Call Sign January 2003 - Page 18 - A Dragon's welcome home for DaC's Tony Arnold

London's Trafalgar Square was the setting for the return of Dial-a-Cab driver Tony Arnold (F03) from his momentous taxi trip from China and Mongolia, into Russia (before his taxi was "confiscated" by the authorities), right through northern Europe, which included a drive into Lapland to meet the real Santa Clause. After all that, Finland, Sweden, Copenhagen, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and France must have seemed like a doddle!

Now just a memory! Tony and his TXII leave Santa Clause' grotto/home in Lapland. Pic John Rula

Now twelve weeks on, Tony was back in the place that he started his trip from on August 31. Call Sign has been following Tony's progress exclusively and regular readers would have seen photographs of Tony taken in China and Mongolia. But now he was back home "...and it's a great feeling," said Tony as we watched a Chinese Dragon dance especially laid on for Tony and his two passengers Liang Yuchun (known as Chun Chun) and Wang Yuanchun (Scarlett), who had won the trip in a Chinese Internet competition.
"I have always been very pro-Dial-a-Cab," Tony told us, "so I am really pleased to see Brian Rice and Call Sign here to meet me in addition to all the press and dignitaries." The DaC Chairman presented both Tony and John Rula with a new DaC jacket and also gave one each to both Scarlett and Chun Chun. The two youngsters were also presented with DaC "goody" bags containing DaC caps, CDs and other items with our name on.

Almost time to say goodbye. Tony, Chun Chun, Scarlett - and their new DaC caps! Pic Alan Green

Tony speaks to the staff from the Chinese Embassy in London including the Consul General Sun Dali (second left) and his wife

Welcomed home by a traditional Chinese Dragon

The trip was filmed by television makers Pearson Broadband for China's Travel Channel (TSTV) where it has been showing weekly since September, each episode drawing an estimated 90 million viewers! It was instigated by the Chinese Government who are committed to helping the Chinese with their knowledge of the English and their customs in the run-up to the 2008 Olympic Games.
   Tony provided some facts for Call Sign readers: The group led by Tony, his co driver mechanic LTI's John Rula and their two young Chinese passengers drove 17,700 kilometres through or partly through eleven countries without one breakdown and on the same set of tyres! In Chita, Russia, it was so cold that it made their eyes water and the tears then froze on their faces! During the Chinese section of the trip, Tony's TXII picked up the name of "Xiaofu", which in Mandarin Chinese means "Little Batmobile." And had he been paid for the trip, the meter would have read a staggering Ł24,880.60...!
   One of the most endearing parts of the trip was seeing the Chinese trying to make out just what it was that Tony was driving. "Some seemed to think it was a spaceship," he remembered with a smile.
   Tony also tried to pass on some cockney expressions - especially to Scarlett and Chun Chun. "So let's hope," said Tony, "that 500 million people won't be walking around saying 'my battery is knackered' or 'my mother-in-law is a sheep!'"
   Was he pleased to be back on English soil? "To be honest," said Tony, "I loved the trip and I thought China was absolutely wonderful, but when we got back to Portsmouth, I kissed the ground!"
   How did other countries see the taxi? "Well," said Tony, "after driving a taxi in London for 25 years, I was starting to feel a bit stale and looking to see whether there was anything else I could do in the future, but after doing this trip and seeing how those in other countries looked up to the TXII almost in awe, I have regained so much pride in my industry and that should keep me going for another 25 years!" In actual fact, Tony is also a youth trainer at West Ham Football Club but still considers himself a London cab driver first and foremost.
   So what was the worst part of the trip? For that, we repeat the answer that Tony gave to the Australian ABC news channel:
   "On the China / Russian border where the guards just refused to allow us through with the TXII. That was so frustrating and a bit worrying. In fact I emailed the Editor of Dial-a-Cab's Call Sign magazine who were following the trip, and asked if war had been declared since we left!"

What They Said...
Sun Dali (Consul General to People's Democratic Republic of China Embassy in London):
"A memorable trip. My congratulations to Mr Arnold and those who made the journey with him."
John Hollar (President of Pearson Broadband):
"A taxi journey from Beijing to London complete with driver and passengers who speak different languages is our first venture in bringing English to the world in a creative way."
Ge Lintao (CEO of TSTV):
"We hope that programmes such as TSTV's Beijing - London taxi ride will help connect China with the mainstream of the world's tourist industry."
Nicki Websper (Sales & Marketing at LTI):
"The black taxi is a true icon of Britain and seeing the response it received on the trip was wonderful."
Passenger Scarlett: "This has been such a wonderful experience. I have seen so many wonderful sights in so many different countries."
Passenger Chun Chun:
"I can't believe that the trip is over! I wish it had just been a rehearsal and that we could start it all again."
Tony Arnold:
"I'd like to thank everyone who made the journey possible, especially LTI for the taxi, Pearson Broadband and film director Kate, Kodak for their valuable sponsorship and Call Sign magazine for keeping in touch..."