Balham’s historic Roberts for Ekcovision sign to be switched back on after 33 years

By Charlotte Lillywhite, Local Democracy Reporter

A mum has finally won a battle to restore an iconic neon sign across her grandparents’ former shops which used to welcome locals home.

The “Roberts for Ekcovision” sign will be switched on this evening after Alison Sinclair, 67, raised £21,000 to put it back in action.

The sign was put across Ms Sinclair’s grandparents’ shops in Bedford Hill in the 1960s and can be seen from Balham railway station – but it wasn’t lit up and deteriorated after the shops closed in 1989.

Ms Sinclair, who now lives in Surrey, won a £15,000 grant from the Heritage of London Trust this summer and raised the remaining £6,000 through a crowdfunder.

She said the support had been “absolutely amazing”. The sign was restored by Newman Displays in November and rebuilt with LED lights.

Ms Sinclair said: “It’s really quite emotional for me because obviously I started it from a selfish motive – I wanted it back – but for it to mean so much to other people makes me feel like I’m doing something for the community, so it’s become less about me and more about Balham.

“I raised [the money] quite quickly because there’s quite a lot of support in Balham for it. When they were taking [the sign] down to restore it people were saying: ‘Oh no, what’s happening, why are they taking it down?’

“When they put the sign up last week, although the official switch-on is today, a lady stopped and was quite emotional about it all. It means a lot to a lot of people in Balham.”

Former residents shared memories of the sign on the fundraising page.

Lynne McParlin wrote: “I left Balham around 50 years ago but pass[ed] that sign on my way to Ravenstone School and to the swimming baths almost daily. It truly is iconic to those brought up in Balham.”

Paula Earp said: “Remember this sign so well as a little girl in the 1950s. My dad (Ashley Purton) had his shoe repair shop around the corner on Rossiter.

“His backyard and Roberts backed on to each other. I remember Alison as a little girl, too! So glad this sign is being saved.

“I live in the USA now but will look out for it next time I’m ‘home’. In memory of my dad and cousin Derek Purton. Both would have been pleased about this outcome.”

Ms Sinclair’s family was approached by TV manufacturer Ekco in the 1960s to put the the sign across their electrical shop Roberts, and the neighbouring showroom.

Her grandad, John William Lightfoot, opened the business in the 1920s, and moved it to the sign’s current location around 1928.

After Mr Lightfoot died around 1956, Ms Sinclair’s grandmother, Georgina, mum Eileen and uncles Ronald and Douglas ran the shop and bought the building next door to use as a showroom.

Ms Sinclair said she wishes they were “here to see it” restored today.

Comedian Arthur Smith and Wandsworth mayor Jeremy Ambache would be at the switch-on this evening at 4pm at 57 and 59 Bedford Hill.

Pictured top: Roberts for Ekcovision sign when it was lit up (Picture: Alison Sinclair)