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Call Sign November 2011
Dial-a-Cab driver Jon Robinson (E88) likes
How PH get a flat
speed and even made the pages of Call Sign
a few months back when he went motorcy-
cle racing at Brands Hatch. But he obviously
likes watching speed as well as being
screen telly???
involved and recently told us about a pro-
gram he had seen on Channel 5 - Ultimate
Police Interceptors.
The program is about the Essex police as
In court they were found guilty and
they chase suspects in their high powered
each received four months imprisonment.
police cars and even one helicopter chasing
At no time was there any mention of the
an assortment of miscreants, thieves and just
car being stolen, so viewers were left to
very silly people!
assume that it belonged to one of the four
Jon takes up the story...
men.
"The Ultimate Police Interceptors received a
So can you guess what comes next? What
call that a silver Toyota Aventis with four men
was it that was stuck in the top left corner of
had been seen loading a flat screen TV into
the rear window? Yep, right first time... a nice
the car boot following a suspected burglary in
little PCO - sorry I mean LTPH licensed pri-
the Ongar area. The program showed the
vate hire sticker! So it appears that a minicab
police tracking the Aventis onto the M11
driver was using his own London minicab in
southbound as it headed towards London. The
Essex to commit a crime! No doubt he had a
police then used five squad cars to sandwich
full CRB check?
the Aventis in and cleverly got it to stop on the
Make that up? Naaahh! No one would
hard shoulder while other traffic was held up
believe you if you did! Perhaps I should con-
behind.
template going mini-cabbing as my telly is a
They opened the boot and found a 42inch
few years old now!"
flat screen TV, an engagement ring and what
Soon after this case, Essex police
police described as burglar equipment - screw-
announced Operation Bright Shadow,
drivers and gloves. The four men were hand-
Jon Robinson: "Did burglars use their
where known burglars will be tailed for 7
cuffed and arrested, but none of the men spoke
own minicab to get away!"
days to see whether they lead the police
English. One police officer raised a laugh when
to any person or persons they might not
he asked a suspect if he knew it was illegal to
belongings! The suspect shrugged in an "I don't
have known about previously...
break into someone's property and steal their
understand English" mode.
Remembrance Sunday
Sunday 13 November...
As with every November, our thoughts turn to Armistice Day - Remembrance Sunday -
and to those who gave their lives so that we could live in peace. We also remember
those service men and women who today are serving the British people abroad and
those recovering at home due to the consequences of combat.
As the Allies made their successful landing onto the beaches of Normandy and were
pushing forward, it was decided to send in an airborne assault over Holland nicknamed
Operation Market Garden. Its purpose was to capture as many bridges as possible in
Holland, thus paving the way for advancing troops to get into Germany and Berlin. It
took place from 17th to 25th September 1944 and was the largest airborne operation
of WW2.
Some 35,000 soldiers were sent in, either by glider or parachute. These men trav-
elled along Hells Highway, which eventually led to Arnhem to become known as a Ope
ration Ma
rket Gard
bridge too far. Whilst capturing a number of bridges and pushing back German
en
lines, this all came at a huge cost.
Valkenswaard, near Eindhoven, was the first town in Holland to be liberated by the Allied troops. On the
edge of town there is a war cemetery containing the graves of 216 British servicemen. Lieutenant George William Ashmore, aged 26
of The Queen's Own West Kent Regiment; Private Herbert Eric Selig aged 19 of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and Lance
Corporal Michael Joseph Delaney of an unknown age from the Irish Guards to name just three, never made it home. Lest we forget.
The Royal British Legion helps ex-servicemen and women in various ways. For some, the war continues long after they leave active service. Please
show your support.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them...
Richard Potter (T51)
Transport for London (TfL) and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) are developing a comprehensive and tailored Olympic
Taxi
and Paralympic Games information handbook for the capital's taxi (and private hire) drivers. It will provide London's cabbies
with everything they need to know about the Games, including maps, details of all venues, events and pick up points. It
driver's Olympic
will also include information on dates for key events throughout the 2012 Games as well as expected demand at major
stations and other areas which are going to be busy hosting events in the run up to, and after, the Games. The handbooks
handbook
are expected to be issued in the spring and will also be available for download from the Transport for London website.
A great deal of general information about the 2012 Games, the areas likely to be affected and the Olympic Route Network is
already available on the TfL website, which is useful for everyone in London including taxi drivers. The website will continue to be updated over the coming months as
more information becomes available.
TfL and the ODA have also been working closely with the Taxi trade to help them prepare for the Games since September 2009. Later this month, TfL will begin host-
ing monthly meetings with taxi trade representatives to explore how to make the most of the opportunities the Games represent, resolve any potential problems and to
provide updates and information for cabbies.
John Mason, Director of Taxi and Private Hire, said: "London's taxi and private hire trades will have a very important role to play in the summer of 2012. These hand-
books will ensure that drivers (and operators) are able to make the most of what the 2012 Games has to offer. We are keen to work with drivers in putting this hand-
book together and I encourage them to contact LTPH with comments and suggestions to ensure the information is as practical and relevant to their fellow drivers as
possible."
