Frank Pick – Spalding & District Civic Society

(1878-1941) Chief Executive London Passenger Transport Board

The plaque was sponsored by Society member Howard Johnston Chairman of Mainspring Ltd, a publishing and events company he founded to specialise in public transport.

Frank Pick, was the eldest of five children born to Congregationalist draper, Francis and his wife Fanny on 23rd November 1878 at now demolished, Bridge House, 26/27 Bridge Street.

His legacy is the enduring image of the London Underground, including the famous map tube map that he commissioned, the red and white signs, the distinctive Johnston sans serif typeface in use today, and dozens of classic 1930s art-deco buildings.

The plaque was unveiled on 15 June 2013 by Sir Peter Hendy, Commissioner of Transport for London, who said Frank Pick did more to create modern London than even Sir Christopher Wren. Sir Peter spoke of Frank Pick’s organising genius that brought together “a mess of over 25 separate companies” into the fully co-ordinated organisation that was London Transport and extended its lines during the 20s and 30s out into the suburbs in all directions. He was “the first person to realise the potential of modern marketing” and, with his passion for modern art, architecture and design, to understand their vital role in creating a recognisable, reliable ‘brand’ for London Transport and stimulating its use outside rush-hours. He commissioned sculpture from Jacob Epstein, posters from the foremost British artists of the day, the art deco suburban stations, the universally imitated Underground map, and the distinctive logo and type-face. Then, with the outbreak of war, he turned his organising skills to co-ordinating the mass evacuation of children from London. “An extraordinary man,” said Sir Peter.

Howard Johnston spoke of his great pleasure in helping Spalding to realise just how distinguished a figure Frank Pick was in the country’s design heritage.

And MP John Hayes welcomed the way the Civic Society was starting to make good the town’s previous lack of public art and plaques, so important in “affirming our sense of place and identity”.

See the London Transport Museum website for further information.

THE SPALDONIAN WHO LAID THE FOUNDATIONS FOR MODERN LONDON

Society Member Howard Johnston, Chairman of Mainspring Ltd, a publishing and events company he founded to specialise in public transport, wrote about Frank Pick in advance of the unveiling of the plaque in 2013.