My valentine’s tale.
14 Feb 2019
Dear LPG,
When I was an awful lot younger I spent some time as a GPO telephone operator, and amongst many others we provided a valentine service. A long time before the days of texts and voicemails, callers would phone and leave their messages and the times that they wanted us to deliver them, and each telephone exchange would have some operators deliver the communications on their behalf.
As operators we were able to see the numbers that people were phoning from and mobile phones were just beginning to become more popular with the masses. For a week or so before the big day we would be taking dictation from the young men of Lewisham including the telephone numbers and times that they wanted the messages delivered. We were also given a list of appropriate messages so that we could offer suggestions for those whose inspiration got lost once we answered, and they were used quite a bit. Then on the big day itself a few operators would be chosen to make the calls and pass on the romantic messages that had been left.
One particular year I was chosen as one of the operators to perform this task, but there were rules. In keeping with tradition we were not allowed to say anything that was not on the card or in answer to any question asked by the receiver of the message. I was given my list of times and things to say. In each case I would just call the number, ask for the person that the message was requested for, and then say exactly what was written on the card.
It was then that I noticed something interesting. Amongst all the others, I had instructions to read five messages, at 15 minute intervals, but these 5 had all been requested from the same mobile phone. I was not allowed to tell each lady I talked to that she was part of a ‘job lot’, and I have to admit my perception of love changed that day… just a little.
I hope that this year there are some more sincere men out there still sending a little surprise to their ladies regardless of age, and I really don’t want to tarnish the beautiful event that February 14th should be, but I have always wanted to tell this story to someone and thought that LPG readers would appreciate it.
I just hope that the gentleman that generated those messages all that time ago has finally made up his mind and only sends one message this year.
AJ, Lewisham
