Page 18
Call Sign July 2011
Barrie Smith (K06)
It began in the April Call Sign now the debate continues...
I could not help having a wry smile on my
old cabs and
face when reading Allen Togwell's reply to
my letter in April's Call Sign article, Old Cabs
and Pin Stripes. The reason being that I've
seen this stock reply so many times before.
pin stripes
I could very easily write a monthly column
using the indefinite article, so that should I
upset any of the membership I could retort
continued
that as I only used the descriptive some or
could and even the majority, I would there-
do and at times I agree it's often banal and
apologise (although I must admit it wasn't
fore have an escape route to avoid criticism.
also like you, I write it in my free time.
recognisable to me).
But let me ask you, what is the point? Surely
Secondly, I have no factual evidence that
Now for my recommendation for a good tai-
anyone with a modicum of intelligence would
the majority of people who spend a lot of
lor: May I respectfully suggest Doug Haywood
be able to detect exactly the direction of Mr
money on a new vehicle bother to keep it and
of Mount Street, Turnbull and Asser in Jermyn
Togwell's editorial and to use the indefinite
themselves clean. If they don't, then in my
Street for shirts and John Lobbs of St James's
article is being trite in the extreme.
ignorance I would assume them to be odd (as
Street for shoes.
If an author is prepared to make a com-
in peculiar) spending so much money on
Oh yes, and Specsavers for glasses!
ment, he or she should in my opinion nail
something they have so little respect for.
Remember, if one is prepared to put one's
their colours to the mast and stand by their
Thirdly, as for supplying our clients with old
head over the parapet, then expect to be hit
convictions. To reiterate, I feel that the
vehicles, I was making the comparison with
by a little flak!
Marketing Place editorial is not a vehicle for
the age ratio of the saloon cars and comfort
Mr Togwell's suppositions and personal preju-
supplied by private hire, not with aging taxis
dice, but that it should be used as a platform
on other radio circuits.
to inform the membership only of develop-
Fourthly, the pinstripe suit appeared unob-
ments within the Sales department.
trusive because of the low resolution of the
Mr Togwell goes on to make the point that
photo. I could have submitted a bolder stripe,
when tendering for new accounts, an impor-
but assumed, wrongly, that you as a gentle-
tant consideration is the age of our fleet. This
man would have taken my word.
is a totally erroneous argument as statistically
Fifthly, as for the suits, shirts, shoes etc, am
our fleet will proportionally have exactly the
I to assume your recommendations are made
same number of older vehicles as the two
from experience? If so, I'm impressed.
other leading radio circuits, which must there-
However, as for Specsavers my dear chap,
fore put us on a level playing field.
surely not. You really must try David Clulow
I just cannot - try as I might - know how
in Wigmore Street, the service and selection is
Allen can come up with the analogy that:- "I
absolutely divine.
would say the vast majority of smartly
And finally, as I appear to be falling below
dressed cab drivers are those that drive
the standards of how I should be represent-
Allen Togwell's first photo as a DaC
new cabs, which makes sense."
ing your Society, I would truly appreciate it if
Board member. He looks just as smart
Who says it makes sense? On what do you
you would be so kind as to propose at the
today
base this observation? Do you have factual evi-
next AGM an increase in my hourly rate.
dence? I have seen many drivers with new vehi-
After 25 years of buying clothes solely to rep-
cles looking as though they haven't had a change
Allen Togwell
resent Dial-a-Cab, I am reaching a point and
of clothes for months. In my opinion, your total-
age where I need a little financial support.
ly subjective comment has no foundation!
(DaC BoM)
Thank you...
If you have to make an analogy (I don't like
My goodness what a response! This April
analogies), it is more likely that a driver who
PC running
makes 25 years that I've been on the Board
is unprepared to keep his or her vehicle clean
and in all that time I seem to be the only
could be an extension of his or her own
Board member that attracts so much bitter dia-
slowly?
appearance.
tribe. Why I'll never know and frankly, to
Mr Togwell asked me to recommend a good
keep this diatribe going couldn't possibly
tailor, but before I do so I'm terribly disap-
Internet or email not working?
appeal to anybody other than masochists. The
pointed that he confuses constructive criticism
editor must be desperate to fill the letters
with impertinence. I can I assure you it is not
Affordable home
page! So I'll keep it short.
in my nature to be impertinent - it does seem
& business solutions
Firstly, with regards my articles being
that Allen has once again misunderstood my
restricted solely to the activity within the Sales
dictum.
· Wired/wireless networks
Department, Mr Smith you are absolutely cor-
Regarding the photograph of the model in
· PC setups · iPods
rect and for the majority of my 25 years I did
the article, I really do feel that Mr Togwell
exactly that and it was very easy to do
· Digital photos
should pop down to his local ophthalmolo-
because there was a lot to talk about and
gist. The one thing that strikes me about this
· Video · Music · Upgrades ·
especially to moan about, particularly the poor
gentleman is the discreetness of his attire. I
Buying advice · Training
coverage, which back issues of Call Sign will
notice the pinstripe is so unobtrusive that it's
prove. I was forever being castigated by peo-
Call in Bob Crabtree
almost invisible and the tie subdued. I'm sure
ple like yourself for having the temerity to
that for every photograph that can support Mr
Wanstead-based
speak my mind. But times change, Sales is for
Togwell's argument, I could supply two that
World-renowned expert (really!)
younger energetic people, which I'm not! I'm
would not. I recently followed the Royal wed-
74 and my two days a week on your Board are
T: 020 8989 8196 M: 07516 157012
ding and try as I might, I couldn't see any gen-
now taken up with other duties, which whilst
tlemen in the congregation wearing anything
Email: enquiries@bobcrabtree.co.uk
interesting and beneficial to the Society,
like a chalk stripe suite with outrageous acces-
frankly would make boring reading matter. So
sories - maybe they were having lunch at
For all Windows/Mac problems
your editor, Mr Fisher, suggested I use my old
their St James club! I must add that if Mr
Viruses or Trojans?
space (perhaps with a different heading) to
Togwell was wearing his regimental tie on the
write about subjects of my choosing, which I
cover of the March Call Sign, then let me
