Call Sign April 2013

Page 3

from the editor’s desk

DaC election procedure...

young driver in a sports car who was apparently

News that Allen Togwell lost his seat at the 2012

showing off to his girlfriend - something which

saw him flying along at an estimated 155mph and

Dial-a-Cab AGM to Garry White by a single vote is

now dated. What apparently isn’t amongst the

causing the death of an innocent motorist, a 30-

many drivers that have spoken to me on the topic,

year old father of three young children with a wife

is the way Allen had to give up his seat straightaway

expecting their fourth child. He was jailed for

seven years and banned from driving for eight

and just leave the platform after so many years on

the Board and indeed having been on DaC since

years.

1979. That certainly wasn’t the fault of anyone, it’s

Following the story, John was contacted by the

High Sheriff of London and in February attended

just the traditional way of how we do it.

Allen T would not claim to win any popularity

an awards ceremony at the UK Supreme Court in

contest, so I have been somewhat surprised at the

Parliament Square where a crowd of dignitaries

applauded his efforts that took place on that fate-

number of drivers who said they felt Allen’s depar-

ture was disrespectful to someone who had given

ful day.

so much time to the Society. But Garry White was

The story is inside this issue and we offer our

entitled to his moment as well where he was

congratulations to John, whilst at the same time,

mourn the tragedy of a young family who have lost

announced as the winner and rightfully took his

place at the top table.

their loving husband and father. If we had our way,

As I said, Brian Rice didn’t really have the

25-year old Shehzad Munir should never be

that he shouldn’t waste his time responding

allowed to get behind the wheel of a car again...

choice and just followed the traditional way of

replacing any BM who loses their seat at an AGM,

because he wouldn’t get any reply. No doubt they

do not want anyone who might speak up for DaC!

Speeding

so I can’t help wondering whether we should

As I said earlier, I do not go onto the site

For those of you that live east and haven’t yet

change things slightly.

My suggestion would be to take a leaf from the

because having had so many drivers sending me

heard, the police switched on the average speed

US elections, so if a DaC Board member loses his

examples, I got to the point where several months

cameras along the A13 between Rainham and

ago I had to ask in the mag for drivers to not both-

Canning Town a few weeks ago and are sending

seat at an AGM, the transfer of the new BM for the

old should take place at a later date - not months

er as I got the drift! I now remember why I don’t

out speeding tickets to anyone caught. How do I

like the President but perhaps two weeks after the

bother. It isn’t a forum so much as a private exe-

know? Because I have one - and it arrived on the

AGM itself. I know that the Chairman actually gave

cution chamber where sensible drivers go to have

same day as a PCN! Someone must think we’re tak-

Allen as long as he needed to sort himself out -

their arguments blown away. Truth doesn’t come

ing huge fortunes, although I have been offered a

after all, he must have been inundated with paper-

into it.

speed awareness course instead of the three

work in his office and on his PC. But he did that

My advice to Allen Togwell is not to bother as

points.

out of respect for Allen. Perhaps a compulsory two-

you can read equally sensible advice in any Enid

week changeover might take some of the sting out

Blyton novel - especially her Famous Five books

Addison Lee and GetTaxi

of losing a seat. Just a suggestion. If anyone wants

featuring four children and a dog! Otherwise just

It was hard to miss reading about Addison Lee’s

to comment, please feel free...

make up a name that their staff won’t recognise.

profits and turnover increasing on their last

Personally speaking, I wouldn’t bother...

accounting year. So I have to make two points

And speaking of Allen T

about the policies of GetTaxi, who claim to be tak-

I heard on the grapevine that after Allen Togwell

MOTs

ing all their work from private hire and Addison

left DaC, he decided to apply to join the London

And while we’re on the subject! Call Sign received

Lee in particular.

Taxi Driver’s Forum (LTDF), which proudly pro-

a call a few weeks back from (he claimed) a non-

First, if they are taking that much work, how is it

claims itself as the voice of the taxi trade. Although

Dial-a-Cab driver who criticised my piece in the

that AL are still showing a profit and second, why

I have seen some of the posts on the site, I have

February Editorial on the new era of MOTs. I had

do so many DaC account clients say they have been

never been on it and have no intention of joining

queried about whether the cost of passing the cab

approached by GetTaxi to open an account?
Can someone explain please?

a site that is so anti-Dial-a-Cab - not because of

would reduce as we were going to now spend

ing to pretend that anyone who speaks out against

his point was that I was wrong when I inferred that

DaC will be expelled. You only have to read some

we would be able to get MOTs at much less than

Namby pamby State?

of Call Sign’s Mailshot pages to realise what rub-

the £54 advertised price depending on where you

We are being treated more and more like little chil-

bish that is. One LTDF subscriber was even

went. According to my new “friend” we would pay

dren who need our hands held in order to leave

expelled and refused to return his terminal, belat-

the top rate no matter where we went and my mis-

home, while at the same time cyclists are treated as

edly offering to do so several years later only after

information was the reason I wasn’t allowed onto

though they are the ones that pay an inordinate

the announcement that we were to refit the fleet

an internet list!

amount of fuel duty and a ridiculous road tax price

with new equipment. Yes, the terminal had little

So two things: I am on an American internet list

for vehicles whose job it is to take passengers

value by the time of his expulsion, but I don’t con-

that I have been a member of since around 1988

wherever they want to go. This issue contains a

sider that as being a valid reason. If it isn’t yours

but I am not on any UK list - neither have I ever

piece on cyclists being able to use more and more

and you are asked to return it after leaving, isn’t

been rejected. I just don’t want to join and if this

one-way streets in a contra-flow manner, probably

that what you do? The manner of your leaving is

driver is representative of the quality, then I’m

resulting in more people being hit by them. But

irrelevant.

probably right not to! As for his “point” about

that’s ok because those hit will only be badly

Anyway, Mr Togwell applied to join so that “the

MOTs and us always having to pay £54, I’ve had

injured.

voice of the taxi trade” could help to keep him

notifications from several garages about doing taxi

As for motor vehicles, more and more councils

updated with what was going on in a trade that

MOTs at cut prices. The latest was from Holocene

are bringing in

20mph speed limits because,

had been such a big part of his life for so many

at 387 Camden Road who quoted £29.95 for taxis.

according to TV ads, there is more chance of you

years. The LTDF prides itself on democracy - so

So whoever you are, I listened to your point and

surviving being run over at 20 than there is at

long as you agree with what their idea of democ-

although you were wrong, I haven’t been abusive.

30mph. Nothing about being careful as you cross

racy means ie you can slag off DaC but not defend

So why did you feel it necessary to do an imper-

or to only cross where you are supposed to. Losing

it without feeling the wrath of their handful of antis

sonation of a pig???

someone to an RTA is the most appalling tragedy,

who would apparently rather cut off their hands

but shouldn’t people have to take some responsi-

than allow something nice to be said about this

DaC Hero

bility for their actions? We will end up having to

Society.

The December Call Sign ran a story about Dial-a-

drive in first gear only soon because of this Namby

The response to Allen Togwell’s request to join?

Cab driver John Ward (R88) who was commend-

pamby State...

“Our staff has opted not to approve your account

ed in court for his actions that the Judge said prob-

and therefore it has been removed.” The email also

ably saved lives following a terrible crash on the

Alan Fisher

made it clear that the response was automated and

A13. It was caused in no uncertain terms by a

Callsignmag@aol.com

Call Sign April 2013

Page 4

reflections of the chairman

Reduced subscriptions...

ed with alarms being triggered off all over the

Since November 1996, members who have been

place.

with the Society for 30 years or more continuous-

Although we thought we had significant and

ly have enjoyed subscriptions of just

£1 per

expensive back-up systems, they proved to be

month. It was introduced by the BoM in recogni-

unreliable. Our generator kicked in immediately

tion of these drivers service to the Society.

to feed the critical side of the business, but during

For the following 12 years, the Society enjoyed

the interim few seconds before the generator

unabated growth and was happy to grant the

starts automatically, our Uninterrupted Power

heavily subsidised subscription. However, in 2008

Supply (UPS) should maintain everything until

the economy began to change and go into reces-

the generator takes over. It would appear at this

sion, but the BoM continued with the £1 per

stage that the electrical ‘spike’ was so large that it

month subscription. However, it has now got to

damaged the UPS; consequently our despatching

the stage where the Board have had to review the

system lost power for a few seconds and went

subsidised subscription due to the effect it has on

down.

income to the Society. Consequently, as from 10

Unfortunately, we could not bring the system

May this year, members who have completed 30

up immediately and we were out of business for

years or more continuous service to the Society

them going to tender again and they wanted to

a few hours.

will pay half subscriptions, which amounts to £15

know from me what should be included in the

The above should never happen as we have

per week plus VAT.

Tender so that they might receive a good service.

spent considerable sums on safeguarding our sys-

I know this is going to prove extremely

It would appear the contract will not be going

tems, but on this occasion something failed to

unpopular with long serving members, many

to tender until after the Summer recess and my

function correctly. At this stage we believe it was

of whom I know personally due to their

guess is that any new vendor (if there is one) will

the UPS which was damaged by the ‘spike’ and

length of service, but it is something the BoM

not commence service until the end of this year or

that it became unable to supply power for the few

must do. I have written in the past how the

the beginning of next year. In the meantime, we

seconds needed, however it should not happen

reduced subscriptions were costing the

can only continue to give the excellent service

because that is why we have them installed. Our

Society in excess of £180k per annum and

they crave and hope they realise that service and

protective and back-up systems should be able to

with another 34 members falling into the

cost should be viewed together and not just cost

absorb any eventuality, but on this occasion they

above category in the immediate future, it is a

on its own. Anyone can offer a cheap price, but

didn’t.

concession the Society can just no longer

that in turn will affect service so let’s hope lessons

It now remains for us to investigate the situa-

afford.

have been learned.

tion in an attempt to stop anything like it hap-

Increasing the subscription for 30 years contin-

pening in the future. Looking back over our

uous membership was a decision we took with

System Down

records, it would appear that the last time we had

some reluctance, but due to the present econom-

I am writing this piece the day after our system

a similar problem was five years ago back in May

ic situation, we felt it better to charge half sub-

went down, consequently, at this moment in time

2008. When our primary systems experience

scriptions to

30 year members rather than

I am unsure of the exact details. However, I

problems, our back-up systems should maintain

increase subscriptions to the remainder of the

thought you might be interested in the little we

our business, but on this occasion something

fleet.

do know.

failed...!

The Editor showed me a letter, which I assume

At around 9.30am, Dial-a-Cab House experi-

Brian Rice

will be in this issue’s Mailshot page where the

enced a tremendous surge of electricity to the

Chairman

writer was understandably critical of the Board

building; in fact quite a significant area was affect-

Dial-a-Cab

and if I remember correctly, myself in particular.

The letter was written by Bill Russell (E65).

He obviously realised that an increased sub-

scription was imminent and what stuck in my

THE SALIERI RESTAURANT

mind was that he stated previous Board Members

and Chairmen would ‘turn in their graves’ if they

knew the current Board were going to increase

376 Strand, WC2

subscriptions to 30 year members.

The past Board Members that were referred to,

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

I knew personally and have the utmost respect

restaurant where you can partake of the finest food and wine

for, but Mr Russell should remember they and

past Board’s never recognised 30 year members

And as a thank-you for helping our clients come

as the current Board have done. In the future they

will still be recognised in the form of half sub-

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

scriptions.

offer you a genuine 25% discount on your bill

As I stated earlier, I know this will be tremen-

dously unpopular with long serving members,

but it is a step that needed to be taken. Should the

We are certain that you will be delighted

economy improve then the subject will be

reviewed in the future.

House of Commons/Lords

Most of you will be aware that a minicab compa-

ny named Fairway and Kenwood won the tender

for the ‘House’ as from 1 October 2012. We were

then contacted to ask if we could continue to ser-

vice the ‘House’ until 31 October because the

Please bring along your badge or Bill as ID

new vendor could not give the service the ‘House’

required. Consequently, we are still servicing the

Salieri Restaurant

contract and that new vendor’s contract was ter-

376 Strand, WC2

minated in December 2012.

Three representatives from the ‘House’ came

Reservations: 020 7836 1318

to see me at Dial-a-Cab House recently regarding

Call Sign April 2013

Page 5

Drivers can be caught speeding more than

Can unsafe drivers avoiding conviction due to incomplete sharing of...

once in a three year period and still avoid hav-

ing points added to their licence due to

incomplete sharing of speed awareness

course attendance data, according to a report

SPEED AWARENESS

by members of the underwriting group of the

Chartered Insurance Institute’s New

Generation programme. David Williams,

Chairman of the CII underwriting faculty

board, argues this is undermining efforts to

COURSE DATA?

improve road safety.

An increasing number of drivers in the UK

police forces and safety partnerships.

are choosing to attend a speed awareness

David Williams said:

“The CII’s New

course - offered by police authorities in the

Generation underwriting group set about

place of traditional penalties as an education-

investigating the impact that speed awareness

al alternative for drivers caught speeding with-

courses have on insurance, but in the process

in a specified range, instead of a fixed penalty

discovered this startling fact. Due to incom-

notice, conviction or endorsement.

plete sharing of speed awareness course atten-

The report by CII members found that the

dance data, it is possible for an individual to

National Speed Awareness Scheme is current-

ly offered in most of England and Wales with

be caught speeding more than once within a

the exception of the police authorities in

three year period and slip through the net

Hampshire, Dorset and the City of London,

without having points added to their licence.

which deliver their own courses independent-

This begs the question of how many drivers

ly of the national scheme. Drivers can choose

considered ‘unsafe’ by the majority of the

to attend a speed awareness course only once

public are still on the road, barely admon-

every three years and if caught speeding again

ished and potentially putting lives in danger?

during this time, will have to accept a speed-

Are police forces in Hampshire, Dorset and

ing conviction. For this reason their details are

the City of London in danger of undermining

recorded on the National Driver Offender

efforts to improve road safety by not sharing

Retraining Scheme database maintained by the

es and the database. It is therefore possible for

data and offering speed awareness courses

Association of Chief Police Officers.

a driver to attend a speed awareness course

not in the National Driver Offender Retraining

However, course attendance data for the

and avoid a conviction more than once every

Scheme?”

three police authorities outside of the nation-

three years if caught by a police authority not

The report by the underwriting New

al scheme is not entered into the NDORS data-

part of the national scheme. Interestingly,

Generation group sought to examine speed

base and there is no data-sharing between the

while speeding fines go to the Treasury, fees

awareness courses and the implications for

local authorities running independent cours-

for speed awareness courses are retained by

insurance.

