Saint Pancras in Camden in Greater London, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)

Mark Ashton

1960 - 1987

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 14, 2018

1. Mark Ashton Marker

Inscription.
Political and
Community Activist
LGSM met at
Gay's The Word
bookshop on
this site
1984/5

Erected by Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Labor Unions.

Location. 51° 31.526′ N, 0° 7.518′ W. Marker is in Camden, England, in Greater London. It is in Saint Pancras. It is at the intersection of Marchmont Street and Tavistock Place, on the left when traveling south on Marchmont Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 66 Marchmont Street, Camden, England WC1N 1AB, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Greater South East.

Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean,

in the North Atlantic Region,

in Europe,

in Atlantic Europe,

on one of the British Isles,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: William Empson (a few steps from this marker); Emlyn Williams

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Kenneth Williams (within shouting distance of this marker); William Reeve (within shouting distance of this marker); Lenin (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to the Marchmont Community Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Jerome K. Jerome (within shouting distance of this marker); Mary Anne Clarke (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Camden.

Also see . . .
1. Mark Ashton (Wikipedia). "Mark Christian Ashton (19 May 1960 – 11 February 1987) was a British gay rights activist and member of the Communist Party of Great Britain....He formed, with his friend Mike Jackson, the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) support group after the two men collected donations for the miners on strike at the 1984 Lesbian and Gay Pride march in London....After LGSM, he became involved in the Red Wedge collective[4] and became the General Secretary of the Young Communist League from 1985 to 1986....Diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, Ashton was admitted to Guy's Hospital on 30 January 1987 and died 12 days later of Pneumocystis

Gay's The Word Bookstore and Mark Ashton Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 14, 2018

2. Gay's The Word Bookstore and Mark Ashton Marker

"Gay's The Word is the only specifically lesbian and gay bookstore in the United Kingdom." - Wikipedia

pneumonia. His death prompted a significant response from the gay community, particularly in publication and attendance at his funeral at Lambeth Cemetery." (Submitted on March 23, 2018.)

2. About LGSM (LGSM). "The London Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) group was formed in July 1984, four months into the year-long miners’ strike of 1984-5. Founding members Mike Jackson and Mark Ashton had organised a bucket collection to support the striking miners on the June 1984 London Pride march and decided that more needed to be done to raise awareness of the miners’ cause in the London lesbian and gay community...." (Submitted on March 23, 2018.)

Additional keywords. LGBT LGBTQ

Credits. This page was last revised on March 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 23, 2018, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 372 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 23, 2018, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.