Call Sign March 2013

Page 3

from the editor’s desk

been better off refusing the 1.7% fare in-

AGM and

crease because even pro-taxi radio station

Allen Togwell

LBC has been having a pop at us and going

on about other people not having had a

You can read all about the AGM elsewhere

wage rise for several years.

inside this issue, but the undoubted shock

was that long standing Board Member Allen

No mention, mind you, of buses, tubes

and overground trains getting above infla-

Togwell lost his place on the Board to

Garry White with just one vote separating

tion fare increases for years and seemingly

at will. However, an average 22p per trip in-

the two of them in this year’s elections.

crease is better than nothing, but wouldn’t

Allen has both irritated and excited mem-

bers over the many years he has been on the

the publicity of rejecting that increase this

year been worth more than 22p a job in

BoM. His views on a driver’s dress code are

well known and you either agree or dis-

positive publicity?

Ah well, it’s not as though we have the

agree with them, but there can be little

choice, so keep rowing...

doubt that we all look that bit smarter

nowadays.

His computer skills, all self-taught, have

Reed

saved this Society many £thousands each

tration. Hopefully, the administrators

Even allowing for the most awful of per-

year and probably reach hundreds of thou-

will sort the company out, but it seems

sonal circumstances, I would not want Call

sands in total. So it was nice to see a driver

that it was 20% shareholder Geely’s re-

Sign readers to think that I was attempting

stand up at the AGM, admit that he hasn’t

fusal to loan £15million to Manganese

to take over this page and turn it into a sort

always agreed with AT, but suggest that

that has caused the problem. I think that

of shrine to my dear son Reed. As much as

Allen’s undoubted skills should not be lost

many London taxi drivers would feel jus-

I loved him, last month’s tributes took up

to DaC unless he no longer wanted to pur-

tifiably annoyed if Geely now ended up

several pages and as he was a long-time

sue them. The driver went on to say that

buying the company at a knock-down

perhaps we could pay him to produce the

Dial-a-Cab employee, hopefully most of you

price.”

agreed that I wasn’t taking advantage.

End of Year report brochure and other

Well that is exactly what has happened

items that he did so well.

Yes, I have published a few more of the

with the Chinese car makers, Zhejiang

However, other than thanking Allen for

hundreds of condolence messages to come

Geely Holding Group - who already own

the many years he has devoted to DaC, this

in, but I also feel that I have to mention

Volvo - purchasing MB from administrators

piece isn’t about that. It’s just to say - in as

something that DaC staff have done without

PriceWaterhouseCoopers for a knock-

modest a way as this magazine can - that

any fanfare, but just because they wanted to.

down £11.04 million and on a debt-free

after years of drivers saying that there was

They had a collection in Reed’s name and

basis.

no point in attending an AGM as it was im-

raised around £150 which has been donated

So are we upset? Well, yes, we do still feel

possible for a sitting BM to lose their seat

to Chai Cancer Care, the charity that

sorry for MB, but we also realise that busi-

under the postal ballot system and me dis-

helped Reed so much towards the end of his

ness is business and no one would pay

agreeing, I can now officially say that I was

life. To all who contributed, I thank you...

more than they have to when you are talk-

right! With just a single vote separating

ing in £millions. According to Geely Hold-

Allen and Garry and Tom just 15 votes

ings Chairman, Li Shufu:

ahead of the duo, the results were obviously

“We are determined to restore the for-

Alan Fisher

settled in the hall even though there

tunes of this totemic marque. We are a

callsignmag@aol.com

weren’t even 70 members present.

long-term and committed investor and

Hopefully that will make those who

believe the illustrious past of the Lon-

refuse to attend AGMs, believing that it

don black cab can be matched by a suc-

makes no difference, now think again. It’s

cessful and healthy future.”

your Society; you should take an interest...

He also inferred that the cab would be

brought up to date using the latest technol-

Manganese Bronze and

ogy. No, we do not regret speaking out with

our initial view - especially as it turned out

Geely...

to be correct - but the bottom line is that

There’s only one trade story in town at the

the long-term future of the TX4 has now

moment - unless you are the supplier of the

been assured and that can only be good

MB Vito. As autumn 2012 arrived, so it

news for the London taxi trade.

seemed that the autumn of the life of the

Inside this issue, there is an open letter

TX4 taxi had arrived at the same time. Man-

to the taxi trade from the UK operations Ex-

ganese Bronze was taken into administra-

ecutive Vice President of the London Taxi

tion, but the circumstances disturbed us at

Corporation Ltd (T/A The London Taxi

Call Sign far more than just the initial sad-

Company), Peter Johansen. If they do in-

ness and in a November 2012 Call Sign ar-

deed follow Mr Johansen’s views of the

ticle, reporter Ron Yarborough wrote:

aims for the new company, then the TX4

“You have to feel sorry for Manganese

will undoubtedly well and truly have ar-

Bronze. LTC’s parent company discovers

rived in the twenty first century. But as al-

a fault with some new TX4 steering

ways, the proof of the pudding is in the

boxes exactly four years after solving the

eating so let’s hope this pudding is a tasty

problem of the eight TX4s that caught

one...

fire. Now 316 TX4s in London have to

come off the road until a steering inves-

tigation is completed and that has sent

Fare increase

I can’t help wondering whether we’d have

Manganese over the edge into adminis-

Call Sign March 2013

Page 4

reflections of the chairman

To some members, Allen was like Marmite -

AGM and the 30 year rule...

you either loved him or hated him! But over the

It was another very good AGM, unfortunately

years I grew very fond of Allen and realised he

there were just 70 members in attendance and

had a loud bark but just a small bite!

when you consider it was an electable AGM, that

In my view, Allen was beaten for one reason

turnout was pretty poor. However, as expected,

only - and that is age. If he had not been the

the behaviour of all those present was exemplary

oldest Board Member, then he would not have

and everyone appeared to be extremely inter-

gone and it may have been someone else.

ested in the workings of Dial-a-Cab.

Allen will always be welcome at Dial-a-Cab

I must confess that of those 70 members

House. His wit - and indeed his swearing - will

present, there were several that had served in

always be remembered fondly by me! It has

excess of thirty years for the Society and as a

been a pleasure to work alongside him, with

consequence enjoy £1 per month subscrip-

barely a few minor hiccups on the way.

tions. So you can imagine their dismay when

I stated that due to the current economic cli-

mate, the BoM might have to review their sub-

And finally...

scriptions and possibly increase them during

GetTaxi has recruited two of the young ladies that

these extremely recessionary times.

used to work for Dial-a-Cab. They were enticed

just one vote. I have been a member of this

I informed those present that we had

away with the offer of higher salaries - nothing

Society for 39 years and have never known

116 members who enjoyed the reduced

wrong with that! But it would now appear they

such a close vote.

subscription, which cost the Society in ex-

have been promised commission for every driver

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome

cess of £180k per annum.

they can recruit, so they have now taken to the task

Garry to the BoM and will do all I can to assist him

This reduced subscription was introduced

of telephoning some of our members in an at-

in becoming acquainted with the BoM and the

by the BoM in November 1996 to reward long

tempt to get them to join GetTaxi.

workings of Dial-a-Cab. It will be an extremely steep

serving members, however, at this current

I would like to remind members that they can-

learning curve and I know that Garry will be very

AGM Pat Keefe (G01) informed me that when

not be a member of both organisations; it is one

surprised regarding the knowledge required to run

I announced the new subscription at the 1996

or the other due to the simple fact that GetTaxi

an operation such as Dial-a-Cab.

