Hankies at the ready - the original recording which reminded London Underground passengers to “mind the gap” is reportedly being reinstated – so the announcer’s widow can continue to hear her late husband's voice.
The phrase, along with “stand clear of the doors please” was recorded by Peter Lodge, after it was deemed impractical for drivers to constantly repeat the same announcement, a BBC blog revealed.
Lodge’s recordings, made in the late 60s, were eventually phased out, although for some unknown reason the sound engineer's voice continued to be broadcast on a platform of the Northern Line at Embankment station – until last year.
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According to The Independent On Sunday, Lodge, who owned a recording studio in Bayswater, had originally recruited an actor to read the phrases, but later re-recorded them himself after the man demanded royalties.
Now Tube bosses are reportedly bringing Lodge’s voice back – after receiving the heart-wrenching request from his widow, theimportanceofbeingtrivial.com says.
It quotes a TfL member of staff at Embankment station as saying: "They did replace it. But then they got a letter from his widow. She said that after he died she used to come here just to hear his voice. So they decided to put it back for her."
We’re still waiting for confirmation from Transport for London on this, but if it’s a goer, it gets a resounding thumbs up from us.