LTFUC MUSIC
Page 14
Call Sign February 2012
FESTIVAL A SUCCESS!
The London Taxidrivers' Fund for
Underprivileged Children Gala Festival of
Music the second annual event of its kind
took place in mid-December at St John's, Smith
Square in front of 400 patrons - including Brian
Rice and Allan Evans - all of whom enjoyed an
excellent selection of music and Christmas car-
ols. Much of the Gala was organised by Dial-a-
As DaC's Mike Son picks up the baton...!
Cab Board member and LTFUC Committee
member, Mike Son, with DaC also being a
major sponsor.
The Gala was opened by Fund Hon Chair
Susan Angel. She welcomed the audience and
gave a short introduction about the activities of
the charity. William Carslake then conducted
the London Charity Orchestra with Simon
Kodurand as leader and soloist. Joining the LCO
on the tuba was taxi driver Keith Cherry. Keith
had spent 22 years playing with the
Grenadiers.
Following Berlioz' Roman Carnival came a
piece that may never have come to light in the
UK had it not been for a coincidental link with
Call Sign! The Lantern in the Crypt was writ-
ten by San Francisco taxi driver, Christopher
Fulkerson PhD. Christopher has been a
medallion holder in the City by
the Bay for over 20 years and
wrote to Call Sign having read
Now you know what members of the London Charity Orchestra were
in our online issue that San
laughing at on the cover!
Francisco company Uber were
Inset pic: Christopher Fulkerson had his music premiered
thinking of starting their stretch
limo
service
in
London.
Ronald Corp saw them sing
real thrill for him.
Christopher's email came in the
At the end of the concert, both Sue Angel and
pieces from Vivaldi's Gloria,
form of a warning against allowing
Mike Son presented William Carslake and
Arthur Somervell's Grasmere
Uber in. A later contact revealed
Ronald Corp with models of the iconic London
Carol and together with the LCO the children
that he'd written a piece of music
taxi. They went on to thank everyone for their
gave excellent renditions of The angel Gabriel
and concert organiser Mike Son contacted him
support and commitment in making the Gala
and Tomorrow shall be my dancing day.
to see if he would like to send it over here to
Festival of Music such a great success.
A surprise addition to the programme saw
receive its debut at the LTFUC Gala. William
A great night for the 400 present and one the
Mike Son fulfil a lifetime ambition to conduct an
Carslake thought it was a fine composition and
LTFUC and Christopher Fulkerson can truly
orchestra. The piece was John Philip Sousa's
agreed to the performance. The audience
be proud of...
Liberty Bell better known to millions as the
reception at the end of Lantern in the Crypt
Monty Python theme. Mike was asked by William
showed it had indeed been a success.The only
Ron Yarborough
Carslake if he would like to take the baton "just
shame was that Christopher couldn't be at St
for a bit of fun!"After thinking about it for almost
John's in person to hear the applause.
Call Sign Online
10 seconds, he agreed. Afterwards he told Call
An enchanting performance from the New
Sign that he enjoyed the thrill but that it wasn't
taxi driver of the year
London Children's Choir under Conductor
quite as easy as it looked. However, it had been a
Amanda Deane with Conductor and founder
40th anniversary: 1972 to 2012
Dear Friends,
Forty years ago, the Taxi Driver of the Year Charity Fund held its first event at the Embankment.
Over the years our trade show grew, taking place on several different sites with financial backing from
Dunlop. Then the sponsorship stopped, but the dinner-dances continue.
It would be great to again see the companies that used to participate each year and of course the dri-
vers that used to enter the competition. So to bring old and new faces together, there will be only
one place to be and that is the Holiday Inn Forum Kensington on 1 December 2012.
You will have a reception drink, a 4 course meal, half a bottle of wine each, tea / coffee, dancing to a
live band and all that for just £62.50 a head. And of course there is also one big thing to remember;
all money raised is donated to the charities we support - the Albany fund for children with special
needs, the LTFUC, Southend Fund for Underprivileged Children, London Benevolent Association for
War Disabled and the East London Cabbies Outing.
No doubt you are now asking why I'm telling you all this? After all, it's only February and we're talk-
ing about next December! Well, if you put money away each week you'll find it adds up and in that
way you can have a great night out whilst helping those less fortunate than ourselves. You might
even want to get together with friends and take a whole table. Perhaps make a weekend out of it
and claim the discount we've arranged with the hotel should you wish to stay overnight. So please
put the date in your diary.
I wish you all a very happy and safe 2012...
Russell Poluck MBE (T55): TDoY Hon Chairman
Remembering those less fortunate than ourselves
