“Stompie”, a quirky name for a tank. The Mandela Way T-34 Tank stands before you. It is a monument of history and ever-changing art. This Soviet-built T-34-85 medium tank has become a beloved landmark. It sits at the corner of Mandela Way and Page’s Walk in Bermondsey.
Once a symbol of military might, the Mandela Way T-34 Tank is now a canvas. Graffiti artists regularly repaint it. Its appearance is constantly evolving. Each new coat of paint tells a story.
The Mandela Way T-34 Tank has an intriguing past. It is rumored to have been part of the Czechoslovak People’s Army. Some say it participated in the suppression of the Prague Spring uprising in 1968. After the Velvet Revolution, Czechoslovakia dissolved. The tank was decommissioned and sold. It even appeared as a prop in the 1995 film Richard III.
Russell Gray, a local scrap dealer, bought the tank in 1995 for £7,000. It was a present for his son. Gray had a dispute with the Southwark Council. He had been denied permission to redevelop a plot of land. In a show of protest, he placed the Mandela Way T-34 Tank on the site. Its gun turret was humorously aimed at the council offices. It seems he had permission for a “tank”. The council thought it was a septic tank.
The Mandela Way T-34 Tank earned its nickname “Stompie” after James “Stompie” Seipei. He was a South African anti-apartheid activist.
In January 2022, the Mandela Way T-34 Tank was temporarily removed for restoration. Its owner worried that graffiti was affecting its historical preservation.
Over the years, the Mandela Way T-34 Tank has sported many looks. In 2002, it was painted pink by Cubitt Artists and Aleksandra Mir. In April 2017, Charlotte Meldon repainted it in its original military olive drab. During the 2020 pandemic, it became sky blue to support the National Health Service. Remembrance poppies appeared in November 2020. In July 2021, it was light green with “Go Go Green” written on it.
The Mandela Way T-34 Tank stands as a testament to history, protest, and art. Its ever-changing appearance ensures it remains a vibrant part of London’s landscape.