The Bristol Railway Archive

I have today digitised and uploaded this stereo cassette recording of a Pressed Steel Class 117 DMU journey from Bristol TM to Lawrence Hill, from 1982...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... flksSafYoU#!

Can anyone identify the announcer at Temple Meads in this clip? I always remember his strong accent, and the distinctive way in which he pronounced certain strings of words.
Is the Guard a member here?

Seasons Greetings to you all .

Very Best Wishes,
Bob.

I've heard that voice many times as a kid when I was on the station. Cant put a name to it though sorry.

stopblock wrote:I've heard that voice many times as a kid when I was on the station. Cant put a name to it though sorry.

Me too - although I saw the chap once when I was given a tour of Bristol Panel Box by Peter Wride early in 1978, shortly after the death of my father.

My enquiries have come to nowt. For as long as I was based at TM, the announcer was a TOC employee based on the station itself rather than in the panel box.

Further reading: - In Colin Maggs' book "The GWR Bristol to Bath Line" on page 102 there is a photo showing the announcer in the Panel Box in 1980. How shall we put it? A gentleman who looks likes he enjoys his food.
Can anyone who is/was connected with the Panel shed any further light?

i believe the announcer was a driver on other ill health duties pity i cannot remember his name when we have our monthly gathering i will ask our own memory man

Does anybody remember - must have been during the mid to late 90s I guess - when a regular station announcer at TM was a lady with a Russian accent? I wonder who she was and what happened to her ...

I always enjoyed her pronunciation of certain place names - it used to make me think I was setting off on the Trans-Siberian express rather than catching a 158 to Westbury ...

oldchapie wrote:i believe the announcer was a driver on other ill health duties pity i cannot remember his name when we have our monthly gathering i will ask our own memory man

That would probably have been Douggie Evans. He developed severe neck problems in the mid-1970s which he always put down to taking a Peak to Gloucester one hot summer day with the cab door open (which always sounded a bit implausible to me given the years he had spent on a steam footplate, which ain't excatly draught proof). He was eventually taken off the footplate and given a station announcer's job.

They have pay-as-you-go broadband down here in South Africa so I won't be listening to the YouTube link until I get back.

I will confirm or otherwise on January 11th

Some problem playing the clip but an announcer at one time was Paul Mitchell. Hopefully I will eventually get this film to work and I may be able to confirm or otherwise. An earlier announcer during the 70s was Jack Wheeler although I did not know him personally.

jules wrote:Does anybody remember - must have been during the mid to late 90s I guess - when a regular station announcer at TM was a lady with a Russian accent? I wonder who she was and what happened to her ...

I always enjoyed her pronunciation of certain place names - it used to make me think I was setting off on the Trans-Siberian express rather than catching a 158 to Westbury ...

You most deffinatley mean Lillyanah ( sp ) she was one of the customer welcome hosts for First Great Western. She is now a shunter at Spm.

You most deffinatley mean Lillyanah ( sp ) she was one of the customer welcome hosts for First Great Western. She is now a shunter at Spm.

Well thanks for that! I wasn't imagining it then. If you see her do tell her her dulcet tones at TM are both remembered and missed

I wonder if Customer Welcome Host to Shunter at SPM counts as a promotion or a demotion?

In terms of competencies and remuneration, very much a promotion.

I knew the answer to this question but avoided commenting as I am not sure how we stand in naming current employees on this site without their knowledge or permission, however complimentary and well intentioned.

Anyone have any advice?

I knew the answer to this question but avoided commenting as I am not sure how we stand in naming current employees on this site without their knowledge or permission, however complimentary and well intentioned.

I'm sure if it is just a forename and entirely complimentary, there can't possibly be a problem ...

In terms of competencies and remuneration, very much a promotion.

Absolutely, though I think in terms of glad-handing the passengers at TM - sorry, I mean customers - or shifting reluctant things around SPM in the dead of night, I'd go for standing out front with a happy smile on my face Must be my age ...

I think a lot of people would give good money to witness the comings and goings during a night turn at SPM. Always gave me a great deal of intense satisfaction to watch it all go like clockwork. It was all down to the hard work and dedication of Lil and her colleagues working against the clock of course.

I've done the passenger bit on the Londons with the comuters I was glad to get away from them.
Give me trucks any day they dont answer you back unless you derail them.