Call Sign October 2012

Page 3

from the editor’s desk

After a pretty lousy summer - both

still phone) where you log onto, but you will

also see a QR code (a pretty pattern to me), but

workwise AND weatherwise - we

if you have a smartphone you will be able to scan

now come to the month where it all

the website in just by putting the phone next to

changes; ie the clocks go back an

the pretty pattern!

hour on 28th of this month and it

I’ll have to ask my grandson how that works,

will get dark even earlier! Even

after all, Samuel is nine now and should be able

to explain it to me! All I can tell you is that the

worse, I

‘celebrate’ yet another

Alpha Pill works!

birthday this month! Ah well, at

least it’s getting busier! Onwards

DaC and charity

and upwards!

For many years, Dial-a-Cab drivers and Board

members have been intrinsically linked to vari-

Taxi sales war?

ous charities - most of which are involved with

At the same time as KPM long-time Chairman,

the taxi trade. The London Taxidrivers’ Fund

Peter DaCosta stands down from his position

for Underprivileged Children has and still has

with Eco Vehicles and its Vito taxi to become a

DaC drivers on its committee. Board member

non-executive director and take a well-deserved

Mike Son has been on it for many years, as have

rest after many years, along with Tim Yeo MP

David Lessman (D19), Gerry Dunn MBE

who apparently subsidises his money as an MP

Fooling the world!

(S84), Bill Tyzack BEM (C06) and many others

by becoming a director of every ‘Green’ compa-

Do you know Dial-a-Cab driver John Gerber

going back to Jack Taylor and Sam Harris.

ny he can find, I cannot help but worry about

(N62)? How about Sky Sports, you must know

Then there’s the Taxi Driver of the Year

what looks to be a price war between the Vito

that? And if you do, then you will certainly know

Charity Fund under the Chairmanship of

and the TX4.

Tottenham Hotspur! But what do the three

Russell Poluck MBE (T55), the Worshipful

Some will say that any price war is good

have in common?

Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers’

news for drivers, and indeed it can be. But

Well the answer is that John not only fooled

Magical Mystery Tour committee including dri-

only if the companies concerned can afford

the Sky Sports News channel and Spurs, but he

vers such as Jim Rainbird (T25) and Phil Davis

a war.

and his son fooled much of the world that takes

(F10) and the East London Cabbies Outing

The Mercedes Benz team began by introduc-

Sky’s content. Yet it started as a little joke that

charity with DaC men such as John Dixon

ing its Agility scheme where you could ‘buy’ a

eventually took over the internet as Spurs fans

(B67). The Albany Taxi Charity has had many

brand new Vito for £135 per week. Added to the

gradually realised what John had done using his

DaC drivers working for it over the years, as has

usual stuff that owners have to pay for, it still

taxi and DaC name board. The story is inside this

the LTBAFWD, better known as the Taxi War

made a new cab affordable - especially with

issue...

Disabled Charity under their President and for-

many driver’s taxis coming off the road courtesy

mer ODRTS Board member, 88 year old Harry

of the Mayor’s clean air policy, where any taxi

Kupkake

Joel.

over 15 years of age suddenly became unclean

If you work on DaC’s EC5 rank, then the

Why have I mentioned all the above? Well they

and where drivers had no deposit for a new cab

chances are that you will hear Call Sign’s long-

all publish occasional articles in the trade press

to speak of.

time poet, David

‘Kupkake’ Kupler (Y74)

and some drivers just turn over the page when

With the Vito scheme, you paid the equivalent

moaning about something or other. He has also

they see one of them. But these guys represent

of £135 a week and then after three years, you

been writing for both this magazine and its pre-

our trade in a way that should make us all proud

could buy the vehicle - with a huge amount still

decessor, Phil Emden’s News and Views since

and even if you don’t want to read the same arti-

outstanding as the payments made just a small

1974 and even his poems usually have a moan

cle as it makes its way through the papers in a

inroad into the price. Failing that, you could

about something running through them! Yet

press release, please at least read it once. Not

just give it back and get another new one. In

they - and he - remain incredibly popular.

everything in life can be sensationalistic; some

other words, you are renting but paying all the

Sadly, David recently lost his mother, Mary.

people do things because no one else will. And

costs that owner-drivers pay. However, you have

She used to work for ODRTS on the phones at

they should make us feel proud of being London

a vehicle whose servicing costs should be per-

Shirland Road. Indeed his daughter Rachel

manently under warrantee.

taxi drivers...

worked for DaC at Brunswick House, except that

Several months ago, the London Taxi

being ‘on the phones’ had been elevated to tele-

Company came on with a similar scheme at the

Max Bygraves

phonist by then and later on to calltaker. His

same weekly cost of £135 plus all the usual

At a time when taxi work has seen better days, I

wife Jan did a similar job at Shirland Road and

owner-driver costs. The advantage of the TX4

feel I should mention the times when things

his sister Sam had previously been married to

scheme was that the initial cost was £thousands

were really buzzing and one of those regular

former DaC Secretary John Bernardout. To com-

less, so you would owe substantially less after

clients at the time was Max Bygraves. He used

plete an astonishing DaC family, David’s father

the three years were up.

to call Dial-a-Cab for taxis to pick him up from

Judd was also a regular on the old Finsbury

But now KPM have cut the weekly cost from

his luxury apartment in Palace Street,

Square rank, but sadly passed away in 2005.

£135 to £125, making it look even more attrac-

Westminster. Whilst he used to go everywhere in

Just as he did back then for his dad, David has

tive. But of course, nothing is for nothing and

written a poignant piece inside this issue about

a cab, he was very fussy that it always turned up

after three years you will owe even more, having

a mother whom he obviously loved very much.

on time although he was always the nicest pos-

nowhere near even paid half off of the hugely

Our sincere condolences to all David’s family on

sible celeb you could pick up.

expensive Vito cost with many drivers being

their loss...

I remember the late Len Bell (ex-L01) telling

unable to afford the cost.

me how Max asked to be taken to Brighton after

Will the LTC follow again? And if they do,

Alpha Power Pill

phoning to ask for a taxi to Victoria. He told Len

where will it all end? Garages won’t bother buy-

I recently sent off for a pack of Alpha Power

that he was just testing DaC to see whether they

ing new taxis to rent out as the ‘buy’ schemes

Pills and sure enough, they arrived the very next

would arrive on time to take someone just

will look to be cheaper. And if the cost of cabs

morning. And it was nice to see that they work

round the corner!

increases, how many drivers will still buy new?

as well as ever - smoke down and fuel con-

When Len arrived within five minutes, Max

And what will happen when the Nissan NV200

sumption improved. Steve Vale, who is operat-

asked him to take him to the coastal town

arrives on the scene. Yes, it’s ugly but it has an

ing the system, tells me that all orders received

instead. He also gave Len two tickets for his

even lower price than the TX4? Where will that

before 3pm go out first class post that same day.

London show. A true gent and one who is sadly

leave the Vito and its £43,000 price? Will they

Technology passed me by when DVD players

missed...

then cut the weekly cost to £100?

took over from tape recorders, but apparently if

Yes, price wars can be great, but in this case it

you go to the Alpha Pill ad inside this issue, you

Alan Fisher

could also be disastrous...

will see the website address (non-PC drivers can

callsignmag@aol.com

Call Sign October 2012

Page 4

reflections of the chairman

is terminated is extremely important. It

Olympics - just one

should always expire on amicable terms as

more time...

you never know what the future holds. After-

My Call Sign report last month was - perhaps

all, just like last time we could be invited to

unsurprisingly - almost entirely devoted to the

service this account again in the future.

Olympic Games. Now they are over, I just have

a little more to convey on the subject.

There is not any doubt that both the

App for credit cards

Olympics and Paralympics were a huge success

We are currently testing an App for the iPhone

and I, like many others, became quite involved

and Android, however we are only testing it

in watching some of the events. What with

for credit card transactions to begin with and

Bradley Wiggins winning Gold and also the

when we are happy with that Application, we

Tour de France and then Andy Murray win-

will extend the service to other areas of your

ning Gold and the New York Grand Slam

business.

event, becoming the first Briton to do so for

At the moment, the App appears to be work-

seventy six years, it really was a fantastic sum-

ing very well and when we are ready to launch

mer for our sportsmen and women and of

it, the charges applied to current credit card

course, the nation as a whole.

Although I had explained the situation to

transactions will be revised.

However, not every cloud has a silver lining

them, they had never actually experienced

When we are happy with everything and the

and there were many businesses in and around

a situation themselves when service fails on

App has been thoroughly tested, we will then

the capital that suffered tremendously during

all fronts.

submit it to Apple for their approval and for

the six week period that the Games were on.

We tendered for the business on exactly the

inclusion in their App store.

The London Taxi trade was no exception with

At that point, everything will depend on you.

same terms as the current contract; however,

probably the quietest August the trade has ever

the new contract was not awarded to us but to

If you don’t cover the work, then the public

seen, due in no short measure to the authori-

will delete the App and we will suddenly see

a company based in Finchley. The new compa-

ties persuading most people to avoid London

ny that has won the tender is Fairway and

derogatory remarks written about us on the

unless their visit was absolutely vital. It

internet because that is how many show their

Kenwood, a minicab company that claims to

appeared that everyone heeded the advice and

discontent with Apps nowadays.

have 250 cars. The current contract with us

as a consequence the taxi trade did not have

We can produce the App, but the service we

expires at the end of October.

any passengers to convey!

give will be entirely up to you. We could even

However, I have now received another

I don’t need to tell you that the past year has

make all credit card transactions As Directed

communication from the House to request we

been a very difficult trading period and I was

just to try and guarantee a good service, but as

continue to service them into November

somewhat pleased when your Society entered

I’ve said, if you don’t cover the work then we

whilst the new supplier beds their new sys-

August, the last month of Dial-a-Cab’s trading

might as well give it up now...

tem in. Of course I agreed to their request

year, showing a small surplus. However, due to

and I know you will continue to service the

those abysmal trading conditions during

Brian Rice

House to the very highest standard until the

August and the unusually high loss we experi-

Chairman

contract finally expires.

enced that month thanks to the Olympics, we

Dial-a-Cab

I believe that the way in which a contract

finished the year in the red and not showing a

surplus. Fortunately, the loss incurred will not

have a detrimental effect on your Society as we

have built up considerable financial strength

THE SALIERI RESTAURANT

over the years. I am just pleased that the

London taxi trade will hopefully not experi-

ence in our lifetime another huge downturn in

376 Strand, WC2

business like the one we experienced during

August.

We Invite Dial-a-Cab drivers and their guests to our

restaurant where you can partake of the finest food and wine

House of

Commons/Lords

And as a thank-you for helping our clients come

We have serviced the above account for many

and go over the years, we are happy to be able to

years, with the exception of some five years ago

offer you a genuine 25% discount on your bill

when we lost the account on price to one of

our competitors in the radio taxi industry.

Their contract was for three years, but after fif-

We are certain that you will be delighted

teen months the House called me in and asked

if would service the account once again. This

was due to service issues, as the account is very

complex and the new provider experienced

some difficulty in providing a satisfactory ser-

vice.

Consequently, we once again began to ser-

vice the House. They then sought to go to ten-

Please bring along your badge or Bill as ID

der earlier this year. The staff that had previ-

ously awarded the contract back to us due to

Salieri Restaurant

our competitors inability to service them to an

acceptable level, had all moved on and we

376 Strand, WC2

were faced with new staff that were unaware of

Reservations: 020 7836 1318

the difficulties that were experienced in service

levels those few years earlier.

Call Sign October 2012

Page 5

Peter DaCosta stepping down as ECO CEO

KPM Chairman and Eco City Vehicles

Those debts include £1.5 million (plus

accrued interest of £66,120 as at 31 August

Chief Executive Officer, Peter DaCosta,

2012) owed to the pension scheme (whose

has said that he is stepping down

beneficiaries are the original KPM directors and

from his position with ECO. He will

now ECV directors and/or shareholders, Peter

DaCosta, Michael Troullis and Keith Marder).

remain as a non-executive director.

Also owed to the pension scheme are accrued

Tim Yeo, who has chaired the company

rent arrears of around £200,000 relating to

behind the Mercedes Vito since its 2007 admis-

premises owned by the pension scheme. There

sion into the AIM market, is also standing down,

are outstanding arrears of £514,000 owed to

to be replaced by former Sky and BT executive,

Global Meter Systems Limited, £61,000 owed

John Swingewood.

to the executive directors in respect of loans

The company have had a relatively successful

they made to the Company, £126,000 in

period since their lease/buy deal for the Vito,

deferred gross bonuses owed to the executive

claiming to have increased its share of the new

directors together with employer national

London license taxi market to 36% this year.

insurance contributions, £97,500 in deferred

How successful that will remain to be now that

fees owed to non-executive directors, £100,000

the London Taxi Company has launched a simi-

owed to Peter DaCosta’s son Lee and £250,000

lar deal for their TX4 but at that cab’s lower

accrued interest owing to Cabvision Networks

price, remains to be seen.

Limited.

The changes to the ECV Board was said to be

Revised repayment terms have now been

in preparation for the next phase of develop-

agreed, pursuant to which

£0.25 million

ment. It comes after ECV raised £1.75m in a

Peter DaCosta is becoming a non-exec

including associated expenses will be paid out

share placement, which will help to reduce their

director

of the Placing proceeds.

debt and provide working capital.

At the Science Museum...

If you have never taken the kids to South

This exhibition is on till

Kensington’s Science Museum then it’s some-

January 2013 and free to enter.

thing they could well enjoy. There are lots of

A new free display connect-

different galleries to visit with many of them

ed to recent research into DNA.

free of charge to enter. Call Sign looked at

‘The Who Am I’ gallery is the

four...

Science Museum’s biomedical

Web Lab is made of up five experiment

gallery that allows visitors to

installations that bring the workings of the

explore how genetics and the

internet to life and aims to inspire the world

brain combine to create your

about the possibilities of the web. Besides

unique identity.

being physical, it is also an interactive website

This exhibition opens from

and available at www.chromeweblab.com.

September 6 until December 5.

Visitors, both on and offline, will be able to

make music with people across the world;

There are many other exhibi-

tions always on, plus of course

launch information into cyberspace and see

Alan Turing: Code breaker

the amazing IMAX theatre

where images on the web live or watch their

where 3D presentations on the giant screen are

The Science Museum at Exhibition Road

portrait being drawn in the sand by a robot!

like no other 3D films you have seen before.

is open daily from 10.00 to 18.00.

Web Lab is on at the Science Museum (base-

You will have to pay an admission charge to see

More info at www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

ment) until July 2013 and is free to enter...

any of the IMAX presentations.

or 0870 870 4868.

Another attraction at the museum is

Codebreaker: Alan Turing’s life and legacy.

This biographical exhibition celebrates the cen-

tenary of the birth of Alan Turing, exploring his

inspirational story and examines his profound

influence on the fields of code-breaking, com-

puting, mathematics, artificial intelligence and

biology.

The life and legacy of Alan Turing is told

using objects (including some which have

never been on public display), archival material,

interactive exhibits, photographs and quota-

tions.

This exhibition, supported by Google, is on

until May 2013 and free to enter.

Visitors can also ask the question: Can we

get electricity from nuclear waste? You will

be able to see a magnet from a brand new

type of particle accelerator which made it pos-

sible to run a nuclear reactor to release energy,

rather than relying on a critical nuclear chain

reaction. You will be able to learn about the

accelerator technology being developed here in

the UK and to reflect on the issues surrounding

nuclear energy and waste.

Call Sign October 2012

Page 6

Jery’s World

Thinks: “When I bought this gas cab, I fort it’d work off the wife’s nagging every morning! And now I’ve got another five years of it!

Fanks for nuffink LT-bloody-PH!”

