You can also email your letters to: callsignmag@aol.com

'Er Indoors
Thank God Leigh Briden "Er Indoors" is going to be ok. I can only imagine how worried her husband and kids were. I will pray for her full recovery, she is a tough woman and I know she will recover fully. I'm one of her many funs and really enjoy reading her articles in Call Sign; she is also a very funny lady who always makes me smile. I'm so happy she is out of danger and on her way to recovery. Please send her my best if you happen to talk with her, tell her my thoughts and prayers are with her...
   I didn't know she had Multiple Sclerosis, she is such a nice woman and I feel so bad she has this horrible disease. I have a friend who recovered completely from Multiple Sclerosis, which although rare, means there is always hope for others as well.
Josie Allison
Seal Beach, California
Leigh will be taking some time off from Call Sign following her serious illness ...Ed

DaC Takeover - An Open Letter to Brian Rice
Dear Brian,
   I refer to your communication re the proposed 85% stake in DaC by Sovereign Capital Ltd.
   Ironically, I have wondered for some time how would DaC cope with the obvious changes that will come about both technologically and financially within our trade as more competitors and challenges from government are thrown at others and us by a variety of people and situations. Whether we like it or not, new technological changes such as Zingo and U-Go will have to be taken on-board. The unfortunate licensing of minicabs has certainly interfered with and jeopardised our industry and how our past thinking has been. It certainly now needs to be altered and reconstructed. With many large companies now being prepared to take on the cost of high powered cars, their upkeep, as well as the drivers who receive salaries, some of the very aggressive tactics being used by our known competitors together with the numerous set-backs of the recognised licensed London taxis including the past collapse of Hooper-Metrocab and the numerous problems that appear to be rearing their ugly heads within our industry, perhaps the opportunity being offered by Sovereign could be a very positive answer in putting us in a financially sound situation for the years ahead?
   Unlike some drivers who will be more or less only too keen to be able to get something out of it - ie money - and not really care or look to the future, I and numerous others will be looking further in having an association with a financially sound investor involved in our organisation - even taking into account the fact that they will always hold the upper hand because of their investment, in order that the extension of life in a good solid and progressive way can be consolidated and built on for the years ahead.
   I am in no way criticising the present BoM or you in anyway. I am, always have been and will continue to be proud to be a DaC subscriber. Over the years I have been in the trade, there has only ever been one 'Gentleman's circuit and that's the one we are connected with. With that in mind, I feel that golden opportunities usually present themselves but once and I am well pleased in the manner in which you and the Board are going about this at the present time.
   Obviously, WE as a company have a great deal to offer any investor such as Sovereign and whilst I somehow feel that we should perhaps try going it alone, my experience in another field, coupled with my gut feeling, tells me that we should go forward with the association, subject of course to details and refinements being taken into account by you and the Board on behalf of subscribers. For what it's worth and unless there are any absolute impossibilities that cannot be overcome or accepted, I would like to see this project come to fruition as soon as possible.
   In response to your last paragraph, my questions are: -
   1. If the deal goes through, will Sovereign still allow you to be the sole Chairman, or
will there be another Chairman sitting alongside?
   2. It would appear that certain members of the present Board could possibly be displaced.  Bearing in mind that their experience has resulted in such fine achievements so far, would this be opposed?
   3. It appears to me that present technology could be viewed as the finest in today's industry, so probably for the foreseeable future no changes should be brought in, just upgrades to the present system. Would I be right in assuming that you will insist on this and obstruct any unnecessary changes in this area that Sovereign may wish to alter?
   4.The ideal situation would be that Sovereign would come in as investors, obviously with the sole idea of making a profit for themselves and would merely oversee what we are doing in order to satisfy themselves that we are continuing to run technologically correct - as we have been doing anyway and at the same time to improve our client base and upgrades with equipment while they would tend to the financial side, which is what they are good at. Would you not agree with this?
   In concluding, it must never be forgotten that the greatness of our organisation today, which has attracted the attention of a large investor such as Sovereign, has to be attributed to the efforts of men and women - some of who have unfortunately passed-on and who, had they been around today, would have been so proud of the achievements so far and interested to know what the future holds. I trust that Lady Luck, coupled with good business sense and fair mindedness will prevail through the coming weeks.
   Good luck and good negotiating...
Ronald S. Colman (J09)
Brian Rice replies:
A very interesting letter and a refreshing change, but as I have replied to other members, you will have an opportunity to ask Sovereign themselves at the forums that they wish to hold. However, I can probably answer your questions myself:
   1. My guess would be that if the deal went through then a non-exec Chairman would be employed ie someone that is not involved with the day to day running of the business but who would attend and chair Board meetings only. I believe that I would still be involved with the day to day running of the company.
   2. Quite correct, Board Members would be displaced and it would not be opposed - or so I am told.
   3. If there were any unnecessary changes contemplated, they would be pointed out. I am not sure that 'obstruct' would be the right word.
   4. Yes Ron, I would partly agree with you, I believe that they would leave things alone whilst they are running well - as they are at the moment. I would not expect them to 'oversee' anything, but be there with advice, ideas and investment.

