Comments on: Agnese Sanvito’s London Queues

By: Bernie

Bernie — Fri, 01 May 2020 21:53:43 +0000

Am I mistaken to believe that the habit of orderly queueing was largely induced by London Transport’s use of cartoons by David Langdon during the ’39 – ’45 war? My memories stretch back only to 1940, so I do not know if people queued before the war (and curiously it is not something I have ever come across in my quite wide reading).

By: paul loften

paul loften — Fri, 01 May 2020 11:58:23 +0000

I recognize most of these places being born as a Stokie. You can spot the pre and post virus queues they don’t have the same joie de vivre. I have been in some nice queues and some nasty queues. I can’t say I have enjoyed the queues that I have been in lately although I did have a very nice conversation with a lady standing behind me in the long queue at Aldi the other day. Sadly I could not understand much of what she was saying thanks to the muffled voice behind the mask

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Fri, 01 May 2020 11:57:04 +0000

Love the photos, and the intent behind them.
We have a “go to” phrase here in New York if someone jumps the line:
“HEY!? — I’m WAITIN’ here.”
Said with authority, a certain amount of volume, and a whole lot of New York entitlement.
Mostly, it works.

The pure folly of attempting to stand in line in Italy !? — Don’t even get me started.
As always, you Brits have it just right.
Stay safe, all, And thank you GA for taking such good care of your readers.

By: Mathilde Grange

Mathilde Grange — Fri, 01 May 2020 10:34:52 +0000

There’s another European country with wonderful queues, Portugal. Spain is a disaster regarding queues, everyone tries to jump them. Great pictures.

By: Christine Thomas

Christine Thomas — Fri, 01 May 2020 08:17:32 +0000

Interested to see Canary Wharf queue as it’s about the only station left where even in ‘normal’ times people form orderly queues – at least on the Jubilee line platform heading south.

By: Ursula Whitbread

Ursula Whitbread — Fri, 01 May 2020 08:02:04 +0000

Thank you for making me smile looking at English QUEUES. Little did we know how lifesaving an activity this would be !

By: stephanie Janet pemberton

stephanie Janet pemberton — Fri, 01 May 2020 08:00:20 +0000

Love the topic and the photos, esp the Veg van. I still bear the body scars from the 80’s from my 1st attempt to board a tram in both Thessaloniki and Turin during the rush hour. Never knew grandma’s have such sharp elbows. Queuing quietly and mostly good naturedly is one of the few British ways of life that I am fond of. Not to mention the web of randomn conversations and/or laughter than can bubble up between strangers. It remains a completely foreign language to many our our global cousins for understandable reasons. Idiots is a politie adjective.

At more melancholic moments I see queuing as a symbol of 1 of our worse traits (better narrow this to the English tribes) our ability to SUFFER QUIETLY at massive cost to ourselves. Outcome of which we reap as we sowed e.g. Brexit or current Gov Flipwittery. Even our public protests are almost silent compared to the Greeks, Italians, French…..

By: Jill Wilson

Jill Wilson — Fri, 01 May 2020 07:54:20 +0000

Great photos to capture these strange times.

As an true born English person I absolutely agree about our passion for queues, and I have always been happy to stand in a well ordered line.

But the important thing is it MUST be FAIR… woe betide anyone who tries to jump to the front!!

And one of the blessings of the amazing sunshine we have had during so much of lock down is that joining the queue stretching right around the supermarket car park was a time to soak up a few bonus UV rays.

By: Greta Kelly

Greta Kelly — Fri, 01 May 2020 07:48:37 +0000

It has to be said, the British are the most disciplined nation in my opinion when it comes to queuing. Makes life so easy for everyone. While living in Germany I got some bruised ribs in so-called queues. I suppose both “Methods” are related to the situation after WW Two.
While visiting my sister in Manchester some years ago, I placed myself in no particular order at a bus stop. A double decker was due and about four/five passengers were waiting. A few more arrived before the bus. As it was approaching an “Orderly Queue” formed. I hung back…….didn’t really matter as I was bound to get on.
As the bus was about to stop, I was beckoned forward where a gap was waiting to be filled……by me! Everyone knew their place and mine as well. I was pleasantly surprised. Long may this “Queue Culture” last!