We are delighted and extremely proud that the London Overground line from Stratford to Clapham Junction/Richmond is to be named the Mildmay line.
TFL and the Mayor of London selected Mildmay Hospital for our work during the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s and ‘90s, which has made the hospital “the valued and respected place for the LGBTQ+ community it is today”. The naming is part of a strategy to celebrate London’s many historic locations and forgotten stories, using public spaces to highlight groups that have been historically less recognised, and cherishes the role of the NHS and its smaller healthcare centres in caring for all Londoners.
The six new line names, Liberty, Lioness, Mildmay, Suffragette, Windrush and Weaver, were chosen to make the network easier to navigate and to ensure London’s transport system reflects its rich and diverse history. They were unveiled at a ceremony hosted by the Mayor of London at Highbury & Islington Station on Thursday, 15 February 2024.
Amongst those at the event were Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London; TfL Customer Director Emma Strain; Trish Ashton; TfL's Director of Rail and Sponsored Services; and Steve Best, Managing Director for Arriva Rail London, as well as representatives for the Lioness, Mildmay, Windrush and Suffragette Lines.
Representing Mildmay at the event were our Chair, The Very Rev John Richardson, Chief Executive Geoff Coleman and Lead Clinical Nurse Comfort Sagoe. We were delighted that TFL chose Comfort to be depicted in the roundel image for the Mildmay Line, which also depicts Mildmay nurses from earlier eras against a backdrop of the symbolic HIV ribbon.
Geoff Coleman said: “We are deeply honoured that the Mildmay Line was chosen as one of the new London Overground names in recognition of the work of the dedicated doctors, nurses, and support staff at the Mildmay Hospital. From its humble origins in the 1860s - serving the poorest people of the East End - to its pivotal role during the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 80s and 90s, Mildmay has evolved into an internationally renowned rehab centre, and our dedicated team continues to serve people from across London. More than just tracks and stations, the Mildmay Line symbolises a journey of acceptance, love, and belonging—a vibrant thread connecting our collective past, present, and future.”
Who is featured on the Mildmay Line poster?
Emily Goodwin assumed the role of the first matron at the new Mildmay Hospital in 1892. Her dedication and leadership were instrumental in shaping the hospital’s early years.
Nurse Maud, depicted on the poster in a photograph taken in 1921, was a loyal and committed carer who was still at Mildmay in 1965 when Princess Alexandra visited the Hospital to open a new wing (she can be seen below behind Princess Alexandra as she chats with a patient).
Until her well-deserved retirement in April 2024, Comfort Sagoe was our Clinical Lead Nurse, in charge of the entire nursing team. She joined Mildmay in 2005 as one of our international recruits and gave the hospital almost twenty years of unwavering dedication and service. Taking on the role of Lead Nurse in 2018, she proficiently guided our Nursing Team through some of the most formidable challenges that Mildmay has ever faced. Comfort exemplifies the compassion and dedication of all our staff.
The purpose of the naming
The lines that make up the London Overground network are being named to make it easier to navigate and ensure that the Capital's transport system reflects its rich and diverse history.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said, "There are so many Londoners, historic locations and forgotten stories from our city that need re-telling. Naming the lines will not only help educate visitors about our amazing city and incredible history but will also make it easier for people who live, work or visit London to more easily navigate the city."
Choosing the names
The naming of the Overground lines represents a positive and unique opportunity to engage customers and communities. TfL worked with the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm to establish the broad themes used to guide community engagement with a range of audiences, including local groups and transport historians. The approach was centred around hearing from the many different communities that live close to the London Overground and how they could be represented through the line names. TfL engaged with stakeholders at local and national levels to ensure that the community engagement programme was inclusive and collaborative.
London Overground services will not be impacted by these changes across stations and trains, and customers will still be able to make the same journeys. Wayfinding in stations and across other customer information, for example, on TfL Journey Planner and service status information, will be updated over the course of the coming months.
Over the summer, TfL plans to hear from communities and individuals to find out what the line names mean to them. These stories will be used as part of the final unveiling of the new London Overground network, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024.
What journeys will look like
More information:
London Overground’s new look
TfL will introduce new names and line colours across the London Overground network by the end of 2024.
Each of the 6 routes that make up the London Overground will be given its own colour.
Lioness (currently known as Watford Junction to Euston) - yellow
Mildmay (currently known as Richmond and Clapham Junction to Stratford) - blue
Windrush (currently known as Highbury & Islington to New Cross, Clapham Junction, Crystal Palace and West Croydon) - red
Weaver (currently known as Liverpool Street to Enfield Town, Cheshunt and Chingford) - maroon
Suffragette (currently known as Gospel Oak to Barking Riverside) - green
Liberty (currently known as Romford to Upminster) - grey
In the press:
We have linked to more press articles in our X/twitter feed.
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