New London Taxi Company Service Dealer

Go to www.london-taxis.co.uk and

click on’ servicing’ for more information

on the Approved Service Dealer network

or to find your nearest one...

The London Taxi Company is continuing to appoint new approved

Service Dealers around the country and have recently announced

the appointment of a new Approved Service Dealer in London.

They are E1 Taxis Ltd, who are based at 67 Stephenson Street, London E16 4SA.

E1 make the sixth new service dealer to open around the country in just two months.

LTC’s Rob Laidler told Call Sign:

“We continue to strengthen and improve our aftersales support, from the quality

• Roadside repair

and training of our network to the launch of our first ever Service Plan - our new

• Roadside assistance

maintenance package that can be used at any of our Approved Service Dealers.

• Running repair recovery

“When our drivers visit one of our Approved Service Dealers, they know that

they are dealing with factory-trained professionals, specifically geared up to

• Accident recovery

work on their vehicle. They are also completely tuned into the needs of the cus-

• Pay as you go to membership

tomer. They understand that taxi drivers simply cannot afford prolonged periods

• Credit card taken at roadside

off-road.

“Our priorities are to ensure that our customers can maintain their vehicles

properly and have them maintained or repaired as quickly as possible. We

0845 094 5307

believe that our drivers definitely benefit from having access to a specific main-

tenance network. They also have the added reassurance that only genuine parts

We make wheels turn

and the correct specification oils and lubricants will be used on their vehicle;

so you can earn.

with all faults diagnosed using authorised tools and equipment.”

Call Sign October 2012

Page 7

I very often stop for a rest at the RAF church

In an unscientific survey, Mike Lyons (Y52) asks male taxi passengers...

rank on the Strand; there are normally a few

vagrants who sit outside the church and who at

“How should London taxi drivers dress???”

times can be a bit rowdy, but who seldom cause

any bother.

Why doesn't Allen

When I was there recently, I saw one vagrant

Togwell wear casual

who I didn’t recognise walking along the line of

clothes? Perhaps he

taxis and looking into each one as he passed, so

just doesn't know

I promptly shut my window only to see him pass

who he may pick

by and get into the taxi behind! The cab - not a

up!

Dial-a-Cab - then pulled away!

So on the back of that experience, and as the

Allen Togwell has

thorny subject of dress code has resurfaced in

been banging on about a

recent issues of Call Sign, I decided to conduct

dress code for more years

my own very unscientific mini-survey with the

than I can remember - a

people that we couldn’t survive without - ie the

campaign I totally agree

general public as taxi passengers.

with. However, it does

All ten passengers that took part were

not help his cause if every

male, wearing suits and the questions

article he writes on the

referred to male taxi drivers and their gen-

were unsuitable.

subject was not next to a

eral dressware...

* None of the ten seemed particularly con-

photo showing him suited and booted. Perhaps

* All ten passengers agreed that a collar and

cerned about footwear.

it would be better if he showed himself in a

tie was unnecessary, with eight out of the ten

more casual light and in an outfit he would con-

So there you have it and make of it what you

saying that a T-shirt was fine.

sider wearing behind the wheel.

will! It has to be said that wearing a suit and tie

* All ten called sleeveless vests “totally unac-

Allen currently gives the impression that he

is an extremely easy way of dressing, with any

ceptable.”

would even do the gardening in a three piece

adjustments necessary to the suit being made

* Two of the ten thought there was a small ele-

suit, goes to bed in a shirt and tie and just

before you take it home. The only serious daily

ment of scruffy drivers in the trade.

wouldn’t dare leaving the house in a pair of

challenge after that is choosing a tie!

socks that hadn’t been correctly ironed

I then asked about a dress code if radio dri-

Once you move into casual wear, it becomes a

although I’m sure none of the above is true!

vers had to go into client’s office reception

completely different ball game and the outlets

On a more serious note, we are up against

areas.

do not make it easy with a medium size being a

very serious competition in top of the range cars

* Five out of the ten thought a T-shirt was fine.

perfect fit in one outlet, while other shops

that are driven by smartly dressed drivers. Their

* Five out of the ten said that a collared T-shirt

describe that same size as an extra-large! So

only disadvantage being that many don’t know

as a minimum should be worn.

labels cannot be relied on and if you end up

where they are going! So I would hate to think

* Four of the ten said that jeans were okay,

with an ill-fitting garment, you can take it back,

that we were losing work purely due to the lack

whereas the other six said that trousers or casu-

use it for doing messy jobs, use it as a duster, just

of any dress code or that was contributing to it...

al slacks should be a minimum standard.

bin it or maybe - just maybe - consider that it

* All ten said that shorts or track suit bottoms

will make do behind the taxi wheel!

Michael Lyons (Y52)

Martin Cordell & Co.

ACCOUNTANTS

Does your accountant supply you with the following?

Over forty years of experience with the Licensed London Taxi Trade.

Processing of self-assessment returns.

Advice on trading as a Limited Company with its tax advantages and potential pitfalls.

Preparation of accounts.

Initial consultation dealing with loss of earnings claims (due to accidents on the road etc.)

Letters to banks, building societies

and other lenders.

Specialist in-house facilities to deal with Inland Revenue enquiry cases.

(This is expensive and time consuming. Ask your accountant how much he will charge should this

unpredictable event occur).

A three hundred and sixty five days a year service.

A ‘nightshift’

service.

Offices in North and East London.

First consultation free of charge.

Martin Cordell & Co . . . Do!

All for one yearly fee

The London Taxi Trades Premier Accountants

(24 hour answering service for prompt service)

020 8980 7161

(24 hour answering service for prompt service)

1-5 Alfred Street, Bow, London E3 2BE also at

Front Office, First Floor, 9 Church Road, Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 4AS

www.martin-cordell.co.uk

Call Sign October 2012

Page 8

Carshalton’s Danny ‘Cassius’ Connor put on a

great display recently to capture the Southern

Area title belt in the biggest fight of his career

and his fourth consecutive win. Referee Ken

ALEC’S BOY

Curtis gave him the decision after the 10 rounds

in the title fight, which was shown live on Sky

Sports in Matchroom Sports ‘London Calling’

show at Alexandra Palace.

Trained by Dial-a-Cab driver Alec Wilkey

TAKES THE TITLE!

(W83) under Johnny Eames managership at

the TKO Gym in Canning Town, Cassius

took on local favourite Chris ‘The Flash’

Evangelou in the Light-Welterweight divi-

sion in an entertaining battle that had the

crowd on their feet!

The styles of both fighters made it a close and

interesting fight with Connor maintaining a

high work rate and using his jab and combina-

tions throughout against the previously unbeat-

en Evangelou, who counterpunched using

powerful single shots. Connor was coming off

the back of a great points win over Tyler

Goodjohn for the Masters Welterweight title

back in May and was in great form after winning

6 of his last 7 bouts. But Evangelou was clearly

confident after remaining unbeaten in winning

his first 9 bouts. While Danny trained with Alec

at the TKO Gym, Evangelou had been to train at

Floyd Mayweather’s famous gym in Las Vegas!

Both fighters had great support and it was

evident this was going to be a tight affair after

the first round in which both fighters had their

successes, with Connor establishing his jab

Danny Connor with DaC's Alec Wilkey after he won the title

early and landing a couple of straight right

tion as they squared up at the end of the ninth

treat for the fight fans.

hands and Evangelou landing a good left hook

and the last round had the crowd on their feet,

Danny Connor told Call Sign: “I’m

very

and loading up for the power punches. The sec-

with Connor again showing he had the fitness

happy with that. All credit to Chris; he was slip-

ond round was also tight with Connor putting

to outwork his opponent with some effective

pery and I thought it would be a big step up,

pressure on his opponent and landing some

but if he wants a rematch, he can have one.”

straight shots as Evangelou tried to cover up.

good combinations, but Evangelou, with his

Chris Evangelou added, “I thought I had the

At the end of the bout, Danny Connor’s hand

hands low, was relying on power and continued

cleaner shots, but Danny has got an engine on

was raised in victory with the ref scoring the

to land with those single shots.

him. I really thought I was going to knock him

bout 98-94 in his favour and he was crowned

Then in the third round, Evangelou looked

out in 4-5 rounds, but I wish him all the best

Southern Area Champion. Such was the

to have made a breakthrough when he caught

with his career.”

excitement of the fight and the attitudes of the

and stunned Cassius with a great left hook, but

David Wilkey

he was able to regain his composure and began

two boxers, that there were calls for a rematch

firing back with shots of his own. The styles of

and if it materialises, it will surely be another

Call Sign Online

both fighters gelled, with the counterpunching

of Evangelou mixed with the work rate and

combinations of Danny Connor.

The fifth round saw Chris Evangelou contin-

ue his tactics of explosive attacks, but Cassius

responded with several shots each time he was

caught, showing the tenacity needed to become

a champion. But by round seven, Evangelou

was beginning to show signs of tiring, as this

was his first time beyond 6 rounds. Connor,

EARLY TREATMENT MEANS SPEEDY RECOVERY

who had Pinto printed on the front of his shorts

in memory of his friend and fellow boxer Lewis

Treatment for pain & discomfort doesn’t have to be expensive

Pinto who died earlier this year, worked the

body with some hooks and continued the pres-

The Centre offers fully qualified therapists in Physiotherapy,

sure while beginning to control the fight

Osteopathy, Sports Massage, Reflexology, Shiatsu, Remedial

behind his jab. Towards the end of the round,

both fighters kept the crowd entertained with

Massage, Indian Head Massage, Hydrotherm, Massage Therapy,

some brief simultaneous foot shuffling before

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.

trading blows once again. The eighth saw

Evangelou catch Cassius with an eye catching

Call us on 020 8507 8169

three--punch combination but the Carshalton

or mobile 07973 639 473 for an early appointment

man came back with his own flurry of punches

Email: andy@bptconline.co.uk or fax: 020 8507 9650

before switching the attack to the body with his

own right hook.

Out of hours enquiries welcome

In the last 2 rounds, Connor looked the

stronger, landing right hands more frequently

Barking Physical Therapy Centre

as Evangelou’s hooks failed to find the target

90 Longbridge Road, Barking, Essex, IG11 8SF

with any regularity. Danny’s volume of punches

Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 9am till 8pm and Saturday 9am till 2pm

overwhelmed The Flash as he tried to take them

www.bptconline.co.uk

on his gloves. Both fighters showed determina-

Call Sign October 2012

Page 10

In this issue’s Mailshot pages,

Dial-a-Cab driver Charlton Clark

NEW TERMINALS

(F25) asks about the progress of

the Society’s next generation of

in-cab terminals.

UPDATE

Charlton was possibly taking something of

a risk in case the Chairman read his com-

The new terminal

ments, because there was the teeniest hint of

out on test

some sarcasm from the DaC driver when he

ended his letter by saying that he needed to

know when the terminals would be ready as

he was thinking of throwing a 16th birthday

street level map, an

party for his current one and wanted notice

extended arterial

so that he could get the invitations sent out!

road

Greater

So we asked Brian Rice to give an

London map and a

update! The DaC Chairman told Call Sign:

Great Britain road

“Yes Charlton, I agree that our current ter-

atlas. The London

minals need to be replaced as they are look-

map contains over

ing a little dated at the moment. We are test-

24,000

specially

ing the new one and currently have two on a

selected points of

bench and two in a taxi. But as you can prob-

interest. All the maps

ably imagine, as with most new software, our

can be ‘toggled’ at

IT department have found some bugs.

the press of button

The manufacturing will not commence

and zoomed in or

until we are totally satisfied that we have

out up to four levels,

ironed out most of the problems. This will be

a fairly complex procedure as the old termi-

also at the touch of a

nals will be working on our old aerial sites,

button. There are speed and traffic light cam-

Due to a personal tragedy, we

while the new ones will be on O2.

era warnings, a cotton line drawn between

haven’t asked David Kupler for a

Then there is also the new software. Once

location and selected destination, a facility to

poem this month but have

that has been done, we will commence fit-

trace the route and the ability to search street

ting. We envisage completing a hundred a

name, post code or point of interest.

republished one of his older

month, consequently some members will

There is also automatic route planning in

ones. This one is from Call Sign,

wait longer than others for their new termi-

navigation, a favourite destination storing

February 1979...

nal (that’s a hint, Charlton!), but if we can fit

facility, a history of previous destinations and

more, then we will.

a database of almost half a million UK points

And as your letter suggests that you have a

of interest!

Kupkake’s

sense of humour, can I just add that your pos-

And because the new terminals will be

sible position on the new terminal list could

working on O2, drivers will be able to clear

mean that it might not be pertinent for you to

trips virtually anywhere and there will no

organise a 16th party for your terminal - per-

longer be the problem of no signal when

haps you should look more to a 21st!”

needing to clear a credit card ride. And hope-

Korner

fully they will also contain lots of work!

The new terminals will contain the

Knowledge Master Cabbies Mate A-Z maps

Ron Yarborough

and satellite navigation software, which

include a central London super scale and

Call Sign Online

Dial-a-Cab Credit Union

Ever needed money quickly but were anxious about

variable bank interest rates?

Well wonder no more! If you are a subscriber, journeyman or

A Kupkake Kipper Poem

member of staff at Dial-a-Cab, then you qualify to join the

The kipper season is upon us,

Dial-a-Cab Credit Union. Any member of your family residing

It’s getting hard to earn a crust,

at your address also qualifies for membership!

And there is no bonus...

Then if you are over 18, have been a member of the Credit Union for

So out to work you must.

over 3 months and have established regular savings, you can borrow

up to 3 times your total savings…

No alibi or excuses,

No long lie-ins in bed,

The cost?

Just 1% per month on the outstanding balance (or APR of 12.7%).

No more refusals...

Loans can be paid back early AND there can be an annual dividend on your shares.

Whether Brixton or Plumstead!

The question is: Can you afford NOT to be in it…?

Like Christmas lights at midnight,

Call us on 020 7729 8171 or 020 7749 0585

The cabs through London pass,

I can’t say it’s a nice sight...

Members of the Financial Ombudsman Service

Please God, it doesn’t last!

Member’s funds protected up to limit set by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme

DaC Credit Union Ltd, Peterley Business Centre, 472 Hackney Rd E2 9EQ

Kopyrlght Kupkake 1979

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

Registration number 213263

Call Sign October 2012

Page 11

“I suppose I’d better start thinking about a

replacement before the winter sets in,” Barry

Spear

(Y16) told Call Sign after being

informed by Dial-a-Cab’s Roman Way techni-

cians that his MDT problems were being

Poor Barry!

caused by a weakening battery.

“Mind you, this present accumulator owes

me nothing, it is the original one from when I

Now in its sixth year, his battery starts to play up!

bought the cab five and a half years ago and

I’ve done 188,000 miles, so I can hardly com-

Barry and his battery

plain too much,” Barry continued sporting a

huge grin!

Call Sign and the Roman Way staff stood

a major source of battery

speechless in amazement at the revelation that

failure as dirty or loose

a cab battery, with all the stresses and strains of

contacts means the bat-

taxi work - and in particular radio taxi work -

tery is not being charged

with its continual cycle of engine stop/start

by the alternator. Where

starter motor engagement activity should - or

possible, maintain the

even could - last so long, was astounding.

water level in the cells

The N7 techies reckon a decent battery is

using the appropriate top-

usually good for a couple of winters provided

up fluid. Also, gently

it is well maintained, while some of the cheap-

scratch the date of the

er brands can just about outlive their warranty

purchase of the battery

period. So to hear of a battery that has per-

tionary while waiting for a passenger or sitting

onto the casing so that

formed reliably for so long is possibly a record

on a rank, simply adds to the load imposed on

any warranty claim can be speedily resolved.

that might be hard to beat. They went on to

the battery.

