28 Portland Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1QN
Brian Jones
About
Originally from Jersey (now resident in Worthing), Brian left the Island in 1964, and has worked in the NHS ever since. In 2020 Brian’s son and his partner moved to the town from Bethnal Green, at the beginning of the Covid outbreak. Wanting to give them a house-warming present, and having always liked maps, Brian hit on the idea of designing his Tube Map, with a difference. As well as the familiar place names, he’s included the names of people who’ve lived in (or have connections with) Worthing, and who’ve played their part in our town’s rich history.
During the ensuing years, the map has had several incarnations, culminating in this Special Montague Gallery Signed Limited Edition, with over 70 named individuals; some well-known, and some less so. For instance, did you know that Roy Orbison used to be a regular visitor to the town; or that one of the first computer games was invented in 1952, by Stanley Gill, once a pupil at Worthing High School for Boys?
Medium and technique
The map is computer generated, employing a powerful, freely available, vector program, Autodesk Graphic. Using vectors instead of raster (pixel-based) images has the advantage of allowing the design to be scaled up or down without affecting quality or appearance. The font and colour are the very ones used by Harry Beck, who in 1931 created the first diagrammatic London Underground Map; an inspired design that has been copied throughout the World. There is a tribute to Harry in the top right-hand corner of Brian’s work. To enhance its pictorial appeal Brian has chosen the colours of the rainbow for his seven different ‘Underground’ lines.
What to expect
The map is printed on high quality 300 gsm card, and is offered in standard A-series paper sizes (A2 and A1). Bespoke copies are available to order e.g. with an extra station or branch line for a chosen address – and can be supplied up to A0 size on request.
The map comes with an optional, signed, A3 size ‘Cast List’ (a list of the persons named, and a one-line biography for each). Side by side they make an excellent conversation piece; and a unique gift. Both map and cast list are available in superior quality aluminium frames: or as prints.
