Page 25
Call Sign September 2011
COMPLIANCE OFFICER'S REPORT
Cricklewood Carriers Cab Co for your
Hello ladies & gents,
repairs and servicing together with two no-
fault repairers, Chief Taxis (who had an
London disturbances
insert in the last issue) and Cab Aid for gen-
I can't start this article without first mentioning
eral accident repair work - both of whom I
the terrible troubles we recently faced in the
believe work with all insurance companies.
capital. It seems now to be under control,
All of these taxis are exclusively for the use
although we all work and live near to areas
of our members and subject to availability. I
that were badly affected and it was rather
would be grateful for any feedback, good or
close to home - in fact too close for some of
bad you may have over the months ahead.
us and quite unnerving.
I am sure many of you would have seen the
Rules are rules...
messages on your terminal that I sent out at
the request of both the Metropolitan and City
As usually happens now that schools are on
of London police asking all members for their
the verge of going back, work should soon
assistance. In many ways we are the eyes and
pick up. I can only reiterate what I refer to in
most of my articles that all zones are regular-
ears of London and can often witness possible
ly monitored, booking- in procedures are fre-
disturbances in their very early stages or even
quently checked and any member that choos-
before they actually boil over, which would be
within the law, but it is becoming more of an
es to ignore the warnings will be dealt with in
valuable information in times such as these. I
issue and is something that you should be
a true and correct way.
can only thank you and the Call Centre on
made aware of, especially when clients com-
My job is to give every member an equal
their behalf, it definitely has not gone unno-
plain that they are unable to converse with the
opportunity during their working day, to try
ticed and it only adds to the profile of our
driver because he or she is busy on a call and
my hardest to prevent any unfair advantage
Society in a positive and worthwhile way.
any instructions during the trip that they may
between drivers and with the help of the con-
wish to give go unheard for that reason. I'm
tact centre, that's what I intend doing. At the
Phones
sure you all know where I am coming from.
risk of repeating myself (again) please follow
In recent times, a number of clients have com-
procedures, they are there for a reason.
Courtesy DaC taxis
plained that during a particular trip the driver
Drive safely and be very lucky...
has been actively talking on a mobile phone,
I have mentioned in a previous edition of Call
which in their opinion distracts the driver from
Sign that there are a limited number of com-
Allan Evans
carrying out his or her job in the normal man-
panies that have a Dial-a-Cab terminal fitted
DaC Compliance Officer
ner. I know that hands free is at present
in their courtesy taxis. Ascott Cab Co and
Former Dial-a-Cab driver, Bob Woodford, writes a regular column for Call Sign from his home in
Languedoc, France...
CALL SIGN EN LA BELLE FRANCE
Where's W
Riots through French eyes...
that I knew so well. Some of them were of
oody???
course jokes, both in good taste and bad.
I had already seen on my laptop what
Another mate of mine was sitting in the bar look-
was happening on the streets of London, from
ing at the TV, while likewise sending and receiv-
the comfort of my bar stool in a catering estab-
ing texts.
lishment in Beziers. It was almost lunchtime and
Pat, a Dubliner and top maintenance man it
coffee cups were giving way to beer glasses in a
seemed for all the Irish-owned property in these
place I know well and locals I'm on first name
parts, was having a chuckle as he sidled up to
terms with.
me and started to read a text. 'Bad news, the
The TV monitor at the end of the bar had been
rioting has spread to Ireland', but before he
showing a typically rubbish programme along the
could finish I said 'Poor Paddy has just smashed
lines of the Jeremy Kyle Show - the exact same
his laptop screen after trying to loot EBay!' I
format and just like in England, I'm quite sure the
had already been sent that one at breakfast time!
researchers of this one find their audience by
Talking of smashed screens, the last image I
standing outside Lidl with a net! The volume was
Bob Woodford (Ex-P49)
saw on the TV as I was getting up to leave the
turned down.
Saint Genies de Fontedit, Languedoc, France
bar was that of a smashed plasma lying on a
At the stroke of midday, the national news
street which resembled
replaced the Neanderthals in the studio, and then
Northcote Road in
I viewed even more Neanderthals - but this time
Keith Reading
Battersea. Pat said
on the streets of London as news crews were
'What a shame that
commenting on the utter mayhem that was
Professional Toastmaster
one's broken'. 'Yeah, I
unfolding before our eyes.
Master of Ceremonies
replied, it must have
Frank (pronounced Fronk) was sitting next to
been a Sam-Slung!'
me at the bar and had been reading his sports
Tele: 01279 465 938
newspaper before glancing up at the screen.
Mobile: 07774 860 374
Where's
He turned around to me and said: "Ou est ca,
Lebanon?" I replied: "Non Frank, c'est
Email: kgr.2@virgin.net
Woody???
Londres!" In his disbelief, Frank exclaimed: "Ce
Where does Bob
n'est pas vrai, Robert!" but I had to confirm to
10% discount for DaC drivers and staff
Woodford get a view
Frank that it was very true. By now the locals were
like this while sipping
beginning to take notice with sheer disbelief!
Fellow of the Guild of
on his glass of Merlot?
I was now catching up with texts regarding the
Professional Toastmasters
Answer on page 29...
war zone that had overtaken parts of London