Can you beat Barry’s battery time of five and

compare it in Olympic terms to the winning of

With this in mind and as we enter the win-

a half years? Editor Alan Fisher has had an

a Gold medal in a record time!

ter months, Call Sign sought advice from

Optima battery that came with his new cab for

The demands of radio taxi work and every-

Sheldon Posner of Cricklewood Carriers

over four years, so there could be a challenger

thing that involves including the additional

and also Tony and Jamie at taxi parts special-

somewhere. Let Call Sign know if it’s you...

requirement of powering the MDT itself, puts

ist J V Bright in SE1. They all suggested that

huge pressure on the battery to give 100% all

now might be an opportune time to ensure

Michael Toomey

the time. Listening to a music radio or running

the battery terminals and leads are scrupu-

another electronic device, especially when sta-

lously clean and secure. Loose fitting leads are

Call Sign Online

LTC HIT JACKPOT!

At a time when it’s not just

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

taxi drivers who are strug

gling to regain some of t

THE TAXI DRIVER OF THE YEAR CHARITY FUND

momentum they had just

Remembering those less fortunate than ourselves

four short years ago, but

both major taxi manufac-

40th Anniversary

turers having gone into

Presents their annual Dinner and Dance

print saying that condi-

tions for selling their cabs

Saturday 1st December 2012

are “extremely tough”

Holiday Inn Kensington Forum, 97 Cromwell Road, London SW7 4DN

with both showing heavy

Tickets £62.50 include a 4 course meal and half a bottle of wine per person

losses, the London Taxi

And of course dancing to a live band!

Company and their TX4

With your kind support The Taxi Driver of the Year Charity Fund is able to make

may have found a gold-

substantial donations to the taxi trade charities.

en saviour.

Don’t be the one to miss this great night out. Come along and enjoy good food and great

company. It will prove to be an enjoyable and memorable occasion for all...

As Call Sign reported

last month, the LTC

Return to Russell Poluck MBE, Hon Chairman,

have now completed

5 St Brides Avenue, Edgware Middx HA8 6BT

the deal to supply

RSVP by 1 November 2012

Dress Smart

Azerbaijan’s Baku Taxi

Please make cheque payable to T.D.Y.C.F. (please print)

Company with 1000

TX4s, but so happy is

Name:

Baku’s director, Ilgar

Address:

Gasimov, that they have now said they want to buy

another 2000 taxis!

Mr Gasimov told us: “This next batch will be delivered over

Tel:

Mobile:

the next two years and bought in stages of around 200

taxis every few months with 1,000 coming to Baku over the

Email:

next year and the first batch of 200 taxis arriving in January

2013.”

Number of tickets:

The £53million agreement signed with Geely in 2006 that

Dietary requirements:

Veg

Fish

Meat

involved building look-a-like London taxis in a joint venture from

their factory in Shanghai and with a £20million investment by

For further information: Contact Russell Poluck 07850 056 765 - Tel/fax 020 8952 1357

Manganese Bronze, seems now to be paying off in spades.

Registered with the Charities Commission No: 1000761

Call Sign October 2012

Page 12

LT Museum Family Open Weekend

And it’s a Taxi special weekend!

London Transport Museum’s Depot in

test drive at the Depot, tests will include a

Model collectors

Gunnersbury Lane, Acton, will open its

three point turn and driving in a full cir-

Model collectors can purchase an Acton special

doors to the public on Saturday 6 and

cle. Guests will need to book their test

model throughout the weekend, the First

Sunday 7 October for its Family Open

drive on arrival on a first come first

Editions London Transport Green Line RT Type

Weekend and will include a taxi special!

served basis. A donation of £5 per test is

double deck bus on route 362 to Amersham at

The Depot is home to the Museum’s col-

suggested with proceeds going to London

£35.99 (model number 30507A). Two special

lection of over 400,000 objects, consisting

Transport Museum and the London

commission models will also be on sale that

of historical road and rail vehicles, thou-

Vintage Taxi Association.

were previously only available through the

sands of posters and artworks, engineer-

There is also a celebration on the 60th

Collectors Club website: Exclusive First Editions

ing drawings, signs and ephemera. Tickets

anniversary of the end of the tram, behind

Guy GS London Transport on route 316 to

are valid for both days and kids go free.

the scenes tours, curator-led tours of the

Chesham Broadway at £35.99 (model number:

As well as having the rare opportunity to

small object store, exclusive depot retail

30507A) and the exclusive First Editions United

explore the Museum’s treasures, there will

products and heritage vehicle runs.

Counties Bristol LS on Route 359 to Amersham

also be a number of activities for the family to

Also, for real enthusiasts and to mark the

at £35.99 (model number 16324A).

enjoy. These include a London Vintage Taxi

end of the ‘A’ stock trains after 50 years of

Tickets to the Acton Open Weekend are valid

Association display with LVTA members on

service on the Metropolitan line, the muse-

on both days and cost £10 for adults, £8 for

hand to answer your questions about the old

um is making available a special range of

senior citizens and

£6.50 concessions.

cabs. There will also be talks from guest

commemorative products at the Depot

Accompanied children under 16 go free.

speaker and taxi historian Bill Munroe on

Open Weekend. Due to popular demand,

To avoid possible queues, tickets can be

the history of the London taxi and

this range will include a limited number of

booked in advance by calling 020 7565 7298

Knowledge of London.

RAW Metropolitan line luggage racks. The

or online at www.ltmuseum.co.uk. The

The LVTA taxis will include vehicles

RAW luggage racks will be surface cleaned

Museum Depot is open Saturday 6 and

from 1912, 1934 and the modern day TX4,

but require additional deep cleaning for

Sunday 7 October from 11.00 to 17.00 with

brought in especially for the Open

domestic use. They will be available at spe-

the last admission at

16.00 and is at 2

Weekend with LVTA drivers on hand to

cial event prices of £125 for large racks

Museum Way, 118 - 120 Gunnersbury Lane,

answer any of your questions. Guests with

and £75 for small ones. We bet the wives

London, W3 9BQ. The nearest Underground

a valid UK driver’s licence can take a taxi

will love ‘em!

station is Acton Town.

Call Sign Comment

Patrick McLoughlin is

the new Transport

The one-a -

Secretary

year

Transport

Secretaries!

With the arrival of new Transport

Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, in the

You may not need us now, but cut us out for when you do!

PM’s recent reshuffle, that now means

that there have been seven Transport

Secretaries in the last six years. No prizes

for remembering their names - although

LOCKHOUSE SECURITY

Call Sign doubts there would be too

many winners anyway!

All types of locks, opened, repaired and replaced

The incumbents of the position were

Douglas Alexander (May 2006 - June

10% discount on keys and locks for DaC drivers

2007), Ruth Kelly (June 2007 - October

Transponders / chipped keys

2008), Geoff Hoon (October 2008 - June

On site key cutting services including taxis

2009), Lord Andrew Adonis (June 2009

Locks replaced / fitted to insurance specifications (BS3621

- May 2010), Philip Hammond (May

2010 - October 2011) and Justine

Burglary repairs / boarding up

Greening (October 2011 - 4 October

Additional security / security upgrades

2012). Making the seven was Alastair

Safes opened, repaired and serviced

Darling from the previous administration.

Grilles and security gates

According to HMG, transport infrastruc-

Specialists in UPVC doors and windows / patio doors

ture development is an essential building

block for economic growth, but most

Free estimates / no call out charge

Secretaries of State for Transport seem to

24hr service

use the position as a building block for

their own future with barely a nod

You can find us at:

towards the licensed taxi business. But

with 7 of them in 6 years, at least we

8-10 The Arcade, Farnham Road, Harold Hill

should be used to being ignored!

Tel: 01708 371115

Call Sign October 2012

Page 13

COMPLIANCE OFFICER’S REPORT

that the client can be further informed.

You will also by now be aware of the terminal

messages each night asking drivers to book off

JPM Rolling Rank

E14C before 21:00. This is even more applicable

The J P Morgan ‘Rolling Rank’ is working very well

since the JPM Rolling Rank operates from this time.

and there is certainly a lot more work coming out

If persistent offenders choose to ignore the mes-

of E14, in fact so much so that at certain times of

sages from the Call Centre and accept a trip rather

the day there are a lack of Dial-a-Cab taxis booked

than following procedures, they will not only be

into the island, something we all need to address.

taken off the trip, they will also lose their queue

As you know, procedures on the Island change

position and may face a complaint if it is a regular

on weekdays from daytime working (6am until

occurrence. Again it is only a very small minority,

9pm) when you can book into E14C on any rank

but they spoil it for the rest of us. Please play the

provided you are inside of the security cordon, to

game...

just E14 working from 9pm up to 6am, Mondays to

Fridays and at all times throughout the weekend.

Discounted holiday car rental for

You must then at all times be physically in

DaC drivers

the E14 postal zone; booking in from any other

Hello ladies and gents,

Although this summer has been and gone, many of

zone is a procedure violation. When both

you may still choose to take a break to sunnier cli-

Getting back to normal

‘Rolling Ranks’ are operating, the trips are As

mates during the winter months to recharge your

We are now into October and finally getting back

Directed and at this moment in time, outside of

batteries. If you require a car rental either in the

to some kind of normality. It’s actually good to get

these hours all other trips will, in the main, be

UK or further afield, Dial-a-Cab have negotiated a

the City back again after the Olympics. Trip figures

unmasked.

really good deal with award winning car hire com-

are gradually rising on a daily basis now that the

pany rdable Car Hire’ (www.awww.affordable-

holiday season is at an end and schools are back,

Temporary off facility

carhire.com).

albeit roadworks and its associated traffic conges-

It has become apparent that a minority of mem-

They have offered our members and staff a large

tion have also returned to pre - Olympic levels!

bers are abusing their temporary off button when

discount of up to thirty per cent on rates through-

Having said that and I know I’ve said it

on Canary Wharf in an effort to give them an unfair

out the year, so it is well worth contacting them

many, many times before, but with those

advantage if and when certain trips are allocated.

(please see the ad on this page for full details and

numbers picking up, it is so very important

This is certainly not in the true spirit of the Society

the unique promo code).

that all trips are covered as quickly as possible

and is not what the temporary off button was

Be very lucky and drive safely

and that arrival times and any acceptable

designed for. It will be monitored over the coming

delays are continually updated. If your delay

weeks and I am sure those few drivers who are

is taking longer than you at first thought,

pushing the boundaries further than they should,

Allan Evans

please remember to send a revised ‘delay’ so

know exactly where I am coming from.

Allane@Dialacab.co.uk

Call Sign October 2012

Page 14

“Yes, after half a million miles, we have to part,”

Another DaC driver talks about losing his “old friend...”

DaC driver Lee Anderson (P57) told Call Sign

with a sigh as he brought his old Fairway taxi

into the Roman Way depot to have the radio

My Fairway will be a

equipment stripped out, prior to being re-fitted

into his forthcoming TX4.

“This old girl will be a hard act to follow,

because other than regular maintenance costs

hard act to follow!

and consumables such as tyres and brakes, I

have only ever needed to replace one coolant

radiator, a water pump and a starter motor dur-

ing our time together!”

an inflated plastic chair,” Lee continued, “and

Lee’s wife Michelle had joined him to say

then struggling down the road with it after I set

farewell and looked on approvingly with what

her down in Notting Hill, so maybe it was that.

looked like a lone tear in her eye as she listened

I’ll never really know, but after those two events

to Lee talking as though he was losing an old

I was tempted to ask everyone I stopped for

friend..

whether their life insurance was fully paid up!”

“While I’m looking forward with high hopes

But to prove that his Fairway wasn’t really

for the future with a TX4, I have realistic - if not

connected with any bad luck, Lee named actor

lower - expectations of the reliability of the TX

Larry Lamb, Madness frontman Suggs and

simply because of the rugged longevity of my

Irish singer Rose-Marie as being really pleas-

old bus right there,” Lee said pointing towards

ant...

the aged cab sitting forlornly in the work bay.

“And both Sir Robin and Paula were always

“But I never considered an alternative work

very nice as well - which is more than I can say

tool other than another LTC product - a real

about a now retired middle and super-mid-

taxi!”

dleweight former world-champion boxer

Before driving away in his new mode of

whose name I won’t mention, but if you’ve

transport, Lee remembered some of the people

picked him up you’ll know exactly who I

and events that had involved his Fairway.

mean!” Lee’s voice tailed off at the thought.

“Well,” Lee offered, “there was a time when I

The taxi Strip-Out process complete, Lee left

A sad goodbye to his Fairway from Lee

thought that either I, or the cab, was putting

the depot with the words hard act to follow

the mockers on people because a week after Sir

stepping out of my taxi, she too had left this

echoing from his lips..

Robin Day was in my cab on an account ride,

life!” At that point Lee and Call Sign’s intrepid

he died. Then shortly after that, Paula Yates

reporter were not sure whether to laugh or cry.

Alan Green

got in and blow me down, within a few days of

“I recall Paula coming out to the cab carrying

Call Sign Online

LOOKING AT (TAXI) LIFE

and family argument programmes like The

With Tom Quigley (Y33)

Jeremy Kyle Show. Hardly inspiring stuff and it

generally shows our youth in a negative way.

Judging by the massive viewing figures

for the excellent coverage by both Channel

4 and BBC, with multi channels and red but-

ton options, there is no doubt of there

being an appetite for watching all types of

sport on terrestrial TV.

We watched both forms of the Games with

commentators quoting statistics and careers of

Cutting the ribbon!

our own sportsmen and women who had obvi-

Generally in life, the most things that I am asked

ously been competing and training for years, but

to open are onion jars and my wallet at a family

who were complete strangers to us. For we arm-

gathering! Obviously doors for ladies and the

chair fans, the thought of getting excited over

elderly I do automatically.

BMX racing and wheelchair rugby just six

So it was a nice surprise and lovely - if unex-

weeks ago would have been laughable, but as

pected - gesture when the management of the

crazy as it all appeared to us, they had us on the

local gym, Greens in Chingford, which I have

edge of our seats and wanting more!

been frequenting for quite a few years, asked if I

Tom Quigley cuts the ribbon at

The terrestrial channels have lost most of

would do the honours and cut the ribbon at the

Green's gym

the football, cricket and rugby to subscrip-

handing over ceremony as it is now owned by

tion TV; the networks should now grab the

Nuffield Health.

September 12th saw an interview with the

initiative and promote these lesser sports

local paper and even more photos! Who knows,

I was a bit taken aback at first and asked

through the medium of television, helping

myself the obvious question; why me and why

I could end up kissing babies and standing as US

to attract larger viewing figures and specta-

not a local celeb as a few of them use the gym?

President - or at least to open the gym he

tors to the live events, with the prospect of

belongs to!!!

advertising at the events being shown on

Surely not because I write for Call Sign!

Naturally, I didn’t want to talk myself out of the

the screen.

honour, so I gratefully accepted.

Legacy of sport on TV

There would be more money and sponsors

Now that the Olympics are over, there is much

coming into the respective sports, further help-

So up bright and early on 1st September, in

talk about the legacy of the Games. If TV is any-

ing our bright and committed athletes to achieve

my best suit and tie and polished shoes, I proud-

thing to go by, it seems that after the BBC and

greater results while providing more facilities and

ly cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony. I had

then Channel 4 finished their stints on the

opportunities for others to emulate their new-

to put up with quite a few Dial-a-Cab members

Olympics and Paralympics, that daytime viewing

found heroes.

and other taxi drivers ribbing me all day about

has once again reverted back to the same dia-

That’s the legacy I would like to see...

autographs and speeches! But I loved every

tribe of boot sales, auctions, crime show re-runs

minute of it.

Tom Quiqley (Y33)

Call Sign October 2012

Page 15

Call Sign Editor Alan Fisher writes about the time when you just know by looking at someone that

your passenger is going bilk you...

A yob is a yob is a yob???