NSL INSPECTION CENTRES LAUNCHED!

LTPH Director, John Mason, has written to the trade press regarding the changeover of vehicle inspections from SGS UK Ltd to NSL Ltd that took place from the begin-

ning of March but although it just missed the last issue of Call Sign, the majority of drivers won’t have yet come up against the new era of two MOTs and a visit to NSL.

Taxis have now changed over to two standard (class 4) MOTs per annum that can be undertaken at any VOSA approved MOT testing station. Only taxis licensed under

the new regime will require an MOT and they must be no more than 14 days old on the date of testing. For continuity of service and ease of use, NSL have taken over the

previous phone number used by SGS for bookings - 0845 378 2345.

LTPH are currently working to deliver a comprehensive online vehicle booking facility which will be available in the longer term. However, in the meantime they have

created a temporary web page in order to allow drivers to request a single vehicle to be inspected online. Go to www.tfl.gov.uk/tph or if a fleet owner, please call 0845

378 2345 where they can help you book in multiple vehicles.

It is not possible for NSL to accept cash or cheque payments at any of the inspection centres. All payments must be made by debit or credit card at the

time you are making your booking in order to secure the inspection slot.

All inspection centres have comfortable waiting areas with vending machines for hot and cold drinks and snacks. At most of the centres you will also be able to view the

inspections taking place from the waiting area. Full details of the centres are in the February issue of Call Sign. As a reminder, they are at Heston (20a Airlinks Industrial

Estate, Spitfire Way, TW5 9NR), Enfield (Unit 2 Watermill Centre, Edison Road, EN3 7XF), Crayford (Unit Q1, Acorn Industrial Park, Kent DA1 4AL), Coulsdon (Unit B5

Redlands, Ulswater Crescent, CR5 2HT), Canning Town (1 North Crescent, E16 4TL and Staples Corner (Unit 2 Aquarius, Staples Corner, Priestly Way, NW2 7AN).

The buildings will be signposted, with additional signage hopefully placed outside the test centres. LTPH told us they appreciated driver’s patience and understanding

and recommend you register to receive regular email updates via their distribution list by contacting TPH.Enquiries@tfl.gov.uk.

Mr Mason also thanked SGS UK Ltd and their staff for the excellent service they had provided to TfL and to the taxi and private hire trades since 2004, while at the

same time welcoming the new service provider, NSL Ltd.

Fouling on Selfridge’s rank

There have been reports of taxis over-ranking, parking on the pavement and parking in the bus stop behind the taxi rank outside Selfridges,

Oxford Street. The taxi rank outside Selfridges is for two taxis only and when this is full, drivers must not park on

the pavement or in the bus stop. Another taxi rank for Selfridges is available in Duke Street, plus there are other

taxi ranks along and near Oxford Street. Taxis parking on the pavement and in the bus stop has a serious impact

on other road users and pedestrian safety and causes the following problems:

• Preventing buses from pulling into the bus stop - this means that bus passengers have to board

and alight in the road and wheelchair users are unable to use the bus stop and the wheelchair ramp on

the bus.

• Blocking the pedestrian crossing - this forces pedestrians to walk around the taxis and in the road

and puts them at risk.

• Obstructing other taxis and buses travelling eastbound along Oxford Street.

If the problems at this location persists, then the police have informed LTPH that they will commence enforcement

action and ultimately the taxi rank could be reviewed and revoked...

Call Sign April 2013

Page 6

Jery’s World

“I’m gonna treat myself with my increase - perhaps a new pair of socks!”

Interested in having London as a financial centre built around you

and your taxi in a documentary film? Now’s your chance with

Dutch filmmaker Thomas Vroege...

Looking for a

future film star

Hello Dial-a-Cab taxi drivers,

I'm Thomas Vroege, a young documentary filmmaker from Holland. For some time I have

been interested in the financial centres of London. There are a lot of films already being made

about London as a financial centre, but I want to do something different.

I'd like to make a documentary film from the perspective of taxi drivers, so, I'm looking for

taxi drivers who tend to work in either Canary Wharf or the City itself and are willing to

share their stories with me. What is your experience as a cabbie working in those areas? Do

you have funny, emotional or intriguing stories? Perhaps you’ve had some really weird people

in your taxi? And how do you deal with the working pressure?

• Roadside repair

In my work, I try to make unconventional stories but with total respect for the people I

• Roadside assistance

work with and I have always believed that London taxi drivers have a very special role in soci-

• Running repair recovery

ety, moving so many people every day and being acknowledged as the world’s best.

Call Sign Editor Alan Fisher has spoken very highly of the drivers on Dial-a-Cab, so

• Accident recovery

if any of you are willing to cooperate with me on this documentary and share your

• Pay as you go to membership

story I will be very grateful. Although we work on a small budget, there is room for

• Credit card taken at roadside

a little payment if you want to cooperate. I think this can be an opportunity for taxi

drivers to tell the world what it is like working in a difficult arena!

I really hope for your reaction. You can either mail me or Alan Fisher if you are

interested...

0845 094 5307

We make wheels turn

Thomas Vroege

mail@thomasvroege.nl

so you can earn.

Call Sign April 2013

Page 7

Call Sign has mentioned the drawing ability of

Claire Ottley in the past. Claire has been with

Dial-a-Cab since 2000 and having begun in

Life Drawing reaches

Brunswick House Call Centre, is now the DaC

Account Manager for a large City bank. No

stranger to this mag, Claire used to write a reg-

DaC’s accounts department!

ular column featuring fine wines and unusual

recipes.

that doesn’t like to keep things hidden, we felt

Now we hear that Claire has been taking Life

it to be our duty to enquire whether the mod-

Drawing classes. Sometimes referred to as fig-

els kept any delicate bits and pieces hidden!

ure drawing, this involves the drawing of the

Claire refused to be drawn (sic) and explained

human form in any of its various shapes and

that Life Drawing is to study the human form in

postures using any of the available drawing

all its various shapes and poses, so there were

media. Put plainly, that means drawing live and

no hidden areas. However the DaC Account

naked models of either sex.

Manager did admit that props are used occa-

Claire told us that she had been drawing all

sionally - such as a piece of material.

her life, in fact ever since she could remember.

We also couldn’t help but wonder whether

Later on she studied Fine Art at Camberwell

should a model fail to arrive, would one of the

School of Art and Goldsmiths University.

students actually volunteer to be the model,

She also goes to Life Drawing classes once a

but Claire refused to bite (sic again) and point-

week at the Zabludowicz Collection on Prince

ed out that the students were artists and not

of Wales Road NW5 and describes the art as the

models!

study of the human form, arguably the most

So would Claire consider taking her

difficult subject an artist can commonly

undoubted talent up to the next level? She did-

encounter - hence the reason entire courses

n’t dismiss the idea but just told Call Sign that

are dedicated to the subject.

she would see how things went.

We asked Claire if there was any embarrass-

Incidentally, the founder of the Zabludowicz

ment at drawing a naked man or woman who

Collection is Anita Zabludowicz, who is recog-

is just standing there in the buff.

nised as one of Europe's top art patrons. She

“None whatsoever,” she said, “usually, Life

has been championing emerging artists since

Drawing models are registered with RAM

the

1990s and founded the Zabludowicz

One of Claire's life drawings

(Register of Artist Models) and will be required

Collection in 1994. It contains over 2000 works

to meet the professional standards required by

by over 500 artists covering a period over the

RAM. They are often employed by film produc-

doing the drawing are more concerned with

past 40 years and more of art production. Anita

tion companies, medical schools and Life

concentrating on improving their drawing

is also the woman behind Anish Kapoor’s

Drawing classes etc. They are required to audi-

skills.”

Arcelor Mittal Orbit tower which dominated

tion and provide references, while the students

Being something of an investigative journal

the London Olympic skyline.

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 April 2013

Page 8

The December 2012 issue of Call Sign con-

Now it’s a visit to Parliament Square and to be one of just

tained an article on Dial-a-Cab driver John

eight in two years...

Ward (R88) and told how he probably

helped to save many lives following a bad

accident on the A13 in Essex in September

2010.

DAC HERO NOW GETS

Last November at Snaresbrook Crown

Court, Judge Patricia Lees, praised John’s

actions and said that despite his own

inevitable shock, he parked his cab across

COMMENDATION!

the A13 following a bad accident that left

Shehzad Munir and his girlfriend showed

debris strewn across the carriageway in

as the other car driver, Sukhpreet Singh

order to get oncoming traffic to slow down.

Chimber - a 30-year old father of three

He also ran to try to help the victim of the

young children with a wife expecting their

accident, desperately trying to free him until

fourth child - laying immobile in the wreck-

he realised there was nothing he could do to

age. Munir was later found guilty by jury of

save him. At the same time he dialled 999 to

dangerous driving and jailed for seven years.

get the emergency services out.

He was also banned from driving for eight

John also persuaded the driver of an artic-

years.

ulated lorry to block the road to help alert

On February 15 this year, John was

oncoming traffic and to try to minimise the

awarded a certificate of bravery from

chances of any further serious injuries or

the High Sheriff of London at the United

even loss of life.

Kingdom Supreme Court in Parliament

The Judge commended John for his

Square. The formal ceremony was wit-

actions and awarded him £500 from the

nessed by many dignitaries including the

Sherriff ’s Fund

“as a small token of the

Chief of Police, several MPs and High

appreciation of the public.” She called it

Court Judges. John’s award was one of

as an act of selfless bravery.

just eight presented over the past two

John had been travelling home after work

years and his was the only one where his

along the A13 eastbound towards the M25 at

bravery had also involved saving lives.

around 1.15 in the morning and was in the

John told Call Sign after the prestigious

middle lane of the three-lane carriageway.

ceremony: “I feel very humble and whilst

Aware of speed cameras he kept to a steady

there is a sense of pride in receiving the

40mph. Suddenly a BMW 640 coupe with the

award, there is the sadness in thinking of

distinctive registration of P1MP R under-

John with his award presented at the

Mr Chimber and his young family whose

took his cab at an estimated 80 mph. It then

UK Supreme Court

lives were wrecked by a young man in a

turned left into a BP fuel station just after

sports car showing off to his girlfriend...”

the A406 junction and John forgot about it

of the one lane that remained open! Then

John’s humility should not disguise the

and carried on his way home. Then as he

fact that whilst he could do nothing to save

the truck came along and John asked the dri-

approached Rainham Marshes, still sitting in

ver if could park sideways across the entire

the life of Mr Chimber, there are probably

the middle lane and keeping to the new

people alive today who might have died had

three lanes of the carriageway to block the

speed limit of 70 mph, the BMW came out of

road completely - something the trucker

it not been for him.

nowhere and overtook John on his offside at

speedily did.

Cover pic: John at the presentation with

an ultra-high speed. In fact John described it

John told Call Sign at the time how

Under Sheriff of London John Hargrove and

as being unbelievable with the court calling

amazed he had been at the lack of any appar-

the Assistant Commissioner of the Met Police

it around 155mph!

ent care the BMW driver,

25-year old

Chris Allison.

John soon forgot about it and continued

on towards the M25 junction where the

road sweeps left on a long bend and over

the brow of a hill. As he reached the bottom

Dial-a-Cab Credit Union

of the hill, he saw the same BMW badly dam-

aged having been in collision with another

Ever needed money quickly but were anxious about

car and the wreckage covering the carriage-

variable bank interest rates?

way. John described the scene as one resem-

bling the scene from a disaster movie.

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

He pulled his cab across the lanes at nine-

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

ty degrees to the hard shoulder and put his

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

hazard lights on. The BMW driver seemed

at your address also qualifies for membership!

unhurt, but the other car was laying station-

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

ary at a 45 degree angle to the road, facing

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

up the banking some distance ahead. The

up to 3 times your total savings…

impact was so severe that it had been dam-

aged beyond recognition. He tried frantical-

The cost?

ly to pull the driver’s door open in case

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

there was any explosion, but the accident

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

wedged it too tight. John could also see that

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

the driver was almost certainly dead. He

even tried smashing the windscreen with a

Call us on 020 7729 8171 or 020 7749 0585

piece of concrete, but it was no use.

He stopped another taxi to help block the

Members of the Financial Ombudsman Service

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

road as traffic was still speeding past at

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

70mph. One car skidded as it hit some flot-

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

sam and collided with the central reserva-

Registration number 213263

tion barrier, coming to a stop in the middle

Call Sign April 2013

Page 9

Two drivers inside this issue have written about

their taxis ‘passing’ experiences. According to

Ken Aisthorpe (ex-T49), not one of his sever-

QUESTIONS TO LTPH AND NSL

al cabs had failed under the SGS administration

and he refers to the outgoing testers as one of

the best things to happen to the cab trade in

recent years. He says that the new system of

two MOTs and a visit to NSL will end up cost-

ing this trade far more than it ever did under

SGS.

