| Mailshot is your chance to
tell the subscribers of Dial-a-Cab exactly what you think. Complaints, compliments or just
to write about Call Sign. This is YOUR paper within your magazine....
You can also email your letters to: callsignmag@aol.com
Islington Bus Lane
I have recently been fined for using the final section of the
Islington bus lane. I am currently appealing against this decision, but in
addition I wrote to Rob Edwards, the Islington Borough Engineer for TfL
Street Management giving him several reasons as to why taxis should be
allowed to use this bus lane and have forwarded you his reply. Like
many others, I am still awaiting the outcome of my appeal and if this is
unsuccessful, I will certainly be taking the matter further and I
would urge all drivers in a similar situation to do likewise.
This however does not resolve the bus lane problem. At
present, once past Duncan Street, the only safe place to pick up / set
down is past the Angel intersection, something totally unsatisfactory. I
have also spoken to Mr Edwards and told him that at the very least, we
should be allowed to pick up and set down in the lane's final section and
this, amongst other options, is presently being considered.
Michael Lyons (Y52)
Rob Edwards' response to Michael Lyons is reprinted elsewhere in this
issue, while Michael's initial letter is printed below...Ed
Michael's Letter to Robert Edwards
Dear Mr Edwards
Re Islington Bus Lane
Enclosed herewith is a copy of my letter sent to the penalty office
and I await your comments after inspection. I further request that you
make the bus lane between Duncan Street and the traffic lights at the
Angel fully accessible to taxis for the following reasons:
1. At present, taxis are forced over to the mainstream traffic at the
Duncan Street / Upper Street junction holding up buses and preventing
access to Duncan Street.
2. As taxis are neither allowed to pick up or set down in this busy area,
pedestrians are forced to cross the bus lane to the mainstream traffic,
which is dangerous and will create hold ups. Disabled people, elderly
people and people with heavy luggage, will just have to watch from the
pavement as empty taxis go by. Our taxis have been designed at great
expense to provide a service for the disabled and elderly, who
unfortunately we will be unable to provide that service for.
You suggested on the phone that you are considering putting
up signs directing people to Duncan Street for taxis. This is not viable
because Duncan Street is unsuitable and people will not leave a bus queue
unless they are certain of getting a taxi and taxis would be facing the
wrong way for Euston, Kings Cross, St Pancras and Paddington.
It would be in the interests of everyone to open up this bus
lane to taxis. Until the penalty notices began to arrive, taxi drivers
thought they could legitimately use this bus lane and have been doing so
without any adverse effect on its efficiency.
As this affects all taxi drivers, I shall be sending a copy
of this letter and your response to Dial-a-Cab's in-house magazine Call
Sign.
Michael Lyons
Chigwell, Essex
Satisfied Westminster Client
I am writing to express my appreciation and gratitude for the
wonderful service you provide. I have now been 'on your books' for about
five years and I cannot speak too highly of the courtesy and efficiency I
have received both from your telephone staff and the cab drivers
themselves. It has been on my mind to write this letter for some time and
it is the service that I received yesterday that has put me to the
typewriter. I was invited to lunch in Dulwich with old friends whom
I haven't seen for years and both the driver who took me there and the
driver who brought me home (A74, I think) could not have been more kind
and understanding (I am blind). They must both have been weary from the
heat and dust, but they in no way showed their weariness. Indeed, they
added to the pleasure I had had in being with my old friends after so
long.
Please will you let everyone at Dial-a-Cab know how grateful
I am for all their help and courtesy.
Mrs H.P.Raimes
London SW1
Thank you for taking the time to write, Mrs Raimes. I would estimate that
95% of taxi driver's passengers are happy with the service they
receive,
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yet only around 1% of those will ever write in and say so. But
amazingly, out of the 5% who are unhappy, 4% will write and say so. Ah
well, such is life...Ed
To Brian Rice Re Bonnie Martyn
Dear Brian,
We just wanted to drop you a line to say thank you for the taxi you
provided for mum and I to travel to Ilford during the week of mourning for
Bonnie. It was a well-received treat during a very difficult time. We know
that you held Bonnie in very high esteem and we, his family, are finding
life quite hard without him. Bonnie always spoke of you all with great
pride, as if you were "his boys."
We will be having a stone setting service next year and we
will let you know when we have a confirmed date. Once again, thank you for
your thoughtfulness.
Our warm regards to you all.
Mrs Norma Zwaig (daughter)
Mrs Carol Martyn
Following the death of Bonnie Martyn, DaC were asked for a taxi to ferry
his wife Carol to Ilford for a memorial service (shiva). Their intention
was to hire the cab as a normal cash trip, but Brian Rice heard about it
and sent it on the DaC account with no charge ...Ed
Bonnie Martyn
I would like to thank everyone at Dial-a-Cab for their
condolences and tributes following the death of my father, Bonnie Martyn.
He always spoke so highly of DaC and was so looking forward to your 50th
anniversary. I know that he will be with you in spirit.
Can I also thank you, Alan, for sending me the issue of Call Sign where my
father features so prominently. The tributes it included were just
wonderful and I shall treasure that copy.
Josie Martyn
London E11
Bonnie Martyn
I was very touched when I attended Bonnie Martyn's funeral, who
passed away recently at the age of 93. May his soul rest in peace.