The Olympics were over, it was

Alan wonders why he picked

beginning to get busier and my

the youngster up

meter was starting to earn its

least I had used up this decade’s

rental. Ok, I was hardly getting

bilk and I got back into the cab.

rushed off my feet, but compared

Suddenly the warden tapped on

to the six weeks when passengers

the door. I looked up and there

took note of all the warnings and

strolling towards me was my bilker

kept well away from London, it

with three £20 notes in his hand.

wasn’t bad.

“Sorry to keep you,” he said,

I dropped my passenger at

“but there was a queue for the

Paddington having brought him

ATM. Oh yes, can I have my wallet

from Wapping and was delighted

back please. It belonged to my late

to see a long queue of prospective

mother and I’d hate to lose it.”

passengers waiting for us kind-

I didn’t bother telling him that it

hearted taxi drivers to dispatch

was £61.80, sixty smackers did me

them to their onward destinations.

nicely. I thanked him and off he

I pulled out of the station in case

trotted into the terminal, once again with his phone stuck to his ear.

any cabs were waiting to come in, did a quick U-turn on the bridge

I thanked the wardens for their help and drove off. I gave the ter-

and went straight back in again.

minal a tap to set the screen back into view and was surprised to see

A few cabs were either side of the pick-up island, with the station

the passenger’s debit card details. I sent a message to dispatch asking

marshals doing their best to keep the queues moving. Many passen-

why the details were there when the card had been declined.

gers were literally drowning under the weight of their suitcases - that

“Your terminal must have been jammed; you should have pressed the

was until I reached the point. There stood my passenger, around 18

resync button to clear it,” explained an anonymous wordsmith. I

years old, two metres in height, compulsory baseball cap facing back

explained that I no longer needed it and didn’t expect to have to pay

to front and dressed in a vest that must have been three sizes too big,

any credit card charges. It was changed to cash and I went back to work.

torn jeans and expensive looking trainers. Never mind luggage, there

wasn’t even any sign of a carrier bag.

Ok, he came back and his card was genuine after all. But he was

probably still a yob - after all, he had no luggage!

“Terminal three at Heathrow, mate,” he said as he jumped in. The

enthusiasm you’d normally get from such a request on an already

busy day wasn’t there for this trip. My only thought was how he would

Alan Fisher

pay? Of course, I could have made an excuse and pulled away, but that

Call Sign Online

would have shifted the problem on to the next driver - and some-

thing inside me kept asking how I’d like it if someone else did it to

me. So I decided that I would take this guy, who looked like every yob

you always told yourself you’d never pick up, and on arrival at

Heathrow I would keep my foot on the brake so that he couldn’t get

out until he had paid - always assuming he actually had any money!

Thankfully it was a reasonably clear run and within 35 minutes we

were heading along the slip road towards the tunnel. Just as I was

reminding myself about the footbrake, he said his first words that

weren’t actually whispered into a phone.

“Can I pay with a debit card, mate?”

Result, I thought, perhaps I was going to get paid after all! I asked

for the card and swiped it before we entered the tunnel. A bleep on

the terminal told me what my inner self already knew. Card declined,

it read. I tried again on the airport side of the tunnel with the same

result. I told him he’d have to pay cash and naturally his response was

the one I knew he’d give.

“I’ll have to go into the terminal to use a cash machine then.

Strange, though,” he continued, “I’ve used it several times today with-

out any problems.”

“Of course you have,” I thought to myself, “and your dad is Santa

Claus!”

I pulled up to the end of the terminal where I saw two wardens

talking and told them of my predicament. I asked if I could leave the

cab for a few minutes while I went to the .cash point with my pas-

senger. While they agreed I could leave the cab there, they said that I

had to wait with it. So off trotted the passenger, leaving his purse with

a screwed up travel card in it with an expiry date in 2009 as deposit.

“He’ll be back,” said one of the wardens, “after all you still have his

luggage.”

When I explained that he had no luggage, to her eternal credit one

of the wardens tried to follow the passenger, but his long legs left her

standing and she returned apologising profusely.

So the question remains: Why did I take him? And that’s exactly

what the warden who chased after him also asked. There was no real

answer. I hadn’t had a bilk for at least ten years - possibly longer -

and perhaps my faith in humanity is stronger that it should be. But at

Call Sign October 2012

Page 16

David Kupler (Y74) - known to most dri-

Obituary

vers as Kupkake - has been writing poetry

for Call Sign and its predecessor News and

Views since 1974. His family’s blood runs

through Dial-a-Cab with dad, Judd being a

MARY (MICKY) KUPLER

driver, daughter Rachel having worked at

Brunswick House, sister Samantha being

My Mother had a wonderful sense of

previously married to a former DaC

humour. She loved a saucy joke. Just one day

Secretary, wife Jan having worked on the

before her death, I was sitting by her side,

phones at Shirland Road and mum Mary

holding her hand just as I did as a child, talk-

having been an evening shift telephonist at

ing and remembering happier times. She

Shirland Road.

knew she was not going to beat this illness

In March 2005, David’s father passed

and was very pragmatic regarding the end of

away at the age of 86 and David wrote a

her life. She said:

moving piece about him, now his mother

“David, I've had 93 years and that's

Mary - who preferred to be called Michelle

enough. I've given life to you and your sis-

or Micky - has also passed on at the age

ter and I've always tried to be a good per-

of 93 and David has penned a piece about

son. If there's an afterlife, I want to come

her. The thoughts of everyone at DaC

back as a bird - a Robin or an Owl. Don’t

House go to the Kupler family - a true

sit Shiva for me; just remember me in

Dial-a-Cab family if ever there was one...

your heart.”

Mary and Judd - Together again

“My beloved mother Mary Cohen was born

My nephew Adam was with her when she

on May 3rd 1919 and the world became a rich-

boy and a union that lasted over 60 years.

passed away on Sunday evening and there

er place. She was raised in Stepney in what

My Mother was a giver and gave love and

was a flock of birds making a loud commo-

was then the Jewish Area of London with her

affection to her family and friends. She always

tion in the tree outside of the window at that

five brothers and one sister.

seemed to understand that people were not

exact time. Now she will rest beside my

She became a seamstress in a tailoring shop.

perfect and she would forgive all transgres-

Father and be missed by those who knew and

When WW2 was thrust upon us, she volun-

sions. She installed the virtues of tolerance

loved her as a remarkable kind and loving

teered to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service

and forgiveness to her children and passed on

woman.

(ATS) and worked in dangerous locations

her wisdom and comprehension of the imper-

I know I speak for my sister Samantha and

around the Kent coast, being involved in the

fect world in which we live.

myself, for her grandchildren and great-

spotting of enemy aircraft intent on destroy-

She loved to cook, and her Apple Pie and

grandchildren when I say that I will think of

ing this country. On two separate occasions,

Strudel were almost legendary in our family.

you and miss you Mum every day for the rest

her look out posts were attacked by German

She loved the sunshine and to be buried on a

of my life.

fighter planes and she survived the ordeal.

sunny day would defiantly have met with her

Rest in peace, I will cherish your mem-

She married my Father, also an East End

approval.

ory forever. Your loving son David...”

Wembley Dream Over

Almost but not quite! That could have been the

held on to that lead in the away game, who

after match comment from Wembley FC’s Technical

knows what might have been. But we’ll never

Director, Terry Venables, as his assistant for the

know now.”

evening, Martin Keown, left the club’s Vale Farm

Budweiser, the sponsors who brought the ex-pros

ground after Wembley were unceremoniously

to Vale Farm, are continuing to assist Wembley

dumped out of the FA Cup by Uxbridge.

although the ex-pros are now ex-pros once again. Lee

The month had begun well for the team with

Pearce still maintains contact with David Seaman and

Dial-a-Cab driver Lee Pearce (J71) in goal and ex-

at the time of writing, ESPN were still showing their

pro guests for FA Cup matches, Ray Parlour,

weekly Wembley FC: Dream On programmes...

Martin Keown, Graeme Le Saux, Brian McBride

and Argentinian superstar Claudio Caniggia all

Jamie Corum

ready to play when needed! In addition, Lee had his

Call Sign Online

own personal trainer in ex-Arsenal and England

goalkeeper David Seaman!

The team’s first cup game - shown live on ESPN -

saw Wembley defeat Langford FC 3 - 2 with a four-

WAR DISABLED CHARITY AGM

figure crowd said to be 10 times the usual number!

Wembley’s reward in the next round was an away

trip to Uxbridge - a team one league higher than

The London Taxi Benevolent Association

Wembley’s Lions - but you’d have never guessed it!

for War Disabled (LTBAWD) is holding its

From the start, Wembley started knocking the ball

AGM on 12th November 2012 at The

around with Claudio Caniggia playing like a man 10

Royal Hospital Chelsea SW3. The meet-

years younger than his 40+. After 25 minutes, Paul

ing begins at 3pm.

Shelton gave the visitors a deserved lead and 15

Nominations must be in writing only,

minutes later Daryl Atkins doubled Wembley’s lead

and an FA Cup shock was well and truly on the

time, but the DaC man pulled off another great save

duly proposed and seconded by first

cards. But halfway through the second half, Wembley

and the replay was on.

post on 5th October 2012 and send them

began to tire and Uxbridge scored twice in 2 minutes

After that game, Terry Venables said that he

to the secretary:

through Kevin Warner and Chris Moore. Then it

had been pleased with the way Wembley played,

Mr Paul Davis, 88 Grasvenor Avenue,

was a matter of hanging on for a replay.

even though they had shown those signs of tired-

Barnet, Herts, EN5 2DB.

The ninety minutes were up and there were just

ness. However, the replay was a strange game.

Due to security at The Royal Hospital

three minutes of injury time added on. Wembley

Again shown live on ESPN, Uxbridge started the

and a change of meeting room, any per-

had possession and looked safe, but with just sec-

stronger, but Lee Pearce stopped all their goal

sons wishing to attend should contact

onds left of that third minute, Chris Moore ran

attempts. However, in the end their superior

the Secretary on 07860 850 102 by Friday

through and had an open goal to shoot at to give

strength and league position began to tell and by

9th November 2012.

Uxbridge the win. But Lee Pearce threw himself at

the end of 90 minutes, the away team had estab-

the shot and managed to parry it. The ball shot

lished a 5-0 lead.

You can read all about the LTBAWD at

upwards and Moore tried to finish it the second

Lee Pearce told Call Sign: “If we could have

www.taxicharity.org

Call Sign October 2012

Page 17

Digging ever deeper...

There was a time when private hire had to be

the word ‘cab’ now seems to have been fully

careful about using the word ‘taxi’ or ‘cab’ in

accepted.

advertising. Nowadays it seems that most

A DaC driver (who forgot to add his

things are just accepted and that minicabs

name) sent us this photo of a minicab. At

can quite easily get away with mini transgres-

one time the company concerned would

sions!

have been breaking the law - not only

LTPH do chase up reported incidents where

through inferring the word cab, but also

for having such tinted glass that it was

a PH company attempt to get away with mov-

impossible to read the licence. Now no

ing the boundary ever further, but there are

one either knows or apparently cares!

minicab companies all over London that now

use a variation of the word taxi.

Dial-a-Cab drivers over the years have sent

Dennis Latchett

My minicab? And can you see the

in reports of minicabs incorporating the

licence through the tinted glass?

word taxy or taxee or even tacksy! But use of

Call Sign Online

Olympic ORNs:

The Last Word!

London’s incredible summer of sport end

with the Paralympics, but some Dial-a-

Cab drivers still have a few niggles they

need to get out of their systems! Bill

Kibble (K86) is one of them and he

found the Olympic Route Network to still

be an irritant!

As a result, Bill sent this photo to Call

Sign of two signs on the island by St

Mary's Church on Strand. The signs

were just thirty yards apart and although

his camera couldn’t capture the actual

wording on the illuminated messages,

the differences are recognisable after

seeing them so often during August

and September. One says we can and

one says we can’t use the Games lane!

Bill ended by saying that now the

Games are over, Councils and TfL

should do the decent thing and cancel all

Olympic penalty notices for taxis.

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Call Sign October 2012

Page 18

As the WCHCD hold their Installation Dinner

DaC’s Divyesh

Ruparelia clothed

as Liveryman...

Brian Rice and Andrew Overton ready

for din dins!

On 6th September at The Girdlers’ Hall

in Basinghall Avenue, the WCHCD held

their Installation Dinner. During a Court

Meeting at the Hall prior to the dinner,

Brenda Bartlett was installed as Master

for the coming year. Brenda is a licensed

London taxi driver, having completed

her KoL in 1991. In 1997 she joined the

Company as a Freeman and was clothed

as a Liveryman in

2004 when the

Company gained Livery status.

Divyesh and Brenda Bartlett after the Liveryman ceremony

Once Brenda had been installed by

in their duties, are the organising body of

Wendy was elected as Sheriff of The City

outgoing Master, Eddie Crossley, she

the company. There are also opportuni-

of London last year and is Chairman and

began her year by installing her Wardens.

ties for members within the WCHCD to

Spokesman of The Save Bart's Campaign.

These were Graham Woodhouse as

sit on various committees including

She is also a Past Chairman of St.

Upper Warden, Malcolm Paice as Renter

Education, Magical Taxi Tour, Charity, PR,

Bartholomew the Great Heritage Trust,

Warden and Colin Evans as Lower

Membership and Awards. It is through

Vice Chairman of The Guild of the Royal

Warden.

involvement in the running of the

Hospital of St. Bartholomew (League of

Dial-a-Cab Chairman, Brian Rice,

Company that members are elected to

Friends) and Chairman of Housing the

was there to see the WCHCD new

the roles of Warden or Master. The

Homeless Central Fund. She is a

Master clothe Freeman Divyesh

WCHCD continues to thrive because of

Liveryman of the Worshipful Companies

Ruparelia (V59) in the Livery. Brenda

the commitment of its members, but new

of Glovers and Patternmakers.

then welcomed Martin Castle, Leigh

members are always warmly welcomed.

Go to www.hackneycarriagedriver-

Dargan, Micky Harris, Graham Long,

A Champagne Reception took place in

scompany.com if you would like to

Wendy Sorrell and Gary Wilcox as

the garden before dinner and among the

know more about WCHCD or contact

Freemen of the Company.

guests were Sheriff Wendy Mead CC

The Clerk, Mary Whitworth on 01494

Becoming Master of a Livery company

and her consort Mr Robert Tipping.

765922.

is an honour earned by Liverymen within

their Company. The Court of Assistants,

who support the Master and the Wardens

The Flower Mill

Creating Beautiful Flowers For Weddings

Call Sign

October 2012

Editor: Alan Fisher

Address: 39 - 47 East Rd, London N1 6AH

Tel: 07854 738895

Tel: 0207 251 0581 Fax: 0207 553 7293

Email: callsignmag@aol.com

Web: www.theflowermillessex.co.uk

Website:-www.dac-callsign.co.uk

Printers: Premier Print Group

25 - 31 Violet Rd, London E3

Email: theflowermill@yahoo.co.uk

Design: Aldan Publications

Tel: 07958 300 428

Covering Essex & The Surrounding Counties

Email: dfdannyfresco@gmail.com

Views and opinion expressed in Call Sign must

not be assumed to represent those of the Editor or

Board.No part of Call Sign may be reproduced

“It is at the edge of a petal that love waits”- William Carlos Williams

either manually or electronically without the express

permission of the Editor.

Call Sign October 2012

Page 19

Terry Catherall (Y90) did a cycle

DaC’s Terry Catherall cycles to Paris for the Royal British Legion

ride to Brighton in 2010 for chari-

ty and enjoyed it so much that

he thought he’d do another one.

Riding his ‘Poppy’

But this one was to be somewhat further

afield - to Paris and for a charity that has

long been associated with the London taxi

with pride!

trade, The Royal British Legion.