AGM, I stated it was “for life” and that it would

is attacking your credit account clients together

never be removed. I know we have moved on

with the accounts of the other two radio circuits.

Allen Togwell

by almost 17 years and our memories get a lit-

So it appears that they are looking to become the

I can’t finish this piece without thanking Allen

tle worse as time goes by, but mine is not that

fourth radio circuit in London.

Togwell for his contribution to Dial-a-Cab.

bad and the words “for life” were never men-

The choice is yours; you can be either a member

Allen has been a constant member of the BoM

tioned!

of Dial-a-Cab or GetTaxi - but it can’t be both...

since I became Chairman in 1996 and always

What makes the situation worse is that in this

supported me, especially in the early years

issue’s Mailshot, I believe Martin Freeborn

Brian Rice

when politics and intrigue was commonplace

(C67) also implies the same thing, probably be-

at DaC. As the years rolled on and much of the

Chairman

cause it was mentioned at the AGM and he be-

politics were removed from the Society, Allen

Dial-a-Cab

lieves it was gospel - and it wasn’t. I have known

remained a staunch supporter.

these two members for many years and they

have both been great ambassadors for your So-

ciety, shame about their memories!

I’ve been looking at the work that is covered

THE SALIERI RESTAURANT

by the long serving members and between the

116 of them, fewer than 1000 trips a month

376 Strand, WC2

are covered. So not only is the Society not re-

ceiving income from subscriptions, we are not

receiving much income from the trips that are

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

covered by them either.

restaurant where you can partake of the finest food and wine

This reduced subscription regime was intro-

duced in 1996 when times were better and for

And as a thank-you for helping our clients come

the next twelve years those better times con-

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

tinued so the Society was happy to continue

with the reduced subscription scenario. How-

offer you a genuine 25% discount on your bill

ever, for the past four years the economic situ-

ation has worsened and the reduced

We are certain that you will be delighted

subscriptions will be reviewed; that is not to say

they will be returned to full subscription level

because some sort of recognition for long ser-

vice should be acknowledged and we have an-

other

34 members who will reach the

milestone of thirty years within the next few

months.

The BoM wish to generate more income and

the last thing we want to do is increase member’s

Please bring along your badge or Bill as ID

subscriptions during these difficult times, but I

believe the time when the ‘normal’ member sub-

Salieri Restaurant

sidises the long serving member could be coming

376 Strand, WC2

to an end, but there will be some recognition.

It was also decided at the AGM by the mem-

Reservations: 020 7836 1318

bers that there should be a new Board mem-

ber when Garry White beat Allen Togwell by

Call Sign March 2013

Page 5

While Call Sign

was told last month

that a deal for the

Zhejiang Geely

Holding Group to

TX4 SAVED

take over the busi-

ness of Manganese

Zhejiang Geely

Bronze Holdings

Holding Group

minus its debts was

Chairman Li Shufu -

imminent

- even

TX4's new owner!

though a second company were still in

the mix - for financial reasons the deal

could not be completed until 1 February

and we had to let it go as publication

couldn’t wait!

So by now the whole world - from the

fully running around

New York Times to the Sydney Morn-

during the London

ing Herald - knows that the TX4 has

Olympics and that

Boris Johnson as Lon-

been saved in addition to the 107 jobs at

the Coventry manufacturing facility with

don Mayor was look-

ing for London’s taxis

Zhejiang Geely paying £11.04 million to

unit of Zhejiang Geely, already owned a

to be virtually emissions free by 2020.

buy the package, including the London

19.6% stake in Manganese following their

Zhejiang Geely already own Volvo Cars

Taxi Company’s head office production,

2006 joint venture. Under that deal, the

in Sweden and also manufactures its own

M&O dealership and property in Hol-

UK Company bought Chinese made com-

auto brands - Geely, Emgrand, Gleagle

loway, plus all related dealership assets in

ponents and vehicle body parts. Some

and Englon - the vehicle said to be based

Manchester and Edinburgh including

blamed that deal for the steering prob-

on the TX4.

plant, equipment and property, intellec-

lems that caused 400 right-hand drive

Li Shufu is a great believe in collective

tual property rights, trademarks and the

TX4s to be recalled, leading to the MBH

wisdom but is also someone who does

goodwill of the business. The last time

administration. The new replacement

not give up when he has an idea - a heady

Manganese shares were traded on the

parts were UK sourced. But MBH former

mix that will bring a new interesting slant

Stock Exchange was on 11 October when

group finance director, Peter Johansen,

to the cab manufacturing business. He is

they closed at 10p, valuing the company

who is now executive Vice President of

also a great believer in charity and as this

at around £3m.

the new venture, UK Black Cab Opera-

trade is famous for its supported chari-

Mr Shufu added: “We have ambitious

tions, claimed that the majority of Chi-

ties, there could also be an involvement

plans for the business and despite

nese parts were now world class and the

there.

there being a number of challenges to

days of them being looked down on were

Geely's chief financial officer, Donghui

overcome, we are committed to work-

long gone.

Daniel Li, will become Chairman of

ing with all stakeholders to build a

Mr Johansen also said that the new

Geely UK - a name we are going to hear

solid future for the black cab business

company would continue with the pro-

much more about in the future...

that will enable it to return to prof-

ject that London Taxi Company were fol-

itability and grow substantially.”

lowing

- that of the possibility of

Alan Fisher

Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd,

Hydrogen-operated taxis. He reminded

which is the Hong Kong based trading

us that five hydrogen taxis were success-

Call Sign Online

Vacancies for three DaC Arbitrators

As a result of the recent Board

If you have any queries regarding this process, please do

election and the early retirement

not hesitate to contact me.

of two long standing

members,

Howard Pears

there are vacancies for three

Company Secretary

members to become Dial-a-Cab

Arbitrators.

Should you wish to put your name

Keith Reading

forward and you meet the minimum

Professional Toastmaster

criteria of five consecutive years of membership, then

Master of Ceremonies

please apply in writing expressing your interest to be received by

me at Dial-a-Cab House no later than first post on Monday 18

Tele: 01279 465 938

March 2013.

Mobile: 07774 860 374

A postal ballot will then be conducted at a later date

Email: kgr.2@virgin.net

and the three candidates with the highest number of

votes will be duly appointed.

10% discount for DaC drivers and staff

Candidates wishing to send their CV for publication in Call

Sign should send it to the Editor at callsignmag@aol.com or to

Fellow of the Guild of

the usual Call Sign postal address by Friday 12 April 2013, keep-

Professional Toastmasters

ing to a maximum of around 200 words.

Call Sign March 2013

Page 6

Jery’s World

“I don’t care what anyone says; it’s impossible for any sitting Board member to lose their seat while we’ve got postal balloting!”

New design licenses and area identifiers

In March 2013, TfL will commence issuing replacement licences and area identifiers

we will be able to safeguard the public

to all licensed London taxi drivers. The new licences and area identifiers will be of

from rogue drivers and protect the repu-

a similar design to existing ones but will contain a number of new security fea-

tation and the earnings of the taxi trade.

tures. In addition, following feedback from the trade, the new suburban area iden-

John Mason

tifiers will have a larger space to show the areas for which a driver is licensed to

Director Taxi and Private Hire

ply for hire.