And An Open Letter to Brian Rice...
Dear Brian,
Further to your letter of the 18th June, which included the proposal by Sovereign Capital
Limited to buy an 85% stake in our company, there are certain questions that I would like answered so that I can consider and evaluate the proposal with all the due care and attention such a decision deserves.
   I. Are you or they going to expand the company to include Private Hire e.g. Luxury sedans and ordinary cars. If this is the case, supplementary to the above, would the good jobs that are ours be hived off to these other vehicles and would we be left with the scraps?
   2. Is the company going to continue to invest in new technologies and would Sovereign help the existing membership to maintain an "up to date" fleet as mentioned in their letter?
   3. Can we have a list of other companies Sovereign has invested in, including ones that have not been as successful or have even failed, as well as companies they are currently investing in, besides the ones mentioned in their letter? Ideally, these companies should be in a parallel or similar industry.
   4. What expertise is Sovereign going to bring to the table in terms of Transport Strategy and ensure we exploit our current resources to the maximum advantage e.g. closer links with the British Tourist Authority or maximising the use of qualified tour guides who are already members of the circuit?
   5. What new marketing concepts or strategies will Sovereign use to make sure Dial-a-Cab remains a strong brand or make it the market leader?
   6. How does Sovereign plan to gain and maintain competitive advantage over the existing competition?
   7. Sovereign are a venture capitalist company out to make as much money as they can, what is their exit strategy going to be in five or ten years and how will it affect, us the existing owners of the company?
   8. What is the intention of Sovereign Capital Ltd in respect of its financial and fixed assets i.e. is it the intention to put the existing offices up for sale and lease back or move to a different location?
   9. If Sovereign were at the helm, would our subscriptions suddenly rise to cover the cost of the investment that they envision to keep us up to date?
   10. Is the payment for our stake, if accepted, taxable as unearned income or is it tax free?.
   11. If the Offer were accepted, would the Board members be entitled to more than the rest of the membership?
   These are the questions that I feel are currently the most important in determining whether to accept or decline the proposal as outlined. I would appreciate an
   acknowledgement and reply to this letter. I am also enclosing a copy of these questions to the editor of Call Sign, so that other subscribers can read the questions that I have put to you as they might have similar queries.
Brian Dunn (N30) 

Brian Rice replies:
My letter of 18th June did ask members to put any questions that they have in writing to me  it did not mean that I would be able to answer all concerns because I am not taking aso they can be addressed. But controlling stake in DaC, it is

In Reply to Brian Rice...
Well, well Mr Rice! After reading your response to my letter in the July Call Sign, I must say that for you to launch such a personal attack on my character so early on tells me that I must have struck a sore point or two! To say I was taken aback by your tirade is an understatement, so please Brian, can you be so good as to enlighten me.
   You state I am "anti-establishment," what the hell does that mean? I, like many others, view the establishment as such institutions as the Government or Police, but the fact that you view yourself and the BoM in this manner, highlights to me your newly found illusions of grandeur! You then spout off, stating that my "track record" is not good. Excuse me Mr Rice, but I wish you to explain yourself. In fact I insist you tell the members and me exactly what my "track record" is. And like they say on the telly, here's a starter for ten points...
   I have been on the circuit nearly 7 years, not once have I been put on complaint nor have any complaints been made against my conduct. In fact, while working for the late Mr Matthew Harding, I bought to DaC his whole company's account, taking it from ComCab. Is this the track record you are speaking of Mr Rice? I doubt it... Or is it that because I stand up for myself and other drivers and that it is easier to brand me a troublemaker or agitator, both of which I am most certainly not.

