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! |
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![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
CURLS DAUGHTER IN FESTIVAL HALL WIZARD OF OZ |
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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....
packed out the magnificent auditorium every night. |
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