Hythe Civic Society is delighted to announce that Gerald Holtom, designer of the symbol adopted by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) – latterly recognised as the Peace Symbol - has been honoured with a Blue Plaque on his former home – 5 Hillside Street, Hythe, Kent CT21 5DL.
On Friday, 28th February, Hythe Civic Society Chairman, Paul Naylor, welcomed Rebecca Holtom, daughter of Gerald, who unveiled the plaque.
Present were:
Major (Retd) Dennis Bradley BEM DL (Representing the Lieutenancy of Kent)
Tony Vaughan, MP for Folkestone and Hythe
Cllr Penny Graham, Right Worshipful Mayor of Hythe
and local guests.
After the unveiling, guests attended a reception in St Leonard’s Church, Hythe.
Gerald Holtom and the Peace Symbol
Born in 1914, Gerald Holtom was an English artist and designer and graduate of the Royal College of Art, London.
He lived through two world wars and witnessed the race for nuclear arms supremacy during the Cold War. His concern over the devastating effects of nuclear weapons led to his involvement, in 1958, with the first of the Aldermaston marches, anti-nuclear weapons demonstrations which took place between London and the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment in Berkshire during the 1950s and 60s.
It was for this that Gerald designed the Unilateral Nuclear Disarmament Symbol, adopted by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and latterly recognised as the Peace Symbol.
At that time, Gerald approached the Direct Action Committee Against Nuclear War (DAC) to offer his help in designing visual displays and banners for use on the march which would be clearly visible to the press and photographers.
First ideas for the symbol centred on the Christian cross but as this proved controversial his thoughts turned to the dove of peace. Picasso’s version had already been adopted by the Communist Party so was equally unsuitable. He then experimented with a depiction of despair, of a man with arms outstretched downwards in submission. To validate this idea further, Gerald used his knowledge of the semaphore flag signalling system realising that the stick figure he had drawn represented N and D in the semaphore alphabet, standing for Nuclear Disarmament, inside an unbroken circle representing planet earth. In addition, upside down, the same lines represented the letters U and D in semaphore, indicating Unilateral and Disarmament - for him, illustrating that an individual who disarms himself is no longer a threat. Thus, the significance of the design of symbol was explained.
The DAC approved his ideas and the first march on Good Friday, 1958, from Trafalgar Square in London to Aldermaston, was led by a large banner bearing the symbol.
At their height in the sixties, the Aldermaston marches attracted thousands of demonstrators from all over the world drawing significant attention to the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament both in the UK and internationally. Since then, Gerald’s design has become recognised as the Peace Symbol and is widely used in protests against nuclear weapons and nuclear power stations and in anti-war demonstrations. It has been reproduced on badges, jewellery, clothing and, in 2022, was seen adorning the pyramid stage at Glastonbury.
In 1962, Gerald and his second wife took up residence in Hythe, Kent, where he continued his work as an artist and textile designer and, later, designer of sailing craft.
He died on 18th September 1985 at the age of 71 and is buried in Spring Lane Cemetery, Hythe, with two Peace Symbols incised on his headstone.
The involvement of Hythe Civic Society
To celebrate the importance of the man who created the symbol, now widely recognised as the Peace Symbol, Hythe Civic Society commissioned a blue plaque to be displayed on Gerald Holtom’s former home in Hillside Street, Hythe. The project was funded with contributions from Jim Martin, through the Folkestone and Hythe District Council Ward Budget Scheme, and Nicola Deane, current owner of Hillside Manor, 5 Hillside Street.
Through his iconic design, Gerald Holtom has helped to keep the peace movement in the public eye and it is fitting that this should be marked by the Society.
The plaque will join those already installed in Hythe by the Society for Elizabeth Bowen (Author), Don Thompson (Olympic Gold medallist) and Ronald Ward (Architect).
Note to Editors:
Hythe Civic Society is a charitable organisation first formed in 1945.
Its principal objectives concern:
Promoting high standards of planning and architecture,
Informing the public in the geography, history, natural history and architecture of the area,
Securing the preservation, protection, development and improvement of features of historic or public interest,
Promoting civic pride,
Holding meetings, lectures and exhibitions.
Hythe Civic Society has over 650 members and is among the largest civic societies in the country.
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