Who Was Henry Wellcome?

Earlier in the week I got around to visiting the Welcome Collection in London's Euston Road - adverts for 'Can Graphic Design Save Your Life? had intrigued me.


Previously I'd thought that Welcome was some 'grey' part of 'Big Pharma' but in fact the story of Henry Welcome is more interesting and the Philanthropy he demonstrated something to celebrate.

Samaritans Campaign 

And in fact Graphic Design can Save your Life (perhaps) - nice to see Samaritans recent campaign  included - the jury is probably still out on the Smoking adverts versus health warnings (or is it?) but the subject was well covered - with Silk Cut adverts deconstructed with the help of Semiotics (and quotes from David Lodge).

It was good to see too the AIDS and Samaritans' campaigns  on show.

Earthly Delights 

William Price- He was a bit of  an Eccentric

I also took the opportunity to look at the Art displays and was much taken with traditional work in the Wellcome history  I liked the Painting of William Price of Llantrisant (by  A C Hemming) - Price was a pioneer in promoting cremation.

Also good to see  'the Garden  of Earthly Delights' an  Oil painting after Hieronymus Bosch.

But biggest buzz was to discover Eat 22 by Ellie Harrison - this shows commitment and book and video both great

Reminded me of my 365 project but wow

Here it is

Samaritans at Science Museum (76)

By all accounts Chad Varah was a character but in his long life he started something that has helped many people through difficult times - Chad (1911 -2007) started the Samaritans a non judgemental listening service for people in distress.

The story is that Chad (a vicar at the time)  was so moved by the death of a young girl who had taken her own life when she started menstruating for the first time.

She took her life tragically through ignorance (due to poor education and bad parenting) the girl was so alarmed and felt she had  done something wrong.

Chad looking a bit like Dick Emery

It seems slightly odd that the place he's remembered along with the service he started  is the Science Museum (London Kensington) - I suppose technology in the form of Telephone is an important part of the Samaritans service.


Samaritans now offer their service through a variety of means including email, SMS and face-to-face.

A service that's become significant 

Memorabilia from the first branch 

As we get £97.40 - £100 beckons

Doors

More doors in the West End

There are a few 'Great' streets

And lots of great doors - Those numbers above the door are a 'great' feature too