MEET THE TfL MBES

on the move

pensioners’ editionAPRIL 2007

NUMBER 15

MEET THETfL MBES

Three TfL employees were awarded MBEs in theQueen’s New Year Honours List.

Ray Parry, Emergency Planning Manager for LU, washonoured for his work following the 7 July terroristincidents. Ray set up TfL’s Incident Care Team, liaisingwith the Government’s Family Assistance Centre toprovide support to the families of victims. The teamnow has 68 fully trained volunteers who can be calledon after an emergency incident.

Ray said: “I would like to receive this honour onbehalf of the whole of TfL’s Incident Care Team, whoworked so hard for, and so well with, the 7 July familiesat that terrible time. I’m glad this award recognisesthat contribution.”

District line General Manager Bob Thorogood wasalso recognised for his contribution to LU services. Hejoined LU at 16 as a signal box boy, and has workedas a station manager, foreman, signaller, stationguard, station inspector, area manager and trafficmanager, and held several senior positions. He hasbeen in his current post since 2003.

“It doesn’t feel like 46 years,” he said. “As you getolder the years dash past. I still get a buzz out ofrunning a railway every day. I’m lucky that I’vealways enjoyed what I’ve done, and that’sencouraged me to try new things.”

Joining Ray and Bob on the honours list wasJohn Gardner, London Buses Events PlanningManager, who was awarded an MBE for hisservices to transport in the Capital.

John joined London Buses 31 years ago as a busdriver. In his current role he plans routes anddiversions during events such as the Notting HillCarnival or the Chinese New Year celebrations.

John also had a pivotal role following the terroristincidents in 2005, working with Scotland Yard to keepLondon moving. John said: “How much better can itbe to be paid for a job you enjoy, and then for it to berecognised with such an honour?”

Staff recognised for contributionsto public transport in London

Honourable gentlemen: there wereMBEs for Ray Parry (main picture), John Gardner (left) and Bob Thorogood(top left, receiving his insignia from the Queen)

B5178_OTM_Pens_Apr1to3.qxd 30/3/07 16:38

news

CONTACT DETAILS FOR PENSIONER ENQUIRIES

We know from the manyletters, calls and emailswe receive that the TfLChristmas card andcalendar are extremelypopular (see column).And your responses and good wishes aregratefully received atthe highest level, asTransport CommissionerPeter Hendy explains:

“At Christmas I wasdelighted to receive cardsand messages of thanksfor our card and calendarfrom so many of you.Messages came in fromall around the world, even as faraway as Guyana in South America.

“A number of you sent goodwishes to our current staff. I wastouched to see you still think of them in their work to keepLondon on the move – followingin your footsteps. These messageshave been shared with staffthrough our weekly newsletterand intranet.

“Providing London with thetransport it needs continues tobe an enormous task, and weare grateful to know we haveyour ongoing support.

“For Christmas 2007, therewill be a better calendar,which includes scenes oftransport in London. I dohope it will stir memories ofthe key role transport playsin London, and the way weare developing it to supportLondon’s growing needs.”

TfL Pension Fund020 7918 3733Pensioner Liaison & Staff Travel0800 015 5073Other useful numbers:Hospital Saturday Fund020 7928 6662Hospital Savings Association01264 353211

Simply Health0800 072 6719Transport Benevolent Fund0870 000 0172/3Transport Friendly Society020 7240 8886Tax queries – HM Inspector of Taxes0845 300 3939 (quote ref 083/LT7 andyour National Insurance number)

2 otm pensioners’ edition APRIL 2007

PENSIONERS’ FORUM – MAIN POINTS OFMEETING HELD ON 1 FEBRUARY 2007

■ The meeting was given a presentation onthe scope and progress of the 2006Actuarial Valuation. It was noted that theForum had to be consulted on the principalemployer’s attitudes and intentionsregarding the handling of anysurplus/deficit, and it was agreed to list the issue again for discussion at the nextmeeting on 3 May.

■ The pensioners’ representatives expressedtheir continuing satisfaction with thepensioners’ edition of otm produced byTrident Communications, but said it wasimportant to ensure that certain informationof interest to pensioners, such as PCCelection results, pension increases and soon, were published in a timely fashion (seepage 4).

■ Yvonne Kerchhoff, the newly appointedPensioner Liaison Manager, updated themeeting on what she had been doing sinceher appointment and the plans she had forimproving the Pensioner Liaison Scheme.