Following the demob of so many males

after the end of WW2 with most having no

jobs to go to, it was the Legion that encour-

aged many of them to go onto the Knowledge

and become taxi drivers by setting up the

British Legion Knowledge School.

Terry began training for the ride in

February and continued right through the

summer to make sure that if anything went

wrong, at least it wouldn’t be because he

lacked fitness!

Terry had his bike specially made and

maintained for the ride by Russell Coe of

Vandome Cycles. Coloured red and black,

he aptly named it Poppy. Terry continues

the story for Call Sign…

Firstly I’d like to thank my wife Dawn for

putting up with all my training - around 2000

miles since February - and the fact that it seri-

ously disrupted our social life. I must also

thank training partners Christopher

McKellick, Bernie Kerslake and the ‘we

Terry at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

hate hills’ cycling group at Club Woodham!

Riding my Poppy with pride: Day one

Terry and

from Crystal Palace FC to Dover...

friends at the

A refuel at Aylesford Legion village, then on

end of the ride

to catch our ferry. Got soaked and dried out

by the Arc de

three times that day! Thankfully we had no

Triomphe

more rain from then on all the way to Paris...

Day two...

The day started with a service at the Calais

War Memorial, an emotional start to the day.

From there on we had a team of French

motorcycle out-riders providing a rolling

road block each day all the way to the centre

ing many Brits,

of Paris. We had 250 cyclists split into three

were going ballis-

tic as they spotted

our lead rider

with a rather large

Union flag flying

on a ten foot high

whip aerial! With

groups, each with back up vehicles carrying

the Champs Elysees closed except for us, we

medical staff, mechanics to maintain the

felt as though Paris belonged to us - albeit for

bikes - everything like a military operation, as

only a short time!

you would expect from the Legion.

Celebration drinks were on hand before

Day three...

the most poignant of all the wreath-laying

Another memorial service, this one at

services at the Tomb of the Unknown

Abbeville. Then it was on though some beau-

Soldier situated beneath L’Arc de

tiful countryside and villages with locals mak-

Triomphe. A lot of grown men cried that

ing us feel very welcome by waving flags and

day.

cheering us on. Just fantastic!

The trip was filled with poignant moments

Later that day we arrived in Beauvais to a

which I shall always remember, but there

great reception by the Mayor - she was much

were so many other times when the trip

better looking than Boris! Then there was

became an unforgettably enjoyable experi-

another service of remembrance before

ence. My training paid dividends and on

putting the bikes to bed for the night. By now

behalf of The Royal British Legion, I’d like to

I’m becoming au fait with the French nation-

thank all the Dial-a-Cab drivers who donat-

al anthem!

ed. If anyone would still like to donate, then

you still can. Just go to my donation site:

Day four...

Onwards into Paris with a couple of stops for

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ter-

rycatherall

food and drink. As we approached the centre,

the crowds grew larger and noisier, police

sirens were blaring out and tourists, includ-

Terry Catherall (Y90)

Call Sign October 2012

Page 20

It seems that so many of you enjoyed reading

Mike Son looks back at some of his taxi trips that were that bit out

my last article involving a taxi job I did rather

of the ordinary...

than my usual type of BoM report, that Call

Sign’s Editor has asked me to do another

one! So here goes - although unlike my last

The “Haven” of Shell Haven!

one, this one doesn’t involve drugs and pros-

titutes!

short time the dinghy hit something with a

Many of Dial-a-Cab’s older drivers will

mighty thud. I asked what we’d hit? It was the

remember Shell Haven in Thurrock (Essex).

ship - an oil tanker!

It had been purchased by the Shell Company

The agent and my passenger began shout-

as an oil refinery, but closed in 1999. Several

ing to try and attract the attention of anyone

years later it was taken over by marine termi-

on the ship. After a few minutes a voice came

nal operator DP World, one of the largest

out of the mist. The agent explained the situ-

operators of its kind in the world. They also

ation and we were told that a ship’s officer

took over the P&O Company. So here goes...

would be sent for. He soon arrived together

with a crew member and they unravelled a

I was sitting on point at a Heathrow rank.

rope ladder, which our elderly boatman then

It was around 11pm one evening and the one

tied to the dinghy as though he’d done it one

and only passenger walked towards me and

million times before. Looking at him, he

said a few words in a language that I couldn’t

probably had! Both the agent and the North

understand. He then handed me a piece of

African started to climb aboard the tanker.

paper with the words Shell Haven and a

They then told me to climb up because the

phone number on. At the same time he

Captain was the only person authorised to

screamed out:

“Shell. I join ship. Phone

pay the fare and he would require a receipt. I

agent. Ship Capitan will pay fare.”

directed me to a quayside.

looked at the rope and at the same time saw

I phoned the number and after a short

As we arrived, the agent said that we need-

a vision of my wife and family. I made a deci-

while, a man answered who sounded as

ed to walk part of the way. Together with my

sion: “Stuff the fare! There’s no way I’m going

though he had just woken up. I explained

Heathrow passenger, we got out of my

to climb up that bit of old rope!”

that I had a passenger who apparently had

Metrocab and followed the agent to the quay-

The agent looked at me in astonishment

flown in from North Africa and wanted to go

side. I asked where the ship was and was told

and then said that I should wait for him to

Shell Haven to join a ship.

it was moored out in the estuary and he

take him back to the quayside. I had no

When I eventually gave his name, the agent’s

would contact someone to take us out to it.

choice as I would never have found the cab

first comment was to leave him at the airport as

By this time, I was beginning to feel a bit

again without him guiding me.

he was just a member of the catering staff. But

apprehensive. The fact that it was a cold,

After fifteen minutes, I heard him calling

almost immediately he suddenly changed his

dark and damp winter’s night and somewhat

me. He said he was going to stay on-board

mind and gave me instructions and directions

misty as in the cheaper horror movies, didn’t

the tanker until morning, but that he was

where to take the passenger. The agent also

help me feel any better!

sending a piece of rope with a glove attached

said that the ship’s Captain would pay the fare

Some 30 minutes passed when I heard the

down the side of the ship. It contained the

but that I should phone again when I reached

engine of a boat, but the mist stopped me

taxi fare and a petty cash receipt which I had

the entrance to the docks.

from seeing anything. We went to the edge of

to sign. The rope was then pulled back up

On reaching Shell Haven, I phone the

the quay and as I looked down I saw a small

and I went back to the quayside with Captain

agent and after around twenty minutes we

boat with a very elderly sailor in command -

Birds Eye. I got into the cab and went home.

met up. He certainly did not look too happy

a sort of scruffy Captain Birds Eye!

And do you know, no one ever believed me...!

to see the passenger and asked who told him

The only way to reach the boat was via a

to come to the UK? After a number of heated

plank of wood placed from the quay to the

Mike Son

words between the two men, the agent got

small dinghy. Once we were all aboard, we

into the cab alongside the passenger and

set off. I couldn’t see a thing but within a

DaC Special Projects

From the winner of Team GB’s first Paralympic gold medal...

THANK YOU LONDON TAXIS!

In Call Sign’s July issue we ran a story about 20 year old Yorkshire born Paralympic athlete, Hannah Cockroft. She was the holder of two World

Championships and on her way by coach - together with her specially adapted racing wheelchair - to the

Olympic stadium where she was to be involved in the first track meeting prior to the Olympics starting.

All Hannah had to worry about was getting to the stadium, but that turned into a nightmare when her

coach broke down. The coach driver called a minicab but the wheelchair wouldn’t fit in, so Hannah did what

anyone with any commonsense would do - she hailed a licensed London taxi. She explained the situation to

the driver and because she was now running so late, she asked the driver if he would mind her getting

changed in the back of the cab whilst they were making their way to the stadium! Being a gentleman, the

driver said yes and adjusted his mirror to give Hannah as much privacy as he could. En route, he told Hannah

that he was delighted at getting the opportunity of seeing how to get into the Olympic stadium.

Hannah later told Call Sign that the driver helped her to relax even though she was running very late -

but at least she was on the way! They reached the security barrier and the driver explained that he had an

athlete in his cab who was scheduled to go in a race that was to be off in just minutes, but G4S security

showed why it was about to lose £50million for being rather stupid in the way it prepared - or didn’t as

the case may be! The guard wouldn’t allow him in. Hannah said she was scheduled to be in the 100 metres

and that she had already missed her warm-up time, but nope, G4S were not allowing taxis in! So Hannah got out and

found her own way to the track. She said that it had been the worst preparation she'd ever had before a race, totally missing the warm-up and literally

just having time to get her race number on and go straight onto the track for the race. Amazingly, she not only won, but broke the world record in the

process, putting her name into the record books as the first world record holder at the London Olympic stadium! And of course there can only ever be

one ‘first’ so the record will last forever.

But that wasn’t Hannah’s only first because - no thanks to G4S - Hannah won Team GB’s first gold medal when she took the Paralympics’ 100

metre wheelchair race in a new record time of 18.05 seconds. She also went on to take the 200metres gold medal as well! When Call Sign called her,

she remembered all about that taxi driver who got her to the track on time and she sent her thanks.

“Without the encouragement of that world record, my confidence may well have taken a knock and who knows if I would have then

won those two gold medals! I don’t know his name, but London’s black taxis will always now hold a special place in my heart.”

To us, Hannah is someone we’ll remember for her humility, sporting prowess and yes, for being gorgeous!

Call Sign October 2012

Page 21

Yes, I know the London Olympics are over

and the Editor has already told us to keep stuff

on the Games to a minimum as the last few

issues already had enough on them! But hey,

How close was DaC

there’s one young former Dial-a-Cab employ-

ee who could well have been standing on an

Olympic podium to collect a gold medal - and

it was a young lady!

The 6ft 6ins, 25 year old Peter Wilson

to a gold medal!

enthralled the nation when he sank to his

knees in relief after securing the double trap

having been offered a PA job with a large

gold medal after firing 188 from 200 clays to

bank, but before going she sent this maga-

win the 2012 shooting event. But going back a

zine a message.

few years, Call Sign was sponsoring a young

“I’d like to thank Call Sign for sponsoring

DaC call taker whose shooting credentials

me over the past five years and especially Brian

knock Peter Wilson’s into a cocked hat!

Rice who always turned up at those events to

It was some ten years ago and at the age of

present the prizes. Winning the Euros was

24, Donna Merry was handed what must be

such a big thing for me, and DaC coming in at

the ultimate honour in any sport - the captain-

the last minute to sponsor them made me feel

cy of her country. Even at that young age, she

so proud of working for an organisation that

had already been representing England for 6

would do that for an employee.”

years and according to many in her sport, she

So really, we’ll never know the answer, but

was the best female shooter in the country and

we suspect that had Donna Merry been select-

very close to being number one overall.

ed for the 2004 Olympics in Athens, there may

Then in just one amazing year, Donna

well have been a gold medal winner at Dial-a-

took the English, Scottish and Irish titles

Cab.

before adding to them by amazingly cap-

And of course, as Alan pointed out at the

turing the British Championship!

time, Call Sign would have sponsored Donna

The following year, the regular sponsor of

even if she hadn’t been young, gorgeous and

the European Championships withdrew

Brian Rice welcomes Donna back from

blonde!

their sponsorship after going into administra-

the World Championships in Texas with

Baghwat Singh

tion. A tearful Donna phoned Editor Alan

her silver medal

Fisher and told him not to bother going to

Call Sign Online

watch as the Championships looked like being

cancelled.

Alan told Brian Rice, who agreed to spon-

sor the event and for that year, it became the

Cameras with

Dial-a-Cab European Championships. And no

prizes as to who won after she defeated former

England Captain, Steve Taylor and the-then

current World Championship Gold medal win-

ner Craig Lakey!

the frozen peas!

Donna really was at the top of the mountain

with just one challenge left

- the World

Championships held in San Antonio, Texas.

After all, she had just beaten last year’s World

Champion!

By now she was the number one shooter in

the country, yet still a call taker at Brunswick

House! Happily for her, Brian Rice agreed to

let her have the time off and she crossed the

Atlantic to test her skills, not just against UK

shooters, but against the best in the world!

Well, even Donna admitted that the winner of

the gold medal in her event was just unbeat-

able and did not miss with a single shot! But

she came a close second and returned to

Brunswick Place with the silver medal and a

The ever-vigilant Vic at Dial-a-Cab’s Roman Way depot was shopping recently at his local Waltham

silver cup for best individual performance

Forest superstore, when he spotted this ultra-modern looking smart car parked up and took a

after the winner.

photo for Call Sign.

The only problem left was one of motivation

“With all those artificial eyes popping out from every corner of the car roof, you have to be very

and she found going back to small-time shoot-

‘smart’ not to get caught on camera. As well as the regular telescopic camera, the vehicle is fitted

ing events difficult - but she still did enough to

with ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) equipment, which means that the operative can

keep her shooting eye in. Then one year on

check for any outstanding court summonses, unpaid parking fines, together with info on whether

it is taxed and insured and to confirm that the vehicle’s MoT hasn’t expired!

and still at DaC, she took a University IT

“All this information, together with the owner/driver’s details, will flash up on the smart car’s on

degree course but it interfered with her shoot-

board computer screen in just seconds,” Vic continued, his electronic technical expertise in such

ing, so something had to go and she

matters coming to the fore, “so there is no chance of escape if you do not play their game and I

needed the degree.

have no doubt these highly mobile money making wagons will be rolled out across London very

In 2005` Donna confirmed to Call Sign

soon. And if they can’t get you via their technology, I suppose they could always revert to just run-

that she had fired her last shot. She said

ning you over!”

that her love for shooting had diminished

With that, Vic put his camera away and made for his car, realising that his frozen peas were

and that she was finding it difficult to com-

beginning to melt!

pete against some of the newer young

shooters. She left DaC with her IT degree

Call Sign October 2012

Page 22

Hello! I’ve been a bit of a stranger the past

From DaC’s IT department, Jon Winterburn has been searching for

few months much to the Editors’ chagrin

some...

(or relief) due to being too busy at work,

while in my personal life trying out any new

games. Consequently, I’ve not had anything

Interesting Websites!

interesting to write about; mind you, it

seems that although there are a steady

into the mainstream. This isn’t a bunch of

stream of games available on all platforms,

YouTubers making movies of their kittens;

none of them is sufficiently different from

rather, these are high quality films and pro-

the current plethora of games that already

grammes made with HD cameras with full

flood the market. With the run-up to Xmas

casts. If you like a specific film or series and

gaining momentum - is it that time of year

want the maker to develop more, you can

already - I will have some game recommen-

help fund them. This is what YouTube

dations for you next month. However, this

should have been like!

month I thought I’d recommend some of

7. This final website is one that everyone

my favourite websites, with hopefully some-

knows about, so I’m not going to go into

thing here for everyone.

any detail about the website itself. Rather,

1. Gizmodoodwww.gizmodo.co.uk): This

I’m going to bring your attention to a use-

website is in blog format and very easy to

ful tool that you might not know about; I

read. Journalists who write for Gizmodo

only discovered it by accident recently:

(a blog which started in the USA) provide

The Wikipedia Book Creator. On

up-to-the-minute news of gadgets, as well

Wikipedia, as you no doubt know, there

as the latest rumours of what new gadgets

ranging from kitchen hacks to money sav-

are millions of articles on every subject

are on the horizon. If you’re an Apple

ing tips to which apps to buy. There are

that pretty much every existed. With all

fan, this blog is the only place you need

also plenty of downloads available like rec-

this information, sometimes sifting

go for live minute-by-minute updates on

ommended free Android and Apple apps,

through it all can be a mammoth task; so

the latest and greatest Apple product

complete with reviews.

much to read, so little time to read it all!

launches. This blog isn’t just about tech-

5. Khan Academy .www.khanacademy.org):

What you can now do is make an eBook

nology; they often write about fascinating

A bit like Udemy, but aimed specifically at

out of all the articles you find interesting,

subjects like the Mars Curiosity landing

the academic world. This website was set

so that you can read it offline without

and solar flares. All their posts are in a

up by Salman Khan, a graduate of MIT. He

needing access to the Internet and with-

short and easy to digest format.

wanted to “provide a high quality educa-

out having to search for the subjects of

2. MakeUseOf

(www.makeuseof.com):

your

interest.

