Man behind peace symbol honoured with blue plaque

The man behind the famous peace symbol used by anti-nuclear weapons campaigners has been honoured in the Kent town where he lived.

Gerald Holtom designed the symbol synonymous with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) which swept across the world in the second half of the 20th Century against the looming shadow of the Cold War.

Mr Holtom has been honoured with a blue plaque on the wall of Hillside Street in Hythe where he lived for over 20 years, from 1962 until his death in 1985.

Campaigners said Mr Holtom's legacy is "part of Hythe's rich history" and that celebrating his work was appropriate "with the situation in the world as it is".

Sally Chesters, one of the project leaders, said: "Amongst all of the famous people who have lived in Hythe he might be the most special.

"With the situation in the world as it is its particularly appropriate now and perhaps people are thinking more about it."

Paul Naylor, chair of the Hythe Civic Society, added: "We felt publicising what he achieved would be an important part of Hythe's history."

Designed for the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in 1958, the symbol is said to represent a stick person holding out their arms in despair.

The lines also represents the semaphore symbols for the letters N and D, for nuclear disarmament.

Mr Holtom's daughter, Rebecca, said: "Growing up knowing that my father made a design as an activist seemed very normal for me.

"It was only in young adolescence in the 1970s that I started understand the complete importance and strength of his work.

"I really hope my father will be remembered for his strong, clear and undaunted activism."

The blue plaque was unveiled at a ceremony in Hillside Street in Hythe on Friday, 28 February.

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