HAILED: Readers added their own suggestions This week, alongside millions across the world, we marked International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. To commemorate the day, we complied a list of the most influential and inspirational women from the county. From modern day inspirations to historic figures, we named a host of significant female figures that have hailed from Cumbria. We also heard about the impressive Stella Rimington who was a former Director General for MI5- the first woman to take such a high ranking post in the security service. She is also thought to be the basis for the character ‘M’ in the James Bond franchise.