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Cllr Roger Newman, a Yateley town councillor
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Commuter's fury at two-minute silence failure

By Stephen Lloyd
November 13, 2009

A COMMUTER was left shocked and upset when the Remembrance Day two minutes’ silence was interrupted by an engineering works announcement.

Yateley town councillor Roger Newman was travelling back to his Blackwater home when Transport For London (TFL) made the gaffe on Wednesday (November 11).

Cllr Newman was so angry that he has written to Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.

Part of his letter states: “I was initially very pleased to hear announcements on the Jubilee Line informing passengers of TFLs support of the Remembrance Day silence at 11am.

“It said trains would run but there would be no announcements other than those that may be required in an emergency.”

"Very upsetting"

Cllr Newman, a Liberal Democrat who represents the Frogmore and Darby Green ward, said that as he got off at Canary Wharf station the start of the two minutes’ silence had just begun.

“This was followed after ten seconds with an announcement in the middle of the silence with details of weekend engineering works,” he added.

“This I found to be very upsetting.

“The one time in the year when we remember those who died in service for our country and this could not be respected reverently.

“When I mentioned this to a member of staff at the station they didn’t seem interested."

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