■ The pensioners’ representatives expressedconcern over the lack of clarity on theapplication and topping up arrangements fora Privilege Rate Oyster card. It was agreed toclarify the process in otm (see page 5).

■ The meeting ratified the revised constitutionof the LTPA.

A message of thanks

Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy and below,

a letter from an LT pensioner

FORUM UPDATE

6 January 2007Dear Sir,

With great pleasure, I write to say thank

you for my otm and for my Christmas

card and calendar. I was a clippie at Palmers GreenGarage for some 12 years. I married Mr C.W Tobias, who was a DepotInspector. I have his certificate for 35years with London Transport. He sadly

passed away when he was 88 years old

and I miss him more each day. I thoroughly enjoyed my job and

would give the world now to return, but I am 87 years old and I can onlydream. But I just wanted to tell you how

I appreciate my pension and any other

gifts, like Christmas cards. It’s nice toknow I am not forgotten.With many grateful thanks,

Mrs K. Tobias

We’re always keen to hear from you, so send us your news, story ideasand letters by writing to:otm pensioners’ editionTrident Communications3 Selsdon Way, City Harbour, London E14 9GLEmail:[email protected]: 020 7536 8936

The opinions and views expressed in the advertisements in this magazine are in no waythose of London Underground Ltd or Transport for London. The opinions expressed inthis magazine do not necessarily represent the views of London Underground or theeditorial team. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be copied or producedin any form, including photocopying, without the consent of the holder of the copyright.Advertisements or other inserted material are accepted subject to the approval of thepublishers and their current terms and conditions.

The publishers will accept an advertisement or other inserted material only on thecondition that the advertiser warrants that the advertisement does not in any wayinfringe copyright or contravene the provisions of the Trade Descriptions Act. All copy issubject to the approval of the publishers, who reserve the right to refuse, amend,withdraw, or otherwise deal with advertisements submitted to them at their absolutediscretion and without explanation. All advertisements must comply with the BritishCode of Advertising Practice.


If you were on the Piccadillyline travelling towards King’sCross at the end of Januaryyou may have seen whatappeared to be a very youngLU employee.

In fact it was seven-year-oldChakotay Wood from Jersey, whois an LU fanatic. He was dressedfrom head to toe in uniform andmaking announcements aboutupcoming stations andinterchanges for passengers inthe first carriage of the train.

He was spotted by RevenueControl Inspector VinceFitzsimons. Vince said: “I noticed the young boy andmade the joke that DSMs were

getting younger because helooked so good! On speaking tohis parents I found out thatChakotay was having regulartreatment at Great OrmondStreet Hospital and had anappointment that day.”

Seeing that Chakotay wassuch a massive LU fan, Vincemanaged to get permission forhim to ride in the cab with thetrain driver for one stopbetween King’s Cross andCaledonian Road, which madethe boy’s day.

Vince added: “He was such alittle lad who loved his trainsand it was nice to see himenjoying himself in the cab.”

LU: the next generation

APRIL 2007 pensioners’ edition otm 3

Getting around is now a lot easier for theresidents of Blackheath and Greenwich, afterthe number 386 bus route was extended toprovide a direct bus between the two areas.

In response to popular demand, route 386 nowruns between Woolwich and Blackheath, viaQueen Elizabeth Hospital and Greenwich.

John Barry, Head of Network Development for

London Buses, says: “We’re pleased to provide theresidents of Blackheath Village with a service thatso many requested.”

Len Duval, Assembly Member for Greenwichand Lewisham, said: “It’s great that London Buseshas listened [to residents’ requests] and is nowproviding this direct link between GreenwichTown Centre and Blackheath Village.”

John Barry, Head of Network Development (third left), and Nicola Hackshaw,Performance Assistant (second right), both of London Buses, with local residents

If you likereading – andreminiscing –then you might beinterested in a new book by LTpensioner Sid Snowsell.

Power without Glory is the true storyof Sid’s experiences as a high tensionjointer for LT. He is 102 this month, andlives in Brixham, Devon.

The price to otm readers is £5. Writeto Trident Communications, 3 SelsdonWay, London E14 9GL for details.

Sid’sglorydays

Bus route extended at residents’ request

Swift PAs‘allay fears’Stopping in a tunnel can be an unnervingexperience forpassengers, but newstandards for publicannouncements (PAs) ontrains mean customersare reassured promptlyand train operators havemore time to discover thecause of delays.

