Before the pandemic hit, smiling away in the driver’s cab of the number 26 from Hackney Wick to Waterloo was Patrick Lawson, who would chime “good morning and welcome aboard!” to each and every passenger that tapped onto his bus. Once the journey was underway, the overhead tannoy would announce: “This number 26 bus is to Waterloo! Thank you for travelling via Transport for London. My name is Patrick and I just want to take this opportunity to wish you a very good journey. Please make sure to take all of your personal belongings with you.”