PLATFORM 6: VERY SLIGHT UPDATE
Written by James Ward
As I mentioned yesterday, I’m trying to find out what this advert, exposed as part of the renovation works at Waterloo, relates too:
Something which ended in the letter “e” was opposite platform six (I assume it’s opposite, it could have been “beside” platform six, but that seems like a slightly odd choice of words).
At the bottom of the poster, it says “Promoted by Ian Fletcher” and then “[something] Children, Pembridge Hall, Pembridge Square, London, W2”
Tom Cleaver pointed out in the comments to yesterday’s post that up until 1981, Mencap used to be called “National Society for Mentally Handicapped Children” and that they were based in Pembridge Hall, as this advert shows:
So, the “[something]” in front of “Children” is “Handicapped”. It also means whatever it was which was opposite platform six was there before Mencap changed its name in 1981. But what could this early version of Mencap be offering “instantly” opposite platform six?
Also, a couple of people mentioned that the “6” looked a bit odd, as if it had been altered in some way. On my way home yesterday, I took another photo from the other side of the poster:
The six has been stuck on. This means either whatever it was used to be opposite a different platform and was moved, or that it was a generic poster, perhaps used in lots of different stations with the platform numbers added later.
The quest continues.
“Visit the future”?
All we can see is “…nstantly” it could be constantly, instantly or inconstantly, and the bit before “Children” does look like “Handicapped”
I’ve reckon that the most likely last line is “Promoted by: Ian Fletcher. Proceeds to the Royal Society for Mentally Handicapped Children”
“Visit the ____ sale”?
I was about to say that it could be anythingthing that ends in ‘nstantly’, it would make sense if it was constantly (being associated with mental health).
Have you tried contacting the London Transport museum? I’m sure someone there may be able to help…
I was there Yesterday and noticed the brown is over the poster not the other way round so whatever it is, is still under there. shame it cant just be peeled back. there is also a slight split in the middle that you can fraqctionally see through though I couldnt work out anything from looking at that for now.
Your message has been passed to me from our helpline and I have sent the
information to Lord Rix who has been involved in Mencap for over 50 years and
knows more about our history than anyone else!
We had our office in Pembridge Square from 1973 to 1979 and I will let you know
if Lord Rix has any recall of an Ian Fletcher or what we might have been
promoting on the poster.
I received this following sending a request to Mencap themselves to see if they had any information.
Hopefully we will receive some helful information from Lord Rix himself. This has also pinpointed the timeframe more precisely to the above period mentioned.