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Special Call Sign report from Ken Crawford (B40)
The Annual Disney Trip organised by the
Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers from Cabot Square to Paris, wait and
return, without anyone pressing their Code 4 (!!!) took place last month.
A galaxy of DaC stars played a part in our trade's Livery
company outing. Some new faces, many old ones, some perhaps even ancient!
Included in the DaC roll of honour were:
Patrick 'Buttons' Hinchion (R61); Rob 'Popeye' Budden (T87);
Pat 'Trainer' Graves (L53); Jim 'Marshal 6' Rainbird (T25); Russell ' Lunch
bags' Poluck (T55); John 'Marathon' Dixon (B67); Ritchie Old (F39); Alan
'Guide' Goldsmith (H75): Stewart Lewis (D20); Jim 'Nutless' Pullum (R45);
Terry 'Gentleman' Bezant (W87); Tony 'Boozer' Boon (P29); Jamie Owens (S67)
and Ken 'Beautiful 40' Crawford (B40)...
The assembled Convoy left Cabot Square, having breakfasted
in Cabot Hall and was launched by Sir David Howard, Lord Mayor of London
assisted by his sheriffs. A quick 84 mile dash to Dover in the safe care of
our Police escort trying to avoid some of the roadwork's, saw us arrive a
few minutes late, but P&O came through by holding the ferry for us.
An easy crossing to Calais and rendezvous with our friends from
the Gendarmerie and we were rolling again. This year we had one less stop on
route to Paris - have you ever seen 100+ vehicles re-fuelled in about 20
minutes? Then the CRS took over from the Gendarmes for the final leg into
the Disney complex, Paris.
172 miles from Calais and several hours later, drivers had checked their
'families' into the Cheyenne hotel and then retired to their own rooms. So
far the weather had been kind, dry and warm. Saturday started the same way,
although we had a few showers. But everyone had great fun on all the
rides...
An exhausted party had assembled at 8pm on Saturday night at
the Plaza Gardens, which had been opened especially for us as the theme park
closes at that time to the public. We dined amid a host of Disney characters
mingling to have their photos taken with us, as well as signing autographs
for the children. A very tired group of around 400 trailed off to bed very
late that night!
Sunday started with drivers firing up engines, collecting
packed lunches and trying to find their 'families'. Our escort got the
convoy rolling, each cab stopping at the exit for the sponsor's official
photographs to be taken, then back to Calais to face the rather
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DaC on the Kids
Magical Trip to Disney
Jim Pullum (R45) with his new friends
John Dixon (B67) with 2 of his 'family' in the Plaza
Restaurant
Mark takes the wheel as DaC's newest driver!
rough crossing to Dover and a
downpour which then lasted all the way home. Whatever would we have done
without our Police Motorcyclists guides to look after us!
So ended another Childrens Magical Taxi Tour to Paris. Magic memories
for children, rewarding memories for Nurses, Doctors and Carers and
satisfaction for drivers.
As always Accolades are due to the Disney Committee of The
Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers, which includes our own Jim Rainbird and
Russell Poluck - a very hard working bunch of dedicated folks!
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