One of the key reasons for replacing all taxi driver licences and area identifiers is to com-

bat fraudulent licences. The introduction of the area identifiers has highlighted issues that

have existed within the trade for a number of years. Between March and December 2012,

some 27 arrests have been made by the police for the use of fraudulent documentation. Of

these, a number were completely unlicensed drivers that had received no character and

medical checks or undertaken the Knowledge of London. These drivers are putting the pub-

lic at risk and also damaging the earnings and reputation of legitimate taxi drivers.

Accompanying the new documents will be instructions advising how to return

existing documents to TfL. Any driver who has not received his or her replace-

ment licence and area identifiers by 31 March 2013 should contact us via sup-

port@tph.tfl.gov.uk or 0845 602 7000.

In order to facilitate this change, a number of drivers were recently asked to submit

passport size photographs which will allow a digital version to be reproduced on their li-

• Roadside repair

cence. Any driver who has not yet responded to this request is urged to do so without

• Roadside assistance

further delay. Until a new photograph is provided we will be unable to issue the replace-

• Running repair recovery

ment licence and identifiers. Photographs can be emailed to TPHphotos@tfl.gov.uk or

posted to:

• Accident recovery

Taxi Driver Photographs

• Pay as you go to membership

4th Floor, Green Zone

• Credit card taken at roadside

Palestra

197 Blackfriars Road

London SE1 8NJ

After 31 March 2013, any driver not displaying new style identifiers will be liable to

0845 094 5307

compliance action therefore it is imperative that drivers provide a photograph as re-

We make wheels turn

quested. Through the issue of the new licences and area identifiers which contain addi-

tional security features, along with continuing to undertake regular compliance checks,

so you can earn.

Call Sign March 2013

Page 7

Call Sign has been supporting

Dial-a-Cab driver Keith Reading

Keith’s toastmastering

(W76) since December 2007

when he announced that he was

on the way to becoming a pro-

reaches a new high!

fessional toastmaster.

When his son got married earlier that year,

Keith with Jim Cun-

Keith said that he would get a toastmaster to

ningham (S88) after

officiate at the wedding but his son wanted

toastmastering at

dad to do it - and Keith said yes! He enjoyed

Jim's daughter's wed-

the experience so much that he went online

ding

to see whether there were any sites that could

any of the entrants had ven-

assist him in taking it further and he came

tured into the Dragon’s

across The Guild of Professional Toastmasters.

Den, they would have had

He went to their academy where he learned

no problem at all securing

the trade through their intense course and

funding!”

eventually qualified as a toastmaster.

The eventual winner

Nowadays, Keith is recognised as one of

was the company pro-

the top toastmasters in the business and

ducing the LED lighting

can often be seen officiating at many pres-

could be used for street illuminations and

system.

tigious events. One recent event was at the

many other applications.

Keith ended by telling Call Sign that he was-

Institute of Directors...

“I was in there with some very big players

n’t nervous, but did feel excited and hon-

“Yes, a prestigious location indeed,” Keith

in the business world,” Keith told this mag.

oured to have been invited to preside at such

agreed with Call Sign as he recalled his Janu-

“There was coalition Business Secretary Vince

an important occasion.

ary engagement at the Pall Mall venue when

Cable, along with the Director General of the

“I did my homework in preparation before-

he was Toastmaster at the Financial Mail on

IOD, Simon Walker. They were joined by

hand, of course, but being a Fellow of the

Sunday Made in Britain awards.

James Caan from BBC TV’s Dragon’s Den.

Guild of Professional Toastmaster’s, you learn

Hosted by Lisa Buckingham OBE, Editor

“Vince Cable made a short speech about

these things!”

of the Financial Mail on Sunday, the event

business enterprise and what the government

Keith has performed his toastmastering

recognised companies in the SME (Small to

could do to help promote the entrepreneur

with several DaC drivers and his ad is in

Medium Enterprise) sector who had shown in-

succeed, while Mr Walker spoke about the

each issue of Call Sign. He still offers a dis-

novation and ideas for new business. These

vital role of SMEs in the national economy by

count to DaC drivers and staff who need the

ranged from a company recycling plastic bot-

providing many thousands of jobs for people.

services of one of the top toastmasters...

tles, to one turning reclaimed waste liquid

“James Caan presented the awards, praising

into bio-fuels through to a company manufac-

the exceptionally high standards of the com-

Alan Green

turing low energy LED lighting systems that

petitors while at the same time remarking that if

Call Sign Online

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 March 2013

Page 8

All you need to know about

the 2012 DaC AGM

Sunday 3 February 2013 saw the

made a relatively small dent and that the

of increasing mem-

balance sheet remained strong. He added

bership would be

2012 Dial-a-Cab AGM held again

that many commercial businesses would

to ease the restric-

at the HAC Barracks on City

envy our position so far as strength was

tion on owner dri-

Road. What follows are not the

concerned from cash resources and asset

vers only? Brian

official minutes, but an unoffi-

base. He reiterated how tough times were

responded by say-

cial record of the meeting as

but said that DaC was as well placed as

ing that in order to

captured by Call Sign Editor Alan

any of the businesses that Chantrey Vella-

do that you would

cott dealt with. Mike then asked for any

need a change of rules. They currently

Fisher. It is not a full record and

questions.

read that in order to join ODRTS, you

neither should it be taken as in-

need to own at least one taxi and no

cluding every word said or in-

First up was Roy

more than two. Whilst not dismissing the

deed the exact wording spoken.

Hayden (L38) who

idea out of hand, Brian did remind those

asked

Mike

Some paragraph grammar has

present that one of our selling points was

whether

the

been sacrificed in order to make

that being owner drivers meant better

£13million reserves

the report as compact as possi-

maintained taxis. He said that if there

was cash in the

were any future fleet cabs on DaC, we

ble. Approximate attendance

bank? Mike re-

would have to be selective, bearing in

taken by Call Sign was 68, not

sponded that it re-

mind no logos etc. That selectivity could

including the BoM.

ferred to general assets including the

apply to those people renting out taxis

building and that we had just under

who we know well.

£8million in actual cash at the bank.

The meeting opened at 11.00 with Chair-

The Chairman went on to say that an-

Martin Freeborn

man Brian Rice asking for the traditional

other way of raising money would be to

(C67) was next up.

one-minute silence to remember those

look at those 116 drivers on DaC who

He asked about dri-

that had passed away during the previous

only paid a nominal £1 per month and

vers who had left

12 months. Approval was then requested

which cost the Society £180, 000 in a full

over the past year,

and given for the presence of a sound en-

year. He said it was just a personal point

the income their

gineer and two young ladies from DaC.

of view but that he felt that given the cur-

departure had cost

The Chairman asked that those that had

rent conditions, those on the 30 year+

us and whether

already voted by post should not vote

rate should get a discounted rate but pay

there would be a subscription increase to

again...

enough to provide funds to DaC.

make up any loss? Brian gave the num-

Laurence came back and asked about

bers but added that the Board appreci-

2011 Minutes

those whose cabs were approaching the

ated how tough conditions were out

Minutes of the 2011 meeting were passed

new age limit and who couldn’t afford

there and would not be increasing subs.

with 99.1% of the total membership vot-

new ones and would have to rent. Would

He said that the Society had that £8mil-

ing in favour. There were no matters aris-

they have to leave? Brian said that if they

lion in the bank and added that we also

ing…

rented straight after selling, then he felt

had a building that “every developer out

something could be done to allow them

Annual Report including the

there seems to want to purchase!” The

to remain on DaC.

