Organised by Private Hire and Taxi Monthly, this year’s two-day show was held at Sandown Park Racecourse and sponsored by Cab-Line Insurance Services. 
   As in recent years, the stands were spread over two floors with a test drive area outside and drivers from across the UK trying out all the latest Taxi models. Among the vehicles on display were the newly launched TXII Driver from LTI, Cab Direct’s E7 SE, the Peugeot 407 and JAG’s Merc range.
   There were many trade stands to wander around including those offering every type of satellite navigation systems imaginable. All in all, a well-organised and enjoyable event.

DaC call taker and former daytime security receptionist, Tony Anastasiou, thought he was a bit overweight when he hit the scales (those that went up that far) at an amazing 26 stone –344 pounds to Call Sign on-line readers. However, when a doctor told him that his excessive weight could cost him his life, he decided to do something about it.Tony, aged 27, has been with DaC for several years and is a self-confessed junk food fanatic.
   "I’d eat anything," Tony told Call Sign, "and I never really thought about the weight. I knew I was overweight, but when the doctor mentioned that I had become a borderline diabetic and that my excessive eating was putting my life in danger, I knew I had to do something about it."
   Tony’s aunt ran a weekly slimming class that involved taking a replacement food supplement

instead of real food. Tony decided to join it.
   "The powder, when mixed with water, tasted like a milk shake," said Tony, "it has all the vitamins and nutritional value of solid food but without the bulk. It sometimes got a bit boring, but when you see that weight falling off, a bit of boredom becomes rather irrelevant!"
   In fact Tony lost almost 20 pounds in that first week alone and over the next 20 weeks added another 12 stone to his ‘loss’ record – all of it under close medical supervision. Tony is now down to just one replacement meal a day and supplements that with a healthier eating pattern that includes lots of fish and salads.
   "I just can’t tell you how much better I feel now. I feel so light in comparison that I have to tell myself that I can’t fly!"