Call Sign August 2011
Page 19
LOOKING AT
(TAXI) LIFE...
with Tom Quigley (Y33)
PH drivers stealing their youth...
make as many jobs in the least amount of time
to make a living, which in turn puts us all in
As diets and health get better, there is no doubt
danger as road users and pedestrians.
that some of the population who have adopt-
ed an active life enjoy activities that were once
St James Street and Oxford
only considered to be for the young.
There is a limit that is being pushed too far
Circus traffic systems
in the guise of boy racers. When I was
So the planners are already praising them-
younger it was considered to be cool to buy a
selves on the success and improvements to St
Ford Escort or Cortina, put some go fast stripes
James Street and Oxford Circus areas, inform-
on the side with a set of dice hanging from the
ing us that the removal of railings and the larg-
mirror, then race around like lunatics not
er pedestrian island will make it safer for all.
knowing where we were going or with any
Well can I remind them that it was the plan-
care for other road users and pedestrians, gen-
Oxford Circus in the late 19th century -
ners who erected the railings in the first place
erally endangering our own lives as well as
has anything changed?
and that St James Street was the first street in
theirs.
the world to have islands in the middle of the
with the economics of their charges. Some
But now it seems that this scenario is being
road, these were put into place at the request
years ago a leading pizza firm, launched a
used by middle age men in Toyotas, but
of the gentlemen's clubs whose clients after
instead of go fast stripes they use PHV badges
campaign to deliver in a certain time or you
imbibing in their establishments would often
and magic trees hanging from the mirror or
would get your delivery for free. This had to
get stuck in the mud and get run over by a
another lot in MPVs with ad it on a lease
be withdrawn as there were serious safety
horse and carriage hurtling along the street!
stripes in the rear window.
concerns for their delivery staff, who under
They further praise themselves that they are
They fly around like buzz pilots, under and
pressure trying to keep the promise were
converting the areas back to how they were
overtaking while topping it off with their Top
involved in a high number of accidents.
fifty years ago (no such thing as an original
Gun Maverick sunglasses and bleeping blue
As the economy tightens with more people
idea then). I have a photo of Oxford Circus
light hands-free aerial in their ear, as if it was
having to look for a different form of income,
showing horse and carriage bus services with
some sort of sonic radar device. In fact, the
this has caused the market to be flooded by
the same traffic layout as present. I don't
way they behave on the road and the aggres-
inexperienced drivers. Companies are reduc-
know how long it takes to become a planner,
sive nature outside clubs and bars etc to us
ing their outgoings so rates are being cut, set
but it may be easier to look up old town pho-
and everyone else makes me think that PHV
against the increased running costs in the form
tos and just copy them.
should stand for Public Harassment Violators!
of fuel, insurance etc. The price of the job will
I say this with some amusement, but the
always come out of the end user, that being
Tom Quigley (Y33)
serious issue of them racing around has to do
the driver. This puts pressure on the driver to
wchcd celebrate founders day
On 23 June, the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers held their
Founders' Day dinner in recognition of the Ordinance for the Regulation of Hackney
Coachmen in London, which was ordered by the Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell, togeth-
er with his Council. It was this ordinance that provided the legislation for the formation
of the Fellowship of Master Hackney Coachmen on 23 June 1654. It was disbanded
some years later, but the beginnings of today's Company were based on it.
The Master, Dial-a-Cab's Jim Rainbird (T25), together with his wife Melanie, welcomed
liverymen, freemen and their guests to the beautiful surroundings of the Drapers Hall. The
Hall was one of the settings for the film The Kings Speech and during the champagne
reception, guests were able to see some of the rooms where filming had taken place.
The Hall, situated in Throgmorton Street, was originally bought from King Henry VIII in
1543 for around £1,200 and has been the house of Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex and
Chief Minister to Henry, although forfeited to the King on Cromwell's execution in July 1540.
The Hall was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 and rebuilt between 1667 and
1671 to designs by Edward Jarman. Today Jim Rainbird describes Drapers Hall as one John Dix
on, Brian Ric
e and Jean Ja
of his favourite City Halls and told Call Sign that he had been delighted to hold the
celebrating F
cyna
ounders Day
Founders Day dinner in such elegant, historical surroundings.
Around 150 guests dined in the Livery Hall, where 28 marble columns frame the Draper's
Company's collection of royal portraits including King William III by Sir Godfrey Kneller, George III by Sir Nathanial Dance and
George IV by Sir Thomas Lawrence. Richard Belt's statue Hypatia and a copy of John Gibson's The Tinted Venus reside in the room, whilst ceilings panels
depicting scenes from The Tempest and A Midsummer's Night's Dream, painted by Herbert Draper between 1903 and 1910, were admired by diners.
Guest speaker for the evening was Sir Christopher Meyer KCMG, British Ambassador to the United States between 1997 and 2003. He was also
the former Chairman of the Press Complaints Commission. Sir Christopher is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Stationers and
Newspapermakers and a Freeman of the City of London.
Musical entertainment was provided by the Mercury Brass Quintet and the evening was a great success, marking Founders Day in the manner that
those involved in the WCHCD both present and past would appreciate.
The Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers would like to thank Proximo Ltd for their generous support of the event, with special thanks to
Liveryman Chris Bird.