On the other hand, Jonathan Raymond

(S39), claims that the experience of his MOT

and visit to NSL at Staples Corner was extreme-

ly positive and that if it is a sign of things to

come, then this partnership could be excellent

news for the taxi business. Stephen Berndes

(R14) in his regular Call Sign column agrees

with Jonathan’s assessment.

So Call Sign posed two pertinent ques-

limit in 2015. Through TfL and the Mayor’s

Mark Underwood replies:

tions each to both LTPH Director John

extensive dialogue and discussions with

Comparing the inspection results from our first

Mason and NSL Chief Executive Mark

trade representatives (which included Dial-

few days of operation against historical inspec-

Underwood...

a-Cab Chairman Brian Rice), it was made

tion results and taking into account the changes

very clear by the trade that a 12 year age

To John Mason

to the inspection regime, it is apparent that the

limit would be totally unacceptable.

Why was the SGS partnership ended? Was it a

trade has taken significant steps in ensuring

Through those discussions and the consul-

case of getting the cheapest quote? And why do

their vehicles are both safe to be in and pleasant

tation, it was felt that a 15 year limit coupled

taxis need two MOTs and a visit to NSL? Couldn’t

to use. We are also grateful for the patience

with two MOTs in order that taxi emissions

there have been just one of each?

shown by those drivers who have attended for a

are checked twice, rather than once a year,

test as we worked our way through some minor

was the most appropriate way to proceed.

John Mason replies:

teething problems and, in general, we have

I know that some taxi drivers feel that this

Well firstly, I am pleased to hear that Ken felt

been delighted by the friendliness of those dri-

change is unfair and expensive, but I do think

that the regime provided under SGS was one of

vers who have attended our inspection centres.

they should put it into context with other large

the best things to happen to the cab trade in

Top tips for passing first time are:

UK cities. For example, in Manchester the

recent years. I am sure Ken will be pleased to

* Double check you have all required docu-

annual taxi inspection costs £398 for taxis

hear that all of the testers that worked with SGS

ments and that they are valid - the majority of

under 7 years old, in addition to two MOTs that

have transferred to NSL under the new con-

fails are document related

can only be undertaken at the Council’s MOT

tract. I can assure him and all your readers that

* Arrive slightly earlier than your appoint-

test station at £55 each. If a taxi is over 7 years

TfL and NSL are fully committed to improving

ment time, but not too early as you will proba-

old, it costs £460 as well as 3 MOTs per annum.

the service even further.

bly end up waiting until your original appoint-

I think our fee of £102 from 2 April 2013 to

It’s great to hear that Jonathan’s experience

ment time.

have a test at one of six centres and the ability

was positive and I thank him for his comments.

* Make sure your vehicle is roadworthy!

to get MOTs done at any VOSA approved cen-

We acknowledge that there have been some

With respect to the second part of your

tre (which in many cases garages offer for free

teething problems in the first weeks and par-

question, we were extremely disappointed

as part of a service) is pretty good value by

ticularly in the first few days, but overall the

with the Tribunal’s finding on this particular

comparison.

feedback from the trade has been positive and

instance as I think it casts things in rather a

While your readers may not fully agree with

most taxi vehicle inspections are now taking

different light when you consider that NSL

the changes we have made, I am confident that

between 20 and 30 minutes to complete. As

used to be NCP, which was the only parking

in years to come they will have fully embraced

with the introduction of any new service, there

management company that lobbied the gov-

the new service and new testing regime, as was

will always be challenges to overcome as staff

ernment to take PCN targets out of the busi-

the case when the service was initially out-

gain the practical experience of using the new

ness. We were successful in doing this and

sourced from Penton Street to SGS.

systems and processes but we have noticed a

targets have been illegal for some time now.

real improvement in end to end inspection

I should also say that we don't gain any prof-

times in the past few days.

To Mark Underwood

it or any other commercial benefit from the

Under European law, public bodies like TfL

NSL have now seen a number of taxis, so in

numbers of PCNs issued, in fact if we issue an

cannot just have endless contracts that have no

that short period what have been your views of

incorrect ticket then we can be penalised for

expiry date. It is entirely appropriate that there

the London licensed taxi business, the general

doing so.

are times when the entire service is reviewed

condition of the vehicles we drive and do you

Our civil enforcement officers though do

and retendered to ensure the opportunity to

have any advice that would make the passing

work hard, and they are fair in the consistency

review what is being offered in an effort to

experience as easy as possible?

with which they enforce a council's parking reg-

improve it further through new innovation and

Secondly, in March last year Call Sign’s

ulations, which are in place not just to improve

technology. The SGS contract was expiring in

PCN guru, Barrie Segal, reported in this

traffic flow but safety too. I am sure Call Sign’s

early 2013 and could not be extended further.

magazine the story of NSL parking attendant

readers would not want lots of illegally parked

Through the retendering process we sought to

Hakim Berkani who claimed in court that he

cars blocking vital kerb space and busy traffic

achieve the right balance of quality of service

had lost his job because he refused to follow

routes.

and cost and NSL were judged through the ten-

instructions from NSL to issue a daily quota of

We are working hard to engage with cabbies

der evaluation to be the best bid at the end of

at least ten PCNs per day. Mr Berkani won

(and private hire drivers) and are always respon-

this process and were subsequently awarded

and received £20,000 (Wardens operate PCN

sive to what they have to tell us. It's the only way

the contract.

quota system - March 2012 issue).

any firm gets to grow in all directions. We also

The introduction of two MOTs for taxis

Whilst we understand that the departments

recognise that here in London we are incredibly

plus the simple taxi specific check by NSL

are not connected other than being part of the

fortunate to have the world's best taxi drivers,

was one of the outcomes from the Mayor’s

same organisation, the news wasn’t a particu-

and we're glad to be helping them stay that way

Air Quality Strategy announced back in

larly encouraging introduction. What can you

through the vehicle checks we have in place.

2012. Readers may recall the original pro-

offer us regarding the future relationship

posal was to introduce a 15 year age limit

between NSL and the taxi trade to make us

Our thanks to John Mason and Mark

for taxis in 2012 moving to a 12 year age

believe the Berkani case to be an exception?

Underwood...

Call Sign April 2013

Page 10

What did Gordon Thompson’s wife tell him about his forthcoming

dragon tattoo?

"Tatt’s Enough!"

Son Charlie is on Gordon's right shoulder

“Tattoos are always items of personal taste and

relevance,” Dial-a-Cab driver Gordon

Thompson (K48) explained to Call Sign.

“They’re also like Marmite, you either love ‘em

or hate ‘em!”

Someone who obviously falls into the for-

mer, Gordon continued:

“I was a bit of a rebellious 16 year old when

Gordon displays his tattoo

I had my first two arm tats done over thirty

years ago. They cost me £5 each and my moth-

at the memory.

acknowledged the fact, even though he admit-

er wasn’t happy at all! Nowadays you can pay

“The needles and inks need to be sterile and

ted that they do become addictive “...money

upwards of £70 to £80 an hour for a tattoo,

cleaned constantly. Anyway, the needles can

permitting of course!”

depending on the complexity of the work and

only be used twice maximum because they go

“If I were to offer any advice to budding tat-

the skill of the tattoo artist who needs to exer-

blunt after that, which can lead to all sorts of

too addicts out there, it would be to never have

cise the greatest care and hygiene.”

problems.”

a name emblazoned on yourself, only a token

“I remember going to a place in Kings Cross

“As I said, tattoos are very personal and indi-

representation of a person or event in your life

with my brother and while we were waiting, a

vidual to you. Mine remind me of people,

and always go to a reputable, proper tattoo

man came in to complain about his arm, which

events and stages in my life. The portrait of my

artist.”

had begun festering rather badly after lax

son Charlie is on my right shoulder, my wife

“The tattoo can be relatively painful while

hygiene care from the artist. Seeing that green

Jackie is on my right arm, while my left shoul-

being done and healing can take up to several

and inflamed puss oozing from his arm gave us

der hosts a fish to remind me of my late broth-

weeks, so you need to be scrupulously careful

both quite a scare, and we were up and out of

er Ted, who was always ‘out fishing’ and men-

on the hygiene front and look after your art-

there before you could blink!” Gordon smiled

tored me in my younger, wilder days. It was

work diligently. They can go darker in sunlight

Ted who kept me on a straight and narrow path

and you should use sun cream with an SPF of

TfL and LTC

in life,” Gordon explained as he enthusiastical-

30 during the summer months!”

ly exhibited each one to Call Sign.

And then he was off in a puff of smoke - per-

TfL has been in discussions with the new

“Actually, Jackie hates tattoos and she has

haps a bit like his soon to appear dragon, Tatt’s

management of the London Taxi

already named the dragon I plan to have done

Enough!

Company. They are now back in opera-

later this year as Tatt’s Enough in recognition

tion from their Brewery Road site and

of the fact it will have to be my last!” Gordon

actively taking orders for new and used

taxis and say they have good levels of

stock available to drivers.

During the administration period,

TfL took steps to assist drivers and

garages that included allowing Euro 4

taxis to be licensed for up to 5 years,

whereas the minimum emissions stan-

dard for taxis new to licence is Euro 5,

and also to issue some temporary

licences to taxis impacted by the 15

year age limit that expired on 14

March 2013.

Given the positive trading situation with

London Taxi Company and the ongoing

availability of new and used Mercedes via

KPM, with immediate effect TfL will not

be issuing any further temporary licences

or extensions to existing licences for taxis

over 15 years old and will no longer

accept any taxis new to licensing unless

they meet Euro 5 standard.

Call Sign April 2013

Page 12

CONTACT CENTRE CHAT

Goodbye to Toggers...

has a flare for design and from our hand-out cards

This is my first report since the AGM and I’d like to

to the manual receipt pads to the seat adds in the

thank all those members that voted for me for a fur-

back of your cabs to the financial reports and the

ther term. In my address to the members present, I

present logo, they were all Toggers’ own work and

said that the responsibility of a Board Member is to

I hope he will continue to offer his experience and

obtain work for the drivers. That will be high prior-

design for us.

ity for the future and with the support of you the

I see Allen often as a golf playing partner and

members, we will move forward. But I would like to

encourage him to get out there and hit a few balls.

say how disappointed I was to see Allen Togwell

I won’t go into the amount of coaching he has given

lose his place on the Board, especially as it was by

me and many others on the game of golf, but I will

just one vote. But that’s democracy and losing Allen

say he knows his stuff. I’ll miss Allen around the

endorses my feelings that you are here only as long

office and wish him well for the future. I thank him

as the members want you and nothing should ever

for all the advice and support he has given me over

be taken for granted. Garry White (L65) is now the

the years. I’m so glad I only listened to some of it!

new Board Member and I am looking forward to

working with him and give him all the help I can

System failure

during his learning curve.

On Friday 15 March we had a system failure. The

Out of all the Board, I suppose I knew Allen better than most having

cause of this, as far as we can ascertain, was a power surge. We experienced

worked closely alongside him for many years. I first met him in Gresham

similar problems back in 2008 when the building opposite was being built.

Street outside the Piccolo. Having introduced myself, he asked what experi-

At that time we spent many thousands of pounds upgrading our generator

ence I could bring to the Board and what my working background was? I

and UPS systems to prevent anything happening in the future. All morning

said I was from a sales environment and that I had also managerial and cus-

there were small power spikes and to be truthful, from inside the office you

tomer service experience. That got his back-up because Allen had previous-

would never know anything was wrong. Then there was a power surge that

ly been the Sales Executive for the Society and he could see competition,

not only got through our backup systems, it took out many buildings around

something he was always uneasy about. We spoke for a short time and it was

us including the underground station. An investigation is being carried out

clear we both had the same passion for the Society and both wanted to work

to determine what the cause was and why our power systems didn’t respond

towards doing the best we could to obtain work for the drivers.

as they should have done. All I would say at this time is that the surge of

That year there were some 20 odd candidates standing for eight positions

power which hit the building was of a magnitude we have never experienced

and both Allen and I were fortunate to be elected. That AGM also saw a new

before and one we thought could never happen. There has been relatively

Chairman and Treasurer elected and they instructed the new BoM to keep

no damage at all to our systems, but the front end protection we have is

out of the office for a week so that they could get a good picture of the finan-

where the investigation is looking at...

cial state of the Society. During that week, Toggers wasn’t having any of it and

Keith Cain

soon put himself into his old office. He even ordered his business cards with

Sales Executive as his title. In those days if you wanted a job on the Board,

Contact Centre Manager

you had to find a proposer and seconder from amongst the other Board

Drivers Operation Manager

Members to get nominated for the post. Not Toggers! I always felt that he

thought I was going to want his position and it took me a lot of persuasion

to make Allen realise that two heads were better than one. And that is what

happened with both Allen and I given the sales roles and in those early years

we had to work hard to increase business. But we made a good team, even

if I do say so myself.

TIGER

Having originally been employed as a dispatcher in the control room, I

had more knowledge of the operation than Allen and we soon agreed that I

should concentrate on learning what the dispatched system and accounting

system could offer a client while Toggers would concentrate on getting his

off with this

feet in the door and handling the charges. I keep saying it, but we did work

advert

well as a team and when we were in front of clients we were a formidable

double act! We never spoke over one another and were always bouncing off

what each other had to say to the prospective client. It was also a time when

TAXI TYRE SPECIALIST

overhead screen projectors with transparency slides were used to give sales

demonstrations. We thought we had cracked it when we started using

Power Point to give presentations to clients.

STOCKISTS OF MICHELIN, AUSTONE AND

Another memory I have of Toggers being Toggers was on the very first day

REMOULDS FOR ALL FX AND TX TAXIS.