Chairman said that in his personal view,

Chairman’s Report

Pat Keefe

(G01)

he would rather subsidise the subscrip-

then stepped up to

There were no questions regarding the

tions to their current levels out of our

the

mic and

Chairman’s Report within the Annual Re-

money at the bank. He reminded those

claimed that when

port and the Report itself. They were

present that we were a non-profit making

the

£1 a month

passed with 98.7% of the membership

organisation and why else would we

subs were given to

voting in favour.

build up such large deposits if they

long-serving mem-

weren’t for extenuating circumstances

Auditor’s report and reap-

bers, Brian had

such as the way things were at present.

said that it was for

pointing Chantrey Vellacott

He also mentioned the cost of the new

life. Brian responded by saying that he’d

Mike Tovey spoke

terminals that were currently out on test

have to check the minutes - adding that

briefly concerning

and how their depreciation worked. He

he too was a £1 a month member - but

the Financial Re-

said that on paper they would mean

that his only desire was to protect the

port within the An-

showing reduced figures over the next

nual Report. He

five years, but that we could well-afford

long-term interests of DaC. He said that

even if those members paid half subs,

said that it had

the purchase. He also said that if too

been a very tough

many drivers left it could produce cov-

that would produce an extra £90,000 per

financial year and

erage problems and that they were

annum. Then if things improved, we

that our turnover was down leaving us

watching that aspect closely as there had

could reduce it again. However, the

with a deficit of £150,000 compared to

been a few recent instances of coverage

Chairman did add that it was only being

last year’s surplus of £850,000, but added

suffering.

looked at and nothing had been decided.

that the Society’s reserves were strong at

Next to ask a question was Laurence

It was Martin Hizer (M47) next and he

around £13million. He said the deficit

Kelvin (W88) who suggested that one way

asked what was being done to increase

Call Sign March 2013

Page 9

All you need to know about the 2012 DaC AGM continued from previous page

usage of DaC by

the BoM had any contingency plan if

vers in the hall

our clients, men-

things did not improve. He also asked

who had not al-

tioning specifically

what we did to try to stop drivers leaving.

ready voted via

no run-ins, capping

Brian explained the procedure and said

postal balloting

gratuities and more

there were drivers out there still doing re-

then did so. No

fixed prices. He

ally well and that was one reason why the

one in the hall

said that drivers on

BoM had spoken of, but rejected, the idea

could

have

the new Apps were

of paying subs on a per job basis. Some

guessed of the

doing no run-in work and that we should

drivers would pay even more than they

drama that was about to unfold and

follow. Brian responded that many of our

currently paid in subs.

that those few drivers would probably

gratuities were capped on bigger ac-

The subject of blanket advertising came

decide the result.

counts but that he was “100% against no

up, but Brian said that again non-cover-

As was the norm at DaC AGMs, Any

run-ins or gratuities” because it would

age has proved that policy did not work

Other Business commenced while the rel-

lead to a loss of service. He said he didn’t

in the past. He added though that all op-

atively small number of hall votes were

want to lose any accounts but that if we

tions were open.

counted and added to the huge majority

did, it was better to lose it on price rather

of drivers that had already done so. Sud-

To approve the Annual

than because our service wasn’t up to

denly a member of the Electoral Reform

scratch. He re-emphasised an earlier

Services, who are responsible for the

Report

point that far from what Martin was say-

count, came out and began whispering to

This went through on a 98.7% majority.

ing, we were having a problem with cov-

Company Secretary Howard Pears.

erage at certain times of the day citing in

To re-appoint Chantrey

particular a trip on a Friday morning from

SW11 to EC4. The job had a £5 run-in and

Vellacott as Society auditors

£10 premium, but we still couldn’t cover

This went through on a 97.2% majority.

it! Martin then mentioned Hailo and how

they covered no run-in work, but Brian

Board of Management

came back to say that when they couldn’t

elections

cover their work - which was either cash

The next item on the agenda was the elec-

or credit card only - they told prospective

tion of a new Board of Management to

customers to go to the nearest rank to

cover the next two years. Putting them-

catch a cab!

ERS explains single vote result to

selves forward were the outgoing BoM

“Imagine what our account customers

Howard Pears

and one subscriber, Garry White (L65).

would say if we told them to do that as

The Chairman had already been re-

we had no cabs,” said Brian! “It’s a totally

turned unopposed and subscribers were

different ball game,” he continued ex-

invited to question the six members that

plaining that our customers were looking

were standing for the five remaining po-

for good service. Martin interjected say-

sitions. Questions came from Peter Bond

ing that account work was down, but

(L67), who asked all the candidates about

Brian quickly came back to say that with

their views on the T attribute, while Pat

no run-ins or gratuities we would strug-

Keefe (G01) questioned them on their

gle to cover work and our service would

views on Hailo and Apps. Laurence

suffer. He pointed out that Hailo were

Kelvin

(W88) asked if the outgoing

covering work at less than minicab prices

Board could tell of any decisions they had

Brian tells drivers there is just one vote

as Addison Lee were charging an £11

personally been involved with that had

in it

minimum while Hailo drivers were doing

later been adopted. David Kupler (Y74)

the jobs for £6, £7 or £8 with no run-ins.

Then having been given a sheet of

asked about dispatching procedures

The Chairman added that yes, Hailo and

paper with the results, DaC Chairman

while Tony Sam-Yorke

(W95) asked

co were taking work from Addison Lee,

Brian Rice spoke and told the drivers that

about Apps. Colin Jenkins (Y22) asked

but they were also taking street work

in all the years he had been on the Board,

what Board members did and Jim Cun-

from cruising taxis. Passengers with Hailo

he had never known such a close vote

ningham (S88) queried why some of the

now just wait at home for the same price

and that there was just one vote between

Board apparently

as it is now cheaper than a minicab. And

the bottom two candidates. After telling

did DaC work for

their drivers, in addition to taking work

members that there had been two re-

nothing and per-

that we would have already had anyway,

counts following the initial count, Brian

haps they should

were also paying 10% for the privilege.

read out the votes.

be paid and do

Brian also spoke about ways in which we

They were: Allan Evans (Y83) 963

more. Tony Sam-

advertise our work and also about the

votes, Keith Cain (Q07) 798, Mike Son

Yorke (W95) was

new account App we were soon to begin

(V52) 737 and Tom Whitbread (Q09)

last up when pay-

using in addition to the DaC credit card

700. After reading out each name, the

ing his second visit

App that was al-

Chairman added the word “elected.”

asking whether the

ready

working

Everyone in the hall was now wait-

new

terminals

well..

ing for the next name! Then it came:

would make any

Graham Waite

Garry White (L65), 685 votes - elected,

difference to the

(B35)

Allen Togwell (Q08), 684 votes - not

was the last driver

way the Board

elected.

in this section and

worked...

