A teacher from Enfield has launched a one-man campaign to get people smiling on the Tube following the London bombings.
Dominic Nelder, 34, of Lindal Crescent, has vowed to travel every day in August on London's Underground network greeting passengers from 7am until 8pm, to help break traditional commuter reserve and boost confidence after July's terror attacks.
Dressed in comedy pinstripe suit, bowler hat and Dr Marten boots, Mr Nelder aims to encourage some 30,000 people to greet him with a smile and a simple hello' as part of his Say Hello, Wave Goodbye campaign.
Mr Nelder said: "I'm actually quite a shy person, believe it or not, and I have never done anything like this before. But I have been travelling on the Tube for 20 years and was sick of travelling in silence.
"It's all very quiet and grim down there at the moment, and people are eyeing other passengers suspiciously. I just wanted to make the atmosphere lighter.
"I started off on Monday morning and thought I couldn't face it, but once I said my first hello' I got into a rhythm and so far I have had more than 1,000 responses.
"But I don't insist on a response, I just offer a simple greeting and encourage people to do the same, and so far the reaction has been amazing."
Mr Nelder, a history teacher who works in neighbouring Barnet, hands out thank-you cards to those who help him break the ice.
He added: "The action I am taking is wholly new to me and goes against every instinct I have ever had when travelling on the Underground, but I believe this summer we could take a small step towards breaking the isolation and anonymity of the Tube that works against simple courtesy and so much to the advantage of terrorists."
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