Also you say that our "working lives" will not change. Oh no - but yours and the BoM most certainly will and for the better.  More pay, more perks and above all, a locked-in contract.  As it seems that you have got a nice lock-in contract to "ensure DaC's future prosperity," can we the drivers expect the same privilege? Why cannot we have a lock-in for, say...
   A/ No cars on the circuit; B/ No subscription increase: C/ No loss on gratuity. I bet these are most definitely not available to us, because the only winners in this sell-off are yourself and the BoM.
   Finally, you state that I was struggling with my argument hence the old "...increase the work on the radio" line. I can assure you Mr Rice that I was most certainly not struggling with my argument and if you think that the drivers are happy with the work on radio at this time, this just shows to me how distant you and the BoM really are with we drivers. The more I think of our situation on DaC, reminds me of a book I read some years back called Animal Farm by George Orwell. It discusses equality within a group. Have a read Mr Rice, you might see where I am coming from.
Grant Davis (L39)
Brian Rice replies: You say you were taken aback with my reply - good, I'm glad that it had the desired effect, after all, who are you to denigrate people without any means of redress? So, the late Matthew Harding's account being serviced by DaC was down to you - oh really? I also knew Matthew Harding personally and it is a great pity that we cannot ask him the facts because I know what the answer would be and I think they would be different to your version. Sadly, Matthew is no longer with us so we will never know. However, I can tell you what I do recall, and that is you sitting in my office wanting to go against the member's wishes by having a 'Chelsea' livery on your cab because you drove the Chelsea Chairman, Ken Bates in your taxi. Then when you were not working for him, you wanted to work on the DaC radio, and you have the audacity to accuse me of having self-interest at heart? You also accuse me of having delusions of grandeur because I wrote that you were anti establishment and you did not know what it meant - are you really that naïve? Speaking of delusions of grandeur, who had themselves co-opted onto the committee of the LCDC? Who writes articles for the Badge? Nothing wrong with that, but you know what they say about people in glasshouses? You also said that under a new regime, the BoM will have more pay, more perks and a locked in contract; how on earth do you know that when that topic has never been discussed? However, those sentiments do remind me of the posters that went up all over London! Finally, I also read Animal Farm at school; which pig would you like to be, Grant...?

The office of the Westminster Social and Community Services Transport Contracts Manager, Michael Dwemoh, has passed the following two letters on to Call Sign...

Westminster TaxiCard
Dear Mr Dwemoh,
   I still enjoy the benefits of the TaxiCard system and of the kindness and efficiency of all in the Dial-a-Cab organisation. This letter is occasioned because twice recently, when I have thanked the driver who has driven me and tried to express my gratitude for the kindness and courtesy of other drivers, I was asked: "I wish you'd say that to those in City hall!" Then they remarked that the contract for TaxiCard services would soon be considered for renewal and they were anxious that the present contract be renewed. I am fully in accordance with that wish. I gather that each driver has made some investment (as well as the cost of his cab) before he could work for the organisation. But I value the investment they constantly make of care and courtesy. That is true not only of the drivers, but the ladies who answer the telephones when I ring - not only to make a booking, but they seem ready to deal with any other enquiry in a kind and courteous way. I discovered that they keep a tally of journeys (more accurate than I do). With sight loss, I know I can make errors and it is of benefit to me to have verification of the journeys I have used.
   Occasionally, my carer accompanies me; she also has joined in thanking the driver, saying that she wishes all black cab drivers were as helpful and pleasant as the Dial-a-Cab drivers. I noted that as high praise for the system as she has considerably more experience than I, often in journeys with her other clients here and has to call a cab in the street. That is beyond me because of my sight loss, although I once spent about half an hour trying to train myself to detect a cab as it approached me. I had to give up, as I have on other occasions. If I organise myself well, I can overcome that difficulty by phoning - and so getting door-to-door service with a standard of courtesy that is rare these days!
   I look forward to the forthcoming meeting about the TaxiCard service when I might have the chance of voicing my gratitude. So if it is not out-of-order, I plead that you consider renewing the contract with Dial-a-Cab.
   With renewed thanks to all at City Hall who contribute to a wonderful service.
(Rev) J.L.Raybould
London W1

