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On the evening of Wednesday, 15
November 2006, selected members of the taxi
trade joined forces with invited guests from TfL,
PCO staff and the Met Police to celebrate the
fortieth anniversary of the Public Carriage
Office’s move to Penton Street. The occasion also marked the impending retirement of Roy Ellis, Head of the PCO for the past eleven years and gave our trade a chance to meet Mary Dowdye, who will take over some of Roy’s responsibilities. To the music of Imagine the Beatles, an excellent tribute band who sounded just like the real deal, guests - together with representatives from the taxi trade charities - mingled and chatted amiably as the canapés and liquid refreshment flowed throughout the evening. As a backdrop to the festivities, a number of taxis - from a Low Loader of 1933 vintage, right up to the present day LTI Vehicles TX4 - were on display on the inspection ramps as a reminder of the past and the present. Tributes were paid to Roy by various dignitaries from TfL, including newly appointed Commissioner Peter Hendy and Taxi and Private Hire Director Ed Thompson. Bob Oddy, General Secretary of the LTDA, noted Roy’s accessibility because whenever Bob phoned the PCO, Roy answered, suggesting there might be through the technological advances of communication, a re-routed line directly to Roy’s armchair at home such was Roy’s level of commitment and also his ability to listen - even if he did not always give the response that was looked for! With Roy’s imminent retirement, Bob assumed Roy would have time to ‘do the Knowledge’ and in anticipation of a successful outcome, presented Roy with a bright yellow LTDA lanyard upon which to hang his shiny new Green Badge! Responding, Roy Ellis thanked |
PCO HIT 40 AS ROY SAYS GOODBYE…! |
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 Brian with former ComCab MD Mike Galvin, who is now with TFL |
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 Brian with Mary Dowdye, who will be taking on many of Roy Ellis' former duties Inset Pic: Brian Makes friends with the cab trade press: L-R Sandie Goodwin, John Pace and Bob Fisher |
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all those involved in making the
event happen and related how Sandy Kennedy had
urged him to apply for the job of PCO Head all
those years ago in competition to himself, and
how over the ensuing
years, Sandy had offered constant support and
encouragement. Brian Rice said afterwards that
Roy could have a priority fitting on DaC! Roy commented that in 1966, the PCO issued less than 20,000 licences, while in 2006 the figure is 124,464. He admitted that he never realised what the job would become when he took over 11 years ago and took the opportunity to thank all the many members of the PCO staff who had helped him, through their own particular areas of expertise, make his job easier, although he confessed to some difficult times during his tenure in office. He praised the leaders in the |
taxi trade, the efforts of the
cab trade charities for their hard work and the
licensees for their service to the public. He concluded by saying that the job had been both challenging and gratifying, providing varied opportunities and experiences, and had been greatly fulfilling over the years. Finally, in an emotional moment, he thanked his wife Geraldine for her support and understanding during his taxi ‘anorak’ moments and looked forward to spending more time together. Dial-a-Cab Chairman Brian Rice presented Roy with a crystal decanter and we at Call Sign also wish Roy and Geraldine all the best for the future and thank him for always having the time to answer questions we have passed onto him from our drivers. © Call Sign Magazine MM6 |
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