There was an audible gasp from those

he asked whether

Those few dri-

present as drivers realised that Allen

Call Sign March 2013

Page 10

All you need to know about the 2012 DaC AGM continued from previous page

Togwell, who had first been elected onto

from Ray - Brian said the new terminal

ward and David asked if a vote to get dri-

the BoM in 1986, had not been re-

was probably worth more than Ray’s cab

ver’s views in the hall could be taken. The

elected. As is the custom, Brian then in-

and that his request was “unlikely!”

majority voted against the suggestion.

vited Garry White

Pat Keefe (G01) continued in the same

The announcement about the elec-

to take his place on

vein as Ray regarding credit card trips. He

tion then followed and Brian spoke of

the platform with

queried why back-up zones didn’t have

his gratitude to Allen Togwell who he

the rest of the

trips unmasked and Brian said that dri-

said had always supported him.

elected members.

vers would then book into back-up zones

Dennis Heavin with the prestigious

That meant that

to find out where jobs were going to. Pat

call sign of A01 then spoke. He began by

Allen Togwell had

said that it was unfair to expect drivers in

congratulation Garry White on his elec-

to give up his seat -

the suburbs to run miles to cover a job

tion but commiser-

which he gra-

where they didn’t know the destination.

ated with Allen

ciously did with due speed and walked

The Chairman said that no one would

Togwell, whom he

towards the door. There was some ap-

ever be forced to cover a trip where they

said he hadn’t al-

plause, which gradually grew in volume

were running further than the distance

ways seen eye to

until every single person was on their

the trip was going to. He reiterated that

eye with but whom

feet giving someone who had given so

unmasking trips affected coverage and

he said had done a

many years to the Society, a deserved

while he accepted everything Pat was say-

great job over the

standing ovation that lasted a full two

ing, the system would not be changed un-

years. Dennis then directed his comments

minutes. A surprised looking Allen Tog-

less there was a proposition put forward

to Keith Cain and asked that dispatchers

well smiled and acknowledged the trib-

at an AGM, but he believed that any such

should take a leaf out of former dis-

ute before walking through the door.

proposition would be detrimental to our

patcher Gary Gates book who, when it

business.

was busy, sent a constant stream of mes-

Any Other Business

As the meeting

sages out about where and when jobs

Stuart Cameron

entered its third

were and pleading for them to be covered

(R31) was first up.

hour, David Ku-

rather than just a general ‘please cover

He asked Brian

pler

(Y74) also

work’ message. Dennis admitted that

about the Chair-

spoke about credit

some drivers didn’t like Gary’s constant

man’s earlier com-

trips that were

messages, but he considered that they

ments regarding

called As Directed

worked. Keith said that he had not said

allowing those dri-

and suggested that

anything about fewer messages going out

vers who have been

all trips called in the primary zone should

and said that he would speak to con-

with the Society for

be unmasked, but that if you rejected it

trollers about putting out more specific

over thirty years to pay just a nominal £1

then you would have to go to the back of

messages where needed. As an example,

per month. He was approaching the 30

the zone - in other words no rejects. The

Dennis pointed out how often drivers

year mark and said that these drivers were

Chairman slightly backed down from his

would have been in a south London zone

those who stuck with the Society when

previous stance saying that it could be

making their way back north when a trip

things were very bad and who never com-

done but then gave an example of a quiet

would come out where they had been

plained when we went to data with its ini-

mid-afternoon trip coming out where the

earlier, but which didn’t then get covered.

tial problems. He said that staff got a form

driver had waited some time and it was

He said that a message that a trip was

of recognition after being with DaC for

only going locally. He said that drivers

shooting out in Wandsworth or wherever

various numbers of years and that our 30

would scream blue murder whilst David

in 10 minutes could solve the problem.

year subs reduction was the driver’s

insisted that the coverage would be really

Keith confirmed that he would speak to

recognition and he hoped the BoM

good and compared it to responding to a

controllers.

would keep it as it was. To laughter all

street hail which was always As Directed

John Davis (V41)

picked up on Den-

round, Stuart joked that he would accept

and that unless the prospective passenger

a Rolex watch instead!

was drunk, he would take them wherever

nis Heavin’s point

Ray Sorene (A53)

when saying that

they wanted to go.

spoke about the

Call Centre Man-

night dispatcher

new credit card

ager, Keith Cain,

Dave Ivers told

App and suggested

then interjected

him several years

that destinations

and said that while

ago that drivers

should be given.

he didn’t disagree

had complained about him putting out

Brian came back

with David and ad-

too many messages. Brian confirmed

and said that expe-

mitted that some of

what Keith had said that they encouraged

rience showed that

the

“old school”

dispatchers / controllers to do everything

As Directed trips were covered quicker

often had good

they could to cover work and added that

than those where the destination was re-

ideas, suggestions involving such a major

both he and Keith received a daily report

vealed - not every single time, but in the

change that could affect coverage had to

on every single ride that hadn’t been cov-

majority of cases. The Chairman added

be looked at very carefully. He said his

ered and they would then check to make

that dispatchers were told to do every-

main concern was that some drivers knew

sure that everything possible had been

thing they could to cover trips, bar un-

the pick-up points and rejected on that

done to try to cover that trip.

masking the destinations. Ray also asked

basis. He spoke of an unidentified driver

Dennis Heavin (A01) then came back

about the likelihood of him being one of

who came out at 4am and by 9am had

and spoke about the possibility of a dri-

the first drivers to get a new terminal

been offered thirty trips and rejected all

ver’s App with drivers paying a commis-

bearing in mind that his cab had just one

thirty! Keith said that he would never dis-

sion per accepted job with Dennis

more year left. To laughter - including

miss any suggestion that David put for-

suggesting 5%. Brian said that he had

Call Sign March 2013

Page 11

All you need to know about the 2012 DaC AGM continued from previous page

written about the

and said that perhaps those already on it

Rob

Roney

possibility in his

should stay on it, whereas after a given

(C14) then also

last Call Sign re-

time new entrants approaching 30 years

spoke on the

port, but added

could get half subs. Brian said that the

year subs debate

that there could be

Board were only looking at ways of sav-

and a time when

the problems of

ing money and had come to no conclu-

his engine blew up

outside

drivers

sions yet, but added that if those drivers

so that he had to

turning up with

currently paying £1 a month paid half

become a journey-

their taxis covered in ads! Neither did he

subs instead, that would gain the Society

man for a period of several months. He

want drivers on other circuits with their

£90,000 and that was the equivalent of

was concerned about his own qualifica-

logo on display going round to one of

gaining a £1million account.

tions for the 30 year discount as he had

our clients because we couldn’t cover it.

Brian then gave a brief update on the

never left the Society. Brian explained the

He said that DaC could do it but it would

new terminals and explained that Call

rule and said they would look into Rob’s

have to come from drivers proposing a

Sign’s Alan Green (E52) was testing the

case. It all depended on whether the dri-

rule change because some of those using

first one with a few other drivers about to

ver’s share had been returned and if it has

the App would obviously have to be as-

join him. Then between 50 and 100 dri-

been, then that counts as broken service.

sociate me members rather than full

vers will be fitted and it would have to be

But if they became a journeyman during

members of DaC. You would then be di-

seen whether it ran ok as they would be

the period between owning their own

luting the work, but if it appeared that

on O2 whereas the rest of the fleet would

cabs and kept their share, then their ser-

drivers wanted it then a postal vote could

still be on our own PMR (Professional Mo-

vice would be considered as being un-

be put into motion. Putting a driver App

bile Radio) network. It was in DaC’s in-

broken.

into motion very quickly would be no

terest to transport everyone onto the O2

John Davis (V41) was the last to speak

problem should drivers want it. Dennis

network as soon as possible as it would

and brought up the situation with the

thought it would be a good idea provided

save up to £250,000 a year. But the BoM

HoC account. We had lost the account to

the system operated on GPS. Brian con-

wanted to get as many teething problems

a minicab firm, but their service was so

firmed that DaC now had the ability on

out of the way as possible before going

poor that we had

our new O2 system to go to GPS and that

over en masse. He also explained how it

been asked to re-

the Board were in favour of going that

would work for drivers, explaining that if

cover it in its en-

way. It would involve a big change but

you were offered a trip and you were per-

tirety

again.

that going GPS would probably be the

haps in an area you were unsure of, you

However, currently

next step.

would just push a ‘take me in’ button and

there is no con-

Dennis also asked that the DaC Marshals

the terminal would guide you into the

tract. John ended

should be recognised somehow for the

pick-up. The terminal would, should you

by thanking Tom

sterling work they do, sometimes in the

need it, guide you to your destination but

Whitbread for providing theatre tickets

face of adversity, while always representing

Brian didn’t think that DaC drivers would

throughout the year - the yes’s that filled

DaC with complete professionalism.

be using that too often! But the system ac-

the room showed that others agreed with

Stuart Cameron (R31) then returned to

tually draws you a line showing you the

John...

the mic and also spoke about a drivers DaC

route, which is very useful when out in

The meeting ended at 2pm...