Dear Mr Dwemoh,
I want to thank: you, your staff and the Dial-a-Cab company for the magnificent service you offered last year, to the end of March a. few days ago. Being as increasingly disabled as I am now, the greatest benefit that I enjoy is the virtual certainty I have that a taxi will arrive on time, outside my front door when I ask for it. Of course, as a pensioner, I am also just as grateful that my payments are so subsidised, to a degree that I could not afford myself.
   Which leads me to my chief thank-you, to the faithful staff who field all our telephone calls at, it seems, all hours of the day or night, who deal with us patiently and courteously and work the usual miracle! Please make sure my thanks reach them.
My records are open to your view, if you wish.
Yours sincerely
Gordon Rushton
London SW1

And Direct to Call Sign...
I was unable to attend the recent meeting between your company, Westminster Council and the TaxiCard users. We live in an age of complaints, but I would like to write and commend your service. In the six years that my nephew has used his card, we have found that your telephonists and drivers have provided an excellent service. They have been polite, friendly, helpful and punctual.
   I do hope the Dial-a-Cab scheme will continue and go from strength to strength.
Mr M.Mannion,
Vauxhall, London, SW1

And A Happy Customer
Your service is very good and I use Dial-a-Cab all the time. Thank you very much...
Mr Graham
Enfield, Middx
Thank you, we know we're nice but it is still nice to hear others say it occasionally! Your good wishes to our drivers, telephone staff and the DaC staff behind the scenes who oversee the account, have been noted and passed on via Call Sign...Ed

And From a Driver...
I am very saddened and disappointed regarding terminal messages about the Westminster account saying that the account holder has appointed certain cardholders to act for Westminster Council auditors to check that drivers clear the correct metered fare and that some fares will be checked against invoices.  If any driver is still prepared to ignore those messages, then be it on his or her head. The point I am making is that it seems to me that Westminster Council must think very little of: 1/ Dial-a-Cab, 2/ the service we provide 365 days a year and 3/ the drivers.   In order to maybe find a driver clearing a job for an excessive amount, they are using account holders to act as agent provocateur.
Paul Shaw (B19)
See Keith Cain's article ...Ed

Front Covers And The Chairman!
Why is it that Brian Rice is always on the front cover cuddling some attractive lady? How about a cover featuring our Complaints Officer Mr Whitbread. As he is not so good-looking as the Chairman, he doesn't have to hug anybody, but give him a break!
   By the way, can I congratulate you on the excellent job you make on our in-house magazine. I love it...
Syd Nathan (K88)
Thank you Syd, but Tom's job means that as soon as I put him on a cover, it will be used as a dart board ...Ed

BodyWorks
You recently carried a letter about the BodyWorks exhibition in Brick Lane that we were invited to visit gratis. In it the subscriber suggested that such shows, which invoke memories of dreadful past events, should not be open to non-medical persons. I found the exhibition to be informative, impressive and even artistic. Afterwards I told the organisers how impressed I was and as a result they asked me to pass out some leaflets and I have talked to many of my customers about it.
   I recently revisited the exhibition with my wife and daughter and a police sergeant friend who were universal in their praise of the exhibition and the manner of its presentation. None of them found the bodies on display to be presented in either a macabre, gory or sensational manner. Any intelligent person with half an interest in how we function, either as sportsmen or women, or as age and its attendant needs for hip and knee replacements, heart monitors and the like loom on the horizon, would find the exhibition fascinating and in my view are endless topic for conversation. Events of the past should not cloud our view or inhibit our need for knowledge.
Jon Tremlett (Y32)
Thanks for the letter Jon. I too saw the BodyWorks Exhibition and didn't find it
macabre at all. However, I can understand why some might find it distasteful and as you say, that distaste is brought about by past events. The process of Plastination (where dead bodies are preserved in formaldehyde, frozen and then thawed out before the rather gory process of body dissection and fluid replacement begins) is the work of a German Professor, Gunther von Hagens MD. Also included in the exhibition is a process where real human bodies can be shown in slices. Seeing how arthritic joints differ from healthy ones, how broken bones mend or seeing the difference between a healthy brain and one with a tumour, is certainly of great interest, but you must remember that less than 60 years ago, a German concentration camp doctor, Josef Mengeles, experimented on Jewish human beings even using their skin to make lamp shades. There must be quite a few drivers on DaC who lost relatives in the camps. Putting that all aside might not be quite as simple as you make out... Ed

