You can also email your letters to:  callsingmag@aol.com

Private Hire Views in Call Sign?
You were brave to print the article from a private hire driver and should have been brave enough to print further pieces from him or others. Reading some of his comments may have been painful for a few drivers, but what is wrong with that? Too many of us are refusing to acknowledge that licensed taxis are now facing genuine valid and efficient competition, but denying the obvious will not make it otherwise. Print and be damned; do not be censored…
Laurence Kelvin (W88)
   I thought the idea of an occasional column from a PH driver from the "reputable" side of the industry would be useful to us by letting us know their thoughts. "Being brave" didn’t enter my thoughts following publication of the article, it was how genuinely upset some of our drivers were at seeing it. My phone was inundated with complaints, all making a similar point – I was making PH more respectable than they are. I try to publish what I consider to be an interesting read and if it stimulates debate, then even better. However, I try to keep away from shock treatment! If enough drivers agree with you, Laurence, then bringing back the PH driver for an occasional article would be easy enough for me to do …Ed

The Life and Times of Crapham Junction!
Clapham junction station in London has 17 platforms and boasts that it is the busiest station in the UK. The station is also notorious for not having a single public toilet! As you approach the side entrance of the station at night, there are an abundance of odious smells outside to greet you, which my cavalier King Charles finds irresistible. The one main toilet in the station has been out of action for several months while refurbishment takes place, outside it a sign is displayed thanking the public for their patience during this period! The station staff, when caught short apparently hop on a train to Victoria to go and it doesn’t cost them a penny! So when your next train is cancelled because of staff shortages, you will know why.
   Railways in the past have been accused of treating people like cattle - should that now read camels with so many train toilets locked?
   The whole station needs a facelift and is also notorious for the minicab touts that prey nightly on the public as they walk along the concourse. There is no sign showing where the licensed taxi rank is situated; only a sign for a free minicab phone line. With minicab drivers now being granted temporary licenses while criminal records are being checked, you could end up being driven by Gary Glitter… "Do you wannna be in my gang, Oh yeah…!"
David Heath (Ex-W27)
Clapham Junction must also have one of the busiest taxi ranks as well. During the evenings there always seem to be people waiting there who obviously do not want to use our little ‘friends’ - while having every opportunity to do so…Ed

How Not to Park in Stoke Newington!
I recently visited a Turkish restaurant in Stoke Newington High Street. A delicious meal for 3 people costing £46, including brandy and a bottle of wine. Great value! When I got back to my cab at 9.24pm, I found a ticket on it. This was for parking my wheels on the pavement. This somewhat spoilt the evening for me, so I have written a letter to accompany my fine. It makes me feel better even though I still have to pay. I hope that our members are aware that parking your wheels on the pavement is an offence…
Steve Shaller (R75)

Dear Sir
Please find enclosed payment for the sum of £50 appertaining to contravention code 62. This was the first time in many years that I have visited the borough of Hackney on a social basis and I would like to express how impressed I am at the conscientiousness of your parking attendants. The fact that they are prepared to trawl the streets of Hackney on a wet and windy Sunday evening at 21:24 rather then spend their time with their respective families shows their dedication to the job. I do hope they are working on a commission basis and are financially rewarded for their efforts. If only our police force were prepared to walk the streets of our great city fighting crime, muggings and drug deals with the same dogged determination. It is also comforting to know that this money will be going to a London borough that is considered by many to be run down and in need of major regeneration.
   I hope that you will accept this cheque of £50 not so much as a fine, but more of a donation to a London borough that should have been "twinned" with war torn Dresden.
   I look forward to my next visit to Hackney...
Yours sincerely
S Shaller
   For someone who lives in Spain, you sure have one hell of a journey to find a decent restaurant! …Ed

