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Call Sign July 2011
Mailshot
continued from page 33
and we can also assume it isn't Dial-a-Cab,
since this is a democratic open Society and
that all members would have been aware of
increase the awareness about cholesterol
the practice.
and heart disease amongst my family and
This leaves one other circuit I suppose,
friends. It occurred to me that you might be
but it may benefit drivers slightly more cyn-
interested in including a guest article about
ical than myself if you could publish the
a study from the American Heart Association
Board's stance on this matter.
Regarding SJ Berwin specifically, you
that states heart disease is the world's No. 1
Jeffery Pettit (L77)
are the second member who has men-
killer and causes more deaths than all forms
Hi Jeffery, I showed your letter to Brian
tioned that the account should be
of cancer combined. For example, I could
Rice and he unusually declined to give
moved. It can be done, but I wonder
provide an article in the form of a little guide
an official viewpoint other than to say
how many members agree, because
to help your readers learn more about the
that assumptions do not always prove to
from experience I know that for every
issue - hopefully, this would spark a discus-
be 100% accurate, but that it was 100%
one that does agree with the idea, there
sion about the topic at hand. Please, take a
certain that the reference was not DaC.
would probably be one that doesn't.
minute to consider this proposal. Any sup-
And call me Alan! ...
I can understand your frustrations as I
port would be much appreciated. With your
did the job for many years, but you per-
help, we can educate the public about the
haps do not understand mine. You see
dangers of heart disease and cholesterol, this
Mrs Rice and the Finz!
situations from one perspective - yours -
hopefully can help someone avoid them.
It seems on a recent Thursday night that Mrs
I see them from two, yours and the
Either way, thanks for reading and keep
Rice must have gone to bingo, leaving Brian
client's.
posting your excellent informative Call Sign
at a loose end so he came out to annoy us
I'm now at home answering your letter.
Online.
night drivers! Yes, we are a different lot from
It's a Sunday morning and my wife has
Millie Bruce
the morning / day drivers (only joking
just walked into my study and I've shown
Banffshire, Scotland
boys)! Brian was going on about covering an
her your letter. How can I put this
Thanks for the offer Millie, but similar
S.J.Berwin job. As all traffic is currently
because to say she is not impressed is an
articles have appeared in other taxi
forced left over Southwark Bridge after 9pm,
understatement! She would like to know
trade mags over the past 12 months and
I can understand why, if on the Finz, you
would pass that one up. I do fixed prices all
what time you start work, as she would
I wouldn't want to think that people are
the time (look at my stats) and one thing I
like to pop round and have a little word
skipping over such an important topic
was thinking was why not put that account
in your ear! If I were you, I should pur-
because they're fed up reading about it.
into SE1? It's easier to get to from the south
chase a few drinking straws - they will
Perhaps next year ...Ed
and as most of the EC5 lot seem to sit on the
come in handy when you want to eat!
Finz and pick up close-by trips, anyone
By the way Mike, the above about my
Getting on a bit!
booked into SE1E /W would get to the
wife isn't true - but it could have been!
address much quicker. It must be worth a
Alan
thought, methinks.
Thank you for the reminder of just how long
Spanish licence?
And by the way, did Mrs Rice win at
I have been on DaC (May Mailshot). It
Hi Alan
bingo???
makes me feel even older than I am! I'm still
As a resident of Spain, I am legally obligat-
Mike Appleby (L73)
waiting for my gold watch, but I don't think
ed to exchange my driving licence for a
Brian Rice responds: Hi Michael, you're
it will ever come! With reference to the
Spanish one as you can see from the article
almost right. For many years even -
James Whiting (E83) letter in the same
below. I am reluctant to exchange my
before we were married - my wife did
issue about cabs on the Bank Street rank
licence for a Spanish one for fear of incur-
karate and kick boxing and is now
who sit there with their for hire lights off,
ring problems with driving a taxi on such a
extremely skilful in the art and teaches
some things never change. It brings back
licence. How would fines or endorsements
it. The night you refer to was one of her
memories of when the Shepherds Bush rank
be applied? I wonder if there are other
nights at the Martial Arts Centre - so you
was used for the BBC. It was the west
licensed taxi drivers driving on non UK
were nearly right! Regarding the night
London EC5, except that you had to keep
licenses?
your for hire light on.
in question, I had visited two of our
Driving Licences/Spanish Residents
When we worked the rank in early morn-
largest clients that were intent on mov-
Once you become a resident, you will be
ings in the 70s and 80s, many drivers would
ing large tranches of their work over to
required to either present or exchange your
do the same thing there keep their lights
the cheaper option. I fought tooth and
off - including the Mountview drivers who
current UK licence. Both involve a trip to
nail with them and fortunately retained
were also up to the same tricks! At least we
Trafico in Alicante. In the first instance, the
the status quo at least for the time
had early morning work in those days. Now
licence will be inspected and stamped, or if
being anyway. I then went back to the
when a very early morning job appears on
you exchange your licence you will receive a
office and into even more problems.
the screen, it just reminds you that
new Spanish version. If you own a British or
That was why I was still around at 10pm.
the system is working!
non-Spanish registered vehicle, you have six
So can you then imagine my frustra-
Ray Sorene (A53)
months in which to import and re-register
tion when I see trips that are being
I'd be careful if I were you Ray. It's only
the vehicle with Spanish number plates.
rejected 42 times? I accept the traffic
you that stops me moving up the senior-
Steve Shaller (F34J)
conditions, but are you saying we only
ity list! ...Ed
Director, Taxis & Private Hire, John
service customers when we have a fair
Mason responds: It is not necessary for
wind behind us, because I do not
Who is it???
you to hold a GB driving licence as our
believe there was not one of those 42
requirement is that drivers must hold a
Dear Mr Fisher
cabs within striking distance. You won't
driving licence issued by DVLA or anoth-
A contributor to TAXI Newspaper com-
like this, but the difference is that a car
er member state of the European
plained that his radio circuit undermined
would have serviced that trip because he
Community (EC) or one of the other
him by pre-allocating work, particularly to
would have been given that trip - no ifs
countries in the European Economic
Vito taxis. He does not identify the circuit
or buts - and he would have to get on
Area (EEA). However, if the driver has
but asked what happened to first cab, first
with it. Don't read anything into that
an EC or EEA licence, we require him to
job? We can assume his circuit is not
remark; it is just a fact of what actually
obtain a GB counterpart document. The
ComCab, which uses a closest cab system
happens with Private Hire.
