The First Baby Born on the Tube – And Why Her Name Wasn’t Really T.U.B.E.

It’s not every day a baby is born on the London Underground. In fact, it’s so rare that when it first happened, back in 1924, it caused quite the stir. The media went wild, and urban legends were born… literally.

So, what really happened on that historic day?

On 13 May 1924, a baby girl made her dramatic entrance into the world at none other than Elephant & Castle station. The press at the time reported a delightful twist: the child had supposedly been named Thelma Ursula Beatrice Eleanor so her initials would spell out "T.U.B.E." — cheeky, clever, and very British.

Unfortunately for headline writers everywhere, it wasn’t true.

Enter: Mary Ashfield Eleanor Hammond

The real name of the newborn was Mary Ashfield Eleanor Hammond. The “Ashfield” part wasn’t just a coincidence either. It was a nod to Lord Ashfield, the then-chairman of the London Underground Railways, who graciously agreed to be the baby’s godfather.

Though flattered by the gesture, Lord Ashfield had his limits. He famously quipped, “It would not do to encourage this sort of thing as I am a busy man.” A classic case of Tube humour, if you ask us.

The Baby on the Tube: A Story That Stuck

On what would be her 101st birthday, Mary’s story still captures imaginations. It’s become one of those enduring bits of Tube trivia that live on in books, blogs, and bored commuters’ conversations. Her birth even sparked a wave of copycat claims in later decades, but she remains the true original.

In the spirit of full disclosure, Mary wasn’t actually born on a moving train—she arrived at the station. Still, it’s the closest the London Underground has come to doubling as a maternity ward.

From Tube Trivia to Tube Advertising

Here at London Underground Advertising, we’re not in the baby-delivery business—but we are experts in delivering your brand message across the Tube network. From escalator panels to in-carriage Tube car panels, we help brands get seen where it matters.

Who knows? Your campaign could become the next big moment on the Underground (preferably with fewer contractions involved).