Gerald Holtom

Who was Gerald Holtom?

Gerald Herbert Holtom was a British professional designer and artist. In 1958 he designed the logo of the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, which became an international peace symbol.

Holtom was a graduate of the Royal College of Art and had been a conscientious objector in World War II. In 1958 he was working for the Ministry of Education. He designed the nuclear disarmament logo for the first Aldermaston March, organised by the Direct Action Committee against Nuclear War in Easter 1958.

Holtom brought the design, unsolicited, to the chairperson of his local anti-nuclear group in Twickenham, and alternative versions were shown at the inaugural meeting of the London CND. "The first mark on paper, according to Mr Holtom, was a white circle within a black square, followed by various versions of the Christian cross within the circle.