I walked into the office at Brunswick House. I was wearing a sports jacket,

HI FLY / BARUMS AND CONTINENTALS

trousers and a collar and tie and the first words out of his mouth was “...ain’t

you got a suit!” Well fortunately for me I had my best suit hanging in my

FOR THE VITO TAXI

wardrobe. It was common then, I think, that everyone had a best suit - albeit

it was only worn for weddings, christenings and funerals! Needless to say,

FRONT PADS FITTED FOR TX1 & TX2

the next day I was wearing it! Toggers, as you all know, was a stickler for look-

ing the part and presenting an image. Being a tailor by trade gave him an eye

£40 AND TX4

£45 INCLUSIVE VAT

for being stylish and he shared that experience with me often and called me

a schlock on many an occasion. At one time I even started to emulate him by

NEW VALVES AND BALANCING ON ALL TYRES

wearing the pocket handkerchief, but as soon as Brian Rice joined the

Board I felt the competition of pocket hanky wearing was too fierce.

WE ALSO DO LASER TRACKING AND PUNCTURES

But the point of what I initially wanted to say was this: You had to work

with Allen to understand him. You had to give Allen exactly what he gave you

FREE TYRE INSPECTION

and as soon as you did, you would be friends for life. Don’t get me wrong;

early on Allen and I had some real shouting matches in the BH Boardroom

OPENING TIMES: 08.30am - 17.30pm

but as soon as we left the room, having both said our piece, we never held

a grudge against each other and just carried on. Allen has blown his own

trumpet many times in Call Sign, telling everyone how he worked for noth-

call now 020 7729 5237

ing for many hours on behalf of the Society and how he stood outside

venues marshalling clients Christmas events for nothing. I can confirm that

Unit 14 Peterley Business Centre

to be true - because he had me doing it with him!

472 Hackney Road, London E2 9EQ

That’s one of the differences between us; I rarely speak of it but Toggers

Call Sign April 2013

Page 13

THE highly anticipated rematch between

Danny ‘Cassius’ Connor and Chris ‘ The

Flash’ Evangelou lived up to expectation on

DaC’s Alec celebrates

March 9 as Connor retained his Southern

Area title in convincing fashion in an enter-

taining battle on Matchroom Sport’s

as Cassius keeps title!

‘London’s Finest’ show at Wembley Arena,

with the fight shown live on Sky Sports 1.

Carshalton’s Danny Connor, trained by Dial-

a-Cab’s Alec Wilkey (W83), was close to stop-

ping his opponent in the 7th round of the

scheduled 10 when he knocked Evangelou

down twice with some sickening body punch-

es that the Enfield man only just got up from.

It was Connor who dominated the action from

the early rounds, using his jab to set up attacks,

throwing punches in clusters to keep his oppo-

nent on the back foot. Referee Terry O’Connor

scored the bout 97-93 in Connor’s favour and

now he has closure on this particular battle,

the Champion can look at some big fights in

the domestic Light-Welterweight division.

Another member of Team Wilkey had been

in action two weeks earlier as Rotherhithe’s

Eren Arif notched yet another win on

Miranda Carter’s ‘Sunday Punch’ 11-fight show

at London’s York Hall as he continued his

journey in the pro ranks, taking his record to 3-

back from a controversial knockdown to take

Canning Town. According to Eames, “...Alec

0. The 26 year-old faced Czech fighter Jan

the bout 38-37 after pressuring Harris and

Wilkey knows the boxing game inside and

Balog in an entertaining battle in the light wel-

using an established jab to force him to take

out!”

terweight division on a lively afternoon at the

home of boxing.

backward steps. Although Harris caught Martin

As well as training professionals, Alec is

with some big straight right hands, the younger

available for personal one-2-one fitness

Arif remains undefeated after he took con-

trol of the 4 round bout by forcing his oppo-

TKO Gym fighter from St. Neots showed heart

training sessions for all levels. They last for

nent onto the ropes on a number of occasions,

and commitment to the cause to outwork his

an hour and cost £30 (discount rate for 10

where he was able to get his shots off, notably

rival. The future looks bright for Martin as he

pre-paid sessions of £250).

with upper cuts and hooks to the body. It was

showcased the skills needed to take him to the

Go to www.teamwilkey.co.uk for all the

Arif who produced the better work and took

next level with his record now standing at 3-0.

updated info...

the fight by 39-37 and he could be one to look

If you want to catch the latest info from

out for in the future with his aggressive and

Alec Wilkey’s “Team Wilkey” gym or per-

The photo shows DaC’s Alec Wilkey with

exciting style.

haps if you or anyone in your family feels

Southern area champ Danny Connor,

One week after Danny Connor retained his

they may have it as a boxer, then take a look

Tommy Martin and Eren Arif.

title, the youngest member of Team Wilkey,

at Alec Wilkey’s website. Alec is a licensed

Tommy Martin, kept his unbeaten run going

British Boxing Board of Control trainer and

David Wilkey

after taking on Andy Harris in a tough 4 round

lead coach under Johnny Eames at the

Call Sign Online

encounter at York Hall. The 18 year-old came

world famous TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in

The Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers

ANNUAL UNITED GUILDS SERVICE

On 15th March, many of London’s Livery companies, the oldest of which trace their history back to medieval

trade guilds, joined together at St Paul’s Cathedral for the annual United Guilds Service. The first United

Guilds Service was held 71 years ago in 1943. Then much of London was a bomb site and the service was intro-

duced to raise morale. The area around St Paul’s nowadays shows little evidence of the devastation of February

1943; back then it was a different scene as the Master and Prime Wardens of the Twelve Great Companies held

a meeting at the Goldsmiths’ Hall and decided to hold a service in St Paul’s Cathedral for the Livery Companies

and Guilds of the City of London. The thought was that the service would help lift the spirits of the city follow-

ing the Blitz. The first service took place on 25th March 1943, Lady Day, selected because it was the first day of

the year according to the Julian Calendar. The Lord Mayor of London at the time, Sir Samuel Joseph, attended

along with the Sheriff, Court Aldermen and Lord Bishop of London, Dr G.F. Fisher.

Now 71 years later and led by Master Brenda Bartlett, the WCHCD were amongst the Companies present

at the service. The sermon was preached by The Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford. St

Pauls welcomes people of all Christian traditions, as well as those of other faiths and this service is still an

uplifting occasion for all those who pack into the beautiful cathedral. The procession following the fanfare by

The Band of the Blues and Royals is spectacular as the Lord Mayor arrives to be met by the chairman of the

Trustees of the United Guilds Service and the Masters of the Mercers’ and Grocers Companies.

The procession down the main aisle of the cathedral was led by a Virger and the Choir, the Beadles and

Masters of many of the Companies present, The City Marshall, The Chief Commoner, High Officers, The Sheriffs

and Court of Aldermen, Clergy and The Bishop, The Lord Mayor’s Chaplains, The Serjeant at Arms, The Sword

Bearer and The Lord Mayor all in their ceremonial robes and regalia. It is an impressive sight and shows how the

Livery still flourishes in the City today. As the procession left the cathedral, tourists and bystanders watched the

dignitaries as the bells pealed.

The WCHCD were then delighted to be able to join with other Livery companies at a lunch hosted by

the Butchers’ company in their Hall.

Call Sign April 2013

Page 14

HOSPITAL

DAC ART!

ur thanks to the Dial-a-Cab driver that sent in this paint-

ing to Call Sign that both he and his wife spotted out-

side the scanning department of the Queens Hospital

in Romford, Essex.

Unfortunately the driver didn’t send in his name, but

the accompanying text said that he thought it looked like

the Piccadilly Circus end of Shaftesbury Avenue before

traffic was forced left towards Haymarket, with only

buses allowed to go straight ahead.

He also thought - and he has a point - that the painting

could well have been done by one of the artists that have their

easels lodged opposite hoping to offer their caricature abilities

to tourists. Either way, the traffic must have been bad to get

the bus and DaC taxi to stand still that long!

Over ranking at Selfridges...

HAVE WE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING???

Never in the history of Call Sign have so many Dial-a-Cab drivers responded to an arti-

cle that had not even yet been published! The reason is because a press release / notice

from London Taxis and Private Hire missed our last issue and is going out in this

one. However, the notice has already gone out in several other trade mags, hence the

sudden influx of messages to us - mainly in photo form.

The notice concerns taxis over-ranking, parking with two wheels on the pavement

and parking in the bus stop behind the Selfridges taxi rank, together with a photo

showing cabs blocking the bus stop.

This resulted in Call Sign receiving numerous photos, many taken by phones with

low resolution cameras that were unsuitable for publication. But we picked out two

that were clear and which made a point - one picked on by most of the writers

asking if we have forgotten something, because all the time that taxis are being

persecuted, pedicabs seem to be doing whatever they want!

The photo on the cover - apparently taken by the point cab on the Selfridges rank - is of two pedicabs not just

parked in front of the taxi rank, but on clearly marked zigzag lines while the photo on this page shows four pedicabs

parked across the emergency exit to Covent Garden and on top of the ‘Keep Clear’ sign. Many drivers sent photos of Long

Acre blocked by Pedicabs.

Did they all get PCNs or as our drivers asked in unison: Have we forgotten something...???

Charterhouse Square

and the Black Death!

Human remains have been discovered beneath the streets of

Charterhouse Square by archaeologists working on Crossrail.

At least thirteen skeletons had been found at the time of publi-

cation - all believed to have been struck down by the Black

Death plague in 1349. The archaeologists, who are involved

with Crossrail, think they may have discovered an ancient burial

site where up to 50,000 victims of the plague were buried. Tests

on the skeletons will take place over the coming months to

establish the exact causes of death; however evidence uncov-

ered so far points towards Charterhouse Square as being part

of a 14th Century emergency burial ground.

Call Sign has been assured that the plague couldn’t have

survived below ground and Dial-a-Cab drivers can still get through

to Goswell Road - albeit stuffed full of traffic!

The find was discovered just weeks after remains of King Richard III were discovered beneath a Leicester car park.

Call Sign April 2013

Page 15

London tourist guide and taxi driver, Bob Woodford, on everything you always

wanted to know about London...

BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK!

tion; the station entrance is on the corner - now home to the appro-

Have you ever seen a GHOST?

priately named Old Shoreditch Station Pub. This station opened in

Even if you think you’ve never seen a Ghost, then I’ll challenge you!

1865 as part of the North London Railway and was going strong until

Driving around London, covering the ground that you have to during

the Luftwaffe damaged it beyond repair in 1940. The line terminated

your working life as a taxi driver, then you must see Ghosts all of the

at the long-lost mighty Broad Street station (which was adjacent to

time - even if you don’t realise it!

Liverpool Street station), swept away in 1986 to make way for the

Just look at derelict stations! Let me guide you around some of

Broadgate complex.

London’s disused tube and main line railway structures - a sam-

ple of some forgotten and fascinating remains.

Our guided tour might as well start at the home of LTPH, the

Palestra Building - well it has to start somewhere! Right next door in

Blackfriars Road, under the railway bridge, you will find the old

Blackfriars Road station. This was opened way back in 1864 by South

Eastern Railway Company, but was very short-lived, closing just 4

years later thanks to the opening of nearby Waterloo Junction station,

later renamed Waterloo East.

Heading north, just a few hundred yards up the road at the junction

with Southwark Street, the narrow Invicta Plaza (which looks to be

about to disappear under yet another pile of concrete any day) where

you can see scant remains of Blackfriars Bridge station. Opened by

London, Chatham & Dover Railway (also in 1864), it served as the

terminus of their line from south London until it was extended over

the Thames later that year. This one bit the dust in 1885.

St Mary’s Station

Let’s cross the river and head up New Bridge Street to the junction

with Ludgate Circus. Yes, the entrance to the new City Thameslink

station might sit just inside Ludgate Hill now, but when it opened in

Head now towards Spitalfields; from Commercial Street turn left

1865 Ludgate Hill station was another stop on the LC&DR until clos-

into Whitechapel Road and just past the Mosque is a Citroen car deal-

ing in 1929. Its platforms were located above street level and many of

ership upon which once stood St Mary’s station. That opened in 1884

us oldies still remember with some degree of fondness the demolished

on the Metropolitan District Railway (today’s District Line). The sta-

viaduct crossing, where Santander Bank is now and pulled down in

tion closed in 1938 - higher passenger use at Aldgate East making St

1990.

Mary’s redundant. However, it was brought back to life during WW2 as

Carry on a little further north beneath Holborn Viaduct, and a

an air raid shelter and perhaps ironically, it became a victim of enemy

glance to the right inside Snow Hill will reveal a dirty and derelict

bombing, which led to it being demolished. All that now remains is an

looking building, which is the location of the former Snow Hill station

emergency exit door that can be seen at the far right of the car show-

- another built by the LC&DR in 1874. The name later changed to the

room’s forecourt, close to where it meets the wall at the Mosque.

not-so-catchy Holborn Viaduct Low Level Station, but by 1916 that

Turn around and head back towards the City. Just past Tower Hill

station had also closed its doors for good.

on Byward Street where it meets Seething Lane is Mark Lane station,

disguised today as an All Bar One pub. It was also opened by the MDR

(District Line) in 1884, but suffered closure in 1967 and replaced by

Tower Hill station. Next time you’re passing, check out the station

clock which still occupies space in what is now a bar, where

drinkers are blissfully unaware of its previous purpose.

Work your way around to Monument Street next and a few paces

from the plinth of the Monument itself is a Blue Plaque, which tells us

that King William Street station once stood where Regis House now

dominates. Opened by C&SLR in 1890, it had a very short life, closing

in 1900. The platforms below still exist over 100 years on and were last

used as another air raid shelter in World War Two.

Finally, cross back over the river and wiggle through to Borough

Road and where Long Lane Cab Repairs are. I wonder just how many

of the grease monkeys who work under those arches realise that the

City Road Station

office doorway was once the entrance to Borough Road station.

