Call Sign May 2009 - Page 13 - CHAMPIONS! - Call Sign snapper becomes Special Advisor to Boris! - LTI participate in £2000 government ‘scrappage’ scheme

Dial-a-Cab driver Lee helps Bedfont Green to the championship!
History was made on Saturday 18 April as Bedfont Green FC were crowned Combined Counties League Champions following a 4-2 win over title rivals Epsom & Ewell...
An own goal in the home side’s favour was all that separated the two teams in a first half shaded by Epsom, before a four minute goal fest early in the second half livened up proceedings. Billy Sentence began it by doubling the lead when he shaped to shoot from the edge of the area, cut inside his man and then curled his shot in with the outside of the boot. The visitors hit back with an instant reply when Robbie Burns finished from close-range. The two goal advantage was restored just two minutes later with Chris Henry latching onto a through ball and calmly slotted it past the advancing Paul Borg. Epsom showed great spirit and when Kyle Hough converted a 68th minute penalty to make it 3-2, you could be forgiven for thinking there may yet be a twist in this title decider. Four minutes later

CHAMPIONS!

Another Lee save for the new champions

   The elevation to step 4 football for the club is an unbelievable success story in only their fifth year in Senior football and enormous credit goes to everybody at the club who played their part in achieving this piece of history.
   As the Champagne corks popped, DaC driver and Bedfont Green goalkeeper Lee Pearce (J71) told Call Sign: "We had a slow start to the season, but once we got going we felt we could win every match we played in. The boys are over the moon about winning the title."
   The presentation will be at the club’s final home game in the derby match against Bedfont…
   Report / Pic: Stewart Cook

the large crowd saw the match settled when Stuart Blackburn fired in an unstoppable shot to make it 4-2.
Bedfont Green played out the remainder of the match without cause for concern, knowing they had won the title with 3 games still to play!

English Football League 2008 - 09 CCL Premier Division (Top 6 of 22)

Team P W D L F A Diff Pts

Bedfont Green (Champions) 39 26 9 4 108 53 55 87

Chertsey Town 39 22 7 10 93 54 39 73

North Greenford United 39 20 12 7 89 62 27 72

Camberley Town 39 20 11 8 92 49 43 71

Epsom & Ewell 38 20 10 8 76 49 27 70

Cove 40 17 9 9 76 56 20 64

Call Sign snapper becomes Special Advisor to Boris!

More used to being behind the camera, Call Sign’s photographer Alan Green (E52) found himself talking to a camera while being interviewed by BBC Transportation Correspondent Tom Edwards.
   "I had just pulled onto a rank when I was approached by a man toting a camcorder," Alan explained. "He said the following day Mayor Boris was due to announce proposed changes to the way road works were to be undertaken in the future and the Beeb’s London News was gauging the views of taxi drivers. These would then be brought to Boris’s attention, so did I have any advice to give the Mayor! Thankful that I had a clean cab, was wearing my Turnbull & Asser tailored silk shirt and co-ordinated necktie, I gave the Mayor and several million BBC viewers the benefit of a Dial-a-Cab driver’s advice!"
   Alan made the point about the number of times the same sections of road were dug up, then left for weeks without progress before eventually being filled in - only to be uprooted again shortly afterwards by another utility. Call Sign’s normally calm ‘snapper’ saw a rare opportunity and gushed forth his views on traffic congestion, environmental issues relating to emissions while stationary, general road safety issues and the overall economic impact.
   "The interview lasted about 6/7 minutes, during which time the

Alan Green gave the BBC his views on London roadworks

Beeb man also took views of our door logo," added Alan. "Sure enough, the next day BBC TV London News aired the piece - although drastically edited and minus the logos - in news bulletin’s throughout the day. It showed Mayor Johnson viewing the DVD of me spouting forth and he was clearly heard to say: "He’s absolutely right!" Beaming proudly, Alan added: "I guess I can now call myself one of the Mayor’s Special Advisors!"
Mayor Johnson later went on to announce that in future, road works that were not being worked on would be covered with steel plates. The five major utilities have agreed as part of a voluntary code to cover up those holes in the road that were not being worked on so that traffic can drive over them. In addition, the Mayor has encouraged them to put notice boards up at the site to say when the work will finish..
This represents yet another election pledge made to Call Sign in our February 2008 election interview with Boris, that the Mayor has acted on since taking office. The question on road works was posed by Bill Kibble (K86), so it only seems right that yet another DaC driver should reprise it on television!

LTI participate in £2000 government ‘scrappage’ scheme

LTI Vehicles have confirmed that they will participate in the Government’s "scrappage" scheme, which will give the owners of 10 years and older vehicles a £2000 incentive to purchase a new vehicle.
Commenting on the scheme, LTI’s Sales Director, Rob Laidler told Call Sign: "We welcome this initiative from the government to stimulate sales and improve the quality of the UK’s taxi fleet. A new TX4 is so much safer, cleaner, more efficient and comfortable than a 10 year old taxi and this will be a

real benefit for drivers, customers and the environment, as well as helping UK automotive manufacturing through these tough times. It’s one of those rare win-win situations!"
With the Government only committing a limited budget to this incentive, drivers are urged to talk to their nearest LTI dealer now to save disappointment