International Women's Day is taking place on March 8 as a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and to celebrate to take a look at some of the achievements of the best known an most influential woman from the Portsmouth area.
9. Freda Swain
Composer and Pianist, Freda Swain (inset) was born in Portsmouth in 1902, she studied the piano with Dora Matthay and then at the Royal College of Music with Arthur Alexander, whom she married in 1921. She formed the British Music Movement in 1926 to promote the works of young composers and artists. During her career she wrote over 100 songs, a one-act opera Second Chance, a second unfinished opera The Shadowy Waters, a Suite for Six Trumpets, orchestral pieces, two string quartets and many other works. Though she toured globally , Freda still kept Portsmouth close to her heart with one composition titled 'The Lark on Portsdown'. In 1936, Freda founded the British Music Movement, to help promote new music from young composers and artists. She later set up the ‘NEMO’ Concerts, promoting the music of her contemporaries following the Second World War. Freda Swain died in 1985 but lives on through the lounge at Portsmouth Guildhall (pictured) that today bears her name. Photo: Google streetview
10. Lauren Steadman
The Portsmouth-based Paralympic athlete is a three-time world champion and won a gold medal in a triathlon event at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. The former University of Portsmouth student competed as a swimmer, before switching to the paratriathlon in 2016 and is in the British Universities and Colleges Sport hall of fame. She further inspired the public with her appearances on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, where she made it to the semi-final with partner AJ Pritchard, and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins where she was one of two finalists. Photo: -
11. Jill Ellis
Former USA women's soccer coach Jillian Ellis grew up in Cowplain, Waterlooville, and is currently the president of San Diego Wave FC. She coached the United States women's national soccer team from 2014 to October 2019 and won two FIFA Women's World Cups in 2015 and 2019, making her the second coach to win consecutive World Cups. She stepped away from being USWNT’s head coach in October 2019 and currently serves as an ambassador for the United States Soccer Federation, with her focus being on working with the federation to help raise the number of women in coaching. In her youth she attended Padnell Junior School and Cowplain School. Photo: Kate McShane/Getty images
12. Kim Woodburn
Patricia "Kim" Woodburn is an English television personality, writer, and former cleaner who inspired many with her co-presenting the Channel 4 series How Clean Is Your House? with Aggie MacKenzie. The Eastney-born TV personality's cleaning tips lead the way well before the many tiktokers and social media influencers who share their advice to this day. Kim appeared on the ninth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, finishing as runner-up and appeared on the nineteenth series of Celebrity Big Brother, finishing in third place. Photo: IH