Opened in 1864 by the LC&DR, closure came in 1907 as a result of

competition from nearby tube stations along the Northern Line. Next

Ok, head out of Smithfield in the direction of Dial-a-Cab and Old

time you have your cab serviced there, check out various dilapidated

Street and take a left up Central Street. When you reach the junction

parts of the station building down a dingy alley choked with broken up

of City Road, on the corner to your left you will find what remains of

Fairways!

City Road underground station. Opened by City & South London

So we’ve come full circle on a tour around a central London

Railway (today’s Northern Line) in 1901, it was perhaps doomed from

patch to the east of Blackfriars Bridge - and it has not been an

the start and its low usage saw permanent closure in 1922. The old sta-

exhaustive search by any means. Some of you no doubt will have

tion was partially demolished in the 1960s, but it’s not hard to imag-

in mind more ‘ghost’ stations - of which there are far too many to

ine how this station may have looked back in the day. Other parts of it

list here.

can be seen in Moreland Street.

Next month I shall head up west for another spot of Ghostbusters!

We continue our tour by turning right onto the Ring Road, following

through to the junction of Old Street and Kingsland Road. Just

Bob Woodford

before you reach the end of Old Street, under the railway bridge you

can see on your left the bricked up former entrance to Shoreditch sta-

Call Sign Online

Call Sign April 2013

Page 16

LOOKING AT (TAXI) LIFE

With Tom Quigley (Y33)

known as ‘H’! I used to catch the 253 bus

Where is South London?

along the

‘olloway Road, passing through

It’s always been an urban myth that taxi dri-

‘ornsey!

vers don’t go south - apart from their waistline! Even

Then I used to be a milkman in ‘oxton and ‘agger-

when you have someone in the back of the cab as

ston and later carried an ‘od on many a building site.

you cross over the Thames, it’s not unusual for the

And God forbid if someone caught you smiling

passenger to tell you that they can never get a taxi to

there; the general retort would be to ask what you

take them - totally oblivious to the fact that you are

were so ‘appy about, while if you expressed an opin-

taking them!

ion, it was often nothing to write ‘ome about!

Furthermore, as you head across the river, they

It does seem a very strange thing to drop an ‘H’ in

never seem to notice the hundreds of cabs coming

one language and not another, but I had better stop

towards you heading north! In fact I would prefer to

now as one of my favourite TV programmes is about

stand on any one of the bridges and collect a pound

to start... ‘eir ‘unters!

from every driver heading north as they return back

from the place they allegedly never go to, than actu-

Tom Quigley

ally work. I suspect I would be a lot richer.

Call Sign Online

But this myth got me thinking about where actually was South

London? Some people believe it is south of the Thames, but

Westminster, Victoria, Fulham, Chelsea, Knightsbridge etc all carry

a South London postcode and if we never went there, where would

we go?

In London there are postcodes for North 1, West 1 and East 1, but

none for South 1 because as we know, they are SE1 and SW1. This

strange phenomenon dates back to 1866 when the postal districts

were rearranged. There was an NE and a S postcode, which were

changed to N and E. Then two years later in 1868, the S sector was

split into SE and SW. The S1 postcode is actually for Sheffield.

So maybe that’s where the myth started, because if the post office

didn’t want to deliver a letter to South London, it’s hardly surpris-

ing that you can’t get a Taxi to a place that is no longer there...!

Dropping your ‘H’

A few years ago I thought I would learn a different language and

after spending many holidays there, I opted to learn Spanish. I

enrolled in a class at the local college, persevered and was quite

proud when I achieved an ‘O’ level Certificate. Unfortunately, I

found going for the ‘A’ level much tougher, which was just as well

as I promised the family if I got an ‘A’ level, I would then take a ‘Gap

Year’!

Generally, the Spanish ‘H’ is silent, but for some strange reason I

kept pronouncing it; I say strange because like a lot of Eastenders

I never pronounce the ‘H’ when I am speaking English and this

used to drive my teacher crazy as well as driving my wife mad for

years. So much so that she has given up trying to correct me!

I have often wondered why this occurs; it’s not as if I never got

the opportunity to practice, having been born in ‘ackney ‘ospital in

‘omerton. Growing up, I never had two ‘alf pennies to rub togeth-

er and thought I’d won the pools if you got ‘alf a crown from an

uncle for a birthday or other special occasion.

As I got older, we were often told not to ‘ang about around ‘ere

whilst I spent many an hour - I can say that one as it’s silent - at

‘aringey dogs with my brother ‘arry - who ironically was always

Call Sign April 2013

Page 17

Yet another short story about a

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

trip I did some while ago that

of the ordinary...

remains locked in my memory

There I was on Victoria Station rank sitting

in an FX4 one cold and wintery afternoon.

I ain’t got nobody!

Eventually I reached the ‘point’ when two

ladies approached; one was probably in her

turned out to be prohibitive. And apparently

seventies while the other was much younger -

there was no insurance to cover funeral

maybe thirty something.

expenses.

I was asked if I would take them to

No doubt when I gave the cost of the trip to

Paddington Station. Nothing out of the ordi-

Cardiff, not knowing there was a body

nary, however - yes there always seems to be a

involved, the mother and daughter thought

‘however’ in the most mundane trips, at least

their financial problems had been resolved.

when I do them!

Nonetheless, when I explained it was not pos-

As we left the Vic, I could hear the two ladies

sible for a London taxi to transport a body via

muttering in a very noticeable Welsh accent,

the various counties to Cardiff, not to mention

the words I could make out were “ask the dri-

the administration and documentation that

ver” and then “taxi to Cardiff!”

would have to be dealt with and notwith-

Ears pricked, antenna out, I asked if they

standing the looks of other motorists and

had called me and this is how the conver-

pedestrians, it would have created quite a lot

sation went...

of attention, therefore the trip was not possi-

The younger of the two women, Bronwyn,

ble and I dropped them at Paddington.

So what would you have done? Would you

asked if I would be prepared to take them to

I said I didn’t have a problem going to

have taken a chance and done the journey

Cardiff. I pulled over to the side of the road for

Brixton but just how large was the item and

with two live and one dead passenger logisti-

a more ‘in-depth’ discussion! I said that

was it heavy? Bronwyn said “it’s my Da.” I

cally distributed around the taxi? And where

although it was a long trip, I would be pre-

asked what her ‘da’ was and she replied it

would the coffin be placed? Maybe open the

pared to take them but I would have to ask our

was her father who was in the box!

two passenger windows and slide the coffin

call centre for a mileage and the cost of the

Apparently Megan and her late husband had

across with both ends sticking out, or take the

journey. The quote was £400 and I told them

visited Bronwyn, who lived in Brixton, but

corpse out of the box and seat him next to the

it would take about two and half hours.

unfortunately during the visit the father

family members. It was of course a sad situa-

Megan (the mother) said that would be fine

became ill and was admitted to hospital where

tion for the family, however there is always an

but she also said if they paid me £450, would

sadly he passed away. Their plan was to send

element of comedy even within tragedy.

I be prepared to drive to Brixton first to pick

the body back to Wales for a family burial.

up a box? At that point Bronwyn said to her

When Megan and Bronwyn visited a local

Mike Son

Mother she wasn’t sure if the box could fit in

funeral director and were given a cost for

the cab.

sending the body home to Wales, the cost

DaC BoM Member

Another true story from Geoff Levene

The dreaded bollards have appeared there

now so we can forget that one and consign

it to the dustbin of history. Just sit in the

Why do people use taxis???

fume-filled traffic, wind up the windows and

watch the passengers sweat as the chances

Why do people use taxis? Well there are various reasons...

of catching the train disappears...

We know all of those difficult to find places like the gentlemen’s clubs

around St James' and the West End that have no names outside and

Geoff Levene (W32)

on which we spent ages doing the Knowledge trying to identify -

establishments such as Boodles or Bucks or the East India and

Sports.

Then there are the livery clubs such as the Armourers and

Brasiers, Actuaries, Turners and of course the Scriveners. Where

SAVINGS!

are they... no, what are they! But we can find them because we are

taxi drivers.

★ KITCHENS

And what about the hotels. Who else could have immediately found their

way to Whites, the Mount Royal and the Clifton-Ford (no, not Clinton Ford, he used to

& APPLIANCES

sing about Fanlight Fanny)! But we know our way around. Not just how to get from A to B,

★ BEDROOMS

but all the back doubles, the short-cuts and the rat runs that get our passengers to their desti-

★ WORKTOPS

nations as quickly as possible.

But hang on a minute. Apart from the RAC, how often does anybody actually ask for one

★ DOOR & DRAW REPLACMENTS

of those clubs? The Army and Navy? Maybe. The Reform? Perhaps. But the Athenaeum? I

★ PLANTATION SHUTTERS

don't think so. In fact the members there are so old, they have probably forgotten that they

★ ALL TYPES OF BLINDS

are actually members. In fact legend has it that the catering is

done by Meals on Wheels!

And the hotels? If it's not a Thistle, it's a Radisson or Hilton

or Premier Inn or a Travelodge. I

★ AWNINGS

can't keep up. Nash's Numbers needs to come out on a weekly basis rather than monthly!

And so to the back doubles. I think the rot set in when they started messing about with the

You are welcome to visit

Liverpool Road area. The options for crossing Islington were severely limited. Then came the Oxford

our showroom at:

Street bus lane. Suddenly, instead of shooting along Wigmore Street, it became best to use the bus

Unit 8 Tripes Farm,

lane until Oxford Street was narrowed and we were back using Wigmore Street again.

Chelsfield Lane,

But at least there are a few places left that we can still use. So if you're going up Tottenham

Orpington, Kent BR6 7RS

Court Road and you want to dodge the traffic turning left into Euston Road, you turn into

Warren Street, go past a nice sandwich shop and the unusual blue-tiled frontage of the old

Instant Kitchen and

Evans Dairy, where my grandmother bought the milk to sell in her shop in Cleveland Street -

Bedroom & Blinds UK

they watered it down by the way! Then turn right at the top where Benny Green used to

Call Ian (R50) on 01689 897111…

live, slip into Euston Road and away you go. Right? Er...no!

Call Sign April 2013

Page 18

Danny Fresco has been with Call

Sign ever since current Editor

Alan Fisher’s first day in the hot

Call Sign’s Danny

seat in June 1997 and while

Danny may not be as well-

known as his Taxi columnist dad

Al, his layout designs have

runs for Chai

helped Call Sign reach tremen-

dous heights for an in-house

magazine.

On Sunday 9 August 2009, Danny’s mum,

Al’s wife and Ed’s wife Linda’s closest friend,

Carole Fresco passed away in Barts Hospital,

just six weeks after being diagnosed with

breast cancer.

After Carole’s death, Danny’s family were

greatly helped by Chai Cancer Care and in

return Danny ran the London British 10k

charity run and raised around £700 for the

Hendon and Redbridge-based organisation

that provides so much care for Jewish cancer

patients and their families.

Reed with wife Lara

Carole with Ed's wife Linda

Now Danny is going to do the 10K run

again in memory of his mum, but is adding

January, three years after being diagnosed

Danny told Call Sign: “This year I've decid-

Editor’s son Reed Fisher. Reed died this

with an inoperable brain tumour.

ed in memory of my mum, Carole, and the

recent passing of Reed Fisher to run the

British 10k to try and raise awareness and

Islington and Hackney Boroughs...

money for Chai Cancer Care. They are a small

charity but do such a fantastic job looking

after families and patients who are, or have

DO THEY KNOW WHAT

been, affected by cancer.

“Without them I would have struggled to

come to terms with the sudden loss of my fan-

tastic mum who I miss so much. And in Reed’s

THEY ARE DOING?

case, not only did they help his family but I

know how much Chai helped Reed during his

Anyone driving their taxis in the bor-

oughs of Islington and Hackney can-

illness and gave him the support and comfort

not fail to have noticed the increas-

he needed. I will always be indebted to Chai

ing emergence of 20 mph signs

for helping me and if I can raise anything in

painted on the carriageways and

return, I will be happy and honoured.”

also attached to lamp posts and

Chai currently supports around 1600

other street furniture.

clients at any one time at its 8 UK sites or

These slower speed limits, together

in their own homes. This number is added

with the ubiquitous speed humps of

varying height and size are designed to

to at the rate of around 80 new clients

improve road safety, with claims of

each month. Over the past 12 months,

halving road accident rates in these

Chai provided over 12,000 individual ther-

neighbouring boroughs where such

apy and counseling sessions.

measures have been introduced.

It would appear the two council’s

You can find Danny’s charity page at:

hope that drivers will voluntarily

http://tinyurl.com/avatjvp

respond to the speed restrictions and drive with greater cau-

Jamie Corum

tion. Islington Council led the way by steadily increasing the number of roads under its con-

Call Sign Online

trol into 20 mph zones with a view to improving road safety near schools, public venues and resi-

dential areas, meeting with the approval of those affected. It wasn’t too long before neighbour-

Call Sign

ing Hackney Council decided to follow suit.

However, it would appear that there is confusion between these boroughs and TfL, who are

April 2013

responsible for several of the major roads that pass through these areas and which are subject to

Editor: Alan Fisher

30 mph limits. Equally, the local police seem reluctant to enforce these council wide speed

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

restrictions except when particular streets are highlighted as black spots, while the schemes also

Tel: 0207 251 0581 Fax: 0207 553 7293

seem to have attracted their detractors as motorists continue to ignore the 20 mph restrictions.

Email: callsignmag@aol.com

In their quest to extort ever more money from motorists, it can only be a matter of time before

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

these councils decide to install speed cameras on their roads and no doubt, when other councils

Printers: Premier Print Group

realise the fund-raising possibilities, roll out their own speed limits under the guise of road safety.

