A memorial to Edward Johnston at Farringdon station. Elizabeth Line was unveiled by Sir Peter Hendy, Chairman Network Rail, on 29th June 2019. The Edward Johnston Foundation has published a book 'London's Typeface: Edward Johnston's Underground Sans' to commemorate the event and this is Sir Peter's Introduction. The book is available for purchase here

Introduction

It’s taken more than a hundred years for there to be a proper memorial for the Johnston typeface, renowned as the way in which London’s transport speaks to its users, and, indeed, for a long time now, the way that London speaks most easily to the world. Edward Johnston’s commission by Frank Pick to design a new alphabet for posters and publicity was a bold move to raise the profile of the London Underground at a time when the system was struggling financially and needed what today would be called ‘profile’. Johnston’s resultant work was, and is, a masterpiece, and, together with the roundel, gives instant visual recognition to London’s transport and indeed speaks of London whatever words are written in it. Taken together, Johnston and Pick gave a public authority the most visible and recognisable brand in the world. It’s contributed, I think, to the London Transport and now Transport for London organisations being proud of what they do, of how they look, and what they say; and to a sense of belonging that Londoners have and certainly those of us who work or have worked for the organisation are proud of, too. And good design comes naturally when everything you publish has a timeless elegance because of the typeface it’s written in.

So this memorial – sculpture – whatever it is, is wonderful. It will be a permanent reminder of the creativity of Edward Johnston, and the typeface he designed. I hope it brings to the widest possible audience the importance of fitness for purpose and elegance for public things, which both Johnston and Pick wanted, and which Transport for London and its predecessors have sought to fulfil. 

My own role in the story of Johnston’s typeface has been minor, but, I hope, effective. Having restored London’s buses to their proper colour – red – after I became in charge of them in 2001, I made sure that the numbers and destinations on them have continued to be legibly written in Johnston’s typeface; and, in preparation for the 100th anniversary in 2016, I asked Jon Hunter, TfL’s Design Manager, to create ‘Johnston 100’, which restores some lovely original features, gives an @ for digital use, and replaces the ‘1’ and ‘4’ of the 1980s rework. Those of you who are really observant might notice those contentious characters never got on the front of buses!

I was sad to leave TfL in 2015, although after nearly ten years as Commissioner it was time to hand over; leading any organisation that size is tough, and Mike Brown does it in harder circumstances than I had to, and does a great job. But I miss it still, and one of the things I miss the most is being able to write my messages in this beautiful typeface. So to be associated again with Johnston is a huge pleasure; and even better is that from now on this display will delight Londoners and remind them of the enduring work of Edward Johnston and the mark he has left on this world city, and the transport system which makes it thrive.

Sir Peter Hendy CBE

Photo Montage of the unveling here