Semi-circular bench

There is an old episode of The Goon Show which satirises government waste. In the house of commons, there is an ernest debate about cost over-runs on the construction of the secret tunnel between the houses of parliament and the Folies Bergeres. Neddy Seagoon (strolling prime minister of no fixed abode) is challenged to defend the expense of providing a semi-circular settee in the tunnel, and he explains that "It was for the use of a semi-circular vice-consul."

I like to think that whoever designed these seats outside Kew Gardens Station had the semi-circular vice-consul in mind.