App and asked about who would be allowed

the “sticks.”

to join if it wasn’t just for DaC drivers. He was

David Kupler (Y74) then asked if the

Alan Fisher

concerned about non-members letting the

new terminal had been tested on a Metro-

Call Sign Online

real DaC drivers down. Brian confirmed that

cab yet and volunteered his cab.

nothing was definite and only the drivers

could decide and also added that non-DaC

drivers would only be able to do cash work

Dial-a-Cab Credit Union

with just DaC drivers being able to cover ac-

count work. Stuart asked whether it might

Ever needed money quickly but were anxious about

be an idea to give it a totally different name

variable bank interest rates?

from Dial-a-Cab with the Society just pock-

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

eting any profits. Brian said it was worth

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

looking at the suggestion.

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

Peter Bond (L67)

at your address also qualifies for membership!

was next and began

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

by saying that he

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

didn’t always agree

up to 3 times your total savings…

with Allen Togwell

but was sad to see

The cost?

him go. He asked

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

whether the Society

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

could still utilise his graphic talents for

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

the End-of-the-Year report and other

Call us on 020 7729 8171 or 020 7749 0585

things he did. Brian agreed that it would

be a shame to lose his talent and the BoM

Members of the Financial Ombudsman Service

could ask him to do some projects with a

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

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

negotiated fee.

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

Peter also spoke about the 30 year rule

Registration number 213263

Call Sign March 2013

Page 12

LOOKING AT (TAXI) LIFE

Ireland won...

With Tom Quigley (Y33)

Traffic light... stop... tweet...

and lost!

Doonican and Dave Allen.

stop... text... stop...

Born in the fifties,

Nowadays it seems that the Irish are every-

When we first learned to drive, one of the most

raised at home in the

where on TV with Graham Norton, Sir Terry

important things we were taught was not to

sixties and early sev-

Wogan and Eamonn Holmes - and even if not

jump a red light or to be too quick away from a

enties, I was always

actually born in Ireland, the next generation of

red light; this was in case there was a cyclist,

aware of how my par-

primetime Saturday Evening TV presenters keep

pedestrian or other vehicle doing the same at the

ents

Irish accent

throwing up the names of Dermott O’Leary,

set of lights running across the other way.

could bring out differ-

Paddy McGuinness, Paul O’Grady, great Lon-

This now seems to have changed given that

ent reactions, depending on the education of

don actress and regular taxi user, Barbara

the most common form of car accident is a rear

the respondent we faced - the obvious com-

Windsor, Anthony McPartlin and Declan

end shunt, resulting in whiplash being the top

ments being thick, a navvy, Gypo or even ter-

Donnelly - better known as Ant and Dec! Then

claim from such accidents.

rorist amongst many other stereotypes.

there were the American Presidents, Kennedy,

It also appears that the most dangerous thing

However, through the passage of time we

Clinton and Barack Obama all of whom have

to look out for is the driver in front who does

have seen a major sea change. In 2009, the Irish

their roots in Ireland. Yet for some reason, there

not want to go through the lights, as a red light

accent won the sexiest in cinema film, knocking

is no resident Irish family in EastEnders, de-

deems them an opportunity to stop and do some

the French off their long-time pedestal, due

spite a cast having contained a McFadden, a Mc-

form of social media messaging ie Twitter, Face-

mainly to the quality of acting from Daniel Day-

Cutcheon, a Ritchie and many other Irish

book, text or to make a call! How often do you

Lewis, Colin Farrell and Liam Neeson

surnames. And having lived in London all my

stop behind someone who does that or starts

amongst many others.

Life, the Queen Vic must be the only pub with-

typing into their SatNav?

A recent poll by RoxyPalace.com asked 1000

out an Irish presence in it, not even an Irish

The average text message for most people (not

people for their most popular accent. The Irish

landlord.

the Editor) takes 9 seconds with an average per-

accent came out on top with a quarter of the

But these success stories seem to have come

son (again not the Editor) sending 80 texts a day.

votes! Unfortunately for me, the Essex accent -

at a price to Ireland. There was a massive outcry

Ed’s note: What are you suggesting!

which I seem to lean towards - came out lowest

recently when it was revealed that the second

You can see why they need to stop at the lights

with just one percent!

language spoken in England was Polish - but at

and I have finally seen the benefit of the American

Women were particularly keen with many say-

least English was still the most popular! A simi-

style Countdown clocks at traffic lights set on nor-

ing they enjoyed listening to the words of singer

lar poll in Ireland revealed that the most com-

mal one minute countdowns, as it gives them the

Danny O' Donoghue and Niall Horan of One

mon language spoken in Ireland was English,

opportunity to send 61/2 messages...!

Direction, Ronan Keating and Westlife. Many

Second was Polish and the Irish Language of

will remember in days of old, the only Irish

Gaelic coming third!

Tom Quigley

voices on TV were Eamonn Andrews, Val

Only in Ireland can you come first and third...!

Call Sign Online

Call Sign March 2013

Page 13

As he prepares to leave Dial-a-Cab after almost 34 years and 47 years as a driver, this must be...

Allen Togwell’s Goodbye

o all you members who voted

priceless. Not just in the work it would gen-

for me this year and over the

erate, but it would also do wonders for the

past 25

years, I would like to

Dial-a-Cab image. But that of course is my

say a big thank you. It was an

opinion and incidentally an opinion of some-

honour and a privilege to serve you all. I

one who has been in sales for over 50 years

say that because you not only appreciated

and a Fellow of the Institute of Direct Mar-

the work that I did, but you didn’t aban-

keting for the past 20 years. Perhaps Mr Lev-

don me simply because of my views on dri-

ene would agree with a former senior well

vers appearance and image, which I

respected Board member who 27 years ago of-

honestly believed and still believe is an

fered me some advice when I first joined the

issue that seriously needs addressing if the

BoM. He told me:

cab trade is to compete with private hire.

“Allen, if you want to remain on the Board,

When I first came into the trade, there were

don’t upset the members, tell them anything

very few mushers. The majority of drivers

so long as it makes them happy. Treat them

drove for garages and worked on the clock.

like spoilt petulant children.”

We didn’t directly pay for anything. We just

my attitude towards driver’s appearance.

