Call Sign August 2010 - Page 23 - HOW CAN WE WIN BACK OUR WORK? - Want to give your wife a makeover?

Mike Son continues the debate he began in the January Call Sign by answering Alec Wilkey (W83), who called Mike naļve in the July Mailshot for his view that you should not be stopped for PCO random checks while PoB... Dear Alec It is gratifying to know that you read Call Sign and I do appreciate the fact you read my articles. The article you referred to within Mailshot was an experience I had when a member of TfL/PCO instructed me to pull over at one of their temporary checkpoints. As I made it abundantly clear, I do not have a problem with this. It is important that checks are made to make sure the driver’s licence is in order and that he/she is who they say they are. I am very well aware that some suburban cab drivers come into town to work due to, maybe, the lack of work in their yellow badge areas. It is also important to remember that some radio circuits have yellow badge drivers within their fleet and that these drivers are allowed to take street hirings or radio taxi trips to Central London or wherever. But as you say, we all know that some of those drivers then decide to continue to stay in Central London and pick up work. Is that right? No, absolutely not. However, I did not see within your response how you would resolve this	HOW CAN WE WIN BACK OUR WORK?
	problem? So let me tell you, without being as you put it, naļve. For many years this issue has been spoken about, but no action taken. The licence plate on the back of the same type of cab that we all drive is not specific to the area that the driver actually is licensed to work in. I am aware the yellow badge issue has again been raised and TfL are under consultation and may consider the issue of a specific disc or plate that will be affixed to a cab that has been designated to ply for hire in a yellow badge area. Perhaps that might help with the problem of those drivers plying for hire in town. Incidentally, there are at this time some 3,500 yellow badge drivers. But to get back to your original point, Alec, I still think it is quite wrong that a passenger should pay extra on the meter and lose journey time because of PCO checks. The only time I would consider it to be acceptable is during security alerts or if the police suspect the passenger - or	even the cab driver - has committed a crime. I also think that TfL should pay more attention with regard to the issue of licences to both minicab drivers and their vehicles. I still see hand-written notices on the shop front of minicab offices saying Drivers required. Apply within. The display of the "licence" either on the rear or front screen of a minicab is far from discernible or tamperproof, especially when the original objective by the authorities was to have more control over the minicab fraternity and to protect the public from unlicensed and unscrupulous minicab drivers. However, whatever we say or do, the plain fact of the matter is that minicabs are here to stay. Prior to the 2012 London Olympics, the vetting procedure of minicab drivers should be stepped up and minicab vehicle licenses be made more visible and difficult to counterfeit. When issues occur between the passenger and a minicab driver or the service suppler, we in the London Taxi industry also get maligned. We’ve all read in newspapers about taxi drivers being involved in all sorts of law breaking that, after reading the whole story, turn out to be minicab drivers. But I guess that’s for another day... Mike Son DaC Special Projects

*Couples needed for new Channel 4 program* Want to give your wife a makeover?
Are you a woman who feels like her wardrobe is in desperate need of updating and are willing to let your husband take over? Or perhaps you’re a Dial-a-Cab driver who would love to give your wife or long-term partner a style overhaul? Plum pictures (producers of James May’s Toy Stories) are making a new pilot for Channel 4, which gives Britain’s men the chance to pick out the clothes they think would look fantastic on their wife or partner. Perhaps she is so self-conscience about her body that she has all but given up on clothes. Or since having children she hasn’t had any time to herself to buy some new clothes. Maybe this woman’s you and you’d love your husband to pay you some attention in this area? * Do you feel you lack the confidence to wear	anything but your comfort clothes? * Maybe your dress sense is super-wacky and you’re ready for a change? * Do you feel lost when it comes to style? * Perhaps your husband or partner would prefer it if you didn’t dress so sexily? * Perhaps you feel your husband/partner doesn’t take any interest in how you look? And don’t panic! The presenters will be with you every step of the way! If the above describes you or your wife/partner, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Amy at: amy@plumpictures.co.uk.
Obituary MICHAEL FACCINI
Dial-a-Cab driver Michael Francesco Faccini (W59) had been ill for a relatively short time and sadly died just one day after his 60th birthday. One of his friends on DaC, Joe Skeggs (V34), who had known Michael for 15 years, told *Call Sign* "Mickey was such a lovely guy and it’s just so hard to realise that he is no longer with us. He was one of those people who, if you needed a favour, you would never have to ask twice. In the trade we call people like Mickey, Diamond Geezers." Joe continued by saying that Mickey had been on the circuit for around 7 years, but had driven a taxi for 38 years. Prior to and during his time on the Knowledge, he got a taste for the trade by cleaning taxis at a cab garage and he never really lost that love for taxi driving.	"But," added Joe, "that love came a long way down the list when compared to the love he had for his wife Susie, daughter Nicola and his Arsenal-mad grandson Tom. Even though Mickey had very little interest in sport, he would often have a kick-around with a football so that Tom could pretend to be Arsenal. They will all miss him like crazy – as will many of his friends on Dial-a-Cab, including me." Allan Evans represented the Board at Mickey’s funeral on 13th July at the Islington Crematorium. There were several DaC taxis in the car park, most of them bringing other DaC drivers with as a sign of how much he will be missed. RIP Mickey...

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