25 - 31 Violet Rd, London E3

Design: Aldan Publications

But the question is this: Where a road is under dual responsibility - local council and TfL

Tel: 07958 300 428

- whose speed limit should you comply with? Our photo of Old Street highlights just such

Email: dfdannyfresco@gmail.com

a situation with the council’s 20mph on the road and TfL’s 30mph on the lamp post…

Views and opinion expressed in Call Sign must

not be assumed to represent those of the Editor or

Alan Green

Board.No part of Call Sign may be reproduced

either manually or electronically without the express

Call Sign Online

permission of the Editor.

Call Sign April 2013

Page 19

Beware of

Cyclists

As the city goes contra-flow!

sider the majority to have been successful

where some of the main roads are very busy.

and have added a further 33 streets to that

The first 19 streets are below with the

number. They have also cancelled four of the

rest following in a few months. They are:

originals and restored them to two-way work-

Basinghall Street, Bride Lane, Carey Lane,

ing, which still leaves

60 streets where a

College Hill, Finch Lane, Foster Lane, Great

cyclist may unexpectedly - and legally - come

St Thomas Apostle, Great Winchester St,

towards you in what you believed to be a

Gutter Lane, Ironmonger Lane, Moor Lane,

one-way street.

Nicholas Lane, Noble St, Old Jewry and St

Watch out for cyclists coming towards

However, the Corporation have added that

Mary Axe.

you!

where the proposals look to be too problem-

The four streets that are now two-way

Over the past few years the City of London

atic, they may consider reverting some one-

working again are Bridewell Place, Carmelite

has made changes to 31 one-way streets and

way streets back to two-way working. The

St, Foster Lane and Tallis St. At the time of

allowed cyclists to go contra-flow along them.

Corporation believes these measures will

writing, we were not too sure why Foster

Now the City Corporation have said they con-

help insure the safety of cyclists in areas

Lane appeared in both lists...

LVTA in London Cabalcade...

must first contact the Event Secretary, gary@thelondoncabcom-

pany.com.

The Winchester section of the LVTA will also be joining the celebra-

tion as they enjoy their Golden Jubilee.

FX4 ready for its big day out!

The London Vintage Taxi Association (LVTA) is holding an event

in central London on 7th April to celebrate the FX4 and Fairway

taxis. Some of the names of guest speakers at the event will bring

back memories to those who have a long standing involvement in the

London taxi trade and include Lord Jamie Borwick, who was

Chairman of Manganese Bronze Holdings at the time that the FX4

changed over to the Fairway.

The family event promises to be a real celebration of these iconic

taxis. Plans have been finalised for a celebration convoy that will begin

at Chelsea Harbour before touring various sites of historic relevance to

the FX4 or the taxi trade in general, with some very interesting and

highly informative guest speakers.

The final gathering point for the convoy will be at Marble

Arch. Keep an eye on the LVTA website at www.lvta.co.uk for

up to date information and timings.

LVTA members are bringing their cabs from as far afield as

Switzerland, Germany, France and many parts of the UK and it may

not be too late to register to come and join in. If any Dial-a-Cab dri-

ver has an FX4, FX4R, FX4S, FX4S Plus, Fairway or Fairway Driver, FL2,

FX4 hearse (!!!) or maybe a very rare newspaper van, then you will be

more than welcome to join them. Membership of the LVTA is just £28

per annum.

The LVTA is grateful to Gold sponsors The WCHCD and Dial-a-Cab,

Silver sponsors Hailo, LTDA and Knowledgemaster and Bronze

sponsors the London Cab Company and Richmond Road Cab

Centre. The event would not have been possible without all their sup-

port.

If you are thinking of going along with your vehicle(s), you

Call Sign April 2013

Page 20

The internet has a myriad of information - however not all of it is

suitable for the young

Protecting Your

Children Online (Part 1)

By DaC Network Administrator, Jon Winterburn

Switch

“In-App

Purchases” off and set

“Require Password” to

“Immediately”. If you wish,

Whether you realise it or not,

you can also switch off

the Internet is ubiquitous; it is

Twitter and Facebook on this

screen.

everywhere, easily accessible to

8. Next, on the iPad, open

all from any computer. When I

Settings. Tap Wi-Fi, tap the

started out in IT, a computer

blue arrow next to your Wi-

Fi connection. Change the

was simply that; a great big

DNS to:

208.67.222.222,

heavy thing that only geeky

208.67.220.220. This will set

people like me used at home.

the iPad’s DNS (the method

used to look up website

Now of course, everything is a

addresses) to OpenDNS - the

computer; your phone, your

provider of safe, secure web

tablet, your TV etc. With the

browsing. See step 10 for more

information.

prolific rise of mobile comput-

Back-up

the

ing, almost everyone has

iPad/iPhone so that all these

become connected to the

settings are saved. This allows

Internet wherever they are,

you to restore all these set-

tings back to the iPad should

whatever their age. Herein lays

something go wrong with it.

the reason behind my article. To

10. Finally, create a free

quote the Ed recently "the genie

account

at:

www.opendns.com. Once

has been let out of the bottle

you have done this, you can

and getting it back in is near

add the IP address of your

impossible."

home Internet connection

So this month I'll show you how to pro-

(you can find this out at:

tect your children from unsavoury web-

(again, this is password protected) and limit

www.whatismyip.org ) to your profile and

sites on an iPad/iPhone. Next month I'll

the access to playlists, subscriptions and

then you have the ability to further control

do the same for Android tablets/phones.

favourites. This way, your child cannot

Internet access to any device on your network

browse or search and therefore cannot access

using the aforementioned DNS addresses (see

This is my 10-step recipe for protection on

inappropriate content, but rather videos you

step 5). You can also view reports of all Internet

the iPad/iPhone and I find it works well...

deem as fit for their consumption (which you

access on this website. I would recommend

1. Buy an App called "Sandbox Browser"

can to their favourites or subscriptions). Here

you use the DNS addresses listed in step 5 on

on the App Store for £1.99. This is a web

the

link

the

all devices in your home, as this will provide all

browser that only allows access to white listed

App:httphttps://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/

your family with this layer of protection.

websites. That is, websites you add to a list are

jasmine-youtube-client/id554937050.

allowed and everything else is blocked.

Disclaimer: Make no mistake, no system

Install this App on your child's iPad and con-

3. Delete all other YouTube and Web

is fool proof. Any system will need to be

figure it with websites you are happy for

browser apps from the iPad.

vigorously enforced and monitored.

them to access. A tip: Don't allow search

4. On the iPad, open Settings app. Tap

One final note: There are a number of

engines otherwise this exercise is futile! Find

General

> Restrictions. Tap Enable

other solutions available, but most of them

out which websites they want to visit like

Restrictions and enter a password (perhaps

require a paid subscription. I have tried a few

Wikipedia for example, and add them. When

the same one you use for Sandbox and

of these out, but have quite quickly been able

prompted to save and set a password, be sure

Jasmine, so it’s easy to remember).

to find holes in their systems. This is because

to do this to prevent changes being made

5. Now you need to switch the “Allow”

most subscription-based services operate an

without the password. Here is the link to the

option to “Off” for Safari. At this point you

“allow-all, then block known bad websites.”

App:phttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/san

can also prevent installing and deleting apps

The problem with this is that new websites

dbox-web-browser/id562054411.

if you so choose (this will stop them installing

are available every day, so their databases will

(Optional): Download an App called

other Web browsers).

always be out of date. But operating a

"Jasmine" on the App Store (it is free, but

6. Next, scroll down to “Allowed Content”

“whitelist” method which functions as:

parental controls require a one-time £1.49 in-

and set “Ratings For: UK”. Set “Music &

“block-all, then allow known good websites,”

app purchase). Install this App on your

Podcasts > Explicit: Off”. Set “Films, TV,

you have total control and peace of mind.

child's iPad and log in with your YouTube cre-

Books” to an age appropriate to your child

I hope this helps and I’ll continue next

dentials (perhaps you can set up a family

(but not Apps, as this will prevent too many

month with Android tablets/phones...

account?) then switch on Parental Controls

Apps from working).

Jon Winterburn

Call Sign April 2013

Page 21

NEW TERMINALS CLOSE!

At a recent meeting between Dial-a-Cab’s IT

lems between them, which included several

Director John Bankes, Business Analyst

apparent bugs - none described by Theresa

Theresa Whitfield, DaC programmer

Whitfield as sounding too problematic so far

Evaldas Jocys, DaC Training Manager Daren

as future updates were concerned. She also

Morley, several members of the BoM includ-

spoke of modifications that were being

ing newest member, Garry White and the

placed into future updates - known as fixes -

five DaC drivers testing out the new in-cab

and by the time the first terminals go out,

driver’s terminals at the time - Graham Ellis

these would all have been done.

(S95), Mickey Tarbuck (L41), Alan Green

None of the five drivers complained about

(E52), Colin Salmon (N81) and Alan Fisher

any real difficulties in using their terminal,

(F07) - it was announced that we were prob-

although all said that it took a day or so to get

ably within weeks of releasing the first batch

used to it. Many of the buttons were the same

of 100 new terminals.

as before and it was really the mapping and

The purpose of the meeting was for the five

satnav facilities that were different in addition

driver-testers to report any problems, while

to realising that they were using phone sig-

the IT department told the group of current

nals.

and future software updates to correct previ-

Generally speaking, the drivers were happy

ously reported bugs in the system, together

with the way updates were going ahead and

with problems the five drivers had previously

that any problems were fairly small, even if

New terminal and PED for chip and pin

reported.

occasionally irritating when you are the one

transactions

The drivers reported on around 20 prob-

testing it...

NEW TAXI LICENCE FEES APPROVED

TfL has now approved changes to the taxi (and private hire) licence fees for 2013/14

and which come in from 2 April 2013. The review ensures that the fees must be calculated

to fully recover the cost of providing the licensing services.

The changes to licence fees include:

New Licence Fees:

Taxi vehicle

• A reduction in the licence fee for taxi (and private hire) vehicles

Application fee reduced from £101 to £66.

respectively. This is as a result of the introduction of the new

Licence fee reduced from £53 to £36.

inspection service (NSL). This reduction includes the capital costs

Taxi driver

for the introduction of the new service, expanding the number of

The application (currently £50) remains unchanged

inspection centres available with improved facilities available at

The licence fee (currently £199) remains unchanged

each of these sites;

• A reduction in the private hire driver licence fee to reflect the

Taxi Fares

continuing high volume of applications for these licences and to

The 1.7% fare increase from Saturday April 6 (as written about in

reduce the surplus income in this area, it was considered that this

the March Call Sign) has also been approved by the TfL Board

reduction should take effect in April 2013:

and includes a 40p additional charge which will be implemented

• An increase in Knowledge of London written examination and

only if London retail diesel prices (as measured by the Arval index)

appearance fees to further reduce the subsidy from licensed taxi

reach 180.3 pence/litre.

drivers; and

There is also an 80p increase to the Heathrow Airport extra that

• An increase in private hire operator and variation fees to better

covers taxi journeys starting from Heathrow Airport, which takes

reflect the compliance activity that takes place in this area.

this charge from £2.40 to £3.20.

The 1000 mile electric car!

According to online motoring magazine Motortrades Insight, next year sees the possibility of an electric car with a capability of travel-

ing 1000 miles on a single charge. Ian Hobday, CEO of Liberty Electric Cars, told the magazine that 2013 should see a vehicle that

will go from Land's End to John O'Groats on a single charge. He

said the car would be capable of a range between 837 to 1,000

miles - around four times the furthest range of electric cars cur-

rently available on the market.

Mr Hobday said that the price had yet to be determined and

made no comment about a long range taxi, but he did say that

asaptrades

while the 1000 mile vehicle is just for test purposes, it demon-

strates where the electric car technology is going. He said that

ELECTRICAL

whilst we are at 200 to 250 miles today, within two years up to

500 will be the norm.

“Battery-based energy storage for electric vehicles will be

Electrical Installations - Fault Finding & Repairs

capable of delivering everything that a tank of petrol or

diesel can deliver within two or three years.”

www.asaptrades.com

The battery technology has been developed by Metalectrique Ltd,

a research and development business based in Tavistock, Devon.

0203 130 6798

Call Sign April 2013

Page 22

A conversation with Call Sign

Editor Alan Fisher recently got

ARE TAXIS REALLY

me wondering about something

Mayor Boris Johnson often infers

- that London’s transport net-

PART OF TFL???

work covers all needs. There are

lots (and lots and lots and lots) of

often empty buses, there is also

an excellent - if often crowded -

tube network. And to back that

up, for people who don’t like

crawling along in a bus or being

treated like a sardine under-

ground, there is the world’s best

taxi system. Put together they

supposedly make Transport for

London. There is certainly no rea-

son for anyone in the capital to

say they couldn’t get home! But

are taxis really a part of Transport

for London?

Chatting with the Editor, he told me about a

Penalty Charge Notice that he received from

PCNs given to buses? None!

the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. This is

the borough that has cctv cameras outside the

so we asked TfL if that was indeed the case.

Hamlets Complaints and Information Officer.

bagel shops in Brick Lane and issues PCNs 24

hours a day for any taxi driver daring to pick up

They denied it other than for their own area -

He wrote:

Euston and Marylebone Roads being the main

“The information that you have requested is

a quick takeaway snack after providing a ser-

vice to Londoners. Park just inches over the

PCN providers.

not held. Parking Services issue Penalty Charge

line marked out where stopping is permitted

Mr Hussain wrote once again, having obvi-

Notices to vehicle registration numbers and not

and your snack will cost you £130 (sale price of

ously heard from TfL. This time he said:

the class of vehicle.”

