Transport for London (TfL) is celebrating the launch of the new London Overground Liberty line this autumn. People are encouraged to nominate unsung heroes who have made a special contribution to the local community in Havering to win London Overground Liberty line prizes.
The London Overground line connecting Romford and Upminster will become the London Overground Liberty line this autumn. The new name celebrates the unique history of the area, which was a Royal Liberty between 1465 and 1892 where local residents were granted special freedoms compared to the rest of London. TfL is encouraging people to nominate those who have gone above and beyond to support the local community in Havering to win special London Overground prizes to tie into the royal history of the area.
Three unsung heroes will be selected by staff at the three stations along the new Liberty line this autumn. The competition is open until 15 September and the winners will be awarded special transport-related prizes by TfL, akin to the way residents of the Royal Liberty were given special privileges back in the day. These will include an exclusive London Overground cab ride, a behind-the scenes tour of a railway control centre in Romford, an invitation to see the first new London Overground Liberty line signs in place and other Liberty line goodies.
TfL has also dedicated the most recent episode of its Mind the Gap podcast series to explore the unique history of Havering, where residents were even exempt from paying certain tolls and referred to the local courts to resolve local disputes or handle small debt cases.
TfL Image – Ellen Owen (left) and Tim Dunn (right)
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Host Tim Dunn spoke to Ellen Owen who is a former director of Havering Museum. Ellen now volunteers her time to raise funds and facilitate events for Havering Museum, and talks about how Havering became an area that was far ahead of its time and marked by a strong sense of independence thanks to its status as a Royal Liberty. Later in the episode, Tim joined historian Brian Evans on a walking tour through Romford to uncover the hidden remnants of the former Royal Liberty and learn how it is still remembered today.
TfL Image – Tim Dunn (left) and Brian Evans (right)
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The Mind the Gap podcast is exploring each of the six London Overground lines which will be represented by new names and colours this autumn, to make it easier for customers to navigate the network, while also celebrating the city’s diverse culture and history. The first two episodes of the podcast about the London Overground Mildmay and Lioness lines are available to listen to and download. The ‘Mind the Gap’ podcast series was produced by 18Sixty and is available on all major podcast platforms.
Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance, said: “The London Overground line connecting Romford and Upminster will become the Liberty line in autumn, in celebration of Havering’s rich local history. It’s a great opportunity for locals to get involved, as we make the London Overground easier to navigate, while celebrating the diversity of London’s heritage and communities.”
Emma Strain, Customer Director at TfL, said: “Our new Mind the Gap podcast episode celebrates some of Havering’s fascinating history. Alongside this, as part of the naming of the London Overground Liberty line, we’re looking for people who support the local community in Havering, we encourage everyone to nominate those who have gone above and beyond for the community to win special London Overground Liberty line prizes. Tune in to our podcast to learn more about this lesser-known part of British history.”