Train operators must now make a PA within 30seconds of any unscheduledstop, not two minutes aswas previously the case. Butthey will then have threeminutes in which to contacttheir control centre, find outthe reason for stopping andrelay this information backto passengers.

This means customersare reassured that theproblem is beinginvestigated and gives thedriver a more realistic timeframe in which to discoverthe cause. The relayedinformation will also bemore complete.

Dominic Paul,Performance ManagerTrains, said: “This will makecustomers feel we are morein control of the networkand should allay their fears.”

Child’s play:Chakotay keepingpassengers informed


NOTICEBOARD➜ The full pension increase

from 1 April 2007 will be

3.6 per cent and is based on

the rise in the Retail Prices

Index over the 12 months to

September 2006. This will be

paid to eligible pensioners on

30 April 2007. If you have

been receiving your pension

for less than a year you may

receive a pro-rata increase,

and you can find out how

much this is by visiting

www.tflpensionfund.co.uk or

by looking on the reverse side

of your annual pension

payslip when you receive it.

The calculation of the

pension increase is due to be

reconciled by 18 April 2007,

and the Annual Payslips and

P60s will then be produced

and issued to pensioners by

25 April 2007. The payment

will be made on 30 April 2007.

The staff in the Pension Fund

Office are happy to answer

any questions you may

have about your pension,

and they can be contacted on

020 7918 3733.

➜ James Purvis, a former bus

driver and inspector, is an

avid collector of London

Transport badges and model

buses. “I’ve been into buses

since I was five years old –

that’s 65 years and still bus

mad,” he says. James would

love to hear from any fellow

collectors of badges or model

buses. You can call him on

020 7278 5165.

➜ Up until the 1980s some bus

garages would lay on trips to

the seaside in summer. They

were a very popular and

inexpensive way for staff and

families to get away from the

city and have some fun with

colleagues. Did you take part

in any of these outings? Do

you have any memories

you would like to share

with otm readers? Let

us know by writing to

us or emailing us on the

addresses given on the

back page.

news

The longest-serving quarter of members of theTfL Pension Consultative Council must retire on30 November each year, although they can standfor re-election if they wish.

In Section One (pensioners and deferredpensioners), the retiring councillors were DavidBiggs and Tom O’Callaghan. John Howie and DavidBiggs are the successful candidates following apostal ballot of the TfL Pension Fund members ofthat section.

In Section Two (TfL and its subsidiaries orcontractors), David Marshall was the retiringcouncillor. Stephen Ellaby is the successfulcandidate following a postal ballot of the TfLPension Fund members of that section.

In Section Three (LUL and its subsidiaries orcontractors), the retiring councillors were RayWatts and Aftab Adamjee. Jackie Darby andChris Carroll are the successful candidatesfollowing a postal ballot of the TfL Pension Fundmembers of that section.

This month sees the relaunch of TfL’swebsite, which has been improved socustomers can find information more quickly.

The site’s most popular pages are the JourneyPlanner, real-time travel information; the Oystercard top-up page (see page 5); the CongestionCharge Penalty Charge Notice pay site; and theTube map.

The New Media team have worked hard toensure accessibility for a range of users,including partially sighted and mobility-impairedusers. Check out the new-look site atwww.tfl.gov.uk

Switch on tothe revampedTfL website


Pension Consultative Council

For more information about the PCC please visit the TfLPension Fund website at www.tflpensionfund.co.uk or contactSarah Pascall, PCC Secretary, on 020 7918 3018 or by email [email protected]

info


Who is eligible for a privilege rate Oyster card?If you or your partner has a Privilege Ticket AuthorityCard (PTAC), you can have it registered so you can payas you go using Oyster.

What are the benefits of Oyster?No more ticket queues! And the privilege concessiongives you a 75 per cent discount on single fares.

How do I get an Oyster card?The PTAC holder needs to apply for a card withprivilege rate concession added to it. Contact StaffTravel on 0800 015 5073 for an application form. Thiswill be sent to you by post. Complete the form andreturn it to Staff Travel for authorisation. Then takeyour completed and authorised form to any LU ticketoffice, with a £3 deposit for the card, and if you wantto add credit to the card directly, the money requiredor your debit/credit card. When you first apply for anOyster card you will go through a registration processwhere you create an account.

How do I top up my Oyster card?You can add credit at stations, at Oyster Ticket Stops in shops and at London Travel Information Centres.

How do I top up online?You can create an online account atwww.tfl.gov.uk/oyster. If you use this facility you willneed to create an online account and this is separatefrom the initial registration process at the ticket office.As part of the order process you will be asked tonominate a pick-up location, which will be a Tube,tram or DLR station. Further help on the procedure isavailable via the Oyster helpline (see below).

