IT was a television programme watched by his 11-year-old son that sent a top Hampshire lawyer on his own historic mission.

The programme compared the work of two British nurses - Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole - during the Crimean War.

Hampshire's Florence Nightingale became a national heroine and the face of British nursing for generations to come.

But the role of Mary Seacole went relatively untold and her story was at risk of remaining over shadowed by Romsey's own Lady with the Lamp.

It was that documentary watched by his son that has sparked a passion in Southampton lawyer Trevor Sterling and sent him on a path to ensure that Mary Seacole gets the recognition she fully deserves.

It not only inspired Trevor to contribute to a fundraising campaign to create a statue to honour Mary Seacole, which was unveiled last June at the St Thomas’ Hospital in London, but it also led the father-of-three to become chairman of the national Mary Seacole Trust.

He is now leading the campaign to have a permanent exhibition to her work at the Florence Nightingale Museum to celebrate nurses through history.

"I was impressed by the courage that Mary Seacole showed and I want her story to inspire lots more people across the whole country.

"My son was so impressed and he wants to live in a society where everyone is seen as equal. That’s why I believe that Mary Seacole can lead as example of courage, determination and care for new generations’.

The so called ‘Mother Seacole’ decided at the age of 49 to fund her own travel to the Crimea War to nurse wounded British soldiers on the battlefields back in 1854.

She had to fight against discrimination and her offer to help British soldier was rejected five times.

"She proved that if you believe in something, if you want to help someone, you should follow your desire, even if people around you don’t support you. I want to send this message to everyone," said Trevor, who last year led a strong team of 30 cyclists to help raise money towards the cost of the cycle.

During the time she spent in Crimea, Mary also came across Florence Nightingale and they both gave a huge contribute in nursing soldiers during the war.

Trevor, 49, said: ‘Florence is an iconic figure and what she did is incredible but there is room for two such people who in different ways gave a tremendous contribution and it’s important to highlight part of history from which we can learn’’.

Mary set up the British Hotel to nurse British soldiers and provided them with nursing care, food, medicines that she personally prepared and she used to ride out to the front line to help soldiers on the battlefields.

Her care was so appreciated that soldiers called her ‘Mother Seacole’ or even ‘ Dear Mama’.

The bronze statue is only the first step and comes as a result of a long campaign started 12 years ago when nurses from Jamaica travelled to London to visit Mary’s grave and realised that it needed to be repaired.

Lord Clive Soley and Professor Elizabeth Anoniwu heard the story from the Jamaican nurses and decided to set up the Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal (MSMSA) recently renamed Mary Seacole Trust.

Trevor said: "I am in the position to bring a change which will inspire young people and initiatives in terms of equality opportunity.

"The statue of Mary is important in acknowledging her contribution and it is now an opportunity to create a legacy beyond the statue."

Other educational projects will be run next year to give everyone the opportunity to know and remember Mary Seacole.

Young children will be asked to identify their modern day Mary Seacole, as part of the ‘Young Seacole Ambassadors Initiative’, while a Diversity and Leadership project will involve various organisations and the NHS to better understand how to achieve equality and to give a positive message to everyone.

Trevor said: “The appeal brought together a wide range of people from the army, the NHS and across the social, cultural and ethnic divide.

"MSMSA Trustees recognised that while the statue of Mary is important in acknowledging her contribution, there is now an opportunity, indeed a responsibility, to harness the positivity from the renewed awareness of Mary and to create a legacy beyond the statue.

" It was therefore decided to reconstitute the MSMSA charity and to create the Mary Seacole Trust.

“I am excited to assume the position of Chair, succeeding the excellent Lord Soley who is to be congratulated for his endeavours achieving such a historic landmark, supported so ably by the many Trustees and Ambassadors of MSMSA.”