Billboard from 1984 still stands intact at Charing Cross

A man was left astounded to discover that a billboard poster he designed 40 years ago remains intact. Mick Sands, 65, previously worked as an advertising copywriter. He created a campaign for a hay fever spray, which led to billboards being displayed nationwide.

One of these billboards still stands, remarkably preserved, at Charing Cross tube station. The billboard features a garden gnome using a nasal spray to repel hay fever, with the text: ‘Otrivine. Specialist in nose care’.

Sands shared with MailOnline: ‘I was part of the creative team for an Otrivine poster campaign in 1984. I worked for a West End agency named Leagas Delaney, which handled the Otrivine account. We chose a gnome surrounded by flowers because gnomes are always in gardens. The poster was placed around town, including Charing Cross underground station in the mid-1980s.’

He still recalls the poster from his daily commute. Sands added: ‘In the eighties, I often passed that Charing Cross poster on my way to the office. I once noticed it was still there after about 20 years but hadn’t seen it for a long time until recently. I’m amazed it’s still there now – it’s been 40 years.’

Sands expressed surprise at the billboard’s longevity: ‘I’ve no idea why it hasn’t been replaced since the campaign ended so long ago. I can’t believe the makers of Otrivine are still paying for the site. Maybe it’s just been forgotten about. Thousands of people passing by daily probably have no idea it was put up in the eighties.’

Otrivine nasal spray, produced by Haleon, still exists in a modern form, although its packaging has changed. The reason for the billboard’s prolonged presence remains unclear, and Network Rail and Westminster Council have been contacted for comment.

Gareth Davies, UK CEO at Leagas Delaney, remarked: ‘We were as surprised as anyone to learn that the Otrivine advert we created over 40 years ago is still up at Charing Cross Station. It might be the oldest advert on the Underground, showing that the advertising we developed offers the best return on investment in the industry!’

Haleon commented: ‘Unfortunately, we don’t have records of when the contract for the advertising space ended, but we’d gladly take the ad back for archiving purposes. The ad is a great reminder of how our long-standing Otrivine brand has evolved over the years.’