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It’s not long ago that a Freedom of Information request revealed the alternative Overground names that could have been. These names were originally proposed in 2015 when Boris Johnson was still the London Mayor, but never saw the light of day. The FOI found that the Overground lines might have been called Jazz, William Morris and River Lea.
Now a new load of rejected Overground names from the 2024 renaming has come to light, revealed by Jim Waterson’s London Centric. After submitting a separate FOI, London Centric has now revealed a long list of names that were proposed but eventually rejected by London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
According to Waterson, some of the names were rejected because TfL decided to celebrate groups rather than individuals (this is why we got the Suffragette line, and not the Huggett line, for example). Others were given the red light because they were hard to hear clearly on announcements or could have been mistaken for safety-critical words, and there was concern that some could have been abbreviated or used as slurs.
Below is the full list of rejected line-names, plus descriptions from TfL about what they represent.
Sunflower line
‘Showcasing the sunflower, which is a symbol used by those with non-visible disabilities, especially autism and other forms of neurodiversity.’
Willow line
‘Recognising the willow trees that run along the banks of the River Lea, representing conservation and the furniture making industry that is prevalent in this area of London.’
Malins line
‘Opened in 1860, Malin’s is recorded as the first fish and chip shop in the UK. As well as the country's national dish, fish and chips encapsulate how migration and trade have shaped our culture, with fried fish being introduced by Sephardic Jewish immigrants and chips being made by potatoes that originally come from the Americas.’
Fanns line
‘The Land of the Fanns is a 50-year ecological project protecting the landscape of the Thames Estuary. The work aims to reunify the landscape, strengthen the attachment and create a sense of enjoyment for local people and visitors.’
Skylark line
‘A well-loved bird, which can be found at the Walthamstow Wetlands. Their habitats are largely concentrated in the suburbs, almost forming a ring around the capital like the London Overground.’
Derham line
‘Cleric and scientist William Derham (1657-1735) was a rector in Upminster from 1689 until 1735. He became chaplain to the Prince of Wales, the future George II, and was also made a canon of Windsor.’
Huggett line
‘Annie Huggett was the longest surviving suffragist, who lived until she was 103. She worked with working-class suffragettes in the East End, running meetings in The Three Lamps, Barking, which was a favoured spot for trade unionists and suffragettes.’
Winton line
‘Nicholas Winton organised the rescue of 669 children, mostly Jewish, from Czechoslovakia on the eve of the Second World War. This operation, later known as the Czech Kindertransport, saw the children arrive into Liverpool Street station.’
Hops line
‘Plantsman William Coys' (1560-1627) work at Stubbers Garden in Upminster was a precursor to the first botanical gardens. He grew the first tomatoes, Jerusalem artichokes and hops in the UK, and studied the art of beer brewing.’
Obaala line
‘Named after a Black art gallery in South Tottenham, which was created by the Organisation for Black Art Advancement and Leisure Activities (OBAALA). The organisation aimed to showcase the work of artists who were proud of their African ancestry.’
Cother line
‘Honouring Jack Cother, the first Asian professional footballer in the UK who played for Watford FC from 1897. The club's Vicarage Road stadium at the end of the line has a small plaque in his honour. Cother's father was originally from Mumbai, India and this story recognises the important South Asian communities along this line, particularly at Wembley, at a time when racism in football continues to be an important issue.’
Saffron line
‘The word Croydon comes from the Anglo-Saxon words for crocus and valley, indicating that it was a centre for the cultivation of saffron, which is a spice, dye and perfume ingredient that originates from the Middle East and South Asia, and is popular in cooking, fashion and fragrances from as far as Spain and India.’
Althea line
‘Althea McNish is considered to be the first designer of African-Caribbean descent to achieve international recognition. Her designs depict English flora in vibrant colours. She moved from Trinidad to London when she was 27.’
Jayaben line
‘Recognising the work and fighting spirit of Jayaben Desai, who led strikes against working conditions, pay inequality and institutional racism within the Grunwick Plant in Willesden.’
Polari line
‘A form of language, Polari originated in the London's fish markets, theatres, fairgrounds and circuses. It was adopted by the gay subculture at a time when being homosexual was illegal, to disguise gay men from hostile outsiders and undercover police officers.’
Galtymore line
‘A tribute to an Irish club near Willesden Green, which ran for 56 years. The Galtymore dance hall and community centre opened in 1952 and became famous as an oasis of Irishness in an often hostile city.’
Paralympic line
‘In 1948, coinciding with the opening of the Olympic games in London, the first competition for wheelchair athletes took place at Stoke Mandeville with 16 injured service men and women taking part. More than 70 years later, the London 2012 Paralympic Games were held in Stratford.’
Ripple line
‘Capturing the line's strong association with water, taking in Hampstead Ponds, Walthamstow Wetlands and Hackney Marshes through to the Thames at Barking and the Ripple Nature Reserve.’
Cable Street line
‘Remembering the Battle of Cable Street at Shadwell in 1936, an anti-fascist demonstration by a collective uprising of local trade unionists, communists and British Jews, supported in particular by Irish workers and socialist groups.’
Lovers Rock line
‘Celebrating a subgenre of reggae music that emerged in the 1970s. The Eve Studios in Brockley helped establish the sound. Created by London's Caribbean community, it is known for its romantic sound and content, and aimed to show the humanity of Black Britons.’
Keskidee line
‘Founded in 1971, the Keskidee Arts Centre was Britain's first arts centre for the Black community. Located near Caledonian Road & Barnsbury station, the project was initiated by Guyanese architect and cultural activist Oscar Abrams to provide cultural activities for the West Indian community.’
Garrud line
‘Edith Garrud was the first British female jujitsu teacher and one of the first female martial arts instructors in the western world. She was a supporter of women's suffrage and joined the Women's Freedom League in 1906, where she set up a self-defence club. Garrud trained the Women's Social and Political Union in self-defence techniques to protect its leaders from violence.’
Sisterwrite line
‘Opened in 1978, Sisterwrite was Britain's first feminist bookshop. It ran as a collective and safe space for female writers and readers, and was notable for its lesbian literature section, becoming an early hub for London's lesbian community. The Islington-based bookshop, which closed in 1993, is an example of the many small independent businesses that serve as community assets across London’
Kaushal line
‘Born in 1906 in Punjab, Baldev Kaushal trained at the Middlesex Hospital before setting up a medical practice near Cambridge Heath. It was here that he helped victims of the Bethnal Green Tube station disaster of 1943.’
Moonshot line
‘The Moonshot was opened in 1981 as the first purpose-built community centre for Black people in the UK. The centre was built on the site of an old mission hall in New Cross Gate, which was burned down in an arson attack by National Front members. The club's founder, Sybil Phoenix became the first Black woman to be awarded an MBE.’
Green carnation line
‘Commonly worn by gay men in the Victorian era, green carnations were a covert symbol of their sexuality. It was popularised by Oscar Wilde and has since be readopted by the LGBTQ+ community as a symbol of positivity.’
Rom line
‘As well as giving a geographical nod to the town of Romford and the river Rom, the name is also associated with the Rom skatepark. Since opening in 1978, the skatepark has earned Grade-II listed status, the first in Europe to achieve this and only the second in the world.’
Vogue is hosting a second-hand vintage sale in London this weekend.
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