As he was the founder of not only Dial-a-Cab (or Lords as it
was called), but also the first Chairman of any radio circuit, may I
suggest that you create a frame of all the past and present Chairmen of
Dial-a-Cab, in which we can have a display of their photograph starting
from the great Bonnie Martyn in 1953 up to the great Brian Rice in 2002
and hang it in one of the reception areas? If the frame becomes full up,
then you or whoever takes over from you, should get an even bigger frame!
In 100 years time, our descendents will be able to look at the frame and
say that was my grandfather or great grandfather!
Sid Nathan (K88)
Let's cut to the chase, Sid! "You or whoever takes over from
you...?" Do you know something that I don't Sid...?
While your idea has much merit, unfortunately I don't think the photos
that I have of the early Chairmen are of sufficient quality to use in a
memorial expected to last 100+ years! However, the idea of a board listing
past Chairmen and their dates of office being on display certainly makes
sense. Many clients have such a board in their receptions and I'm
contemplating getting one commissioned by Call Sign. But speaking of
photos, the only past Chairman of whom I have no photos at all is Eli
"Trixie" Solomons - ODRTS Chairman between 1959 and 1962. If
anyone knows where I an get one to complete the Call Sign "set"
it would be much appreciated ...Ed
Thank You Dial-a-Cab
I would like to thank everyone at Dial-a-Cab for the kind gift
of assorted fruit which was sent to me during my recent spell in hospital
following a rather nasty operation. Once again many thanks.
Martin Barry (B74J)
And Thank You Again...
A big thank you to all the Dial-a-Cabbers for the beautiful
flowers, cards and get-well wishes. They lifted my spirits when I most
needed it. My husband, Wyatt, may be slow on the draw for his wallet but
was quick to build me an armrest so that I could continue working on
Dial-a-Cab's software while en cast! Looking forward to seeing you all
soon (without my horror film costume). Thank you again for the much needed
and appreciated kindness.
Debbie Carter
DaC USA
Elvis Has Now Left Brunswick House...
I have not written to Call Sign before as I am very new to computers, but
I recently saw a
show in Torquay last week that
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absolutely blew me away, its called Rockin' at Heavens Door.
It's a band plus 4 guys doing impressions of Buddy Holly,
Eddie Cochran, Roy Orbison and best of the lot, Elvis Presley. The Elvis
impersonation made me feel as though I was seeing Elvis live and I can
honestly say it was just fantastic. I have already booked to see it again
at Broxbourne and it will be at the Palladium in November - miss this at
your peril! It's that good, I spoke to the producer to see if he could
give Dial-a-Cab drivers a discount on tickets at the Palladium and he said
he would contact Tom Whitbread and perhaps drivers could hand out a few
flyers in exchange for the discounted tickets. The Roy Orbison impression
alone was well worth the cost of the ticket, then along comes Elvis and
knocked us all for six! Drivers, don't miss this show...
Harvey Yanover (B46)
Welcome to Call Sign Harvey and yes, you're right, it is a great show. Tom
Whitbread has arranged for DaC drivers to get a 10% discount with no
booking fee (worth a further 10%). You will need to show your badge or
bill on collection. That is of course, subject to availability. Can I also
remind readers that you do not need a computer to write to Call Sign. We
still accept paper in addition to emails! ...Ed
Never Mind Ginger Rogers!
It was very interesting reading the article on Lydia Foulkes. You should
also mention that she is a very good dancer and an excellent raffle ticket
seller...!
Jonathan Wyner (V90)
As one of DaC's two excellent toastmasters, I suppose Jonathon should know
a quickstep from a tango...Ed
Cars On The Circuit
As the mini cabs are chasing our client base with the hard sell, how much
longer will it be before we get cars on the circuit? Not only will this
create more revenue, but it will put that 'orrible lot on the back foot.
If we are going to have a vote on selling DaC to whoever, the membership
must have another vote to demutualise. I know the Board said they would
not put it to the membership again, but I feel it's in all our interest to
remain flexible in a rapidly changing trade. Most drivers know we have got
to move on.
Owen Murphy (B8)
Brian Rice replies: Wow Owen, is that called a thrust to the heart! We
have an AGM coming up in February and although dates have not been set, it
is probable that all rule changes and propositions will have to be in by
the beginning of December. It appears that you feel very strongly about
certain issues, if you do then why not 'put up' a rule change or
proposition? How long before we have cars on the circuit? You tell me, but
our biggest competitor will be starting their own car fleet in January
2003. You also state that we are working in a rapidly changing trade - I
couldn't agree more.
Taxi Driver of the Year Charity Dance
To all DaC Subscribers
Please join us for our 30th Anniversary Presentation Dinner Dance. You
will enjoy a four-course meal, cabaret and dancing to the Jack Hawkins
Show Band. Help us to raise money for the charities that supported this
year's event. We look forward to seeing you and hope you will support us
to help those less fortunate than yourselves.
Thank you...
Russell Poluck MBE (T55)
Hon Chairman, Taxi Driver of the Year Charity Fund
See ad elsewhere in Call Sign ...Ed
Letter From China
I feel very honoured to be a part of this most memorable and epic event
and I am determined to make the project a resounding success for all
parties involved. My sincere thanks to all those who have made it possible
for their fantastic support
Tony Arnold (F3)
Beijing, China
Call Sign will be following Tony's epic drive through China and Russia in
his LTI TXII ...Ed
Visit to London
I have been reading your magazine on-line for some time now and I am
wandering whether it would be possible for me to have a look around your
building when I come to London next February? I am currently studying in
Kujbysev (Russia) and I take a great interest in transport.
Salov Viskin
Kujbysev
Email me closer to the time Salov and I'll ask for you ...Ed
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