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Bus Banter and Roundel Nostalgia with Edward Adoo and Simon Lederman

In episode 95 of Lunch with Leon, host Leon Daniels is joined by BBC Radio broadcasters Edward Adoo and Simon Lederman for a lively conversation about their lifelong love for London’s transport. The trio cover everything from childhood bus obsessions to the iconic roundel, with plenty of laughs along the way.

 





Edward kicks things off with a confession: “I mean, it got to the point where I had 1,000 Corgi Routemaster model buses in the living room.” It didn’t go unnoticed by his relatives, with his uncle teasing his mother that their house looked like Piccadilly Circus. 

 

Edward’s mother had other ideas, so after years of tolerating a mini-bus depot in the living room, she took matters into her own hands. “She bunged all of them into a black bag and threw them away,” Edward says, still visibly wounded by the memory. The collection, once 1,000 strong, was reduced to just ten, and giving one to a cousin nearly caused “a ruckus.”

 

Simon, meanwhile, recalls a less dramatic but no less formative experience. Growing up outside central London, his local bus, the 79A, was his first taste of transport. “Everyone’s favorite seat on the bus is top front, right? There’s no debate,” Simon says, but not for him. “Mine was just in front of where the stairs end on the lower level, because in that little point on the Daimler DMS, there was a lovely, convenient bell.” It’s the little things in life, after all.

 

The light-hearted beginning turns to the London Transport roundel, a symbol both Simon and Leon agree brings a sense of calm and professionalism. 

Simon puts it simply: “It's like walking into a Marks & Spencer. Wherever I am in the country, even when I was in one in France, I feel like everything is going to be okay.”

 

Edward chips in, noting that the roundel is more than just a city symbol. “When you see it, whether you’re in London or abroad, there’s an instant connection,” he explains. It’s not just about London; it’s a reminder of home, something “uniquely British.”

 

The episode ends on a playful note as Simon challenges Edward to a game of ‘Bus Hustle,’ testing his knowledge of London’s bus routes. With Simon chiming in from the sidelines, Leon also runs a quick fire five quiz, in which the competition is light-hearted but fierce – well, as fierce as a quiz about bus numbers can be.

 

Packed with fond memories and a shared love of London’s transport, this episode of Lunch with Leon is a delightful listen. And if you’ve ever had a favourite seat on the bus, you’ll probably relate more than you’d expect.

 

 


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