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Call Sign February 2012
Every February - as in this issue of Call Sign -
Dissecting the
you will read of the LTFUC Mad Hatters Ball.
Many of the 600 children at London's swish
Grosvenor House hotel are either disabled or
literally underprivileged in some way. But on
six hundred...
this one day, they will be having the time of
their lives. But not every child there on 15
January came under the above two categories.
DaC Board member and LTFUC committee man
Mike Son has told us about William, one of the
600 children enjoying the ball in the hall.
"We can all be proud of our kids and their
achievements and the responsibilities they take
on as they go through life. But some children
have to go beyond just being children.At just 9-
years of age, William has the ultimate in stress-
ful and lifesaving responsibilities thrust upon
him.
He is the son of Michael and Natasha. His
mother suffers from atypical epilepsy (AE),
which can occur at any time with little warning
and be very intermittent. During good periods,
weeks can go by with no attacks, but during
the bad periods attacks can occur every day. On
average Natasha has an attack a few times a
month, but during the bad periods she often
falls asleep and becomes unresponsive.
In trying to lead a normal life, many safe-
Call Sign caught up with William and his mum and dad at the Mad Hatters Party
guards are created and family support provid-
ed. William has learned to call his dad on an
provided support and advice. Through BYCAS,
William has been brought up with this situa-
emergency line as well as his grandparents
the local Mayor's office heard of the great work
tion and whilst a very caring child with rea-
who are quick to the rescue. The attacks can
William had been doing and decided to help
soning well beyond his age, his verbal abilities
manifest themselves in many ways from the
raise his spirits during a particularly difficult
have been brought into play at a very tender
funny to the downright scary.
period for him.The Mayor visited William at his
age because of the circumstances he finds him-
Natasha usually, but not always, has a one
parents' house and over tea made it clear what
self in. He is also a happy child, but days like the
minute warning and can place herself out of
a special and gifted child he really was, a hero
one at the Mad Hatters don't come around too
harm's way by sitting or lying down wherever
in his own way just like Winston Churchill.
often.
she is. She becomes unconscious for a minute
These early life lessons and experiences may
Indeed William and Winston don't just share
and is then disorientated for around an hour.
one day help him to achieve great things in his
the same first letter of their names, they also
That disorientation can take many forms from
life, just like his personal hero Winston
share many personal traits such as a gifted ver-
her acting as an innocent young child, to hav-
Churchill. Great things may be in store for
bal reasoning and a personality that can raise
ing alarming hallucinations. Three years ago
William but we must recognise that whilst
the spirits of those around them. These traits
and alone at home with William, Natasha had a
occasionally thrust into the role of carer, he is
are best known by his mum, who thinks of him
fit and just fell to the floor - this time there had
still very young and should not feel too great a
as her little miracle - not just because medical-
been no warning. She broke her arm. William
sense of responsibility.This has led from time to
ly he should never have been created, but sim-
was just 6 but even then knew what to do. He
time to depression and anxiety, which his con-
ply because of him, the person, her 9 year old
covered her up and put a cushion under her
tempories and teachers have had difficulty in
son William.A carer, not just in the making, but
head and called for help. William knows that if
coming to terms with. So his current school
here now..."
he is out in public and something happens to
must be praised for being very sympathetic to
his mum, he has to raise the alarm with the
the issues.
Mike Son
nearest person and show them Natasha's
The Barnet Young Carers Association
Medical Alert Card, which provides information
DaC and LTFUC
(BYCAS) recognised William's situation and has
and explains the initial support she needs.
BOB ODDY STANDS DOWN AS LTDA GENERAL SECRETARY
And Stevie Mac goes up!
Bob Oddy, the long-time General Secretary of the LTDA, announced at a recent Council of
Management meeting that he was standing down from the position.
The main reason he gave was that at seventy, he felt it better to stand down now when he was still
feeling well rather than wait for the next election when he would be 73.
Bob, who has been in the taxi trade since 1966, nominated Steve McNamara as replacement and
the LTDA CoM unanimously accepted that nomination.
Steve McNamara told Call Sign: "I am proud to have been nominated and happy to accept. Bob
is a hard act to follow and I am delighted that he is going to stay on at LTDA House. His knowledge
and experience of trade matters is invaluable. I am looking forward to the job."
Dial-a-Cab Chairman Brian Rice told this magazine: "I have known Bob for many years and
worked with him on several committees. I'm glad he is not leaving the trade completely but staying in
the background at Woodfield Road for his experience and advice. Although Bob is standing down as
General Secretary, he will still be involved in the taxi industry and I look forward to working with him
in the future."