£65 if paid in 28 days)! It also has 24x7 cameras

“Unfortunately there seems to have been

Ok, fine. So buses and taxis are both part of

watching the loading bays along Hackney

some misunderstanding. We are responsi-

TfL, both are subject to PCNs from Tower

Road. Alan’s PCN was just after 9pm on a

ble for issuing all PCNs on our highways,

Hamlets yet that borough knows that no buses

deserted loading bay for just a few minutes.

therefore would issue PCNs to buses con-

have been ticketed even though there are no

It reminded me of emails we have received

travening our restrictions in the same way

records, because we know that at least 50 Dial-

over the years referring to Dial-a-Cab taxis

we would issue PCNs to taxis. I can con-

a-Cab drivers have received PCNs from TH

being penalised for putting on “foul” at the

firm however that we have not recorded

because we asked them! So how many more

Hammersmith Broadway taxi rank. But how

any contraventions committed by London

out of the 25,000 licensed taxi drivers in

often have you seen one or more of London’s

buses on our roads, so have not issued any

London have received them over the past 12

ridiculously over-supplied buses struggling to

PCNs to them.”

months? If we said hundreds, it would proba-

pull onto a bus stop because there are already

Hmmm. So it WAS Tower Hamlets that issue

bly be a gross underestimate.

several there loading and unloading passen-

PCNs to buses, it’s just that they haven’t actual-

So our question again is this: Are taxis

gers? The result is that the last bus or buses -

ly done anything wrong! So we asked about

really part of TfL??? We await a response

usually empty - have to stop on zigzag lines or

taxis. How many PCNs have they been issued

from Mayor Boris who is on our mailing

a loading bay. Needless to say, if a taxi did that

with; after all they too are part of Transport for

list.

because there was no room anywhere else to

London? The answer? Well this time it came

Baghwat Singh

stop (Lambeth Council and Waterloo Road

from Richard Carter, whose title is Tower

being a good example) a ticket would arrive on

Call Sign Online

their doormat poste haste.

So I decided to look into the matter and

used the Freedom of Information Act 2000

THE ALPHA POWER PILL

to get some answers from Tower Hamlets.

Firstly I wrote to Tower Hamlets quoting the

Now even better!

Act and asked how many buses had received

PCNs over the past 12 months for stopping on

Helps cut the cost of diesel - and reduce Emissions!

zigzag lines, yellow boxes or in loading bays? A

response under the Act came from Dilwar

OnlyCabs.co.uk are pleased to supply

Hussain, the borough’s Information

Dial-a-Cab drivers with the amazing Alpha Pill

Governance Administrative Officer who some-

what surprised us by saying that buses weren’t

Order Today to take advantage of the special price of £16.95

their responsibility. He wrote:

“Sorry, but we don’t issue PCNs to

Go to www.OnlyCabs.co.uk or scan your smartphone

London Buses - if they were any issued to

on the ad code

buses then it would be by Transport for

London as they operate the red routes.”

Or telephone your order to:

So if that was the case, why did they issue a

Stephen Vale at Only Cabs 020 3239 6101

PCN to Alan’s taxi, which is also part of TfL? We

had our doubts as to the viability of the answer

Call Sign April 2013

Page 23

COMPLIANCE OFFICER’S REPORT

many taxis are spotted with one or both miss-

away areas to gain queue positions in certain

ing, especially by our own members. Please

zones that have regular daily trips in. This is

adhere to the rules.

unfair to the vast majority who are following

correct procedures and offenders have

already been asked to attend the most recent

Apps

complaints hearing, with results appearing in

As you know, there is already a Dial-a-Cab

next month’s Call Sign. We all have our nor-

App for Credit Card bookings and in addition

mal patterns of working, but booking in to

to this there is now an App for Account book-

zones miles away from where we are is not

ings, both readily available to be downloaded

acceptable. Please play the game.

and I must say the IT department have done

an excellent job. It is particularly user friend-

ly and offers both pre-bookings as well as

Fixed price trips

ASAPs. Very soon there will be rear tip-up seat

Lastly, please do not clear a fixed price trip

ads available at Roman Way for all taxi mod-

(FP) until you have reached your final desti-

els and it would help tremendously if you

nation. Clearing the trip as soon as you start

Hello Ladies & Gents,

could fit the ads and advertise the service to

the journey is a rule violation, especially if

passengers in the back of your cabs. The

you then book in to a zone whilst in transit

Logos

credit card work is steadily rising, so let’s all

on the self-same trip. It will not only be

Over the past month it has become increas-

help to further generate this type of work

deemed as booking-in contrary to the

ingly apparent that there are a number of

because believe it or not, the average fare of

Society’s procedure, but will also give you an

member’s taxis that are not displaying the

twenty eight pounds on these trips is signifi-

unfair advantage, which I am sure the com-

company logo. As I have mentioned previ-

cantly higher than other suppliers, with a dis-

plaints committee and fellow members will

ously, it not only helps our clients locate their

cretional run-in and you do not even have to

take a dim view of. I am sure you all know

taxis - especially when there is more than one

pay for the privilege.

where I’m coming from.

outside of an address - but is still in my opin-

Be lucky and drive very safely

ion one of the best ways to promote our

Booking-in

Society. It is, as you know, a Society

The Contact Centre has been closely moni-

Allan Evans

Procedure Rule that all taxis must display

toring all zones and there are still a small

them at all times and it is surprising how

minority of members booking in from far

DaC Compliance Officer

Potholes should be

London Taxi Company

fixed far better!

launches TX4 enhancement

Research into potholes

undertaken by

Nottingham University,

programme

shows that patch repairs

could be much more

durable if a few simple

techniques were consis-

tently adopted. They

found that the application of a coat of bitu-

men emulsion between two layers of asphalt

in a clean, dry repair, greatly improved its resis-

tance to further cracks. It was also confirmed

that a hot mix repair - in which asphalt is

heated to 140°C or more - was the best

option for repairing potholes with a depth of

more than 2.5 centimetres.

Dr Mujib Rahman, a senior lecturer in civil

engineering at Trent University’s School of

Architecture, Design and the Built

Environment, told Call Sign:

Customers lo

so now

“The public purse carries a huge burden

with some added reassurance and with no change to the list prices.

with the cost of pothole repairs as so many

of them have to be repaired again and

As well as the comprehensive 3 year, 100,000 mile vehicle warranty and 3

again. It is essential, therefore, that we

year unlimited mileage core engine warranty, the company has now con-

understand more about how they are creat-

firmed that all new TX4s have had steering boxes, radiators, interior trim,

ed and how they can be repaired in a more

check-straps and turbo hoses replaced with components of improved design

efficient and a better way. As an initial

and superior quality.

study, we have found that if a few simple

and cost-effective measures are applied

Commenting on the improvements, UK Retail Director, Rob Laidler said:

with each repair, then there may be less

“This is the first demonstration of our commitment to improve product quality. We are

need for so many repeat repairs. If more

well aware that it is easy to pay lip service and talk about our aspirations to improve

research was carried out in this area, there

the durability of our product. We wanted to be able to show the trade tangible

could be a great potential for £millions to

improvements as soon as possible after we re-launched as a company.”

be saved every year, as not only could the

amount of pothole repairs be reduced, but

All new TX4s purchased from the recently reopened London Taxi Company dealer-

damage caused to motor vehicles could also

ships across the UK have received the refinements. Customers are being invited to visit

be avoided.”

their closest branch to see the improvements for themselves.

During the study it was also found that the

TX4 Elegance (Automatic) is still available from £35,995 or from just £135 per

presence of water accelerated pothole cracks

week - for more information, please call 0207 700 0888 or visit www.london-

and significantly increased a pothole’s perme-

ability.

taxis.co.uk.

Call Sign April 2013

Page 24

ou may have seen the poster in the

The Dial-a-Cab sponsored self-defence course of Krav Maga ended

DaC Driver’s Reception for a self-

recently with a presentation by Brian Rice. Call Sign was there to

defence course run by Ricky

Manetta (N16), the founder and

watch our drivers in action...

Head Instructor of MMA Krav Maga, a

style of martial art developed by the

Israeli Special Forces. Ricky has over 30

The Krav Maga Self Defence Course

years’ experience in Martial Arts and is

an undoubted expert in the art of self-

defence or unarmed combat.

You may even know Ricky. He has

been a DaC Marshal on Bank Street E14,

the rider sitting on the back of the police

motorbike to protect the front runner at

the London Marathon, or if you’re a

UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)

fan, you could have seen him with

another DaC marshal, Stefan Fitt (P88),

walking the fighters into the Octagon

and co-coordinating the event!

With Dial-a-Cab sponsoring a basic

course of eight weeks duration, courtesy

of Chairman Brian Rice and the BoM,

many DaC drivers took up the opportu-

nity to learn some essential defensive

techniques while getting fitter into the

bargain! Allan Evans accompanied

Brian at the presentation.

Ricky’s classes are limited to a maxi-

mum of ten students per class in order

to give personal, virtually one to one

tuition and cover skills from the very

beginner up to more advanced tech-

niques that will boost your confidence,

allowing you to deal confidently with

potentially dangerous or aggressive situ-

ations, both in and out of your taxi.

As cab drivers, we come into contact

with all sorts of members of the public

and knowing that you can deal effective-

ly with a situation through your body

language or demeanour, can often

defuse an otherwise sticky situation!

Jackie Kott (Y88) was the only female

on the particular course that Call Sign

visited and she was eager for more

women to get involved.

“I feel far more confident now that I’ve

learned techniques to defend myself

should the need arise, and I’m able to

compete effectively, even against some of

the bigger and heavier chaps here! So I

feel more comfortable and relaxed when

I’m out there working on the cab.”

Peter Arnold (F40) recalled having an

extremely un-nerving experience a few

years ago and welcomed the chance to

learn unarmed defensive techniques

against potentially dangerous or con-

frontational situations. Peter told Call

Sign:

“This course has boosted my self-confi-

dence enormously and I think everybody

should have at least some self-defensive

knowledge.”

For more information on future

classes

and courses go to

www.mmakravmaga.com or call

Ricky Manetta on: 07950 267574. One

day you could be very grateful that

you did...

Alan Green

Call Sign Online

Call Sign April 2013

Page 25

DaC driver Sean Farrell (B39) looks at trade history from a different angle

Views on life as seen through the

eyes of David Kupler (Y74) at...

The Brethren of the Whip

Kupkake’s

Another rank, another ruck...

When a cab driver tried to resume his position on the Piccadilly rank

after the passenger that hailed him said his was the wrong sort of cab,

Korner

(they did not want a two-wheeled Hansom but a four-wheeler) the

subsequent argument allowed the court reporter to exercise both

his literary and translational skills, no doubt to the delight of the

readers of The Morning Post.

The wronged cab driver was W.Johnson and after being knocked

back, he would have been within his rights to charge the prospec-

tive passenger 6d for calling him off the rank, instead, he went to

resume his position on the rank but now another cab had moved up

and was not prepared to move back. An argument between the two drivers developed into a

scuffle and ended with the other driver, named as R.Sinnock, driving round Johnson’s cab

and backing into it with the result that both cabs were damaged.

Not so ‘appy now!

It is June 1837, Victoria had succeeded to the Crown just days before the case came to court

Old Tom was once a happy chap,

and drivers were still unlicensed; the first badges would make their appearance the following

He worked his cab each day,

year. Sinnock, a genuine specimen of the London Jarvey informed the magistrate that it was not

Then he got a taxi App

Johnson who was driving the cab, but his buck, who was “werry cheeky, and werry

and his life went all astray...

hogstoppolus” and as a buck was driving the cab, he believed he had precedence. The mag-

“You’ll make more dough,” the salesman

istrate asked him to explain what a buck was.

said,

“A buck, yur vership, is vot ve calls the reglar driver’s cad. That is, vhile the reglar

“Just sign on the dotted line,

driver’s a hingering his master’s property and sitting in public houses playing at shove-

Then seal the deal with freshly drawn

happeny for lush as this ere complainant (Johnson) vos at the time of the haccident,

blood

the buck looks out for jobs.”

and from then on you’re mine!”

This much was true and common practice among the cabmen. The bucks would take the

So Tom began to service,

fares and return after a couple of hours, giving the regular driver half or even two-thirds of

The punters who would call,

what they had taken. The better payers were more regularly employed than those who tried

Without intent or malice

to keep hold of their earnings.

he’d run for each and all.

Not to be outdone, Sinnock called on the waterman of the rank, Big Joe, to back his ver-

sion of events. Unlike the drivers, the watermen were registered and had badges, but they

He lost out with his diesel,

were not the officious superannuated policemen of future years. In 1837 they were usually

Wasting precious miles,

washed up wrecks. Big Joe was not disappointing.

For fares below the meter

“Into the court room walked a huge, grotesque-looking personage with an air of vast impor-

that went just a couple of miles.

tance…his face shone like a new warming-pan and was about the size and colour of that use-

He complained they said be patient,

ful article,” wrote the court reporter.

“We’re working on a plan,

Big Joe recognised the magistrates from when he was subpoenaed six years previously when

Just give us our 10 percent -

a nosebag was stolen, but despite the singular description from the court reporter, they some-

we hope you understand.”

how failed to recognise him.

Then one day he got a flyer,

“Ven this here happened,” related Big Joe, “I vos planted afore a lovely piece of bacon

True it was a discounted fare,

and a summer cabbage jist out of the pot, so it warn’t in nature as I could look arter any-

On the way he blew a tyre

thing but my grub.”

out of pocket there!

