Roberts for Ekcovision

Roberts for Ekcovision is an iconic sign above 57 and 59 Bedford Hill in Balham. The sign was installed in 1960's but has fallen into disrepair over many years. The Heritage of London Trust has very kindly agreed to donate £15,000 toward this but the total cost is nearer £21,000.

John William Lightfoot (known as Jack) started an electrical shop somewhere in Clapham in the early 1920’s with his business partners Arthur Robert Bradman and Will Durrant.

Arthur Robert Bradman put in most of the money initially, which is how the shop came to be called Roberts. (A Roberts & Co to be precise)

At some point,  J W Lightfoot bought the other two gents out and moved the business to Bedford Hill (Not where the sign is now but on the other side of the road,  and up a bit, towards Hildreth Street).  As the business was doing very well he decided to keep the name of Roberts. 

In about 1928, he moved the business to 57 Bedford Hill and the main business at that time was supplying and repairing radios (which had valves) and charging accumulators – which he did in the cellar of 57 Bedford Hill up until the early ’60s. 

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I’m guessing more and more electrical it ems were being manufactured and eventually television.  The business grew and grew.  J W Lightfoot passed away in about 1956 and his wife (Georgina), daughter (Eileen), and two sons (Ronald & Douglas) ran the shop. A large part of the business was rental TV’s and customers came in weekly to pay the rent.  It was very much a local community business and all the customers were known by name.

At some point, the family bought 59 Bedford Hill which was used as more of a showroom. Ronald lived upstairs at number 59 with his wife. Georgina Lightfoot lived upstairs at number 57.  Eileen Dye - nee Lightfoot lived nearby and worked behind the counter mostly, helped by Georgina.  They employed Reg as an engineer and David as a junior engineer - originally in 1958. A lot of the local people called Ron Lightfoot - Mr Roberts. 

Georgina was a generous, thoughtful, and kind lady and well-liked by the Balham community back in the ’60s.  She helped others less fortunate where she could.

It was in the 1960s, that Ekco (a television manufacturer) approached the family about putting the sign on the top of the two buildings to which they agreed.  It was an amazing neon sign and could be seen clearly from platform one of Balham Station.   

There used to be a road directly opposite the shop, it was called Culmore Cross and it was the main walkway down from the station.  The sign could be seen glowing up high as the workers made their way home from the station in the autumn and winter evenings.

One day Eileen answered the telephone and it was Prince Philip’s secretary. He thought they were Roberts Radio the makers of the transistor radio of that name.

They were also victims of ‘smash and grab’ a couple of times which was unsettling and upsetting for them all. On another occasion, Ron was awakened in his bed by a Police Officer who said ‘Did you have any televisions in your shop when you went to bed last night sir?’

Eileen retired to Bournemouth in about 1989 as her husband was in poor health and Ron became ill shortly afterward and sadly died.  So, the shops were sold.  The sign remained lit for several months and it was rumoured that this was because the new owners didn’t know where the switch was.

I was devastated when I visited Balham recently and saw the state of the sign.  A lot of Balham residents both old and new see it as part of Balham’s heritage.

For some years I have been trying to get this beautiful sign restored and fortunately made contact with the Heritage of London Trust who really support this project and has agreed to fund it up to their maximum of £15,000. Which is brilliant news.  The cost, however,  to refurb and replace it will be nearer £21,000 plus there will be some ongoing electricity and maintenance costs

There is a Facebook group that has a couple of hundred supporters now and many, many current and former residents of Balham wish to see this sign restored to its former glory.  Here are some of the comments from it

Copied exactly as posted: 

Good luck , remember seeing this sigh lit up when I was a child

Brilliant news,would be fantastic to see that sign again in all its glory.Good luck.xx

It would be great to see that lit up again, fingers crossed they think so too!   

Excellent a part of our Balhamite heritage could be saved  

Good news, I live over 200 miles away now but still remember it hopefully it will be saved

……… I saw the sign at the weekend while passing through Balham on the train. Will always remind me of buying my first transistor radio from Roberts some 50 years ago.

Alison Sinclair (Granddaughter of Jack & Georgina)

nb.  Please note that in the unlikely event that the target isn't reached, donations cannot be returned.  All donations will be forwarded to a local Balham Charity


 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2225783277673258