When does my privilege rate Oyster card expire?Your eligibility for privilege rate Oyster single faresexpires on the same date as your PTAC (31 December2011) and you will then be charged the full rate.Once your PTAC has been renewed by Staff Travel,get your Oyster card updated at an LU ticket office.There is no fee or application form needed forscheduled renewals linked to PTAC renewals.

You need to carry both your PTAC and Oyster cardwhen travelling or you could be charged a penaltyfare and have your privilege concession removed.

Where can I get help?Call the Oyster helpline on 0845 330 9876 (open8am-8pm daily) or visit www.tfl.gov.uk/oyster


Pearls ofwisdom

Currently there are limitedNational Rail services thataccept Oyster pay as you go(PAYG). The services that doaccept PAYG are:

Chiltern• Amersham to Marylebone andintermediate stations • West/South Ruislip toMarylebone, but not at anyintermediate stations

Silverlink• Harrow & Wealdstone toEuston and intermediate

stations EXCEPT Kilburn HighRoad and South Hampstead • Richmond to Gunnersbury andintermediate stations • Stratford to Canning Town andintermediate stations

First Capital Connect • Kentish Town to

Moorgate/Elephant

& Castle/London Bridge andintermediate stations• Finsbury Park to King’sCross/Moorgate andintermediate stations

ONE• Liverpool St to WalthamstowCentral/Tottenham Hale/SevenSisters, but not at any

intermediate stations • Stratford to TottenhamHale/Seven Sisters, but not atany intermediate stations • Stratford to Liverpool St

C2CUpminster to Fenchurch St/Liverpool St via Barking, but notat Maryland/Forest Gate

Using Oyster on National Rail

As a retiree with a valid PTAC you are eligible fordiscounted Eurostartickets for yourselfand up to threecompanions.

You can travel at£49 each return(standard class) or £99 (first class) toParis, Brussels, Calais,Lille or the directservice to Disneyland.All bookings aresubject to availability.

Call the EurostarSpecialist SalesSection on 0870 6000789 for details.Bookings must bemade at least 14 daysin advance of travel.The Eurostar SpecialistSales Section can offeralternatives if yourchoice is not available.

Remember to carryyour PTAC with youwhen travelling. Bon voyage!

Spring in Paris,or Brussels...

Oyster fares for pensioners canpresent a confusing picture – here’swhat you need to know to takeadvantage of privilege rates on Oyster

If you would like a copy of the PTAC Restrictions guide for 2007, please contact the Staff Travel Office on 08000 155 073 or write to: Staff Travel, 4th Floor, Western House, 237-239 Oxford Street, London W1D 2LSThe restrictions will also be available soon on the TfL website at www.tfl.gov.uk

info


❂ Jimmy Adnett12 January 2007, aged71. Jimmy was a driverat Camberwell Garagefor 32 years.

❂ Ron Ashenden10 November 2006,aged 84. Ron worked asa garage inspector atRomford North StreetGarage until retiring inthe mid-80s to spendhis retirement inAnglesey.

❂ Hector Armstrong2 September 2003.Hector worked inNorwood Garage formany years.

❂ George Barker19 February 2007, aged87. George spent mostof his LT career in theCentral Bus Operatingdepartment and lateryears in the IndustrialRelations department.

❂ Trevor Blackburn4 February 2005. Heworked at Brixton andThornton Heath BusGarages, firstly as aninspector, then a goldbadge inspector andfinally assistantmanager.

❂ Alfred Brown17 December 2006,aged 84. Alfred workedas a bus inspector outof Barking Garage andwas with LondonTransport for 34 years.

❂ Alfred Carter29 January 2006, aged85. Alfred worked asbus driver, NunheadGarage, then inspectorat Merton Gate, andfinally area trafficinspector. Retired in1985 after 35 years.

❂ Sean Colohan8 December 2006,

aged 79 after a longillness. He joinedLondon Transport as a driver at PutneyGarage in 1968 andretired in 1990 after 22 years of service.

❂ Phillip Downes28 March 2006, aged57. Phil worked at Morden Depot formany years until heretired in 1999.

❂ Ken GlazierAged 72. Ken was a senior member of the LT Bus OperatingDepartment and theauthor of a number of books about London buses.

