A “you plonker” tube roundel now adorns South Acton station, emblazoned with the classic insult from Only Fools and Horses alongside a mosaic of local references. The artwork sits just outside the station’s north direction platform on the London Overground’s Mildmay line, its central bar carrying messages such as “Ticket to Ride,” “Soap Sud Island,” and various railway allusions, while the surrounding ring is dotted with small hearts bearing the names of institutions like the Acton Gardens Estate, the NHS, Berrymeade School, and more.
Created through a series of community workshops led by local artist Maud Milton and her team at Artyface, the roundel is a permanent fixture that draws on the area’s cultural landmarks. The “plonker” reference comes directly from the beloved BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, which, though set in fictional Peckham, used Harlech Tower on the South Acton Estate – now known as Acton Gardens – for its opening credits and exterior shots between 1981 and 1985. Harlech Tower, along with neighbouring Corfe Tower and Beaumaris Tower, was later slated for demolition under a regeneration scheme; efforts to preserve the building or commemorate its television legacy, including a petition launched by comedy channel Gold and backed by actor John Challis, ultimately proved unsuccessful.
The project was delivered by First Rail London in partnership with housebuilder Vistry and community arts organisation Artyface, with funding provided through social value and community investment programmes. Artyface, founded by Milton in 1999, specialises in creating inclusive, intergenerational mosaics and murals, and has previously completed similar community roundels for other London Overground stations. Milton’s approach emphasises community ownership of public spaces, placing individual stories at the centre of a collective artwork.
How residents shaped the roundel
Over several weeks, residents of all ages were invited to take part in creative workshops where they contributed original illustrations, patterns and personal memories. Every single contribution was incorporated into the finished mural, making the artwork a direct reflection of the character and history of South Acton. The workshops were designed to be accessible and multicultural, drawing in a wide cross-section of the local population. The result is that the roundel does not simply depict familiar landmarks but weaves together the everyday experiences and affections of the people who live there – from the name of a local school to a tribute to the National Health Service, underscoring the community’s appreciation for health workers.
The mural also celebrates the Mildmay line itself, which was named in 2024 in honour of Mildmay Hospital. That hospital is recognised as Europe’s first AIDS hospice and a centre of compassionate care and medical innovation, particularly during the HIV/AIDS crisis, and has served the community for more than 160 years. The inclusion of the Mildmay line’s name, alongside messages like “Acton Gardens Estate” and “Berrymeade School,” roots the artwork firmly in both the area’s past and its present renewal.
Faber Swaine, sustainability and impact manager at First Rail London, said: “This mural belongs to the people of South Acton. That’s not a phrase we use lightly, it’s the literal truth. Every image in this artwork was contributed by a local resident, which means the community has created something for themselves and for every customer who will walk past it for years to come.”
The roundel can be found just outside the station’s north direction platform, a permanent marker of a place that has changed – from a post-war housing estate with a strong working-class identity to its current form – and of the stories the community chose to keep.