So Big Joe did not see the fracas. “But, though I seed nuffin about nobody, I heered sum-

mint about somebody.” The magistrate stated that he therefore had no evidence to give but

He tried to work more hours,

asked him about the rules of the rank. “Vy, there aren’t no pint but vot I knows, from the

Just to make it pay,

day ven I druv a hackney-coach myself to the time ven I got the happintment of head

Whilst in their Ivory Tower

vorterman….Ven a fare plies a wehicle, if two starts the von as don’t get the job comes

the bosses spent their day.

back into his old place, according to the laws of human natur.”

Old Tom wanted to retire,

As for blame, Big Joe went onto to explain that in his candid mind, “...von, vos as bad as

But they said he’d made a deal,

tother.” He then offered his opinion on how the magistrate should settle the case!

“You’re ours till you expire

“…If I vas von of your brother magistrate, I’d make the proprietor of the wehicle pay

with a contract that is real!”

one half, I’d make the cabman pay another half and I’d make the hackney coachman

pay tother half, blow me.”

So beware of what you’re signing,

And with whom you cast your net,

Notwithstanding this erstwhile advice, the magistrates settled on fining Sinnock costs and

Don’t think about resigning...

damages amounting to 30 shillings...

they ain’t finished with you yet!

Sean Farrell

Kopyright Kupkake 2013

Call Sign Online

NEW DESIGN LICENCES ..and area identifiers

LTPH have told Call Sign that in order to re-issue taxi driver licences, it is imperative those drivers who were requested to provide passport sized pho-

tographs do so without delay. Thanking drivers who responded, LTPH also said there were still a significant number of drivers who had not provided their

photographs and that they are required to do so without delay. Photographs can be emailed to: TPHphotos@tfl.gov.uk or posted to: Taxi Driver

Photographs, 4th Floor, Green Zone, Palestra,

197 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8NJ.

LTPH is now rescheduling the issue of the replacement taxi driver licences and area identifiers and will restart as soon as possible. A further announce-

ment will be made in due course.

Call Sign April 2013

Page 26

Stephen Berndes (R14) with a another collection of…

blighting our streets. Is this a good example or just an example of trying

Advertising on

to gain market share at the expense of the Taxi trade. There may be fun-

damental change to our trade when the Law Commission consultation

taxis…

paper (which supports public hire) and Deloitte report (which will sup-

I find it odd that umbrella organisa-

port private hire) has been fully analysed by Transport for London.

tion, the United Trade Group, which

Let’s try to influence the change by killing off the leeches that disfigure

comprises the LTDA, LCDC and

our brand.

Unite came to a decision to rightly

run the campaign Backing Black,

My Taxi MOT

yet are in favour of allowing super-

On 5th March I took my cab to my local taxi garage for the first of the

side advertisements because they say

twice yearly standard (class 4) MOTs. I assumed they would take a cur-

they still demonstrate the overall original

sory glance like an ordinary car MOT and pass it on the spot given that it

colour of the cab. This, to my mind, is total nonsense.

is a well maintained cab. After a protracted wait, I was told it had passed

Dirty taxis flogging dodgy financial products with the caveat that prices

but there were a few minor problems that needed to be sorted out. I

can go up as well as down, makes us look irresponsible. Remember all

arranged to pick up my cab the next day with ball joints, disc brakes, pads

those ads plastered on taxis claiming that the Heathrow Express was the

and brake shoes all changed.

quickest and most cost effective way to get to Heathrow? We were taken

I have noticed that some garage package deals are offering one price

for ignorant chumps.

fits all packages that include replacing components as a matter of course.

The suppliers use cabs as cash cows and are only concerned with their

So is it possible to pass an MOT without these same changes, I wonder?

back pockets, offering lamentable paltry sums whilst we do all the work

On the 7th March at 11am I presented my taxi to the NSC inspection

afterwards having to go to drive-thru depots with the promise that the

centre in Enfield and reported to the desk with all the usual parapher-

paintwork will be returned to PCO standards. So why do we get less

nalia. The staff were courteous and polite. I helped myself to a free cof-

residual value when it comes to selling?

fee from a vending machine and retired to a comfortable waiting area

The umbrella group feels it is sensible to outlaw complete liveries to

awaiting the verdict.

have uniformity in colour, but super-sides look just as tacky, lack class

Eventually an examiner came striding into the waiting area and

and alter the appearance to a similar level whilst at the same time con-

announced my registration number in a loud voice. The helpful chap

fusing our prospective customers. Furthermore, the soon-to-be-intro-

said that my cab had passed but the rear nearside tyre needed some air

duced roof advertising monstrosity beggars belief!

pressure and that there was borderline wear. He suggested that it would

I think there is a conflict of interest here, with garages’ only concern

be best to replace it. Would that have happened in yesteryear from an

being their increasing revenue and not the aesthetics of taxis. If they had

officious overhaul PCO examiner?

their way the Knowledge would be diluted and a monopolised choice of

I returned to the car park to find that the plates had already been fixed

a single make of Taxi be reinstated. And I have heard the garages would

with new screws. A nice touch with the whole process taking just twen-

like to get the single overhaul back!

ty-eight minutes precisely.

So have you noticed the lack of judgmental criticism from most trade

Excellent service…

papers regarding the awful adverts? The advertisement spend silences

Stephen Berndes

their voices. We have Hailo and GetTaxi with bright yellow liveries

Call Sign Online

As hooligans cause him a huge shock, Peter talks of...

THE WINDSHIELD WOES OF A DAC DRIVER!

“Yes, the noise alone made me almost jump out of my seat,” Peter Burness (C31) told Call Sign

as he related his tale. “I really thought I’d been hit by a bomb!”

Peter, who has been with Dial-a-Cab for eight years, told this magazine that he had been dri-

ving an account client up to Winchmore Hill and approaching Station Place at Finsbury Park sta-

tion with the Arsenal football shop on his left hand side, when he heard what he described as

“this almighty bang!”

Continuing the tale, Peter told us: “I knew right away it was my cab and I quickly looked in

both door mirrors but saw nothing, but when I looked up to the rear-view mirror my first

thought was that it was snow - and then I realised the rear windshield had shattered into tiny

fragments. I had to assume that yobs had thrown a missile at my cab.”

Peter moved speedily into Stroud Green Road and thought to stop and assess the damage,

but somewhere at the back of his mind he recalled reading a warning that you should not

stop, get out or leave the vehicle unattended after possible vandalism, so he decided to contin-

ue to the destination. Even driving carefully, the glass was disintegrating with every road bump

and dropping onto the rear parcel shelf, possibly jeopardising the safety of his passenger. Peter suggested that he

moved to a tip-up seat and his passenger - no doubt every bit as shocked as Peter - readily agreed.

“Thankfully there was no personal injury to either of us, and in fact the passenger was good as gold given the situation. I called my service garage, E1

Taxis at Stephenson Street, Canning Town and the boss, Fiake Saffa, suggested I took the cab in right away. Motoring cautiously along the A406 on my

way to E16, I realised how lucky we both had been to not have got hurt. Fiake gave me an unplated Fairway courtesy cab to get me home as the rear win-

dow would have to wait until the following day for the repair. Apparently front windshields are a relatively common occurrence, but there is less call for rear

windshields and so stocks are limited. Living in Kent I was truly grateful for the loan cab to get me home and to return to E16 the following day, because I

had to drive to the National Windscreen’s depot at Fairlop Waters to effect the replacement glassware on my cab as advised by my insurers, Quotax.”

Peter’s fitter did the job in about an hour, but it took a further 2 hours for the sealant to ‘cure’ and it cost him the insurance excess of £75, so he lost a

considerable amount of work time “...and a wedge of money into the bargain,” Peter told us with a sigh!

“I had to keep protective tape around the rubber sealing insert for a day or so to ensure it all bedded down properly and yes, I’m still shaking a few days

on. And there’s no way I’m going back to the Arsenal area in a hurry,” Peter confided, “and besides, I’m a Millwall fan!”

Call Sign April 2013

Page 27

In aid of Comic Relief, it’s…

As March rolled its way towards the beginnings

of Spring, many DaC staff were heading full tilt

into the second fundraising cake bake-off

organised by DaC’s Training and HR depart-

ments on the second floor of Dial-a-Cab

THE GREAT DAC

House in aid of Comic Relief and hoping to

add to the amazing £75million already raised

by the charity. Those entering their mouth-

watering masterpieces were hoping to take

CAKE BAKE!

over the crown from last year’s winner,

Antoinette Gardner in DaC’s Accounts Dept.

She had decided not to enter this year’s com-

petition.

The idea was for staff members to bake an

item of their choice - biscuits, cakes or even

individual choccies - which would then be sold

to other members of staff, helping to fill empty

tums while raising vital funds for the charity at

the same time.

Unlike last year where the judges consisted

of three DaC Board members - with Keith

Cain complaining that the remains of a sticky

toffee muffin had lodged in his ear with no one

brave enough to query as to how it got there -

this year the results were decided by staff mem-

bers who had spent mon

in buying the various

goodies.

Everyone agreed tha

just as last year the stan

dard of entries wa

extremely high, whic

made for some tough dec

Keith Cain presents Jenny with her runners-up prize

sions so far as picking

Inset: Tracey with her third place prize

winner was concerned. B

someone had to win!

Stacey both received goody bags -

this, but who very generously made and donat-

First prize went to cam

although

the second prize weighed slightly

ed no fewer than five different bakes - more

shy Leanne White from the Contact Centre

more than the third no doubt thanks to the

than any other employee. In addition to her

with her mouth-watering cherry cheesecake.

included half bottle of Champers!

winning cherry cheesecake, Leanne also made

She picked up an extra day’s annual leave, a

DaC’s HR Director, John Rogers, told Call

more than one batch of lemon doughnut

bottle of Laurent Perrier Champagne, several

Sign:

muffins, a chocolate cake, rum and coconut

other goodies and the most important part of

“This year’s DaC bake-off raised £325 for

cupcakes as well as her legendary coconut ice!

all - the ‘Dial-a-Cab Best Baker 2013’ apron!

Comic Relief and I would like to express my

In fact, demand for the latter was so high that

Second prize went to Jenny McEwan with

thanks not only to everyone who helped us to

Leanne felt obliged to make a further batch a

her vanilla fairy cakes, while Stacey Blake’s

raise this amount by buying bakes or making

week after the bake sale, raising another £30

vanilla cupcakes came a close third. Jenny and

donations of money on the day, but especially

for Comic Relief in the process!”

to those who gave up

Call Sign was told unofficially by our baking

their precious time and

snitch that during the competition time, sever-

money to actually

al waistlines increased in size! Naturally, we

make

(or, in some

would never reveal any names but suffice to say

She’s Done it!

cases, buy!) the bakes

that Training Manager Daren Morley, who

for us to sell.

enjoys running marathons, has backed out of

Just as a Call Sign reporter happened

“An extra-special

one for this year blaming a new arrival in the

to enter the Dial-a-Cab Driver’s

thank you is undoubt-

family, but not mentioning anything about sev-

Reception area for a quick pit-stop,

edly due to publicity-

eral missing doughnuts and large Pecan Pie!!!

Akin, our security chief’s mobile

shy Leanne White who

Well done to Leanne and everyone

phone rang loudly as if to convey

will hate me for saying

involved...

urgent news. Akin answered with a

concerned look on his face before

bursting into joyous laughter.

“You did what? You did w-h-a-a-t,” he roared down the phone!

Keith Reading

Then, almost falling off his seat with excitement, Akin turned to

Professional Toastmaster

our news purveyor to tell him that his wife Seyi (pronounced Sheyi)

Master of Ceremonies

had finally passed her driving test.

“She has been trying for a very long time - a very, very long time,”

Tele: 01279 465 938

he repeated before going into more detail. “It has taken her about 8

Mobile: 07774 860 374

or 9 attempts to pass the test, and now she has finally done it.”

Email: kgr.2@virgin.net

“She has had to extend her Theory exam in order to keep her

Practical test alive and I think it has cost around £2,500 or so to get

10% discount for DaC drivers and staff

there, but now she’s done it! She can drive herself around now -

shopping, socialising, everything and all by herself,” he said, almost

Fellow of the Guild of

speechless with joy as he opened a bottle of mineral water by way of

Professional Toastmasters

celebration! Well done indeed!

Call Sign April 2013

Page 28

Mailshot

Either write to Call Sign at

Dial-a-Cab House

and Alan together with their Italian par-

or email us at

ents ran the cafe on the opposite side to

the ODRTS building where a single dis-

callsignmag@aol.com

patcher sitting in the window with

tongue hanging out, would watch as dri-

vers popped in for their cuppas with no

who have now taken over from SGS. I have

EOBD light

to say that the experience was extremely

worries about traffic wardens! The

Hi all at Call Sign

positive and that if it is a sign of things to

cramped Boardroom meant it was easier

In response to Alasdair Kay’s (C47) letter

come, then this partnership could be excel-

to meet in the café! In those days it was

in the January Call Sign regarding his

lent news for the taxi business.

called the Welcome Café and the Boca

EOBD light constantly coming on. I had the

I had taken my Vito in for the now com-

family sold it to the council in 1963

problem with lights coming on for several

pulsory MOT visit prior to its booked trip to

when it became a block of flats. Alan

years and like Alasdair changed many parts.

NSL at Staples Corner - one of six passing

died in 2003 and John in 2011 ...Ed

Then one day I changed my air intake

stations now available. As this system has

meter, which is the round coke can shaped

only just begun, there was just the one

unit behind the air filter. It's not cheap so

MOT prior to the passing station visit. It

Guess who?

try and change it with a mate first. If the

will normally be two per year with the sec-

Hi Al

light stops coming on then it’s job done!

ond one no more than 14 days before your

In the March Call Sign, there was an article

It’s easy to change over, just couple of

appointment. Fewer than 14 days is fine -

about a cheap overhaul for Tom Burns

jubilee clips. I hope this helps anyone who