DC10RealMan: as you are well aware, London Info does not identify traffic on radar and it is far better to have someone 'watching' you as you cross a long stretch of water just in case.
Although LYD - LFAT is outside the official boundary of Farnborough East, I always offered pilots the choice of staying with me for the crossing as I could see them until just past the FIR boundary and with the press of one button I could alert D & D if anything happened.