Simply

go to

tion to anyone, anywhere,” so everything

Another blog-format website, this one start-

h t t p : / / e n . w i k i p e d i a .

on this website is free. There are thou-

ed out as a ‘how-to’ website but has grown

org/wiki/Special:Book and click Enable

sands of academic video lectures available

to list hundreds of articles on all manner of

Book Creator (it is free). Now you can

to anyone, covering almost every subject

subjects. Many of their user-friendly guides

search for articles of interest, and as you

you can imagine. If you have children in

(often written like the “Dummies” series of

find one, click Add to My Book. Once you

school, college or university, get them to

books for clarity) are available for free PDF

have all the articles you want, you can

download. There are other, bigger websites

view your book, name it, sort the articles,

help them in their academic studies.

out there (like www.about.com) but for gen-

print it to PDF and download it. The

6. Vodoodwww.vodo.net): No doubt you

eral interest and readability, MakeUseOf is

resulting eBook is fantastic: an automatic

have heard about the huge problem of ille-

easier reading.

table of contents with page numbers and

gal downloading of copyright movies and

3. Udemyemwww.udemy.com): This website

each article (together with all images, ref-

how doing so can result in court action

is fairly new, so it is still growing. Anyone

erences and links) printed cleanly into

and even imprisonment. Well, this is one

can provide video lecture courses on here

PDF. You can even order a printed book

website which actively encourages you to

and anyone can watch those courses. Many

(at a cost of course).

download every movie in its database for

of the available courses are free, but some

Well, that’s all for now. See you next

free - and it is perfectly legal! Don’t get me

of the best ones do require payment (they

month...

wrong, you won’t get any Hollywood

accept PayPal). I’ve bought and studied a

blockbusters or TV series here as that

couple of courses on this website and can

would be illegal, instead, this website pro-

attest to their high standard as well as the

Jon Winterburn

vides movies and TV series from amateur

whole user experience. If you want to

film makers who are working hard to get

DaC Network Administrator

learn Calligraphy or Microsoft Office or

pretty much any other subject (whether

hobbyist or professional), you could do a

lot worse than to try out Udemy. Personally

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Here’s another blog-format website which

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thousands of posts on this website cover-

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vide tips and tricks for all sorts of things

Call Sign October 2012

Page 23

Marc Turner (R97) has made many appear-

ances in Call Sign because as he would

undoubtedly admit, he is a real stubborn so-

and-so!

He has had several battles with private

Marc v TfL?

hire vehicles who were taking liberties -

one in particular who took offence at

Marc telling him to pull his car off an offi-

And who’d waste their money betting on TfL!!!

cial taxi rank. The minicab driver then

plans, God laughs. The City of Westminster

tried to run Marc over! On another occa-

via PATAS went and spoiled everything by

sion he caught a Luton licensed taxi ply-

informing me that they wouldn’t be contest-

ing for hire outside a club on a Saturday

ing my appeal after all! Ok, it meant I’d won,

night. After giving the driver the option of

but they had taken away all the fun!

pulling off, he later caught him doing the

Not to worry though, because I now had

same thing elsewhere and not only

a new toy.

It`s called...wait for

reported him to the Luton licensing

it...Transport for London! Yes, PCN num-

authority, but also drove up there to give

ber 5 was from the God of transport - TfL.

his evidence in person. As Marc told us at

The LTDA say I’ve done amazingly well to

the time, the driver may have been

win four on the spin, but added that TfL

licensed, but in London he was no better

are a tough nut to crack. One reason is that

than a tout.

they don`t let you view images at your

But most of his “battles” in this mag have

leisure on the net. You or an advocate have

been where he has refused to give in to a PCN

to pre-arrange a time to visit their office in

and he has had consistent success since dis-

Croydon to view the rushes or they can

covering that a face to face appeal is often a

relieve you of £10 to receive the DVD - you

good option to not only avoiding the irrita-

Marc now has 5 successful PCN appeals

have to supply your own popcorn!

tion of paying a PCN, but to also provide the

on the trot!

So I went in blind and appealed against a

added joy of beating a local council in their

PCN for stopping at a Tesco’s loading bay in

never-ending quest to gain funds from the

E14. Yes, I know it was serious and we

hard-working taxi drivers of London.

Paul, I`m just a glutton for punishment!

shouldn’t laugh, but the LTDA had warned

But what he hadn’t yet done was to appeal

As you’d expect, in just over a week I

me that TFL are tougher than all the others.

a PCN received from our masters of London’s

received my Notice of Rejection from

So it was much to my surprise that TfL

transport system (yes, we are supposed to be

Westminster. Well I wasn't too disheartened

capitulated at the first hurdle and the PCN

a part of it), Transport for London. Marc

because I’m often called a reject - or was that

has been cancelled, making it 5 victories on

takes up the story...

retard! I`ll have to ask the Mrs - when she

the spin. How do I get hold of the Guinness

“I’ve recently had my fourth consecutive

speaks to me again!

Book of Records! But on reflection I might

PCN appeal success. That time saw a CCTV

My adjudication was set for

09.15 on

have to go some to get anywhere close to

‘sniper’ seeing me allegedly setting down on

Saturday 22 September and I was looking for-

Barrie Segal's success rate when writing in

the zigzags in Great Marlborough Street. As

ward to it - yeah, I do need to get a life! I

Call Sign that he had appealed against 45 in

always for non-DaC PCNs, I contacted the

began wondering whether I`d get to lock

one day and won them all!

LTDA and we viewed the images but their

horns with my old adversary ‘The Lady’ who

So to all DaC drivers... keeeeeeeeep on

Paul Wright felt the evidence was damning,

I was up against last time. She somehow

appealing!”

therefore I might be better off just paying the

made me feel rather irrelevant whist display-

fine to Westminster Council. Within 15 min-

ing what looked like utter boredom! Yes, I

Ron Yarborough

utes I was down at the post office sending my

wonder if she still thinks of me!

appeal via the usual recorded delivery. Sorry

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Call Sign October 2012

Page 24

TAXI FOR MAICON???

DaC driver fools Sky TV and the world!

No wonder he was smiling afterwards

Dial-a-Cab’s Barry Spear (Y16) and Martin

Hizer (M47) were just two of many drivers

who wrote to Call Sign following the all-day

programme on Sky Sports News that kept

John’s sign fools the world on live TV

football fans on the edge of their seats with

When we played Inter Milan a few years

It also means that on Sunday 11 November,

Sky’s “who’s buying who,” as the first trans-

back, Gareth Bale gave this world class

Maicon will have either the chance of revenge

fer window of the 2012/2013 season got

defender the complete runaround and ever

when his new team play Spurs in Manchester

ever-closer to its

11pm closure. After that

since then whenever they mention his

on live TV, or he will prove that he was actu-

time, no more transfers could take place until

name, they say “Taxi for Maicon. And now

ally waiting for a taxi during those

the next window in January.

that he was suddenly being transferred to

Champions League games! Either way, listen

The reason drivers called was because

the Premier League with Manchester City,

out for football’s version of an operetta!

of the DaC taxi with the name ‘Maicon’

I thought I’d play a little joke. Getting the

The least John Gerber can do is to wait out-

waiting outside the Tottenham Hotspur

taxi on TV was a real bonus!”

side the ground in case Maicon - having been

Chigwell training ground, Spurs Lodge,

Following the Inter Milan games, Gareth

given another Gareth Bale runaround - needs

and right in shot behind Sky’s Gary

Bale went online to say that the players had

a cab to Manchester Airport after deciding

Cotterell as he was broadcasting live with

picked up the Taxi for Maicon chant and had

that he wants to go home! Spurs have since

all the transfer news as Spurs transfer

a laugh about it. And now with the irony

moved to a new training ground in

market - and all the other clubs - saw that

famous in football, Maicon was signed just

Cheshunt. We haven’t been told whether that

deadline approaching.

before the transfer deadline, leaving Inter

was to get away from John Gerber’s taxi!

The expression “Taxi for Maicon” came

Milan for Manchester City. It was that coin-

into being following Spurs’ two Champions

Jamie Corum

cidence that gave John Gerber the idea and

League games against Italian soccer giants,

his opportunity to fool the world!

Call Sign Online

Inter Milan in 2010, when Tottenham’s fly-

ing winger Gareth Bale gave Milan defender

Maicon Douglas Sisenando - known as

CallOver available at DaC

Brazilian soccer players all are by just one

name - Maicon - a total runaround, leaving

the defender looking almost stationary as

though he was waiting for a taxi! At the time,

Maicon was said to be the best right back in

the world and Brazil’s almost permanent

right back, yet Gareth Bale constantly left him

for dead! Being an upmarket bunch, Spurs

fans began singing the expression Taxi for

Maicon to Donna E Mobile from Verdi's

May’s Call Sign contai

w magazine,

Rigoletto!

CallOver, aimed at those on the Knowledge. But when a message went out via

But how did Sky’s live broadcast have a

driver’s terminals to say that there were some copies in the Dial-a-Cab driver’s

DaC Vito waiting by the Spurs Lodge

entrance with Maicon on the name board?

reception and that if they knew anyone on the Knowledge, this magazine would

Well we only had to ask DaC driver John

be a useful tool for them, all the copies were snapped up before you could say

Gerber (N62), who planned the whole

leave on the left Northumberland Avenue!

thing. He explained all to Call Sign:

The magazine is now left at DaC every month, so if you have a son, daugh-

“My son and I are both avid Tottenham

ter or even a neighbour who is doing the KoL then keep a look out for

fans and he wanted to go to Spurs Lodge

CallOver in Driver Reception and pass a copy along to them. CallOver is a wel-

on transfer deadline day and have his

come addition to all the stuff Knowledge students accumulate...

moment of fame with the Sky cameras

there. So I decided I’d take him there, but

Baghwat Singh

just before I pulled up outside I thought I’d

Call Sign Online

put Maicon’s name on my DaC nameboard.

Call Sign October 2012

Page 25

Former fireman Richard Potter and life behind the

Life after Lehman

Brothers

Looking back, 2008 was my halcyon year as a

taxi driver with London buzzing and work

POTTERS WHEEL

levels a plenty, however I used to say to pun-

decided it really needed a new set. I phoned

ters that I was enjoying it while it lasted! For

M&O at the London Taxi Company only to

some reason, I just knew it wouldn’t last and

be told that they cost nearly £400 each! So I

that the saying would come back to haunt us:

went to Good Diesel in Homerton High

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

Street for a set of reconditioned injectors for

It has been well documented that things

£650. The difference in my cab is quite amaz-

are tough, but what are we really looking for

ing with improved MPG.

things to return to? Well so far as I am aware,

As the TX4 gets older, it sometimes takes a

no drivers have handed their badges back

greater number of turns before firing up in

because they can’t earn a living. Some drivers

the mornings but I find that if you use a pre-

may have temporarily left the trade to pursue

mium diesel mixed with standard, there is an

other work interests, only to return because

improvement. When it’s really cold, I only

they couldn’t make it pay. We are very lucky

use premium diesel but at other times put

in that we are all self-employed people who

£15 in and fill the rest up with standard every

have guaranteed work; by that I mean that

third fill.

people want picking up off the streets and we

than the previous Firestones. So far so good

But talking of MPG, I was interested to

are the only drivers licensed to do it. But if

and if you want a budget tyre at half the price

learn that the new Nissan NV 2000 will do 50

the work comes back, how will affect us?

of a premium tyre, try Tyreshopper.

MPG around the heavy stop-start streets of

Does it mean we will hit our targets earlier

London on a 1.5 litre engine. Well LTI’s orig-

and head home a few hours before we used

TX4

inal information about the TX4 said that it

to? Perhaps it means a day off in the week for

It’s now October, the cold weather and frosty

would do 35 MPG but we really know it does

golf? Increased work levels would mean

mornings will soon start to appear again and

26mpg. Similar claims happened when the

greater flexibility and control for us all.

time to see how my TX4 is doing. Well it’s still

Vito came out, so the proof of the pudding

One thing about post Lehman Brothers is

running with 190k on the clock and the orig-

will be in the eating!

that we’ve all had to change our workdays or

inal engine and gearbox still in place. I

working week in one way or another and

Richard Potter (T51)

recently had a problem with the injectors and

spend our time in different ways. We all want

to earn the most amount of money in the least

amount to time; however we’ve all had to

Autocar votes the London taxi as one of the...

lower our work expectation levels. I for one

don’t try and grind out another few pounds

but head for home instead. As for being a Dial-

GREATEST BRITISH CARS OF ALL TIME!

a-Cab driver, I’m doing a little less work than I

used to, but don’t rely on it so much. But I

would always have it there simply because it

gives me another string to my bow and two

chances of getting a job, plus of course the

mapping, credit card facility and printer.

Besides that, the circuit fees are good value

compared to other companies that charge 10%

on account trips, which would on my current

average week, double my subs. Yes, get a £60

ride on GetTaxi and that’s £6 just for one job!

I would also point out that lower work levels

are the same for everyone and it’s not any DaC

employee’s fault. If ComCab and RTG were

bucking the trend, then there would be a case,

however all the radio circuits are currently

treading water.

Getting tyred!

When it comes to taxi tyres, its horses for

courses and I’ve always come from the

remould school of thought. I wouldn’t buy

them if they were unsafe, but Jetyres

remoulds, kingpin and extra are a good qual-

ity product, much cheaper than new

The iconic London Taxi has made the top 10 in a “greatest British cars of all

Dunlops, use much less oil to produce and

time” competition as voted on by readers in a recent Autocar poll.

so are better for the environment. As for my

Unsurprisingly, the original Mini was voted into the number one position, followed by

private car, I always tended to buy new pre-

other famous vehicles such as the Range Rover, Jaguar E-Type, Caterham 7 and

mium tyres as instructed by the lady in my

Morris Minor. But there was only one taxi model that made the ranks, the iconic and

house who is an expert on all subjects!

purpose-built London Taxi…which gives it the title of greatest British taxi of all time!

However I wasn’t convinced, so this time I

Exactly which version of taxi voters were thinking of isn’t known, but although the TX

brought budget tyres through Tyreshopper

online. You place an order then go to

series is now accepted as the London taxi, many consider its predecessor, The

National Autocentres who fit them for you.

Fairway, as the picture they automatically see in their minds when thinking of an all

I have found the four Tigar Hitris tyres

time London taxi. Some even say the FX4 - even though that model hasn’t been seen

(owned by Michelin) that I bought to have

on London’s streets for many years! Whichever model it is, the honour is no less

better grip in the wet and make less noise

Call Sign October 2012

Page 26

Whenever I go down Bayham

Street I always steal a glance at

Viva la France???

the premises down the bottom on

the left. At the moment it's a Rent-

Another true story from Geoff Levene

a-Car establishment and down the

years it's been a tyre shop and

twice been auto electricians.

It certainly was 40 years ago when run by a

very quiet but pleasant old boy who seemed

to be able to work blindfolded. He sat at a

bench in what appeared to be a jumble of

wire, coils, batteries, fuses, dynamos and

numerous other bits and pieces. From time to

time a woman appeared from somewhere

bringing him mugs of tea.

So if you dealt with him, it was no problem.

But he had an assistant - a young Frenchman,

and in those pre-EU days it was unusual to

find anyone French working here outside of

the catering industry. The waiters were noto-

riously rude and arrogant and this guy lived

up to that reputation.

