Widow Goes to London Tube Station to Hear Late Husband’s Recorded Message

For many, the “Mind the gap” announcement on the London Underground is merely a part of the ordinary soundscape of commuting. Yet for Margaret McCollum, these phrases carry a profound emotional significance. They evoke memories of her deceased spouse, Oswald Laurence, who voiced the announcement. Laurence, an actor from the 1960s, contributed his voice to the London Underground’s public service announcement—a recording that has reached millions throughout the years. Laurence died in 2007, but McCollum kept visiting Embankment station, where his voice continued to echo, enabling her to feel a bond with him.

The original recording was ultimately replaced at numerous stations. Nonetheless, Embankment persisted in broadcasting it, providing McCollum a space to reflect. In 2012, operational enhancements resulted in the unforeseen removal of Laurence’s voice at Embankment. Distressed by this change, McCollum contacted Transport for London (TfL), who replied with empathy. TfL supplied her with a CD of the recording and restored his voice at the station. This kind act allowed McCollum to preserve a valued connection to her husband and guaranteed that Laurence’s voice would carry on reminding commuters and loved ones to “Mind the gap” for many years ahead.