Call Sign’s opposition to the new Mercedes Vito cab is well known. However, there are others who take the opposite view. Colin Salmon (N81) was the first Dial-a-Cab driver to buy the new cab. In fact he was one of the first taxi drivers to put his name down for one with KPM as soon as he heard it had been passed by the PCO.
   In addition to driving a taxi, Colin is a DaC Marshal and an ordained Minister in the Apostolic Church with his own following. He is also a staunch Arsenal supporter, but as the Editor told him, he shouldn’t reproach himself for that!
   Call Sign
asked Colin to give our readers his view after his first few weeks of driving the Mercedes Vito…
  
"I love tradition," he said, "but when we talk about tradition in the cab trade, we came away from it when we got rid of the horse and cart, the Unic, Beardmore, FX3, FX4, Fairway and then the Noddy car… sorry, I mean the oversized Micra aka TX1. And of course, not to mention taxis with liveries and no longer needing the requirement of being just black.
   No, tradition to me means what is around my neck – a green badge that I wear with pride. The

COLIN SALMON: MY LOVELY NEW VITO TAXI!

Colin in his new Vito
Colin in his new Vito

Knowledge is why people get in our cabs; why they rate us as being so good and professional. For as long as that doesn’t change, nothing else really matters. What I don’t think is very professional is a London taxi driver with a Tom Tom on display in the front of his cab.
   Ask the public what they think about the Mercedes Vito as being someone who owns one and hand on heart I can tell you that passengers love it. Our DaC account customers love the extra space - although it is only six inches longer than the TX4. And of course as you’d expect with a

Colin with Editor Al and his new TX4
Colin with Editor Al and his new TX4

Mercedes pedigree, the ride is  superb compared to any previous taxi. In fact many passengers are already asking me if they can order a Vito for their journey. Driving a Licensed taxi in London should be about giving a public service in addition to being comfortable as the driver – it’s not about selling your soul, as the Editor wrote in his Editorial.
   Of course it’s wonderful to have tradition behind you, there is nothing wrong with tradition. But change can also be good and if you can’t go along with change, you will find yourself being left behind."

CURLS DAUGHTER IN FESTIVAL HALL WIZARD OF OZ

Most long-time Dial-a-Cab drivers know Curlette Villiers as just Curls! Although related to former West Indian pace bowler Curtley Ambrose, whose brilliant test match career ended at The Oval against England in September 2000, Curls fame as a DaC telephonist, back channel operator whilst we were still on voice dispatching and Night Shift Controller still continues!
   Curls is now in her 23rd year with DaC and told Call Sign:
   "I’ve enjoyed all my 23 years here and even though the prime purpose is to pay the rent, it’s lovely to work in an environment where there are so many nice people."
   But now another Ms Villiers has taken the spotlight… Curls daughter Stacee recently played a Munchkin at the Royal Festival Hall in Jude Kelly’s production of The Wizard of Oz. Starring Roy Hudd as the Wizard and Gary Wilmot as the Lion, Adam Cooper as the Tin Man and
Sian Brooke as Dorothy, the show
Stacey gets Roy Hudd's autograph - one day he may have to ask for hers...
Stacey gets Roy Hudd's autograph - one day he may have to ask for hers....

packed out the magnificent auditorium every night.
   As for Stacee, she told Call Sign that she really enjoyed the experience having just completed a run at London’s Hackney Empire with the Chinese Opera before being suddenly asked if she would like the Munchkin job.
   "I was really surprised to get the sudden call," she said, " and working with Roy Hudd and Gart Wilmot was really nice. They were so helpful and friendly."
   A proud Curls added: "We think Stacee is a really talented and gifted girl. She has no stage experience yet is happy to get up in front of a packed theatre and sing. I think she may have her eyes set on being an actress and I’m sure she’d make a brilliant one!"
   And so do we…!
 


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