As a young butter boy, I came up against

him on a couple of occasions. I once went in

Bayham Street and made the mistake of turn-

Bayham Street’s Auto Mechanics! I then dis-

there with a problem. He opened the bonnet

ing off the engine. In an accent that Inspector

covered MAM of Midland Road and now

put his hand down the side of the engine and

Clouseau would have baulked at, he said: “We

Blundell Street. Michael and his family (origi-

announced that I needed a Dynamo.

will 'ave to burmp start you.” I had no idea

nally from Cyprus) looked after me for many

“How” I asked the young Monsieur, “can

what he meant but was too embarrassed to

years.

you tell just like that?”

say. So I sat in the cab while he and two other

George from Warwick Avenue is his brother-

His lip curled, he stared at me for several

guys started to push, and push, and push! I

in-law and I may be wrong but I think that

seconds as if to say how dare I question him

didn't know that you were supposed to stick it

“Uncle” from Great Suffolk Street is ... his

and then he snarled: “Because eet ees ma job,

into second gear, get up some speed, let out

Uncle! In fact I've spent so much time with

zat is how!” Well that was me told.

the clutch and it would start. With Gallic fury

them I now qualify for Greek citizenship! But

Then there was the time after breaking

and Xmas cheer he declared: “Are yew sure

not French, thank you…!

down just before Christmas and the AA get-

you know 'ow to drarve?”

ting me started, that I drove straight to

I think that ended my association with

Geoff Levene (W32)

Former Dial-a-Cab driver, Bob Woodford, writes a regular column for Call Sign from his home in

Languedoc, France and his taxi somewhere in London…

CALL SIGN EN LA BELLE FRANCE

hotel suite the follow-

break, drop an email to me at

ing year - we were

woodford19@btinternet.com for fur-

both representing an

ther details and 'mates' rates.

absolutely fantastic

charity called Get Kids

Learning about the ‘Island’

Going. I must say I

A few weeks ago I popped into the Island

was certainly inspired

Trust, a voluntary organisation situated in

(perhaps!) to have

East Ferry Road, Millwall. Their main func-

another go at the 26.2 miles! Speaking of

tion is to preserve and promote the her-

which, I will always be grateful for the

itage of the Isle of Dogs.

donations that Call Sign readers made to

The curator informed that, depending on

my fund raising appeal.

interest, they were considering laying on a

6-week course on the history of the Island.

A Scottish getaway?

I became quite interested myself in attend-

After working right through the Olympic

ing an informal history lesson - no exams

Bob meets up with Paralympic

Games, I am now writing these notes from

and no pressure for a change. Some of my

Marathon winner Shelley Woods in

my Scottish retreat - a log cabin near

Black Cab Heritage Guides are also keen.

New York

Galloway Forest, which has had a sum-

So it occurred to me that some Call Sign

Well done Shelley...

mer full of bookings after the 3-bed prop-

readers may be up for this too - after all so many

I surprisingly enjoyed the Paralympics

erty was renovated and refurbished earlier

of you start off by ranking up on the Wharf.

recently and especially enjoyed watching

in the year.

If that is the case, let me know at

Shelley Woods claim a Silver Medal in

It has been made available for lettings -

rob@blackcab heritagetours.co.uk and I

the Wheelchair Marathon on the very last

there is no swimming pool, but it's perfect

will pass your interest on to the Trust.

A bientot…

day of London 2012.

for walking, cycling and fishing holidays -

Bob Woodford (Ex-P49)

Shelley, 2007 winner of the London

rain or shine! And if the weather is clear,

Marathon, also won Bronze in Beijing in

then there is no better view of the stars

Saint Genies de Fontedit,

2008 and I had the pleasure of meeting

anywhere in the UK.

Languedoc, France

her at a charity function in a New York

If any Dial-a-Cab subscriber fancies a

Call Sign October 2012

Page 27

As Boris looks at a future airport in the Thames estuary to replace

Heathrow, retired DaC driver Monty Dobrin (ex-B56) takes a look at

how passengers got home back in 1957 at a time when most pas-

sengers going to the flyers would ask the driver to take them to...

WEST LONDON AIR TERMINAL PLEASE

An artist’s impres-

sion of Boris’s new

airport

pulling away telling you

the destination and

Brother Bradly’s taxi fare agreement

how many passengers.

The only downside was

With the debate on whether there should

that you had to wait till

be a third runway at Heathrow hotting up

you went back to the

since new big boss - Transport Secretary

terminal on the next

Patrick McLoughlin - came into the cabinet

visit to cash in the chit.

to replace Justine Greening who was vio-

Although at that

lently against any such idea, it has given Call

time, extra passengers

Sign the chance to turn the clock back some

were charged anyway,

55 years and look at a suggestion from the

that was only 3d (1p)

T&G Workers Union in connection with the

ravages of war, more and more were chang-

each, so the extra prices were doubled and to

British European Airways Corporation

ing their holiday destinations from Southend

the drivers, it represented a very good deal.

about London’s main Heathrow terminal,

to Majorca! As a result of Heathrow getting

As an example, one passenger to

West London Air. If you are too young to

busier, BEAC and the T&G introduced a price

Paddington was charged as 5 shillings (25p),

remember, then it was where Sainsbury’s in

chart as of 6 October 1957, said to have been

but each extra passenger increased the fare

Cromwell Road is now.

thanks to the negotiating skill of T&G com-

by 6d (2p), so a four-hander would get you

The vision of London Mayor Boris

mittee member, referred to only as Cab

an extra 1/6d (8p). When you consider that

Johnson’s new Britannia Airport with its

Section organiser, Brother Bradly. Anyone

the fare to go all the way to Heathrow was

four floating runways tethered to the sea bed,

out there in Call Sign land know of him?

fixed at £1.13.0 (£1.65), then that extra to

as designed by architects Gensler, is said to

The idea was that if a passenger hailed

Padders was worth getting. The longest trip

look akin to an alien airport. However, back in

their own cab, or phoned the infant ODRTS

was to Liverpool Street, which cost a single

1957 no one had even yet even heard of Star

where they were still 12 months away from

pin 9/3d and with four passengers, earned

Trek or Yuri Gagarin and the widely held

opening their first account (the BBC), then

the driver 10/9d (54p)!

belief was that the moon was made of cheese!

the metered fare would apply. But thanks to

Around 20 years later, ODRTS had an

So those passengers going to Heathrow

Brother Bradly, there was an agreement put

account opened at the terminal where drivers

back then would usually ask the taxi driver

in place where if you took passengers from

would deliver luggage that had gone missing

for the West London Air Terminal. And as

the terminal to an hotel, then the hotel

during the flight. That account was described

Britons were suddenly finding themselves

would pay the fare plus a 10% tip - which was

by many at the time as the best account we had

with money in their pockets again after the

guaranteed to be no less than

6d (2p).

ever had as the airlines, mainly BEA and BOAC,

However, if you were

would pay to have the lost luggage delivered

lucky enough to get a

back to its owners anywhere in the country!

Call Sign Comment

job to a railway sta-

But now WLAT it is just another branch of

tion, then you could

Sainsbury’s and Heathrow’s future looks to

have struck gold

be in doubt as an airport, to be replaced by a

Ascotts providing

because BEAC would

huge housing development. Isn’t life

give you a chit before

strange...

apprenticeships

Keith Reading

Most Dial-a-Cab drivers will know of the Ascott Cab Co, either

Professional Toastmaster

by being customers of the south London garage or from their reg-

Master of Ceremonies

ular advert in each issue of Call Sign. They have always been

ahead of the game and that obviously hasn’t changed with the

Tele: 01279 465 938

Ascott’s Apprenticeship scheme and the announcement of

Mobile: 07774 860 374

another three young men to join the apprentice ranks.

Email: kgr.2@virgin.net

One thing that drivers look for when wanting to find a garage

that won’t just stick a piece of sellotape over a problem but fix it,

10% discount for DaC drivers and staff

is reliability. And by investing their time and money in this scheme,

Ascotts are showing their commitment to the future of the

Fellow of the Guild of

London taxi business.

Professional Toastmasters

Well done chaps. Micky Ascott would have been proud...

Call Sign October 2012

Page 28

With much talk about apps, Contact Centre manager Keith Cain

takes a brief look at Dial-a-Cab’s new application and explains

what has happened so far...

‘APPY TO HAVE AN APP!

own IT staff who have proved the tech-

nology is not as mind blowing as some

would portray.

Drivers have been raving about this

method of booking taxis and how they feel

we may have slipped behind in the tech-

Many of you would have seen the mes-

nology race. But I will say it again; it does

sages that went out recently on driver’s

not matter how simple you make ordering

terminals regarding coverage to a credit

a taxi, the service is judged on how many

card trip.

times a cab turns up, how polite the driver

The message referred to us testing our

is and how much it costs. If all these three

Credit Card App. Since then, many dri-

boxes are not ticked every time the user

vers have contacted me to say that

requires a cab, I assure you there is far less

although they had heard all the current

involved in deleting an app from a smart-

talk about apps, they didn’t actually know

phone than there is in setting one up! If I

what they were and exactly what they did.

tell you that the Apps store has received

Well, so far as the apps you have read

over 25billion apps requests, that will tell

about in Call Sign and indeed the rest of

you what I mean.

the trade press are concerned, an app -

We are now at the stage where we

short for application - is simply another

will be sending our app to Apple for

way of ordering a taxi but rather than hav-

approval and we see no reason why

ing to speak on the phone, it is done via

tions for them.

they should not accept it. We will then

an Android or iPhone by simply pushing

The first one is for their location to be

market the product and off we’ll go

a few buttons.

found via their phone using GPS (Global

into the ‘appy world of apps!

Users simply log on to the Apple web-

Positioning Satellite), while the other is for

The success of this really does depend

site and request to download the app they

them to manually enter where they want

on the service our drivers provide and it is

require to their phone. Once received,

to be picked-up from. Having registered

something we will be monitoring very

they then register their credit card details

their credit card details into the phone, it

closely before we offer this to other

into their own phone and once this has

is then sent directly to our dispatch system

clients.

been done, they are ready to order their

and automatically offered to the first dri-

taxi.

ver within the pick-up zone.

Keith Cain

The idea is to simplify for the cus-

It really is that simple and because it

Contact Centre Manager

tomer how they order their cab, so

is felt that this is the way forward, we

Dial-a-Cab have put together two varia-

have developed this in-house by our

Drivers Operation Manager

HOW DO I READ

VICTORIA STATION TAXI

CALL SIGN ONLINE?

ARRANGEMENTS

In this age of technology when the subject of

apps or the internet has moved into everyday

conversation with children, let alone adults, there

For the next five years!

are still many people out there who use comput-

ers as glorified typewriters (remember them)

From Sunday 30 September 2012 until May 2017, there will be significant changes to the

without taking advantage of the many wonders

taxi rank arrangements at Victoria Station. The planned changes are partly as a result of

available online - in this case, Call Sign

Magazine?

the ongoing Victoria Station Upgrade works and TfL has worked closely with Network Rail

Well thanks to Call Sign’s IT whiz-man,

and Westminster City Council to ensure that taxis can continue to serve Victoria Station.

Vince Chin, it really is simple. The mag has

been online since the summer of 1998 - years

before any other trade magazine! So if you want

The new arrangements are as follows:

to take a look at any issue of Call Sign going

The entire station forecourt, including the taxi rank and set down area will be closed and the

back to 1998 - and even some real old ones

ranks in Wilton Road and Neathouse Place will be removed. The new point of the rank

from 1967, 1977 and 1987 - then just put

will be in Hudson’s Place on the east side of Victoria Station with a new taxi feeder rank

www.dac-callsign.co.uk into your browser and

once it has loaded, click on the year you want

appointed in Bridge Place.

(shown on the left of the screen) and then the

Taxis will be able to set down passengers on the east side of Wilton Road, with a desig-

issue you want to look at.

nated space in front of the rank in Hudson’s Place for taxis to drop off disabled passengers.

Then either browse through every issue of

The taxi rank in Gillingham Street will be converted into a rest rank, but the taxi rank in

Call Sign since 1998 or type in a clue and let

the search engine do the rest. For example, if

Vauxhall Bridge Road will be extended to the Queen Mother Sports Centre. The ‘Air

your name is Fred Smith and you wrote a letter

Deck’ taxi rank at the station will continue to operate as normal.

to the mag in 1999 and want to read it, type

Taxi marshals will be at the new taxi rank during the first two weeks of operation to assist

Fred into the search facility and everything with

passengers and drivers whilst the signage inside the station will be changed. Extending the

Fred will come up. If there is only one Fred in

taxi rank in Vauxhall Bridge Road helps ensure that taxis can continue to serve the station,

Mailshot, then bingo!

If you want to read each complete issue with

but retaining this space is dependent on Taxis not over-ranking or stopping on the zigzag

ads et al, you can do that as well. Since May

lines behind the rank and not disrupting the traffic flow or compromising pedestrian safety

2006, Call Sign has also gone online in a PDF

along Vauxhall Bridge Road.

version. Just click the PDF logo. No search facility

Parking and loading bays in the area must not used as illegal taxi ranks.

for that though! Happy reading...

Call Sign October 2012

Page 29

Mailshot

Either write to Call Sign at

school. In that case, and had we not lost

Westminster, can you honestly say that

Dial-a-Cab House

you would run to Belgrave Square for a

or email us at

no run-in and no minimum trip to

callsignmag@aol.com

Victoria Station when there was cash

work about? Ok, let's assume the worst

and that there was NO cash work

Vito steering

around, would you run from Parliament

Dear Alan

gets more mail than all the other trade

Square for that job? If your answer is

Whilst reading your Call Sign Online

mags added together. One of the nicest

yes, how many DaC drivers out of 10

Editorial about how difficult it can some-

letters I have ever received in my 15

would also do that? I think we'd still

times be to fill the pages of the mag, I have

years as Ed came from the boss of one of

struggle to cover it. I think the same

often wondered about the many types of

our biggest accounts. He said that the

thing would apply to most no run-in

characters that end up driving cabs - you

openness Call Sign was allowed to show

jobs.

know, sportsmen, actors, musicians etc. I

was one of DaC’s biggest strengths -

I suppose our drivers could take mat-

remember doing the Knowledge around

even when we criticised ourselves. It’s

ters into their own hands and announce

forty years ago with a member of the

that same BoM that you say are hiding

that they were no longer going to put

Foundations (remember Baby now that I’ve

stuff, who trust me enough to allow me

their meters on until the passenger got

found you and Build me up a buttercup).

to put out the mag with no interference

in, but it wouldn't happen because

Anyway, it got me wondering if any driver

whatsoever.

although the names were hidden from

on Dial-a-Cab has a claim to fame and if

As for zonal booking, I like it when it's

me, last month I was shown a list of run-

they could write in and let us know about

busy, but when it's quiet does it really

ins that drivers had after pushing their

it? Just an idea...

matter which system you use 'cos your

arrival button. Some may have just for-

Terry Farmer (Ex-T55J)

chances of a trip become less. If it was

gotten to announce that they had

Any volunteers...Ed

that good, then Mountview drivers

arrived, but there were a few others who

wouldn't be queuing up to leave with

constantly arrived with more than the

Who got the Spurs job?

many trying to come on here. Sadly,

£4.20. Should we announce in the mag

Hi Alan

because it is currently so quiet, many of

that some of our drivers were cheating

With the work trickling out at ridiculously

those then pass straight through and

passengers by overcharging on run-ins,

slow rate in August, what lucky driver got a

end up with no radio at all.

bearing in mind that many now read

radio job at Spurs Lodge that was shown

Finally, what is it that you think Brian

Call Sign online (over 9000 regulars last

live on Sky Sports News? I suppose they also

is holding back? I can only compare him

time I looked). It could make us look like

requested a Merc like many customers are

with his equivalents at ComCab and RTG

a bunch of crooks whereas the vast

doing and leaving the rest of us with even

and they give their drivers no info what-

majority are honest and would never

less of the scraps.

soever...Ed

deliberately do that. It's been written

Barry Spear (Y16)

about many times by Allan Evans - even

Looks like you were one of many who

A message to Monty

though the number is minimal. He

were fooled by DaC driver John Gerber

Hello Alan

sometimes almost begs! But that has

(N62)

- who also fooled the whole

Once again I have enjoyed reading the Call

made no difference. So what do I do?

nation! The story is inside this issue ...Ed

Sign Online magazine (September). On

I'm not a BM and they don't discuss

Page 29 is a letter to you from Ex-B56

their plans with me although I may hear

(Monty Dobrin) indicating that he had

Where is the News

about them before most drivers, but I've

retired and had a few old fare schedules,

Hi Alan

seen the scrubs on days when it's quiet

etc. The 1979 fare schedule caught my eye

Just read 32 pages of the October 2012 Call

out. Credit rides from Kensington to

as this would be a welcome add-on in my

Sign and feel surprised that there is no

Hampstead scrubbed, from Nott Hill to

1979 London Taxi if still available and we

information from the Chairman or Board

W7 scrubbed, Selfridges to Stockwell

can overcome the logistics of getting it to

members regarding our future. Where are

scrubbed and West Ealing to Victoria

me. I would like to reimburse whoever for

the new terminals (nothing at Roman Way)?

scrubbed - although that was a cash

any costs incurred.

