Lost property & red cars

Dear Tim.

I received this email from Thomas Hemp. Thomas is a former colleague of mine. A few years ago I worked as a clerk in the lost property office at London Victoria Railway Station, where he was the supervisor. He has some interesting information concerning red cars – I recall you mentioning red cars in connection with Oldton.

Dear Jonathan

It’s great to hear from you after all this time. You will be pleased to learn that the National Umbrella Database is now up and running and includes all known British and American makes of umbrellas as well as many European models.

I recall when I worked at the lost property department at Victoria station, we were occasionally required to bundle up the property that we did not think would be reclaimed. I remember the man who came to pick up the boxes of stuff that we had turned out, drove a red car.

That, in itself, is not unusual, however I have since worked in many other lost property offices around the country where we have been required to dispose of unclaimed possessions; the people who come to collect these discarded items all seem to drive red cars. It really is the most extraordinary coincidence.

I do not know the fate of the things we throw out, after they leave the care of the lost property office, but one would hope that they are given away to charity.