No Pips, Please

Unfortunately it wasn't possible to engage the telephone operator in hand to hand combat. After a five-minute wait, 'I don't want any pips please.'
'You've got to have pips,'
'No, I haven't.'
'You have.'
'I haven't - it's a commentary going out live over the radio. I don't want any pips.'
'You've got to have pips'
'Can I speak to the supervisor, please?'
Another long wait. I stare at the concrete wall and the local reporter lowers his head ready to charge.
'Hullo?'
'I want a reverse charge call to Derby, and I don't want any pips.'
'You've got to have pips.'
'No, I haven't. I do this every week - time me on the clock.'
Eventually we reach agreement and I hear, 'I have a call for you from Liverpool. Will you accept the ....'
'Yes,' butts in a studio voice. 'Where the hell have you been?'
As the programme comes live down the phone I hear a cheer from the other side of the bunker.