B'naiB'rithYadB'Yadnewsletter&flipsideDecember2019 copy_compressed copy

We then made our way
back through the park for
lunch at the delightful
Cha Cafe.
Believe it or not, it was
November 17 th and we
were able to sit outside
to enjoy our lunches if
you didn't mind a damp
tuchas! A great end to a
beautiful walk.
Liz Manches
MAIN MEETING : TUESDAY 19 th NOVEMBER
THE ART OF UNDERGROUND TRAVEL DAVID BURNELL
David Burnell’s talk was illustrated by many eye catching posters from the collection of the
London Transport Museum produced over the last 115 years.
The company Underground Electric Railways of London was built by the American business
man Charles Tyson Yerkes in 1906 and was the forerunner of today’s Northern, Bakerloo and
Piccadilly lines. In 1933 these were absorbed into the London Passenger Transport Board, the
forerunner of today’s TFL.
The world famous London Underground roundel was developed by Frank
Pick. Together with the diagrammatic map designed by HC Beck and the
characteristic stations designed by Charles Holden, these established the
unique brand that is still admired today.
In the early twentieth century the railways were never profitable. In order to generate traffic in
the evenings and weekends commissions were given to poster artists to create themes that would
attract additional passengers at all times of the day and night.
Poster themes focussed on the delights of the countryside; new houses in London’s fast growing
suburbs including Metroland; war time themes in the First and Second World Wars and sporting
events. These were complemented by the distinctive tiling themes to identify individual stations.
Gerry Kurzon thanked David for providing a delightful
alternative to the evening’s televised political debate and
for his unique portrayal of the social history of London.
On behalf of the lodge Gerry presented David with a
cheque for his chosen charity Quaker Social Action.
Greg Wand