I refused and subsequently became unpop-

collected a cab that was filled with fuel, made

I don’t have a bee in my bonnet, it’s the

ular and have remained unpopular ever since.

a note of the units on the clock and at the end

frustration of hearing cab drivers forever

I’m surprised I lasted so long! But to be per-

of the shift calculated the units and paid the

whinge at the work they are losing to the

fectly honest, it has been a great experience

garage what was owed, which with tips was

PH but do absolutely nothing to prevent. I

and especially the period when Dial-a-Cab was

more or less 50/50 of your earnings. The state

don’t know Mr Levene, but I find it hard to

on the very edge of going bankrupt and I

of the cabs at the garage I worked for, which

believe that he doesn’t know anything

played a major role in getting the Society back

was typical of most garages particularly in the

about selling. So on the assumption that

on track, then years later seeing the Society

winter, were so bad that when I collected the

he doesn’t, then I need to enlighten him a

end up in a plush new building with £millions

cab each day, I was forced to wear overalls, a

little, that when selling a product - partic-

in the bank.

pair of marigolds and galoshes! Then for the

ularly a non-tangible product like the ser-

I sincerely hope every one of you appreciates

first half hour I would clean the outside, then

vice industry

- in a very competitive

being a shareholder of a Society that has sur-

the inside and when finished I would douse

market and especially a service with costs

vived such tough times and will do your part in

the whole cab with air freshener to kill the

practically set in stone as is our meter, run-

putting Dial-a-Cab back up to a level where it

smell of gunk and diesel. When finished, I’d

ins, waiting time and gratuity, then qual-

was when I first joined when there was an 18

remove the overalls which I wore to prevent

ity of any description is all we have to

month waiting list for new members.

my suit, shirt and tie that I always wore, from

offer.

You can start by ignoring the reject button

getting dirty.

There have been times when out looking

and covering the work. And possibly - just pos-

The reason I mention the above was be-

for a cab, I would hail one of our cabs to take

sibly - having a second look in the mirror be-

cause the state of that cab was common, in-

me back to the office and on the odd occasion

fore leaving for work and asking yourself if

cluding heaters that didn’t work and gaps in

I’d find myself praising the driver for the spot-

that is really the best you can look to repre-

the well of the driver’s section that would let

lessly clean cab and his smartness, I would sit

sent the last remaining taxi drivers co-opera-

in the rain - hence the galoshes! And because

back and dream of what I could do, market-

tive in London?

of this, the vast majority of cab drivers dressed

ing wise, if we had a whole fleet of drivers and

Finally, may I take this opportunity of

to accommodate these conditions and it was

cabs in that condition. I guarantee I could get

wishing all of you and your families a

perfectly acceptable. That was why the epit-

an advertorial in the centre spread of the

prosperous future and above all good

ome of a cab drivers dress was cloth cap and

Evening Standard for free. And if Mr Levene

health.

muffler, having earlier applied to the horse

doesn’t know what an advertorial is, it’s an ad-

drawn hackney carriage.

vertisement that is written and presented in

Be Lucky

Forty odd years on, practically every cab dri-

the style of a journalistic report.

Allen Togwell (ex-W45 and

ver is a musher and the cabs they drive have

The feedback from that advertorial - even if

advanced in style and comfort equal to that of

we did have to pay for it ourselves - would be

ex-Q08)

top of the range cars. And yet the majority of

drivers have done very little, if anything, to im-

prove their own image. I’m not saying all, but

unfortunately enough to create a generalisa-

THE ALPHA POWER PILL

tion. I think most licensed cab drivers - me in-

cluded - have an inbred dislike to the point of

Now even better!

hatred of private hire companies and their dri-

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vers. Mine goes even deeper, because I was

constantly hearing the managers, directors

OnlyCabs.co.uk are pleased to supply

and senior staff of companies I visited in the

Dial-a-Cab drivers with the amazing Alpha Pill

hope of getting their account, praise these

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not being rude, that was mainly due to the fact

on the ad code

that most could hardly speak a damn word of

English!

Or telephone your order to:

In last month’s Call Sign, Mr Levene

Stephen Vale at Only Cabs 020 3239 6101

(W32) accused me of not just having a bee

in my bonnet, but a complete beehive over

Call Sign March 2013

Page 14

Views on life as seen through the

eyes of David Kupler (Y74) at...

MY CHEAP

Kupkake’s

OVERHAUL...

Korner

“I’m well

pleased,” Tom

Burns (R98) told

Call Sign when

we met as he

handed in his

most recent

taxi Proprietor

Who plans for the planners?

licence to Jackie

Westminster or Camden

in Driver Ser-

I’m not sure which,

vices - a yearly

have strange ideas

subscriber re-

about Aldwych!

sponsibility

They plan for BAFTAS

a year in advance,

that allows

held in the Theatre

Dial-a-Cab to

of the ballet dance...

keep its records

So close to Soho

updated.

and China Town

“True, I cover just

Tom Burns: Pleased with his overhaul cost!

roadworks and diversions

about 10,000 miles

all abound.

a year nowadays as I’ve eased up a bit work-wise and live near the Barbican, which

Where tourists come

obviously saves mileage travelling in from the suburbs. But I’m still very satisfied

from all around

to see and hear

with the result of a £530 overhaul including VAT for a six year old cab!” Tom grinned,

the Chinese sound

proudly waving his service receipt from Hexagon Taxis in Lukin Street E1.

of Dragon dancers

“The most expensive item was the bodywork repair to the nearside door, where

and the clowns

I caught it squeezing into my garage. Just a moment’s lack of concentration and...

in the rain

bash,” he motioned with a closed fist into the palm of his free hand!

that’s pouring down!

“I’ve been driving many years, 36 of them on DaC, and I have a theory that if you

Traffic builds

look after the cab, the cab will look after you - certainly in terms of reliability. So

while Police frown

I have my cab serviced regularly on a time basis, not mileage, because of my re-

drivers pour in

duced workload and it seems to work for me as I’ve needed the minimum work

from out of town

done to the cab for this overhaul.”

looking for parking

that can’t be found!

With all those years of DaC history under his belt, Tom recalled our old Shirland

Road days and some of the larger-than-life characters who made the place buzz.

Total gridlock

“I remember John Saunders, Dennis Samuels, Ivor Belkin and his colleague Lou

but that’s not all

Gitlin who dispatched jobs via our voice channels. And there was somebody

buses form

a mile long wall.

whose name escapes me at present, but if he couldn’t cover a trip, he would en-

Along the Strand

tice drivers with the promise of ‘a Blue Peter’ badge!” A smile came over Tom’s

down to the Mall,

face at the memory!

each almost empty -

“Having finally coaxed a driver to

not one full!

Call Sign

cover the trip, he would say ‘go to the

March 2013

I’ve got the answer

back channel, get your journey details

Editor: Alan Fisher

It’s an easy call,

and collect your Blue Peter badge! Yes,

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

hold the BAFTAS

those were the days!”

Tel: 0207 251 0581 Fax: 0207 553 7293

in the Albert Hall!

Email: callsignmag@aol.com

Does anybody out there remember

Tons of parking

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

this dispatcher’s name? Send answers to

in the Park

Printers: Premier Print Group

Call Sign at the usual address please.

25 - 31 Violet Rd, London E3

Limos silent in the dark..

Design: Aldan Publications

No prize, just some peace of mind for a

For London to move

Tel: 07958 300 428

happy driver!

without a hitch,

Email: dfdannyfresco@gmail.com

Views and opinion expressed in Call Sign must

Take the BAFTAS from

not be assumed to represent those of the Editor or

Aldwych...

Michael Toomey

Board.No part of Call Sign may be reproduced

either manually or electronically without the express

Kopyright Kupkake 2013

Call Sign Online

permission of the Editor.

