Fun police ban train announcer from reading poems to commuters

A popular train announcer has reportedly been banned from reading Winnie the Pooh over a loudspeaker to cheer up commuters.

Tony Knight entertains passengers with readings and jokes at his station in Wokingham, Berkshire.

But now bosses are said to have told him to stop the off-script announcements.

More than 4,000 people have signed a petition calling on South Western Railway to reverse the decision.

Tony normally reads passages from his childhood copy of Winnie the Pooh and cracks jokes when trains are running late.

One clip showed him telling passengers: ‘Just a cheeky three minutes, could be worse.’

Local James Melvill, 46, who set up the petition, said: ‘I bumped into Tony and he told me he was no longer allowed to read poems any more.

“He didn’t say why, but it seemed to come from his management.

‘Tony is great, everyone loves his little quips and jokes, and references to “naughty” trains when they’re late.

‘The amount of people who have signed the petition show how popular and well-supported he is.’

Another commuter Suzanne Buckner said: ‘How ridiculous we have to do this.

‘Why would anyone want to stop him from reading poems and brightening everyone’s day?’

The petition claims that Tony’s approach has ‘brought joy and lightened the mood of an otherwise boring commute’.

South Western Railway denied he had been stopped from reading poems.

A spokesman said: ‘We expect all of our staff to prioritise providing accurate and timely information to passengers.

“If they can add a little extra colour and personality to improve the passenger experience then we are very happy for them to do so.’