❂ Lionel “Jerry” Hill17 Feb 2006, aged 67.Jerry worked as a driver at Shepherd’sBush Garage for 16 years.

❂ Jack JarvisOctober 2003, aged 84.Jack worked at GoldersGreen Depot.

❂ Keith Kapcia15 January 2007, aged61. He worked as a busdriver for 19 years,starting in StonebridgePark Garage in 1974. He later moved toFinchley Garage.

❂ Joe Kershaw18 March 2007, aged77. Joe was a seniormember of LT’s SignalDepartment.

❂ Michael LevyMid-January 2007. Hewas a former PublicityOfficer for LT.

❂ Robert MarshJuly 2006. Robertworked out of BarkingGarage primarily as a driver for 36 years.

❂ Tony O’Grady18 June 2006. Heworked for LT (Buses) for 40 years. He workedin many departmentsincluding TottenhamGarage where he wasmanager. His last jobwas senior investigationmanager at VauxhallRevenue Section.

❂ Joe Rose17 March 2006. Busdriver and inspector, up to 1990s, based atEnfield, Wood Greenand Edmonton.

❂ Patrick Thompson10 January 2007.Patrick joined LondonTransport in 1948 as a conductor, andworked for 38 years for the company. Heworked his way up to garage manager,before retiring in 1986.

FONDLY REMEMBERED


people

Satisfied customers:Christina and Irenewith the team

Staff at Wembley Park station have won anaward for the excellent service they provide tovisually impaired customers.

For the past 18 months, blind student ChristinaFinlayson has regularly travelled with her guide dogIrene to Wembley Park to attend a computerstudies course for visually impaired people.

She was so impressed by the help she receivedfrom staff at the station that she nominated themfor the award, which is part of The Guide Dogs forthe Blind Association’s Open Doors Golden RibbonCampaign to educate service providers about howthey can best serve visually impaired customers.

Christina said: “I was so impressed by theWembley Park staff who have really gone out oftheir way to help me and the other visually impairedstudents on my course.”

Michael Graves, Group Station Manager, added:“This award is a great tribute to the staff. They dealwith thousands of passengers in a professional andwelcoming manner, but still have time to give thatlittle bit more to customers with extra needs. It shows that the training we give our staff really pays off.”

Staff praised for customer service



Victoria Coach Station celebrated its75th birthday last month.

Over the past three-quarters of a centurya world war, management takeovers,government intervention andredevelopment have all helped giveVictoria Coach Station (VCS) its identity and establish it as a core part of TfL’stransport network.

You only need to see the crowds of day-trippers, students and tourists whopass through VCS daily to get anunderstanding of how important thisvenerable institution is. Indeed, VCS isthriving, with developments such as amobility assistance scheme (see box)keeping it up to date and meeting theneeds of its customers. VCS dates back to1932, when an association of coachoperators called London Coastal Coaches(LCC) opened the terminal at its present artdeco-inspired site. Spanning close to threeacres and situated near BuckinghamPalace, VCS quickly became a major

transport hub forLondonersheading for theseaside.

Not even theSecond World Warcould interruptservice totally,despite fuelrationing, withstation mastersadopting adefiant ‘business as usual’ stance.

The 1968 Transport Act united all thecoach operators under one public servicebody, the National Bus Company (NBC).The NBC subsidiary National Travelmanaged VCS in the 1970s, but by 1978,LCC took over again, injecting some much-needed corporate management. LondonTransport acquired VCS in 1988 on therecommendation of the Secretary ofTransport, and it transferred to TfL in 2000. It hasn’t looked back.

Many happy returns!

Passengers with impaired mobilitycan pre-book the mobilityassistance service at Victoria CoachStation either by phoning the HelpPoint on 020 7824 0000 or visitingthe TfL website. The service is freeof charge.

Victoria’s secrets: howit looked in the 1970s


Have your say lettersover to you

This is the page dedicated to you! Write a letter to: otm pensioners’ letters,Trident Communications, 3 Selsdon Way, City Harbour, London E14 9GL or email:[email protected] – marking your email “otm pensioners’ edition”

DEAR EDITORI was interested to read in January’s otmabout those who took part in the marchto the Cenotaph on RemembranceSunday. I have a friend who marches forQueen Alexandra’s Royal Army NursingCorps – so I know what a special andproud occasion it is for all concerned.

I was particularly interested to readthe letter from Mr Goldsworthy, who wasthe Pensioners Liaison Representative(PLR) for Ruislip from 1993-2004.

