Bonnie Martyn
The death of Bonnie Martyn took everyone by surprise. Yes he was 93 and
to most people that would represent a long life, however, Bonnie wasn't ready
to go and those who knew him will testify to the fact that he looked, acted and
worked like a man twenty years younger than his true age. When he told me that
he was looking forward to the fiftieth anniversary of Dial-a-Cab in 2004, he
wasn't just hoping to survive that long, he fully intended taking an active
part in whatever proceedings take place to mark that important milestone. Few
would have bet against him being there. But it is not to be...
I have known Bonnie Martyn since 1985 when I was asked to
write a brief history of the early days of ODRTS. Pouring through the early
minutes, I kept wondering where some of the names I kept coming across were and
bearing in mind that some 30 years had passed, were they even still alive?
I wondered especially about our founder, Bonnie Martyn. Surely, I
thought, if he were alive then he would have some honorary position with the
Society? I started asking a few people and finally managed to get a phone
number. It was Bonnie and I have kept in touch with him and his charming wife
Carol ever since.
Now he has gone from us. DaC will still celebrate their 50th
anniversary in 2004, but Bonnie will be looking down from afar rather than from
the front, as he had so wanted. But one way or another, he'll still be there.
His baby will be 50 and he won't miss it...
Bonnie, knowing you was not just a pleasure, it was also a real
privilege...
Dial-a-Cab And Private Hire
There can be little doubt that the subject of the licensed taxi sector
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working together with what were previously known as
unlicensed minicabs - now licensed private hire - is one of the biggest talking
points within the trade at present. In an interesting article in this issue,
Allen Togwell says:
"Big money is coming into PH and they are making in-roads
offering the services that many in our trade continue to find unacceptable. We
now have a choice, they (PH) wants to work with a licensed radio circuit,
preferably the one who leads the field in reputation and technology, which of
course is Dial-a-Cab - do we ignore them and allow them to link up with a
competitor and possibly lose existing clients or do we enter into dialogue that
allows us to set out a game plan that involves Dial-a-Cab being the principle
player."
Call Sign is your magazine and would like to know your views on
the subject - whether for, against or even unsure, because the subject seems
unlikely to go away. Call Sign is your forum and your opportunity to get your
views heard...
Traffic!
Are you getting rather fed up with seeing red and white cones
everywhere leading to the inevitable road works or road closure? Are you even
more fed up with the expression World Squares for All? How about changing it to
World Roads for All? Two points come to mind: As most of the above areas
are free of living residences, why can't the workers carry out their
building/repair programmes on a 24-hour basis? After all, they
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surely aren't working for nothing?
And secondly, anyone know how you can buy shares in red and white road
cones...!
Private Hire Smile Time
Rumour has it that there are some - and not too far from the
Goldfish Bowl at City Hall - who don't approve of the LTDA's bus stop campaign
which purports to show minicabs the way to some well-known destinations as they
"...need all the help they can get."
The Mayor's office would like all sections of the capital's
transport system to work together rather than hurl insults - however well
covered up with humour. So far as I am concerned, whoever came up with this
campaign idea deserves a medal because not only is it very funny, but it has a
truthfulness to it that many prospective passengers have caught on to. Several
passengers responding to my "feed" have told me that they realise
full well that minicabs can't hold a candle to licensed taxis when it comes to
getting from A to B quickly and quite often, because taxis can do the trip
quicker, any fare difference in minicabs favour is more than nullified.
So yes, as no one ever says anything when taxis are shown in
ads as being expensive, why shouldn't we hit back. So again, I say well done to
the LTDA for an excellent campaign and also for showing us that Bob Oddy can
actually smile!
This Issue...
Call Sign has published many questions over the past few months
from drivers aimed at Sovereign Capital, asking various questions as to their
motives and future plans should drivers vote to sell them their shares. This
issue provides many of the answers with the first official response from the
company.
This is, of course in addition to any upcoming forums and not
instead. Nonetheless, it makes interesting reading.
Alan Fisher
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