Another such was M/Plt Norman Gunnel (Luqa ATC) whilst working Malta Zone and who managed to stop a BA Trident from starting engines for London until I was on board. (About a 30 minute delay as I had miscalculated my time in the bar ( and the No 1 Hostie at the time is now my wife of 42 years). She wanted to close the doors as she thought I was just meeting her for a coffee in the terminal and didn't know I had a ticket and I was tourex. After the second bottle of Krug she proposed to me - just as the wheels went down for 27R at LHR.
Thank you Norman - wherever you are............you were a star.