I'm half Welsh. You might already have realised this, betrayed as I am by my christian name. And so, for me, a Welsh accent – and indeed the Welsh language itself – provokes deep stirrings of nationalistic pride – despite the fact that I spent the first 18 years of my life within a 15 mile radius of Luton.

So when I was at Shrewsbury station this afternoon and heard the announcement of the 1532 Arriva Trains Wales train to Pwlheli, I sat back and luxuriated in the thick consonants. When it had finished, I sighed. I wanted to hear it again, perhaps record it on my mobile phone's voice recording facility thing for posterity. And blow me if they didn't play the whole thing a further 3 times. It's brilliant.

You can hear it here.

Enjoy.

“…Arriva Trains Wales service to Aberystwyth and Pwlheli. For Welshpool, Newtown, Caersws, Machynlleth, Dovey Junction, Borth and Aberystwyth, travel in the front coach of the train. And for Welshpool, Newtown, Caersws, Machynlleth, Dovey Junction, Penhelig, Aberdyfi, Tywyn,Tonfanau, Llwyngwril, Fairbourne, Morfa Mawddach, Barmouth, Llanaber, Talybont, Dyffryn Ardudwy, Llanbedr, Pensarn, Llandanwg, Harlech, Tygwyn, Talsarnau, Llandecwyn, Penrhyndeudraeth, Minffordd, Porthmadog, Criccieth, Penychain, Abererch and Pwllheli, travel in the rear coach of the train. Platform 4 for the 1532 Arriva Trains Wales service to Aberystwyth and Pwlheli. Penhelig, Tonfanau, Llwyngwril, Morfa Mawddach, Llanaber, Talybont, Dyffryn Ardudwy, Llanbedr, Pensarn, Llandanwg, Talsarnau, Llandecwyn, Penychain and Abererch are request stops, and passengers for these stations should ask the conductor on the train to arrange for the train to stop to allow them to alight.”