Call Sign April 2008 - Page 14 - BRIAN SPIRO: DAC WAS MY LIFE…

After more than 40 years on ODRTS / Dial-a-Cab, Brian Spiro (Dan 71J / ex-S90), has decided that enough is enough and although the only reason he has continued driving a taxi for so long is his love for being on DaC and the numerous friends he has made here, he says that the time has come to call it a day. "I think the time has now come to move on and we’re going to New Milton in Hampshire to live; that’s around 10 miles from Bournemouth and just one mile from the New Forest. I’m not sure what I’ll be doing there, but it’s unlikely to have any connection to the taxi business. In fact I have even applied to a local Tesco store to see whether they have anything to suit someone thinking of retirement." Will he miss the London cab trade? "No," Brian answered decisively, "I won’t, but what I will miss is Dial-a-Cab. I’ve made so many friends there over the years both in the fleet and on the Board. To me DaC IS the cab trade and if I’m not on that, then I won’t miss the rest of the trade one bit. In fact, if it weren’t for DaC I probably would	BRIAN SPIRO: DAC WAS MY LIFE…
	have left the trade years ago. It may sound silly, but DaC was my family and I’m really going to miss it." For the past year or so, Brian has been semi-retired after selling his cab and renting one, but that decision meant only driving three nights a week. "Even then," added Brian, "I never had any problem doing my 40 trips a month." Any lasting memories? "Well," he mused, "as I’ve said, I’ll miss everyone associated with the Society very much and I will still read Call Sign every month - if my wife shows me how to	download it! But there is one thing I am really proud of. Many years ago at a time when DaC were seemingly on the verge of extinction and we drivers were asked to forfeit two weeks money until things improved, some other drivers and myself were offered the chance to go to ComCab. We refused because DaC meant too much to us to allow it to vanish, so we chose to stay and fight for its survival. Its status now as the number one circuit is proof that our decision was justified. Now it has the best drivers and the best Board and that’s as good a time to say goodbye as any!" Brian didn’t want his phone number given out in the magazine - "…I don’t want to be bombarded by hundreds of beautiful women" – but if any of his EC5 friends are likely to be in the Bournemouth area and want to say hello, then the Editor has his number. Brian will be delighted to see you. And from those of us that have to continue working, good luck Brian…

DAC-WEMBLEY STUCK IN LIMBO!

Just 18 months ago and DaC-Wembley were flying high with Brian Rice wishing them well before their FA Cup run. Lee Pearce stands next to him...

As they head towards the end of a season they would rather forget, DaC-Wembley seem to have resigned themselves to the limbo of mid-table obscurity in the Cherry Red Combined Counties Premier Division.
   Following a deserved win at Guildford City, they slumped to taking just one point from the next 12 and slowing descending down the league. Out of all cup competitions and with no danger of relegation or getting anywhere close to runaway leaders Merstham, the Call Sign sponsored team on behalf of DaC seem to be going nowhere and just waiting for the next season to begin.
   Their problems began when DaC driver and former Wembley FC goalkeeper Lee Pearce (J71) was suddenly transferred to rivals Bedfont Green after receiving a financial offer he felt he couldn’t turn down. His new team, Bedfont Green, went on a winning run that included a 3 – 0 win at Dorking dooming the home team to relegation whilst shooting them from a lowly 18th position in the league to a high of 7th. A run of 4 successive wins saw them score 15 goals while Lee let in one at the other end!
   "I still want DaC-Wembley to do well," said Lee, "but Bedfont Green are my team now and I’m sure on this form that we are ready to make a promotion challenge next season."
   It was just over 18 months ago that DaC-Wembley was on BBC’s Match of the Day as they began their FA Cup run with BBC cameras covering their successful extra preliminary round FA Cup match. Every time a goal was scored, a Dial-a-Cab banner came into view! Former Spurs scoring hero Garth Crooks brought along the FA Cup for publicity and newspapers including The Sun ran photo shoots and there again was a DaC banner in full view!
   Now, just 18 months on, that excitement has gone and for DaC-Wembley, the end of this season can’t come quickly enough!

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