought that 'Mike Ipswich', with his *quote: "Constable-comes from Essex" MIGHT like to know: ".....Born at East Bergholt, Suffolk, the son of a prosperous corn merchant, John Constable...." *Quote from - artchive.com Also, Mr.Murphy, I noticed that you made NO MENTION about: Sir James 'Jamie' Charles Cann, this morning.
Ivor Saurus, Ipswich

What about the superb musician / The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins? How fab is he to have put Lowestoft / Suffolk on the Musical Map by forming this brilliant, energetic rock band, that will be around and remembered for years to come? He gets my vote every time!!! xx
Lynne, Elmswell, Suffolk

what aboutthe late dennis lowe made people lagh and raised money for local charities.
john boy

I expect that "get a life" comment was probably aimed at me. - It wasn't posted by me. (There are other Micks.) I'm surprised not to have heard the name Sir Samuel Morton Peto mentioned by the people of Lowestoft. He did more for the town in building, employment, development of railways, harbour, fishing and other industries than probably anyone else. He built many famous buildings in London and worked internationally. His influence can be seen throughout our region. His story is fascinating. Mick. Lowestoft.
Mick. Lowestoft.

There can only be one winner, not just for Suffolk but for East Anglia. Wolsey grew up in our county town as the son of a butcher, rising to become Bishop of Durham, Archbishop of Canterbury and a Cardinal. He was a great adviser to a hot-tempered king, whilst keeping his own head, in more ways than one. When a university finally arrives in Ipswich, it must be named after Wolsey.
Stephen, Ipswich

What about Nik Kershaw ?? He gets my vote.
Paul, Felixstowe

It could only be John Constable, the man who has put Suffolk on the map. Mention Roger Osborne outside of Suffolk and people would only say - WHO ?
Ken, Martlesham

get a life
Mick- Lowestoft

My oh my! A 'measly' FIVE, to choose from on here! No mention of: Sir Alf Ramsey, Sir Bobby Robson or for that matter Sir James 'Jamie' Charles Cann 1946 - 2001. Sir 'Jamie' Cann, Teacher, Deputy Headmaster 1981-92, Councillor, Council Leader and Mp for Ipswich 1992 - 2001. Jamie cared very much for the needs of the ordinary people,in fact, at one time he EVEN made sure a supermarket stayed open in the town centre, after consultations with local pensioners! And, whilst at Westminster, Labour whips 'apparently' found him to be rather troublesome!
Ivor Saurus, Ipswich

No footballers Mick of Lowestoft my thoughts as well
Les Raydon

I moved to Suffolk from the North West three years ago. Ipswich winning the FA cup is the earliest final I remember. Having said that I can honestly say that I never remebered the name 'Roger Osbourne' from that era. Mills, Mariner,Osman and others I have clear pictures of in my mind. Surely this guy who scored one goal cannot be the best this county has to offer. The reality is that nobody has heard of him outside Suffolk. I can't believe he's been shortlisted. By the way I have nothing against football as I am myself a keen player and supporter.
Chris - Ipswich

I know it is easy to scoff at Roger Osborne's inclusion in this vote, but surely the people of Suffolk should be voting for the person who has brought them the most joy, not the person they feel they should be voting for. I can't imagine that the present day people of Suffolk are as proud of someone who wrote classical music as they are of someone who brought the FA Cup back to our county for the first and only time.
Jim, Ipswich

From Sue at Sue Ryder Care The Chantry How abour Lady Ryder?
e.g. Tom, Ipswich

No !! not a footballer . they are soon gone and forgotten.
george felixstowe

A brief look at the short list: Osborne: He had his 15 minutes of fame 25 years ago but with a very small number of people. Certainly not a worthy contender and if his name was put forward to a National list it would confirm what many people think of us! Wolsey: A Suffolk boy who did very well and must have very shrewd to live as long as he did in turbulent times. But a hero? I think not. Garret Anderson: She achieved many things and deserves greater recognition but the winner of this poll should be a person of high calibre and, let's be honest, her name is not well known even here. Britten: At last a genuine contender! A man who has achieved much personally and also for the image of Suffolk. Constable, who is my choice: Suffolk born and bred he retained his love for, and links with, Suffolk for his whole life. 200 years after his birth he still has a world wide reputation and is responsible for the 1000s who come to see 'Constable Country'. There can be few people who would not recognise his major works like the Haywain. I wonder how many people would actually recognise music by Britten? This would be an interesting experiment for Radio Suffolk! So Constable's reputation has survived the test of time and he must be the most important local hero.
Simon, Langham