Agreeing With The Ed
It's not every day that I agree with you, but having read your Editorial (July Call Sign), I think it's a case of two great minds thinking alike - although my wife thinks I have a big head rather than great mind! Your piece on Taxi Magazine's "terrible trio" shows that they don't really have the cab trade in mind, just their own self-interest. Then I read David Heath (W27) in Mailshot.  He writes in about watering down the Knowledge and making it easier for applicants to get their Bill, unsafe and smoky buses, licensing of minicabs and finally more trains on the underground network. When I did the Knowledge, anyone with half a brain could get their Bill in 18 months with the average time around 15 months. If you were really good, you could do it one year or even less. Does W27 really believe that London has changed so much in 20 years or so that it justifies would-be cabbies to drive around London for at least 3 years and in most cases a lot more than that. As the Editorial stated, if a candidate knows their stuff, he should get a Bill on merit and not depending on how long they have been on the Knowledge. That wouldn't water down the KoL, because the number of cabs would still be controlled by the PCO. As drivers leave the trade, notices could be sent out to prospective candidates that now would be a good time to start the KoL. That would ensure a continuous supply of cabs on the road.
   Another bee in David Heath's letter is if the Mayor puts more buses on the road. What does he mean by "unsafe?" Will they have bald tyres or dodgy brakes? I can't imagine buses being put back on the road that billow out black smoke, especially in today's environmentally friendly society. Then he talks about the old enemy - still undefeated after more than 40 years - minicabs.  I'm afraid, Mr Heath, that you will have to learn to live with them as they will soon be licensed and gain respectability. If you are one of those cab drivers who really believe that minicabs will be the downfall of the taxi trade, then forget it! The minicab trade has made work for itself that didn't exist before. When was the last time you took a local cash radio job from Peckham, Tottenham or Dalston?
   Mr Heath also writes about rusty underground trains and gridlock. If the Mayor puts on more smoky or otherwise buses and extra underground trains - rustbuckets or not - how will that increase London's road traffic and cause gridlock? Surely more buses and trains would encourage more people to travel by London transport and that in itself would alleviate road congestion. Yes, Mr Heath, I really do think that you are wrong on all counts. Remember, you have nothing to fear but fear itself...
Stanley Frankel (K46)
Improved public transport is vital in order to stop our roads becoming gridlocked, however, that must be tied in to recognition of the taxi trade as being a part of that transport network. Instances such as the Upper Street bus lane show us as being far from that in the Mayor's eyes...Ed

Come to America, Donna...
I've read several times in your excellent online taxi periodical, Call Sign, about your shooting
champion Donna Merry. We have run our shooting club in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota for 25 years and to celebrate we are having a tournament in September to which we would like to extend an invite to your Donna. Although most of the shooters will be of American descent, we have two Australians, one French person and one German taking part and if Donna could make it from the UK, that would be neat. By the way, I also drive a cab over here!
Andy Leufchak
Minnesota, USA
I asked Donna and reluctantly she must decline your offer as her UK shooting diary is currently full. She also hopes to go to the World Championships later this year in San Antonio, Texas...Ed

Upper Street Bus Lane Warning
I'd like to send a warning to Dial-a-Cab drivers who have been caught in the Upper Street bus lane. I received a ticket informing me that my cab had been videoed in the bus lane and that if I paid the fine within two weeks, it would be reduced from £80 to £40, so I reluctantly paid up. The cheque cleared and then several days after, I received a second notification telling me that I had been seen in the bus-only section and that I could pay £40 instead of £80 if I paid within 14 days of the date on the letter. Although I didn't remember the second incident, I decided to pay up and then keep well clear of the lane. Just before paying, I decided to check the second ticket against the first - they were identical except for the posting date. The offence dates were the same but the second ticket's posting was dated over two weeks later - several days after they had cashed my cheque. Can I fine them for being idiots? How about £80 reduced to £40 if they pay within 14 days...
Danny Connor (S69)
Let's hope that this bus lane allows cabs in sooner rather than later...Es

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