My late father-in-law Fred Woodcockworked at Acton Works, then RuislipGardens on the Central line for many

payment in the new tax year. Historicallyit was paid on Week 8 but the Trusteesbrought this forward in response topensioner demand.

Unfortunately it is not possible to paythe increase, or to issue the annualpayslips, any earlier. This is because thepayslip acts as both a P60 for theprevious tax year and as notification ofthe increase for the forthcoming year,and therefore the entire year-endprocess can only be completed betweenthe Week 52 payroll and the Week 4payroll of the following year.

During this period the routinesrequired to calculate and reconcile theP60 data are completed, followed by thework required to calculate, reconcile andpay the increase and arrears to morethan 42,000 pensioners.

The percentage by which pensions willincrease each year is communicatedthrough otm and more recently throughthe TfL Pension Fund’s own newsletterPensionews. Pensionews was issued on 2 March and included confirmation thatthe 2007 increase will be 3.6 per cent.From 2008 we plan to communicate theincrease in the January edition of otm.

The TfL Pension Fund Office is alwayshappy to help with any enquiry and canbe contacted on 020 7918 3733, [email protected] or writeto TfL Pension Fund, 4th Floor, Wing OverStation, 55 Broadway, London SW1H 0BD

Garry WakePensions ManagerTfL Pension Fund

DEAR EDITORI do hope that we are not going to wait tillthe end of April or beginning of May forour TfL Pension Annual Pension Payslip,like we did last year. Like many members,my wife and I live on state benefits, andlike many others, we get housing benefitand Council tax rebate.

Being that the state benefits are fromthe government, the council knows whatthe increases are going to be, and theycan assess your income for the followingyear accordingly, so you don’t have toclaim year upon year, making less workfor the council. So they get annoyedwhen I walk into the council offices in themiddle of May and say my wife and Ihave additional increases on ouroccupational pensions. I get told weshould have had these in March, andthey will have to reassess our claim.They freeze the council tax rebate andhousing benefit until they work it out, soI have to pay full rent and council tax.

As I understand it the governmentbase their pension and benefit increaseson the Retail Prices Index for September,and so does the TfL Pension Fund, so ifthe government can publish increases inMarch, what stops the pension fundsending out the payslips in March?

The board must know that percentageof increase the pensions are going up by,from the percentage set out inSeptember, and it would help membersthat are having the same problems withthe council that I am having. And itwould not affect the first payment dateas this would already be set. This allcomes down to the council wanting proofof income, which I cannot give them untilI get our annual payslips. I do hope thatthe TfL Pension Fund Board take thesecomments on board.

Sidney Beaumont

DEAR MR BEAUMONTThis year’s annual payslips will be issuedby 25 April 2007 and payment ofincreased pensions, including arrears,will be on 30 April 2007. Payment isalways made on Week 4, being the first

years until he had to take earlyretirement due to health issues. I knowthat he did see a PLR to answer hisquestions about his future but I thinkthat was probably Mr Goldsworthy’spredecessor! But what a wonderful jobthey do – answering people’s questionsand reassuring them in times of illnessand uncertainty, putting minds at rest!

Fred Woodcock’s son Alan (myhusband) joined the Central line teamat Ruislip Gardens Depot some yearsbefore his father retired, around 1974.

Alan thoroughly enjoyed working at Ruislip for many years, until he died suddenly and unexpectedly on 19 December 1999. It was a huge shockto us all – he was only 50 years old – itis still hard to believe he is not here.

After Alan died, my son and I went tothe depot and his workmates were sosad – it must have been very hard forthem as Alan was the type of man whowas friendly to everyone and alwaysfitted in. Alan was the overhead cranedriver – he really loved that job and hisworkmates had a brass plaque made forthe crane which read ‘Alan’s crane’ – itwas such an honour! Alan would havebeen so proud. Apparently that hasnever been done before.

Which all brings me back to MrGoldsworth’s letter stating that HarryOliver had said we are “one big happyfamily”. Since 1999, I have experiencedthat big family feeling. The whole depotwere at his funeral – they sent wonderfulflowers and they were so kind when myson and I visited the depot. Now, asAlan’s widow I am still looked afterfinancially which never ceases to amazeme and I am always so thankful for this.

Daphne Woodcock

DEAR EDITOR

What a wonderful surprise when I opened your January issue of otm to see Donovan Aynsley’s article. He and my late husband “Tommy” Tuckerwere a happy crew and it brought backmany memories.

Joan Tucker


MEET THE TfL MBES

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