New Account Holder
I have recently opened an account with Dial-a-Cab on behalf of my daughter and I would like to tell you that in stark contrast to the normal "hassle" involved in such matters, dealing with your company has so far been an absolute pleasure thanks to the first class help and service I have received from your staff team.
   Right from my very first general enquiry, Annita Young, together with her colleague Lisa were totally professional in answering my queries. Having decided to open the account, all necessary documents were sent to me by Annita Young, Lucy George and their team.
   Once again, what a pleasure it has been to deal with such courteous, helpful and professional people. Thank you all very much…

Mr M.Crouch
Kings Lynn, Norfolk
   Thank you for taking the time to write …Ed

Call Sign
Gotta say that the October issue of Call Sign was absolutely superb and I look forward to the next chapter…
Steve Brown (D67)

And…
Just seen your October issue. It was excellent…
Tony Arnold (F03)
This is beginning to sound very much like the football manager’s dreaded vote of confidence! …Ed

Airport Lost Property
I hope you may be able to include this letter in the correspondence columns of your Dial-a-Cab magazine. On 20th September last, my partner and I returned from Nice to London
(Heathrow) and at about 3.15pm were driven home to East Twickenham by a taxi driver whose name I do not know, nor the number of his cab. To be honest, I thought he was rather fed-up at having just a local call instead of a longer distance, although he was always polite and helpful. On arrival, he assisted with our luggage and then drove off. A few minutes later, I realised that I had left my small camera-bag in his cab: it contained my camera, wallet containing euros, some newly purchased perfume and my diary - besides several other small items. It was a disappointing end to a pleasant holiday. 
   I drove back to LHR straightaway and again the following morning just in case it had been handed in to the lost property office there. Neither had it been taken to the lost property office in town. It apparently had gone for good!
   Just before 9pm the next evening, I responded to a ring at the front doorbell and to my utter astonishment and great pleasure, there was this gentleman cabbie. Holding it high and with a broad smile on his face, he asked: "Is this your bag? It was left in my cab." For one moment I became speechless and then made to get a handsome tip for him. "No," he replied, "it’s a pleasure to be able to return it; I don't want anything." With that, his mobile rang and he was off down the path. So, I had no other opportunity to say any more.
In these days, such kindly honesty and good humour tend to be at a premium, quite apart from the very unselfish motive which prompted him to call round late in the evening. I shall never forget his kindness, nor the smile on his face and hope that he, or anyone else to whom he may have told the story, may possibly read this letter.
Robert Jones
Twickenham
   It doesn’t surprise me in the slightest, what is nice is that someone should take the time to write …Ed

An Open Letter to Allen Togwell
Dear Allen
When you were voted off the Board some years ago, I recall you driving an old Metrocab. You didn’t seem to think it was the wrong image for the company then, so why is it now? I bet you would not have been pleased at being excluded from some of the work when you were driving? Mike Son and Tom Whitbread drove Metrocabs and I’m sure they would not have liked being excluded either. And can you imagine our Chairman, Brian Rice, when he was driving with his brand new two-tone Metrocab turbo with personalised number plates, being told that the BoM would not ride in his taxi because it was a Metrocab? Can you see Brian saying: "I don’t care, it doesn’t matter?" I don’t think so…
   Do you honestly think that an "R" reg Bronze TX1 is a better cab than a £30K top of the range Metrocab? I don’t think so…
   I was not aware I was being excluded because I drive a Metrocab, I would have thought that being an equal shareholder, I should get an equal amount of work.
Yours Sincerely
Martin Madden (Y97)
   Allen Togwell’s response can be found within his article in this issue …Ed

