One further thought...
Too many pilots don't use 'Pan' and 'Mayday' correctly, and dare I say, too few controllers insist on clear declaration of urgency or emergency...
Foxy, I've no doubt that the LSB was the right thing to do, but I'm very much of the opinion that normal operations should continue until someone declares urgency or emergency, and the proper protocols have been followed. I've seen things go wrong too often when they are not (and indeed, even when they are!).
May I ask, Foxy, are you recently qualified, and Nats or non-NATS? Just interested to explore the 'aeroplanes and piloting awareness' side of things, in the context of cut-backs from the old days (pre-about 70 course, I think) when everyone got PPLs, through the 12 hour folk, to the zero-flight-time controllers of today... By PM if you prefer.