Call Sign January 2008 - Page 5 - Sid Gold leaves DaC after 42 years - BAD NEWS DAY AT THE EVENING STANDARD

Sid Gold leaves DaC after 42 years
One of Dial-a-Cab’s longest serving drivers, Sid Gold (E20), has finally called it a day with DaC. "At over 86 years of age, it’s a bit of a responsibility," he told Call Sign, "and although I have regularly passed my PCO medicals with flying colours, driving a radio taxi carries much responsibility with it. Dial-a-Cab has been a big part of my life and I am so sad to let it go, but that time had to come one day. I still go out	occasionally to work the streets, so I won’t starve!" Sid was born in the London Hosp in October 1921 and is now London’s oldest driver. He began driving in 1939 but has never passed a test, as there were no driving tests then. He was in the RAF throughout the war although he never flew a plane. "I refused unless they could find me one with a logo," he joked! Leaving the RAF in 1946, Sid went into radio and TV sales in addition to repairs from two different shops in Brick Lane. "In the early 1960s, I decided to do the Knowledge of London on a	part-time basis because of my other businesses. I did it with two friends, but not on a bike - we bought an old FX3 between us and did the KoL in that!" He showed his toughness when at the age of 82 he was left lying on the floor after two yobs – one of whom held a gun to Sid’s head – attempted to rob him of his takings. He refused and the two thugs gave up and left. He was back at work the following night! Sid joined DaC in 1965 and even though no longer on the radio, intends carrying on until he can no longer drive or is pushed out by PCO. From everyone at Call Sign, good luck Sid…

BAD NEWS DAY AT THE EVENING STANDARD

The London Evening Standard, the paper that many in the cab trade believe to be anti-taxi, has caused a few feathers to ruffle by banning its journalists from using taxis other than in what it calls "exceptional circumstances." Just to rub it in, the paper has also refused to pay for meals with contacts unless they end up generating a genuine story. And surely the biggest blow to any self-respecting journalist, an internal memo sent to staff by Steve Vaughan, the Standard's deputy news editor, said that staff now needed prior permission for any purchase of "more than a few drinks!"
   Mr Vaughan added that the Standard’s departmental expenses had to be immediately reduced.
   "In future," he said, "entertaining must be directly connected with getting stories and a claim for more than a few drinks must be cleared with the head of department in advance. Even in those cases, it will only be in exceptional circumstances that a receipt of more than Ł50 for taking a contact out for a meal will be approved. As of now, staff will need to submit a receipt and a credit card chit together with the contact or story details."
   He ended by saying: "No taxis should be used unless in exceptional circumstances. Taxi receipts

will only be reimbursed if approved by the head of department for being necessary in a critical situation."
   Two days earlier, Associated Newspapers who produce the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday in addition to the Evening Standard, announced a dramatic fall in profits of 16%, down from Ł99m to Ł83m. A large proportion of the drop must be down to the two freebie evening papers whose vendors practically launch themselves at passing motorists in case they want a copy! They have also invested heavily in new digital technology.
   One real problem though is that older Dial-a-Cab drivers will remember back to late 1989 when several companies announced that their employees should use public transport rather than taxis and if they had to use one, to always get it off the street to save paying a run-in and to always get a receipt. Several months later, the world went into recession and the taxi trade barely survived, with no such thing as an empty taxi rank in Central London.
   Hopefully, the Evening Standard’s plight is not one that will set a trend…

Alan Fisher

DAC 2007 AGM
The Dial-a-Cab 2007 Annual General Meeting will take place at the King George III and Queen Charlotte Rooms, The Brewery, Chiswell Street on Sunday 10 February 2008. The meeting will commence at 11am. If you decide to vote via postal ballot, you can still attend the meeting but cannot vote again. Please remember that in accordance with rule 9(g), a fine	of Ł50 will be imposed for member’s non-attendance at the meeting, unless a postal vote was received by the outside agency at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Non-attendance includes leaving the meeting before the Chairman declares it closed unless you have already voted via postal ballot. The date for putting in propositions and rule changes has now passed.

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