Christmas Incentives?
The October issue of Call Sign reports from the Chairman that we have achieved some very good financial results with increased profits. Brian Rice and the other Board members should get our praise, whilst all the staff at Brunswick House should also be thanked for the hard work they have been doing. However none of this would be possible without the brilliant efforts of the drivers on the circuit and now is the time to plan the Christmas incentives and reward the drivers for the demanding, formidable and arduous work they have performed in a cheerful and courteous manner whatever the circumstances.
   Last year we got some cans of iced tea and a calendar. This year would be a good time to repeat the scheme of a few years ago when the three hardest working drivers each had the chance to win a car. I write this in the first week of October and already there has been difficulty covering some of the work in the City and E14 at evening time. Without a decent incentive, I fear that too many drivers will pick up cash work while ignoring the account work. The resulting poor coverage will mean that some large clients will move elsewhere and who could blame them? For the amount they spend on taxis, they expect and deserve an excellent service: prompt vehicles that are clean with smart drivers would be a minimum standard.
Laurence Kelvin (W88)
Brian Rice replies: Nice letter Laurence, but you forgot to mention the torch that went with the iced tea and calendar.  However, I do find your letter a little contradictory when in one breath you mention how wonderful our drivers are and then go on to say that they need to have incentives to cover the work at Xmas. Yes we did offer incentives a few years ago for the first time, but it is quite amazing how people then take it for granted and expect things automatically. It was done at a time when we could not expand the fleet and the BoM had to insist on certain rules being observed to ensure coverage and yes, incentives were employed. However, the BoM have decided that we will not be having incentives this year (that is not to say that we will not have them in the future), as the fleet is larger and I have every confidence in the intelligence of our members to realise that our account work  

should be covered as it’s there
all the year round and not just at Christmas time. In the past at Xmas, we were endeavouring to get a pint into
a half-pint glass, this year we have a pint glass! However, it will be extremely busy and the assistance from ALL drivers will be required. 
   Finally Laurence, on behalf of the BoM, staff and members, I would like to thank you for your kind words - they are very much appreciated.

Hungarian Goulash!
A funny thing has happened. My wife and I recently took a few days break in Budapest, Hungary. After visiting sites I hadn't seen for years and seeing friends and relatives, eventually we managed to steal a few hours relaxation for ourselves. Getting back to our flat, I kicked off my shoes, made a cup of coffee, put up my tired feet and switched on the telly. On one of the cable channels – I don't remember which one - I was suddenly looking at a very familiar scene… red double decker buses in London. Then the scene switched and I found myself looking around inside even more familiar surroundings - the interior of a red, E-reg Metrocab, except that on the back seat sat a man busy transforming himself into a female by changing clothes and putting on make-up! The conversation between driver and passenger was synchronised into Hungarian and as I speak the language, I had no difficulty in understanding it. Then, as the shot switched to the driver, I saw that it was none other than…. Tom Whitbread! I was so taken back that I have now forgotten what the conversation was about!
   I don't know when this documentary was shot, but it was quite an experience watching it while staying in Budapest, not just to see the London Taxi with a transvestite inside, but driven by our very own Tom W. It is indeed a small world!
John Fixler (L21)
I tried to get hold of Tom, but he was busy trying on a new frock! If the truth be known, many years ago Tom was asked if he would like the part of a Taxi driver in a 10-minute film which was being made as an entrant to a film festival.  To show how long ago it was, the movie that won the prize starred Kate Winslet’s sister Anna in a documentary on the problems of Apartheid in South Africa. Well that’s what Tom told me. I prefer the bit about trying on the frock! …Ed

It’s How You Say It!
I am enclosing a copy of a letter received from the PCO together with a copy of my reply in respect of my medical, which was due in April. Obviously I never received the medical form – I would have to be a complete idiot to ignore it. I am just incensed at the tone of the letter. I will not be intimidated like this because of an oversight by the PCO.
Roy Martin (R42)
Dear Mr Martin
With reference to your medical, which was due to be returned to the Public Carriage Office by 24th May 2004, our records show that the medical form has not yet been received. It is requested that the medical form is completed and returned by 18th October 2004. If the medical has not been received by this date, your case will be referred to the Licensing Authority for consideration of further action to be taken in respect of your cab driver’s Licence. This may result in a recommendation being made for your cab driver’s licence to be revoked. May I also remind you that the onus is upon you to prove medical fitness to drive and the Licensing Authority cannot cover any cost involved.
Yours sincerely
Marcia Coelho
   Taxi Driver Licensing Support Manager, PCO

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