Page 30
Call Sign August 2011
If you were passing London's Victoria Park
LTFUC outing
on the warm and sunny 5 July morning and
saw six large furry tail dogs, Peppa Pig, three
Clowns and Miss Ballooniverse running
around the park, you were not hallucinating!
to Southend
They were there to entertain 300 special
needs and underprivileged children being
taken on the LTFUC's annual outing to
Southend-on-Sea and we thank them all so
much for coming, some travelling great dis-
dents - Maisie Smith who
tances to be with us. We also give special
plays
Tiffany
in
thanks to Blanco the Clown, Misiz, Clown
Eastenders! The ecstatic
Jolly Jack and the two furry tail folk, Rob and
children let out loud
Tom who as well as coming to the park, also
screams when she came
came with us all the way to Southend to make
on stage and if this were
sure the children were kept entertained all
not enough, Bobby
day and what a great job they all did. Also at
Lockwood, who plays
Victoria Park to greet the children and wave
Mick in Nickelodeon's
the huge convoy of taxis off was the
The House of Anubis
Alderman and Sheriff of the City of London,
joined Maisie on stage
Fiona Woolf CBE and Councillor Mizan
and the screams got even
Chaudhury, Office of the Chair of Council of
louder
when
he
Tower Hamlets and we thank them for giving
appeared! Maisie and
up their valuable time to be with us. We also
Bobby signed numerous
thank the staff and management at Victoria
autographs and it was
Park for providing breakfast for the drivers
great to watch the chil-
and helpers and at 10am the huge convoy set
dren having so much fun
off with the usual crowds waving and lining
and holding on tightly to
the route to give us a loud cheer. Here we
their autographs with
congratulate and thank the City of London
such happiness on their
Police who carried out an excellent job get-
faces. We are very grate-
ting us safely to our destination and back and
ful to Sandra Singer for
we really appreciate their continued help and
making this all happen
support. The Police escort riders were PS Bill
and thank all the cheer-
Holder, PC Taylor, PC Scarr, PC Wilsmore, PC
leaders and Maisie and
Bobby for coming.
Shead and PC Massey (see pic) and in the rear
At 6.15pm the disco
car Jack Warner and Steve Adams. We are also
ended and on leaving,
deeply grateful to the RAC and St John's
every driver was given a
Ambulance for joining the convoy and for all
Taxi mug, kindly donated
the excellent help and support they give us
by Marks & Spencer
every year.
which was Steve Pulham and helper Kay
Marble Arch to whom we are very grateful.
At midday we arrived safely at a hot and
Molineux and he received the Terry Stapleton
Each mug contained an LTFUC key ring,
sunny Southend and had a wonderful greet-
Memorial Rose Bowl with a large bottle of
LTFUC tax disc holder and £20 which had
ing from all the sunbathers on the sea front,
Champagne and Chocolates for Kay. Runner
been anonymously donated by one of our
many leaving the beach to come up and give
up was the LTFUC logo taxi from Steven Bell
sponsors to cover the drivers' fuel and we
us a supportive wave. The convoy finally
and wife Wendy and he received the Peter
thank them very much.
arrived at the Cliffs Pavilion and we thank the
Lucas Shield with a Bottle of Chardonnay and
The Hon President (Bill Tyzack C06), Hon
management and staff for their help and co-
Chocolates for Wendy. The free raffle draw
Chair and Committee thank all the wonderful
operation. After lunch, the children, drivers
then took place and H.Hussein won an
drivers who came, many of whom were new
and helpers were then ferried down to
overnight stay for two in a deluxe room at
drivers and we really hope to see you all again
Adventure Island in three mini-buses and
Mayfair's Connaught Hotel including a full
on our future outings. Great to have so many
once again we extend grateful thanks to
breakfast (hope he takes the wife)! The runner
new lady drivers on board as well to watch
Brian Houssart MBE, Hon President of the
up was Jacqueline Gray and she won a selec-
the men!
Southend Taxi Charity Fund for Children and
tion of comedy DVDs.
Finally we extend grateful thanks to all the
his friends from AC Taxis for providing these
The Southend Carnival Court had very
carers, helpers, sponsors, Radiocoms Systems
buses for our use. We also thank the manage-
kindly come to greet the children at the Cliffs
Ltd, E1 Entertainment, The Connaught Hotel
ment and staff at Adventure Island for all their
Pavilion and we are extremely grateful to Alan
and anyone connected in any way with mak-
help and assistance. The children had a bril-
and Sheila Jones for bringing them along and
ing this day such a special treat for the chil-
liant time demolishing ice creams, donuts,
extend our grateful thanks to the girls for com-
dren, as without them and you the outing
rocks and candyfloss in between the rides -
ing. We also thank Salvo the Clown and
would not be possible. Hopefully we haven't,
just great! At 5pm it was back to the Cliffs
Balloonist Tony Hanscombe for joining us and
but we apologise if we have omitted anyone
Pavilion for tea, followed by a brilliant disco
the three face painters, Jackie, Donna and
in error.
with DJ Dave Davies, who always does such a
Brook for working tirelessly and creating some
It was a brilliant outing, the sun shone
great job. The LTFUC's Hon. Chair Susan
amazing faces which the children proudly
almost all day and the children had the most
Angel, gave a speech on stage welcoming
showed off!
wonderful time. The rain began to come
everyone and gave special thanks to the
Another treat was in store for the children.
down just as we were leaving, so it was a wet
Mayor of Southend, Councillor David
Students from The Sandra Singer Stage School
journey home but that couldn't detract from
Norman for sparing the time to be with us
had very kindly come along to perform a great
another great Southend outing and one which
and he in turn gave a speech welcoming
cheerleader routine for the children. Pink
I am sure the children will remember and talk
everyone to Southend.
pom-poms were flying everywhere and the
about for a very long time.
Prizes were presented by Susan and the
children loved it, but the icing on the cake
Raymond Levy
Mayor of Southend to the winner of the best
was still to come. It was announced that there
LTFUC Press Officer
decorated taxi (the Army camouflage taxi)
was a very special cheerleader among the stu-
