Page 30
Call Sign September 2011
Dial-a-Cab driver Paul Gould
Ou est la Shoreditch???
(R58) was feeling pretty bored.
It wasn't just that the work was
fairly quiet, but on this particu-
lar day it was also just so pre-
dictable and if he was truthful,
fairly dull. We all look for that
one job in the day which, if it
doesn't actually provide you
with lots of dosh, at least brings
a smile to your face!
That job arrived for Paul on
that early August day when a
representative of French televi-
sion channel Canal + phoned
DaC to order a taxi for a three
hour filming job. In itself, filming
jobs aren't too unusual because
the London taxi is accepted as
an icon and even though our
cabs are used in other cities as
well, viewers in other countries
will accept that if it's a TX4 then
it must be London!
Paul accepted the job and
met a young French lady
together with an American guy
in Shoreditch and immediately
began wondering about which
strange places he would be vis-
iting in these three hours. He
English and the longer it went on, the more
me to some interesting places. But amazingly,
admitted to Call Sign that he was rather dis-
interesting it became especially when they
the three hours going round a place that
appointed to be told that it was to be a trip
filmed me!"
young people refer to as the west end in the
around... Shoreditch!
So what was the following day like for Paul?
east end turned out to be really interesting.
"I had been feeling so bored," Paul said, "it
"Dull, predictable and boring," he told us
Fortunately, the two people in the back who
had been a so-dull day and I really thought
with a wink!
were commentating on the tour spoke perfect
that a 3-hour filming job would at least take
John gets his City Guiding Course
"It took nine months hard slog, but it was worth it," Dial-a-Cab driver John Dixon (B67) said as he proudly showed
his newly acquired City Guiding shield to Call Sign. "It goes well with my Green Badge and the WCHCD Company
shield don't you think," he asked rhetorically, grinning broadly as he said it? "The Course is supported by the City of
London and is therefore strongly oriented around the square mile as its name implies. However, before a candidate
is accepted onto the course, you are expected to devise a short walk of your own choosing and to take a group of
fellow students on the tour, pointing out historical architecture, statues and some interesting snippets along the
way. The guided tour gives candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their communication skills, as if they were
really taking visitors to our great city on a real sight-seeing tour."
John went on to tell Call Sign about his tour.
"I chose `London Bridge to Liverpool Street - a journey through time' being my theme. I began at Fish Street
Hill, site of the original London Bridge in Roman times, the Roman Forum at Leadenhall Market, then on to the
13th century St Helens and the Great Eastern Hotel, which was the site of the first Bethlem Mental Hospital,
finally ending up at The Pinnacle, an example of 21st C architecture. Hence my `through time' associated theme.
"Once accepted, the guiding course itself starts in September through till the following June, nine
months in all and yes, you can produce a baby in the time it takes to do the course," he said laugh-
ing.
"We met each Wednesday night for two hours at the Guildhall, everyone together and the occasional
John wi
Saturday City walk to visit points, but it depends on the number of people as the groups are split morning or
th
shield, C his City Guiding
afternoon to make them more manageable. The walks generally last about two hours but could be a bit
ompany
shield a
longer if someone asked a question or two," he added.
badge
nd
"We took in the Guildhall and its various areas, Clock Museum, roof, the many statues including the
guardians Gog and Magog, covered the history of the Livery companies, the three Financial Institutions, Stock
Exchange, Metal Exchange and Baltic Exchange, Leadenhall and Smithfield markets and the Barbican complex. Yes, quite a lot, and
more!"
"An interesting aside I learned about the Guildhall was that there was a Roman amphitheatre below the present courtyard, the remains can still be seen today.
Gladiators fought there and visitors can imagine the tense atmosphere of the occasion from the roar of the crowd played over loudspeakers. Actually it's a sound
recording of the US Open Golf Championships of a few years ago, but it gets the message across," John said with a mischievous chuckle!
"Candidates sit three exams to achieve success as a guide," he continued, "firstly there is a verbal test on items within the Guildhall upon which you are
expected to speak confidently and authoritatively for 4/5 minutes. Then there is a two hour written exam of fifty questions and then finally questions on any
three of five churches, so you need to swat up on all of them pretty comprehensively," he asserted.
Success is acknowledged with a certificate, the shield and the right to act as a Guide in the City of London. You can register your interest to offer guiding ser-
vices through the City of London information desk or online. Visitors can access tours the same way. An additional perk is that a registered guide can enjoy free
entry to many City venues. Yes, it is a very comprehensive course and I have learned a great deal about the city in which we live and work, but is has been an
enjoyable `journey," John concluded.
Details for future Guiding Courses can be found online at gerald.jones@cityoflondon.gov.uk or write to Gerald Jones, Curriculum Development
Manager, City of London Adult Skills and Community Learning, 2nd floor North Wing, Guildhall, London EC2P 2EJ
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