text: Seacole did volunteer to nurse in the Crimean war, although she did not submit the required letter of application. She unsuccessfully made the rounds of government offices and even the home of the war secretary, Sidney Herbert, who had sent Nightingale to the war. Whether or not she was turned down for reasons of race is simply not clear – her age and lack of hospital experience were clearly against her. Whatever, Nightingale had already left for the war when Seacole, who was in London on business regarding her gold mining stocks, decided to apply.
  That the proposed Seacole statue should face the Houses of Parliament adds to the offence, for it was Nightingale who wrote briefs to royal commissions and lobbied for reforms in healthcare, never Seacole. The St Thomas' site itself includes three of the original pavilion buildings whose design Nightingale influenced, and which made St Thomas' a world leader in hospital design.
  Seacole's lively memoir – still a good read – shows her to have been an enterprising businesswoman, compassionate, keen to help with her remedies, hand out tea and lemonade and, on several occasions, give first aid. She did not charge those who could not pay, but these kindnesses hardly saved "thousands" of lives. She is remembered in a fine portrait and a bust. A statue would be a great tribute, but it should not be installed at Nightingale's hospital or credit her with Nightingale's work.
  
  Manchester United were acquired by Malcolm Glazer, above, and his family for £790m in 2005. Photograph: Action Images / Wireimage / A Me/Action Images
  Manchester United are thought to have postponed temporarily plans to launch their $300m (£193m) flotation in New York, after volatile US markets spooked the Premier League club into a rethink.