The Return to Brunswick House
Several weeks after the last person leaving Brunswick House turned off the lights, I had cause to return to search for a missing item and whilst there, I was for some inexplicable reason, drawn to wander the various floors and empty offices. And in doing so to pause and reflect on the day I arrived as a new board member twenty odd years ago and dwell on many of the events that followed, the highs, the lows but more significantly the dramas.
   Our Society had been in Brunswick House just two years by the time I joined the board and construction work was still in progress and the fact it was being done piecemeal and without any noticeable planning, it more or less never stopped. Shape wise it wasn’t the most practical of buildings. Its original purpose being light industrial, it was far too narrow from front to back to offer much by way of office design, so the open plan system was the only option, the exception being the boardroom floor where offices were essential for privacy. I’ve lost count of how many times partition walls were pulled down, put back up, pulled down again, moved a yard one way then a yard the other way to fit whoever needed the office space most.
   Having served with four different Chairman and twenty-one different board members, seven of whom sadly have since died, I’ve witnessed firsthand at Brunswick House the politics and drama surrounding the implementation of data despatch and near tragedy when we were on the verge of closing our doors, added to which was a working environment consisting of conspiracies, plots, counter plots, back stabbing, animosity, bitterness, board members collaborating against board members, recriminations, Chairmen physically threatened, Chairmen ousted and board members being forced to resign. It’s only when one realises the ludicrous manner under which this Society once operated can one truly appreciate the remarkable success that has been achieved in spite of it. And perhaps why when I walk into our new premises, do I feel such a sense of awe.
   And I speak not only of business, economic and technological success but also of the quality, attitude, ability and professionalism of the present administration, the staff, the subscribers, the board and the

 
Chairman in particular that has made it happen.
   As I continued to wander from floor to floor, office to offices that were once occupied by those who I once had the pleasure and displeasure to call colleagues, I sat for a while on the floor where much of the drama took place -the boardroom - and allowed my mind to compare the difference between the way the present board conducted business, with how it was in the past when board meetings for example not only lasted several days because much of what was debated was so mundane, but the manner in which those meetings took place. Which part explains why the Society was stuck for so long in a time warp.
   When I first stood for the board, I did so believing I had something to contribute. Unfortunately my idea of how a business should be run, to that which I had just joined, differed somewhat. From the very beginning when I saw board members arriving for work and attending meetings dressed in jeans and trainers etc, I knew my time on the board was going to be difficult. Which was soon confirmed when being a non-smoker I found myself near nigh choking to death sitting for ten hours in a smoke filled boardroom with no ventilation or air conditioning with walls and ceiling covered with nicotine from a chain smoking board of management one of whom smoked cigars. Added to which was the sight and smell of dogs pee and worse from an un-housetrained hound whose board member owner was allowed with the consent of the board to bring the wretched thing into board meetings! Had the Society been in existence only a short time, I might have made allowances, but we had been trading for more than thirty years by the time I had arrived. So I expected at least a modicum of professionalism already being applied. The reason this was not so was attributed mainly by the lack of continuity of board members, many of whom had little or no business experience, the manner in which they were and still are elected, low remuneration, lack of commitment and the most significant of all was a profound fear of introducing or proposing anything the drivers might disagree with. Being the new boy, the attitude was I had a lot to learn, not the other way round. So when I proposed for example that board members should wear suits, shirts and ties when in the office (because if I was going to try and persuade our members to improve their image then it was necessary the board should lead by example), it was one of many that was to fall like lead balloons.

Afraid of drivers!
Another was a prime example of the fear the board had of the drivers. During what was going to be a lengthy board meeting, midday had arrived when suddenly all the board started to put money on the table and the then-Chairman began making out a lunch list of various burgers to be ordered from McDonalds. Firstly, I don’t eat burgers and secondly, as it was a working lunch I could not understand why the board members were paying for the food themselves? So I asked the then-Chairman if I could make a proposition? Which was that a fish lunch be ordered for the board from a local fish bar, together with a side order of salad and rolls etc and several bottles of white wine, the cost of which should be met by Dial-a-Cab. The response to that request was a deathly silence, then a gradual mass sucking of breath and bulging of eyes and I swear I was about to witness multiple heart

And health matters…
Whilst on the subject of our new premises, a situation occurred recently that gave me slight cause for concern. One of my duties is interviewing new applicants wishing to join our Society, these together with other drivers I had reason to speak to accounted for a number of drivers visiting my office, which is on the 4^th floor, during a week when our lift was out of order, so it necessitated the use of the stairs (64 stairs to be exact). Hence the cause for concern because such was the state of almost every one of those drivers when they eventually reached my floor, I genuinely considered installing a supply of oxygen. We all know sitting in a cab all day breathing in exhaust fumes is not a healthy occupation. Made worse by those who are overweight, who smoke, who think a healthy diet is anything with chips and whose idea of regular exercise is shuffling out of the cab to fill up with diesel.     
   Neither is it healthy drinking insufficient amounts of water and not emptying the bladder regularly. Because irregular bladder habits, including having to go during bedtime hours, could be an indication of something far more sinister. I won’t dwell on this subject except to say Prostate Cancer has the highest number of deaths in men. So please think about it.
   Also something else to think about, when was the last time you had your blood pressure taken? Many chemists now offer this service. 130/70 or under is normal. Up to 145/85 is acceptable, above that see your GP.
   Now what about your Cholesterol, because this is the babe that can really get you into doing something about your life style and preventing heart disease. A reading below 05 is what you should be aiming for. Above that, change your diet. Finally get out of that cab as often as you can, even if it’s just opening the door for your passenger, which will also impress our clients. Better still get into a habit after finishing your days work by taking a 30-minute brisk walk in the fresh air. Just fast enough to raise your heart rate, expand your lungs, and exercise those joints, it’s enjoyable and it’s free.

Allen Togwell
DaC Marketing
allent@dialacab.co.uk