Call Sign September 2011
Page 16
DaC's Steve Shaller adds to the discussion on fixed prices and
addresses our account clients...
WHAT DO I THINK?
Rides to outlandish destinations would not
world. Nevertheless, I am confident that most
have been possible without the radio. I and
members would be more than pleased to do
many members like myself joined DaC when
longer rides outside the London postal codes
the account customer gave us all their work -
below the meter price and based on the time
whether it was going to Kent, Essex or just
factor in doing the ride. I certainly would.
around the corner.
Unlike Licensed private hire, we are in a
Through Call Sign, Michael Son has asked
Thanks to your custom, I have seen and
position to take hirings off the street, but dri-
for views on the introduction of more
been to places that otherwise without the
vers on the circuit may prefer to do radio
fixed prices.
radio I would never have been to - destina-
account work to street work. The reasons for
In principal I have no objection to sensibly
tions that our newer members can only dream
doing so vary. Maybe it's because of the safe-
priced fixed priced account work. What I am
of.
ty factor of knowing who you have in the
opposed to is doing fixed price work only
Do our customers no longer live in the
back of your cab at night and knowing you
within the London postal codes and not on
Home Counties? If we were given a job going
will be getting paid.
rides that go further afield. Call Sign maga-
to West London, we would drive all the way
The most important reason for subscribing
zine is indeed a successful in-house magazine.
back empty to the City (ignoring hailing hands
to a radio circuit is to enhance one's earnings,
Its readership embraces the trade, more
on the way) to service our account clients. It
shorten your working hours and make the job
importantly, our account customers and is
made economic sense because at that time
less irksome. Why pay for a hiring going to E1
even online. Therefore I see no reason why I
one account ride was better than three street
or SE1 when we can get this work off the
cannot address my views more directly to our
rides. That is because we were given all your
street for nothing?
account customers...
work.
I am not and would not tell you, our
As a licensed London taxi driver of
Now however, when we are given a ride to
account customers, how to spend your money
some 40 years standing and a dedicated
West London, unless we trap one back to the
but by giving us your longer jobs (with fixed
subscriber to DaC, I am experienced
City we continue to work as and where the
prices), I believe the benefits would be mutu-
enough to explain to our account cus-
work takes us. It is no longer viable to drive
al.
tomers exactly why we, the members of
back empty, wait and then be allocated anoth-
Fixed prices for London postal codes only?
DaC, pay monthly subscriptions.
er local journey.
No! Fixed prices for local and longer rides?
Firstly, I would like to emphasise that I and
The London taxi industry cannot claim to be
Yes!
my fellow members appreciate and value the
the cheapest mode of transport, but we can
Steve Shaller (F34J)
work we have been given over the years.
proudly boast to be the best taxi service in the
JIM GOES ON THE SWAN VOYAGE
...as the DaC driver's WCHCD Master swan song!
Dial-a-Cab's Jim Rainbird (T25) ended his term as Master of the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage
Drivers, when recently invited along with WCHCD Company Clerk Mary Whitworth to the Worshipful
Company of Vintners Swan Voyage to witness their Swan Upping ceremony. According to ancient custom, all
the swans on the Thames are owned by the Sovereign, the Dyers' Company and the Vintners' Company.
The health and population of the swans is monitored while the new cygnets are marked with rings to denote
ownership. This used to be done with `nicks' on the birds bills no nicks for the Sovereign, one for the Dyers' and
two for the Vintners'. All birds are now marked on the right leg with a British Trust for Ornithology stainless steel
identification number ring. In addition and so that the tradition continues, the Dyers' and Vintners' birds have
similar rings fitted on their left legs. The Dyers' bird's rings have one Coat of Arms and the Vintners' have two.
Jim at the Sw
These ring marks are still referred to as `nicks'. The cygnets are measured, weighed, marked and then transport-
an Voyage o
n
ed back in the skiffs along with their proud parents, to where they were found and then released with no fuss.
his last offici
al visit as
Thankfully, swans are no longer widely consumed as food. Jim informed Call Sign that it was Henry VIII
WCHCD Mas
ter
who forbade the eating of Thames swans other than by the Dyers' and Vintners' Companies. The Vintners'
still have an annual `Swan Feast' but swan is no longer on the menu!
Jim ended by saying that this special day as a guest of The Vintners' on their Swan Voyage was his last official engagement of his year as Master of
The Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers and he asked that we send his thanks to the Vintner's Master, Clerk, Wardens and Swan Uppers
for an experience he says he will never forget.
As for Jim Rainbird's term of office as WCHCD Master, which seems to have flown by, Call Sign considers that it has been a brilliant
success and we send our congratulations on a job well done!
Simon's AFC Wimbledon on the march!
Dial-a-Cab driver Simon Bassey (C79) is also the coach for AFC Wimbledon and he, together with manager
Terry Brown, has seen the club gain promotion into the football league from the relative wilds of the Blue
Square Conference (see July's Call Sign) after just being in existence for 9 brief years.
Having lost their first league match, they bounced back to take the next two games. It was left to Luke
Moore to score their first-ever league goal when he blasted in a penalty against Dagenham and Redbridge.
Rashid Yussuff doubled the score to give them the 2 0 win and their first league points. Then just 3 days
later, they defeated Plymouth Argyle by the same score and move into fifth place after those three games.
Well done Simon, Terry and the team...