Elizabeth Garratt Anderson definitely gets my vote!!
pauline, Fram

Osbourne Without a doubt. This is for you Karlos!!!
MIke-Ipswich

Roger Osborne is an all time heroe! The FA Cup is the best and most exciting cup competition in the world!!
Nipper - Scratby

I like football, but cannot believe that a county with many great heros, engineers, politicians and entrepreneurs that have achieved so mauch and helped to shape our lives (including those already nominated plus... Thomas Gainsborough (painter), Thomas Cobbold (brewer), John Chevalier Cobbold (MP and local entrepreneur), Sir Cuthbert Quilter (local businessman and MP), Thomas Seckford (highly charitable businessman), Arthur Ransome (engineer), James Garrett (engineer), Sir Thomas Slade (ship builder) Giles (Cartoonist)etc) will be remembered for a nice young farming lad who fortunately scored the winning goal in an FC Cup final? An important goal it certainly was but surely not the crowning moment of achievement for the whole county??
Nigel, Ipswich

Anderson-who?Done a good job though. Wolsey-Political apointment Constable-comes from Essex Britten-Classical Music,does anyone actually enjoy the junk Roger Osborne-Alegend will always be remembered.Ipswich Town Football Club,the only thing Ipswich has going for it.
Mike Ipswich

PLEASE. PLEASE _no footballers. NO way can they be likened to heroes. They don't save any lives nor do any brave things. They are only playing a game! Football has permeated almost every aspect of Radio Suffolk. Please don't let it spoil this.
Mick. Lowestoft

Roger Osborne is a legend in our time. I feel privileged and honoured to live in the same County as the great man who gave our town a year to remember. Whatever happens to Ipswich Town football club in the future, our name will be forever etched on the F.A Cup. Thank you Mr. Osborne.
Andrew, Ipswich

It has to be Roger Osborne. There is only one true hero for me, i was there on that famous day in May. local lad created the happiest day of my life and many others. What an achievement
Graham Campbell, Ipswich

Yes Roger Osborne and yes he's a Suffolk boy who won the cup for the blues. You may laugh but i bet he had a bigger direct impact on people's lives in Suffolk than the others in the vote.
Dan, London

I would like to vote for Elizabeth Garret Anderson. she was a pioneer for all women and must have helped so very many people.there is no one on the list to compare with her achievements when women were treated differently from today. She must have been some woman!!
jo goldsmith

osborne,you cannot be serious
Paul, Woodbridge

My vote goes without a shadow of doubt to our greatest 20th century composer, Benjamin Britten, a throroughbred Suffolk man, yet a world ambassador through his musical genius. He took British music out of its parochial niche and placed it firmly on the international map - his operas are performed the world over. Yet besides being a true genius, Britten was a man of great compassion: he allied himself with the outsider, the persecuted, the exploitation of children and innocence, a theme which arises time and again in his works. He loved working for and with children, and some of his most appealing works are those created with youngsters in mind - such as 'The Little Sweep', 'Noye's Fludde' and 'St Nicolas'. He was an avid pacifist, and wrote passionately against the barbarism and horrors of war - no more so than in his (arguably) greatest masterpiece, War Requiem. This is a message which transcends all barriers of nation and religion, even though it is taken from the Catholic Mass for the Dead; it is a work every politician and world leader ought to listen to! Britten could also see the potential in his fellow artists, such as Rostropovich, Julian Bream, Janet Baker and of course Sir Peter Pears, and wrote especially for them - and this same music taxes today's musicians to their limits too. His greatest love was writing for the human voice, and a tremendous output was written for this - song cycles, choral works, even cabaret songs! So my vote goes for this wonderful genius, yet gentle man who revolutionised British music and totally confounded those who had called England a 'nation without music'. A stupendous legacy
Jennifer M Toombs

If I could vote for Suffolks Number one Hero, I would vote for the people of Suffolk, who generously opened their hearts, homes, and hospitality to American GI's.
Tom-Seattle-Washington USA

I voted for Elizabeth Garrett Anderson because she was an iconoclast in medicine, society and in local government at a time when women were treated as second-class citizens. A true heroine.
John Taylor, Mildenhall