The English pride themselves for their eccentricities and stiff upper lip. But let's face it, they give sentimentality a whole new meaning. In most countries, the department of transport would be reviled by the common folk that have no choice but to use what is on offer. The TfL on the other hand, is like a favourite grandfather indulging his pet progeny's brat. Oswald Laurence's widow, was devastated when she no longer heard his voice booming the stentorian "Miiiiiind the Gap" at Embankment station. For 40 years, it was Oswald's voice that warned the jaded travelers of the London tube pitfall, and after his death, Dr. Margaret McCollum would take the tube to still be able to hear his voice. If that doesn't kill you with it's "awwwwww" quotient, then brace yourself.
Dr. McCollum who would wait for the next train just to be able to hear her beloved's voice, inquired as to it's disappearance and was told the new digital system couldn't get his voice on it. So, as all good English do, she wrote to TfL and asked if she might have a copy of the recording of her husband's announcement. I will not digress into what might happen if such a request was made to the BEST in triplicate, but just state that the TfL authorities not only gave instructions to the staff to track down the recording and send her a CD of the it, but now they're working on restoring the Oswald's announcement at Embankment Station.
And they say the English are unromantic!!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21719848
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