|
SMILE
Billy was bragging to his boss that he knew everyone there
was to know.
"Just name someone, anyone, and I know them," he said.
Tired of hearing him boast, his boss called his bluff: "OK, Billy
how about Tom Cruise?"
"Sure, yes, Tom and I are old friends and I can prove it," replied
Billy.
So Billy and his boss flew out to Hollywood and knocked on Tom
Cruise’s door. Sure enough, Tom Cruise answered and shouted:
"Hey Billy, great to see you! You and your friend come right in
and join me for lunch!"
Although impressed, Billy’s boss was still sceptical. After they
left Cruise’s house, he told Billy that he thought Billy’s
knowing Cruise was just lucky.
"No, no," replied Billy, "just name anyone else then."
Ok, President Bush," his boss quickly retorted.
"Yes," said Billy, "I know him, let's fly out to Washington." And
off they went…
At the White House, Mr Bush spotted Billy on the tour and motioned
him and his boss over. "Billy," he called out, "what a nice
surprise! I was just on my way to a meeting, but you and your
friend come on in and let’s have a cup of coffee first and catch
up."
His boss was very shaken by now but still not totally convinced.
After they left the White House grounds, he expressed his doubts
to Billy, who again implored him to name anyone.
"How about the Pope," his boss said. "Sure," said Billy, "my
parents are from Germany and I've known the Pope a long time."
So off they flew to Rome…
Billy and his boss assembled with the masses in Vatican Square when
Billy said that he thought it might not work.
"I can’t catch the Pope’s eye among all these people. Tell you
what, I know all the guards, so let me just go upstairs and I’ll
come out onto the balcony with the Pope!"
And with that he disappeared into the crowd and headed towards the
Vatican itself. Sure enough, 30 minutes later he emerged with
the Pope onto the balcony!
By the time Billy returned to find his boss, he was stunned to hear
that he’d had a heart attack and was surrounded by paramedics.
Working his way to his boss’s side, Billy cradled his head and
asked him what had happened?
His boss looked up and said weakly: "I was doing fine until you and
the Pope came out on the balcony and the man next to me asked
who that was on the balcony with Billy…!" |
WILL THE LAST CAB ON THE PCO
RAMPS
PLEASE SWITCH OFF THE LIGHTS… |
The PCO’s famous brown and white coats have been
inspecting, passing and licensing London’s taxis for the past 40
years, but Friday 23 March saw a presentation at the Public
Carriage Office in Penton Street to mark the end of that era
with the last full taxi inspection to be carried out at Penton
Street before the operation was taken over by SGS.
The Metropolitan Public Carriages Office moved from its home
at 7 Lancaster Place, Waterloo Bridge when it took over the
regulating of the trade in 1850. The work involved was
undertaken by the new Public Carriage Office from an
annex to New Scotland Yard in Whitehall.
Some 70 years later, the operation moved to 109 Lambeth Road and
remained there until moving to its last home at 15 Penton Street
in 1966. Now, as of 23 March 2007, passing London’s taxis will
have left the domain of the PCO forever.
The final ceremony began with an introduction from the PCO’s Taxi &
Private Hire Director, Ed Thompson and was followed by a history
lesson on Taxi inspections at the PCO from Dave Stock, Head of
Service Delivery. Alan Matthews, Head of Taxi Projects, brought
those present right up to date with taxi inspections from April
2007.
Guest speaker’s David Brown, Director of Surface Transport and Ivan
Kovler, Chairman of the LMCPA wound up the proceedings.
Transport for London came into being in July 2000 and although the
licensing authority changed, the day-to-day licensing function
remains with the PCO. That still remains the case… |
