Duckers & Diving: Even great men occasionally slip up

THIS week our award-winning columnist shows that despite even his impressive talents, sometimes even great men are caught napping.

A great untold story has emerged regarding a senior Midlands business figure – six years after the event.

It will forever be the one that got away as I’m sad to say it happened on my watch.

Back in December 2006, when still business editor of the Birmingham Post, John Edwards, then chief executive of former regional development agency Advantage West Midlands, is walking along platform 4C at New Street Station in Birmingham.

He recalls: “All of a sudden I found myself in mid air and falling towards the rails.

“I cracked a couple of ribs, damaged a wrist and a shoulder – relatively minor considering what could have happened.

“I remember being hauled back onto the platform and carted off to accident and emergency at the City Hospital where I received excellent attention. It was a lucky escape.”

Indeed it could have been very much worse.

A Network Rail source tells me: “A train was arriving at the platform but managed to stop in time.”

Edwards blames the slip on a wet and greasy gully on a wet and greasy day – part that the gully hadn’t been cleared in years and part down to the weather conditions.

And, of course, the wags suggest his discovery first hand of just how appalling New Street Station really is resulted in the AWM decision to pump in £100m towards the £600m redevelopment currently taking place!

“I couldn’t possibly comment,” quips John.

I’m blaming the newsdesk for not picking it up!

Meanwhile, somewhat more current, I hear that Mark Alexander, of Alexander Real Estate, has been volunteered for a new career.

Having complained to Network Rail bosses about the state of the public address announcements at New Street while attending a recent presentation they gave to an Investment Property Forum meeting, the troops have suggested he takes on the role.

“That voice is just so monotonous,” he moaned. “They need to get somebody new from time to time.”

Alexander has offered to do Tuesdays 5-6 pm and Thursday mornings … but no word as yet on his offer being taken up!