When is the app arriving? Do we still need

ride. And all four in the same lunch

Lloyd Powell

zonal booking in? Run-ins? Gratuities? Alan,

hour. Why? Obviously because there

Member LVTA, Boynton Beach, Florida

I feel the content of September’s edition

must have been a bit of street work

The charts are on the way to Florida,

was lacking any content about ODRTS.

about, so whereas you and I may care

Lloyd, courtesy of Monty Dobrin. Hope

Let's stop knocking Addison Lee, Hailo etc

enough and invest some of our time to

it enhances the look of your taxi...Ed

and be proactive and fight for the work

try and cover work to help get those

back. It is quite obvious why customers are

accounts to use us again, many drivers

not using us - it's all about price. The Board

won't - and when it comes to feeding the

Wynns and losses!

must act quickly before it's all gone - we

family, I can't criticise them for looking

Hi Alan,

cannot wait any longer.

after the family before DaC. But it isn't as

In response to Howard Sales (Ex-A11) com-

Joseph Hornstein (K78)

simple as cutting run-ins/gratuities etc

ments to the Wynns debate, I would just like

Always nice to hear from you, Joseph,

because you still have to cover the work.

to add that when I was seeking a reason for

however my life as editor isn't quite as

Then there are the drivers who take

the EOBD (European on Board Diagnostics)

straightforward as you make out. Of

the time to contact me about something

light coming on, I didn’t feel there was a fault

course I try to get as much info as I can

that has happened to them that they

with the cab itself as it ran well. But I sus-

and most of your questions have been

consider is worthy of going into the

pected that the damp weather was the culprit

answered at one time or another. If the

mag. My philosophy has always been

with the warning light also being more likely

answers aren't those you'd like to hear,

that the drivers are the most important

to appear if I parked facing downhill! Sure

then there isn't much I can do about

parts of the mag because without them

enough, when I requested a message be put

that.

there is no Call Sign. So, yes, I always try

out over the terminal asking if any other dri-

Things have now picked up as they

to involve them and I am usually happy

vers had similar problems, a driver confirmed

usually do once the kids go back to

to do so. Then there is Mailshot, which

my suspicions. KPM looked at it and with the

Call Sign October 2012

Page 30

Mailshot

Continued from page 29

but I don’t believe in paying doormen

for doing the job they are already being

paid for. If their passenger goes round

recent warm weather, it hasn’t re-appeared

the corner or down the road, they get

for weeks. I leave it to you to stop the damp

the same courtesy from me. Yep, per-

returning!

haps I’m just old fashioned ...Ed

Thank goodness the Olympics are over, we

can have our roads/turns back again...

Alasdair Kay (C47)

Corruption and new

tage of no arrival costs and that five minutes

of free waiting. So my question is should

Hi Alasdair, thank you for your confi-

terminals!!!

we be worried and do we have a plan B?

dence in me. I’ve been asked to do lots of

Hi Al

Ian S. Connelly (T21)

strange things since becoming Editor, but

Just a thought on the GetTaxi plan to pay

As the Chairman is away at the moment,

to keep the damp away? I can’t promise,

hotels

£10 for airports

(Call Sign

I’ll have to pretend to be him, so I can’t

but I’ll have a go. If the damp returns, then

September), wouldn't this fall foul of the

tell you if there is a plan B! But I can

you’ll know that I was too busy!!! ...Ed

Governments new anti-corruption legisla-

probably answer the rest of your letter.

tion?

Are they after our accounts? Well I don’t

How about...?

By the way, is there any news on the new

suppose they would turn them away, but

Good evening Alan

firstly they don’t do pre-bookings and

terminal only I was thinking of throwing a

I'm sending this email whilst booked onto

even if they could, they would never

16th birthday party for my current one and

E14 on a Sunday evening. I can't remember

cover any work dispatched 12 minutes

need to get the invitations sent out!

the last time I worked a Sunday, in fact, it’s

before the booked time with no run-in

Charlton Clark (F25)

been so long that I had to ask dispatch what

and with the driver not even being able

The question is whether it counts as

the rules were regarding booking onto E14

to put his meter on for a further five

corruption or commission? Anyway

and E14C. I'm sure there are plenty of drivers

minutes when he gets there and having

Charlton, there is an update on page 10

who have also forgotten, so I thought it

to pay 10% for the privilege! And what if

re the new terminals ...Ed

might be a good idea to print a reminder of

it only went round the corner for a

what happens to the E14 ranks during the

fiver? Nope, their niche is taxi work dur-

What is Hailo up to?

weekends.

ing a recession when drivers are happy

Dear Alan

My second question is in regards to our

just to put their meters on. You call ‘no

On reading Ian Skeels (J74) letter last

new system. I don't know whether I'm too

arrival costs and 5 minute free waiting’

month and the way he explained the way

late to make a suggestion, but whilst sitting

an advantage, but it’s only that so long

empty in Bank Street on the Island waiting

Hailo works for the driver, I was surprised

as drivers are prepared to do it and pay

to learn from the answer Brian gave that

for a job, I thought it might be a good idea

the 10% on top. And that will be until it

if the new system allowed drivers to see

not only have £millions already been invest-

gets busier, as it’s starting to get now -

how many jobs had fired out of a postcode

ed in Hailo, but they are to borrow another

and sure enough, Hailo’s coverage at

in the last hour. I believe this would benefit

£11 million to invest. I think we have

times hasn’t been too good.

both drivers and the Society alike. It would

always assumed PH to be our biggest

Then onto why are they doing it?

threat, but as the three main circuits com-

Unsurprisingly, it isn’t for the driver’s

help drivers see exactly where the work was

pete for accounts mainly on a level playing

benefit, it’s to make money! Hailo co-

coming from and allow them to make a

field, PH has the price advantage. They may

founder, Jay Bregman, originally co-

more informed choice when deciding

have secured and won some large accounts

founded online minicab company

which rank to book onto. In turn, DaC

from the radio circuits, but I think that as

eCourier and after several years, he sold

would benefit from better coverage as you

big as some of them are, they are not yet in

his stake and moved into Apps. Mr

would have more drivers booking into the

a position to secure the amount of accounts

Bregman was recently asked if he would

busier postcodes. It sounds like a reason-

held by the big three. If our fleet has shrunk

ever consider selling his Hailo stake? His

able idea to me but I've got to go now, I've

by 30% then I assume the other two circuits

response was that he would do so at

got an account run to SW5. Not a bad start

have also had similar reductions. I hear that

some stage, using the expression shared

to my night!

Hailo has some 6,000 drivers signed up.

by many businessmen of ‘entering to

Mike Parkins (Z03)

That number has to be close to the total

exit’. In other words, make your money

Hi Mike, see Allan Evans article for the

number of subscribers on all three circuits.

and move on. The problem, Ian, is that

info you require about booking in to E14.

As it appears the cost to join Hailo for the

there is nothing wrong with that and

As for your suggestion, I asked around at

driver is minimal, this may give them the

that’s how many operate in business.

DaC House and the consensus of opinion

potential to recruit thousands of other taxi

So the only question is whether, if and

is that knowing where the work was isn’t

drivers. The question I have is this; why

when it gets busy again, will Hailo dri-

as useful as knowing where it’s going to

when after so many years no entrepreneurs

vers pass street work or let DaC account

be and messages are often put out if a

have ever tried to start another radio circuit

work go to cover a no run-in and free

large number of cabs are pre-booked for

of the size of the main three, suddenly in a

waiting time trip? That could be the time

an area or if a trip is due to fire out in a

for Mr Bregman to sell up. And one final

recession along comes Hailo investing £mil-

zone that is out of town ...Ed

thing Ian, for around fifteen years I’ve

lions in the cab trade. What do they know

said on and off that I believe two of what

or see in this trade to warrant such huge

Who’s taking the

you call the big three would merge. Will

investment? It can't be to nick a few jobs

it ever happen? I don’t know but I

airports?

back from the minicabs, they have to have

wouldn’t be surprised if the topic isn’t

another angle. They do not have to buy ter-

Hi Alan

broached in the radio circuit halls of

Your Editorial about GetTaxi

“buying”

minals for the cabs, their costs cannot be as

power somewhere! ...Ed

high as the circuits, so the only conclusion

Heathrow trips and others trying to do

deals, was spot on. It means that those of us

I can come up with is that they want the

Upside down fuel

major accounts held by the three main cir-

who work as we are supposed to, have a

cuits. They are black cabs, like us, their fleet

price!

grim outlook. I suppose there is always

will outnumber the whole of the three cir-

Hi Alan

someone who wants to go to Harrods...

cuits and although the metered fare would

I wonder if you remember me? I was on

David Heath (Ex-W27)

probably still apply, they have the advan-

ODRTS until 1978 and met you when we

Perhaps I’m just old fashioned, David,

Call Sign October 2012

Page 31

Mailshot

Continued from page 30

once did a two cab job to Luton airport,

£1 subs or a gold

wait and return. We had seven passengers

between us who had to attend a meeting at

watch?

the airport with people who were flying in

Hi Alan

from Hamburg and then flying straight back

Very interesting article in the August Call

again. I bet that doesn’t happen anymore

Sign regarding the DaC long-service awards

with video calling and the internet. I emi-

for staff members. I understand these

grated to Australia in 1977 and moved on to

awards are now an integral part of the

the rewards for subscribers; perhaps we

New Zealand in 1981.

could start off at say 20 years with a 10%

office regime and occur twice yearly to

I always read Call Sign Online and I have

recognise the longer serving members of

yearly reduction in subs, until the 30 years

to say that your September Editorial, with

are reached, or perhaps after 25 years’ ser-

staff. It does say something about Dial-a-

its heavy dose of sarcasm, really made me

vice a 20% reduction is given for 5 years

Cab in an industry where large numbers of

smile. “Hands up if you really believed that

until the 30 year mark is reached, or even

staff turnover is not only is expected, but is

fuel prices were on the way down,” you

one or two free months per year?

the norm. I just feel it’s a pity that the same

wrote, following that up by telling us that

Anyway it's just a thought and I would

recognition is not afforded to subscribers. I

there was one born every minute! You’re

like to know what Board members think

understand that staff and subscribers are

right! All my London friends have been

about re-thinking driver rewards. And

different - one group being self-employed

emailing me for weeks telling me that

before you ask, I have been on the circuit

and one employed - but I'm betting that

diesel was going up weekly, so your further

for over 32 years, but only 28 as a sub-

there are more long serving members as

comment that BP’s profits had dipped from

scriber. So not long now!

subscribers than employees?

£5.3billion to £3.5billion before saying that

Alan Sullivan (F20)

In the same August edition on page 10,

if we think we’ve had it tough, to spare a

Hi Alan, unfortunately your letter

Keith Cain said: “You, the drivers, are the

thought for BP was heart-wrenching - I

arrived at the last minute and I was

main workforce and the service you provide

don’t think! And of course, UK newspaper

unable to get a response in time. I did

to our clients is not only of great signifi-

reports are now catching up with your com-

ask our HR department some time ago

cance, but forms a huge part of the wheel

ments and calling the increases a rip-off!

whether a similar idea for drivers would

that turns and makes this Society what is has

Perhaps they should read your magazine

be feasible, but it never really got any

become today.”

first just like my London friends are now all

further and until your letter arrived, I’d

So why do longer serving members not

doing. Anyway, I feel better having renewed

forgotten about it. But you should

get some form of recognition? I know that

an old acquaintance with you and would

remember that the staff’s reward is a

after 30 years (that's one third of the aver-

like to wish all the Jewish drivers at ODRTS

champagne reception and a certificate -

age lifespan) we get £1 subscriptions, but I

a long way from what you are suggest-

a happy new year...

have often wondered how the 30 years was

ing. I also don’t think a suggestion giv-

Ralph Dover (Ex-B11)

arrived at. Standard industry practice is 25

ing different drivers different rates

Gisborne, New Zealand

years with a gold watch! I also acknowledge

would go down too well because of the

Hi Ralph, nice to hear from you

that this represents a loss of revenue for the

admin involved. What I do know is that

although in all honesty I remember the

Society and it would also be interesting to

as a 30+ year driver, I’d rather get the £1

job more than I remember you! Then

find out how many are currently paying the

a month than a gold watch. Perhaps

again, Luton and back with, if I remember

£1 subs.

there will be some responses next

rightly, around a four hour wait wasn’t

Perhaps this may be the time to re-think

month ...Ed

something you’d forget too quickly! ...Ed

Every issue of Call Sign takes a look back at ODRTS history through the pages of the mag-

feel that the mentions

azines of the time with a flashback

we get from being

members outweigh

the cost.

DIAL-A-CAB FLASHBACK

If you know of

anyone who is

This month’s Flashback goes back

must realise that although there is a differ-

interested in coming on

ence between ourselves and number 653

to February 1956 and the

to the ODRTS radio circuit, let

London Transport trolleybus, the difference is

Chairman’s Report from a strange-

Frank Duncan know. Fitting to our

not huge and the extra is well worth paying.

ly named ODRTS handout sheet…

organisation is still free.

We also have advertising cards show-

Finally, thanks to our friends at Rootes of

From Odrats News, February 1956…

ing the cost of some longer jobs. Please

Piccadilly for sponsoring this newssheet.

do not charge more than these prices as

Bonnie Martyn, Chairman

FROM YOUR ODRTS CHAIRMAN

the passenger may pay on that occasion,

ODRTS, 172 Pentonville Road, London

As I explained in the last newssheet, your

but will not phone again. As an exam-

N1, Phone TERminus 6444

Committee has decided that subscriptions

ple, there is London Airport for £2,

will remain at £7 per month for the present

Gatwick Airport for £3.7s.6d and the

and we would re-emphasise that you should

Royal Docks for £1.7s.6d.

continue to not put your meter on until your

Our dispatcher, Mr Defries (D03), ha

passenger has entered the taxi. This will

complained that some drivers are using

ensure that we build up a name as a good,

profanities over the air and on one

trustworthy and reasonably priced organisa-

occasion a female telephonist overheard

tion. It will help to remove the myth that

the driver. This is unacceptable and I am

taxis are the form of transport used by the

asking you to remember who we are.

upper class only.

If any of your passengers enquire,

Our aim must be to get everyone to use

yes, we still are members of the

taxis. That means our prices must be reason-

Holidays and Travel Association. We

able, while at the same time our passengers