Call Sign May 2003 - Page 10 - 1956 and all that

Feeling better as Brian Rice makes some presentations to her
Just five months after celebrating 25 years with Dial-a-Cab, call-taker Maureen Coyne has announced her enforced retirement. A thoughtful Maureen told Call Sign she was very sad to be leaving. Through tear-filled eyes, Maureen told Call Sign:

MAUREEN COYNE RETIRES AMIDST THE TEARS!

Keith Cain comforts a sad Maureen on her last day at DaC

"I've made many friends here at DaC over the years, many good friends and the BoM have been very good to me too. But I'll come back to visit from time to time just to check that the girls in the call centre are doing their job properly and in true DaC tradition!"
Known as one of the Golden Girls for her diplomatic telephone manner when handling the Westminster TaxiCard account, cardholders

were calling in with their messages of goodwill when word leaked out that she was leaving. Such was the affection for Mo, that various members of her shift offered individual gifts as well as a collective leaving present. Chairman Brian Rice presented Maureen with a bottle of champagne, a cheque and a bouquet of flowers almost as big as the lady herself!
It'd been a pleasure knowing you Maureen...

SUCCESS FOR DAC'S JOS AS SHE GETS THE KNOWLEDGE!
After five long years on the Knowledge of London, Dial-a-Cab Call taker Jos Pearce is on the verge of achieving her aim and becoming the owner of her own coveted "green badge." Up until 18 months ago, Jos had been doing the Knowledge on a part-time basis because she needed regular money coming in, however, she realised that her KoL progress was slow. So she decided to throw caution to the wind, went part-time working in the DaC Call Centre and full-time Knowledging! Her reward came last month when she received her 'Rec' from the PCO, leaving her with just the formality of learning the suburbs. But Jos told Call Sign: "I'm taking nothing for granted and will be taking the suburbs just as seriously as the main London runs. It's been a real hard slog spending four winters on the bike and	No more winter on her bike for Joss there were times when I just couldn't see an end to it. But once I started doing it on a full-time basis, things suddenly started to click. Even now, I have failed my first two 'drives'. The first time I was just so nervous, but on the second I think I was a bit unlucky when the examiner asked me to stop as if picking up a passenger and I stopped in front of someone's driveway!" By the time you read this, Jos should be holding her badge. But were there any embarrassing moments for a lady on the	Knowledge? "Well," said Jos, "I did get a bit carried away when I got a reduction. When the Examiner told me that he would now see me in 28 days, I went over and kissed his hand in delight. It was just the most wonderful feeling! He just smiled, but perhaps I should have controlled my feelings. After all, I wouldn't want him to think that I'll be doing that to every passenger who gives me a good tip!" Well done Jos, this means that the number of women driving licensed taxis will be approaching 400 out of almost 24000 drivers! "Ah," said Jos, "but how many of those 400 women are also black?" Did that make a difference? Did Jos ever feel that her colour was holding her back? "Not for one second," said Jos. "Sorry, got to rush. Where's New Malden...?" Well done, Jos...

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