It is hoped that a Rainbow Plaque at Clapham Junction will be the first of many unveiled around Wandsworth.

The permanent plaque commemorating Oscar Wilde on Platform 10 was unveiled earlier this week and is part of a combined project by Wandsworth LGBTQ+ Forum and Studio Voltaire.

David Robson, chairman of Wandsworth LGBTQ+, said at a time when people are still under threat because of their sexuality, the plaque would act as a reminder that hate crime is not tolerated in the rail industry.

“As a community forum we felt we had to respond to this historical wrong," he said.

"The Rainbow Plaque is a wonderful scheme through which we can use culture to make our hidden histories (good and bad) visible.

"It’s also an opportunity to reflect on how far the LGBTQ+ movement has come and honour those who have suffered. I hope we begin to see Rainbow Plaques popping up all over the country as a result.”

Wandsworth Times:

The LGBTQ+ forum conceived of the idea for the Oscar Wilde campaign during a screening of Rupert Everett’s ‘The Happy Prince’ at monthly Queer film club ‘Out at Clapham’.

The film follows the final years of Wilde’s life, including his conviction for ‘gross indecency with men’ and depicts Wilde’s transportation from Wandsworth Prison to Reading Gaol in 1895, where he was subjected to homophobic abuse on the centre platform of Clapham Junction Station for 30 minutes.