Call Sign March 2013

Page 15

An open letter to the trade from The LTC

From Peter Johansen, Executive Vice-President The London Taxi Corporation Ltd

I wanted to write this letter as an introduc-

PRODUCT QUALITY:

tion, not only for myself, but also for our

• All stock vehicles have been fitted with

new company. Geely have appointed me as

new steering boxes; we have also taken

the Executive Vice President of UK opera-

the opportunity to address some other

tions, so my focus is solely on The London

product issues to ensure that vehicles sold

Taxi Company. I am relatively new to the

going forward are the best possible quality

industry but I hope to bring a new approach

APPROVED SERVICE DEALERS:

to how we operate and interact with our

• Approved Service Dealers are crucial to

customers and stakeholders.

our success and we are working with the

Firstly, I would like to say that I am sorry

network to reinstate as many as possible -

that the sudden collapse of Manganese

call 02476 572008 to find your nearest

Bronze Holdings may have caused you in-

one

convenience and financial loss. The last

Actions speak louder than words and we

few months have been a huge trial for all

are going to focus on demonstrating our

parties concerned and I want to take this

passion and commitment to the trade

opportunity to say a big thank you for the

through improvements in customer satis-

support you have shown to us over the difficult recent past. I

faction and product quality.

would like to thank everyone who has supported us; from our

We believe that the future of this business depends on these

customers, to trade bodies, unions and organisations across the

fundamental principles.

UK. Thank you also to our partners, suppliers and staff who con-

tinued to work diligently with very limited resources through

Peter Johansen

these uncertain times.

Executive Vice-President

In return for your loyalty and forbearance, we want to repay

The London Taxi Corporation Ltd

our gratitude to you through improved service delivery and

products.

t/a The London Taxi Company

Last but not least, I’d like to thank Geely, not just for their

TALK TO PETER: Email peter@london-taxis.co.uk or leave

pledges as new owners to invest in and develop The London

him a message with the Customer Contact Centre team on

Taxi Company brand and products, but also for their unswerv-

02476 572008.

ing support over the last few years. They also share our vision

for The London Taxi Company to be recognised as the leading

global provider of purpose-built taxis, on a sustainable, prof-

itable business model.

TIGER

We have a lot of hard work and challenges ahead of us in

order to re-establish ourselves and to win back your much

needed trust and respect. I believe that our very first step is to

express the trust and respect that we have for our customers

off with this

and the industry as a whole. We can only truly do that by

advert

demonstrating our focus on customers and quality in every-

thing that we do from this point forward.

TAXI TYRE SPECIALIST

With that in mind, I’d like to give you an update on the

progress we’ve made so far, so please read on.

STOCKISTS OF MICHELIN, AUSTONE AND

RETAIL:

REMOULDS FOR ALL FX AND TX TAXIS.

• London, Manchester and Coventry dealerships are now fully

open for retail and trade vehicle sales, servicing, warranty and

HI FLY / BARUMS AND CONTINENTALS

parts sales

FOR THE VITO TAXI

• The Black Horse Taxi Finance team are back still providing

the best finance for drivers

FRONT PADS FITTED FOR TX1 & TX2

PRICES:

£40 AND TX4

£45 INCLUSIVE VAT

• We are pleased to confirm that we have absorbed costs in-

creases on improving the quality of parts and components, and

NEW VALVES AND BALANCING ON ALL TYRES

have therefore been able to hold the ‘on the road’ price for all

models

WE ALSO DO LASER TRACKING AND PUNCTURES

WARRANTY:

FREE TYRE INSPECTION

• All existing manufacturer warranties and guarantees for pre-

viously purchased vehicles are now fully reinstated

OPENING TIMES: 08.30am - 17.30pm

• New vehicles purchased from now on will also have 3-year,

100,000 mile warranty cover and our 3-year, unlimited mileage

call now 020 7729 5237

Core Engine warranty

• Used vehicles will be quality checked through our Approved

Unit 14 Peterley Business Centre

Used Programme and will be covered by a 12-month, 50,000

472 Hackney Road, London E2 9EQ

mile Guarantee

Call Sign March 2013

Page 16

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

wanted to know about London...

BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK!

Do you ever cruise west

The now departed Dover

along Piccadilly, paying care-

Street station

ful attention just after the

so as not to expose the rav-

Ritz in case there might be

ages of time, the defects of

an airport ride on account of

their personal appearance

the tube playing up - but you

and the shabbiness of their

only get off to Paddington?

dilapidated attire. Far from

Yeah, I've got that T-shirt too!

being slender beauties and

Green Park Station

willing

whores, these

opened as Dover Street Sta-

women were so brutalised

tion in 1906 and changed its

by alcohol and disease that

name when the station was

parks were the only venues

rebuilt in

1933 - the new

left for them to operate in.

sub-surface ticket hall was

Going back to the subject

built a little further west

of the tube; I do think it’s a

from the original station en-

bit rich that Transport for

trance, where Caffè Nero is now, beneath Piccadilly.

London are celebrating '150 years of the tube'. The 'under-

The station was the scene of tragedy in 1975, as some of you

ground' wasn’t called 'the tube' until the 1890s when the deep

will recall, when the IRA detonated a bomb in a bus stop dustbin,

level City & South London line (now the Northern Line) was

which killed 23-year old Graham Tuck. Al Guenther and his fam-

constructed. Up until then the lines were built using a very shal-

ily from Cleveland, Ohio, were enjoying a drink in the bar in the

low 'cut and cover' method - the steam trains were only just

Ritz when the bomb exploded and the blast shattered glass all

below the road surface. They also had 'blow holes' that allowed

around them. Guenther brushed himself down and told reporters:

trains to vent off now and again - and ladies needed to avoid

“The last time I stayed at the Ritz, V2’s were coming over.

these when crossing roads - skirts would often fly up giving the

It doesn’t seem to have changed!”

guys a treat!

The recently refurbished Olympic station cost £60m - maybe

Keep your eyes on the road fellas!

you were lucky enough to have tickets for the Triathlon event

Bob Woodford

which took place just up in Hyde Park - or maybe you were

Call Sign Online

VERY lucky enough to have tickets for the Beach Volleyball just

over at nearby Horse Guards!

The Ritz was founded by a Swiss national by the name of

Cesar Ritz. He was upset at being fired as General Manager of

the Savoy Hotel and a few years later opened the Ritz to rival

the Savoy. The Architect was Charles Mewes - who also de-

signed the Ritz Hotel in Paris - which is of course where the late

Diana, Princess of Wales dined shortly before her death 30th

10% Discount for all Dial-a-Cab Drivers!

August 1997. Is it really that long ago?

So, why is Green Park called Green? One story is that Charles

Why not take advantage of the

II would quite often come into the park to pick some flowers to

Hertfordshire Golf & Country Club

take to one of his many mistresses. But his Queen, Catherine

special offer for all Dial-a-Cab drivers

of Braganza, got to hear about it, went berserk and ordered all

Come down and try out this amazing golf package

the flowers to be removed from the park!

Talking about Charles II, he and his brother James, Duke of

on our superb par 70 parkland course and you will be

York used to go strolling about in Green Park (known as Upper

treated to (for example):

St. James’s Park back then) and one day Jimmy said to Char-

lie: “You shouldn’t be swanning about in the open like this,

Coffee & bacon roll

someone might bump you off!”

~ ◆ ~

To which Chas replied: “I wouldn’t worry about that, no-

18 holes golf

body is going to assassinate me, otherwise they will end

~ ◆ ~

up with you as King!”

Pie, mash & peas

James II acceded to the throne upon his brother’s death in

1685 - our last Catholic monarch felt the ‘wind of change’ com-

And all that for only £30.00

£27.00 per person!

ing with Protestant William III and Mary II setting sail from

This amazing offer is valid any weekday from

the Netherlands - James was last seen scarpering down the Old

1st January 2013 to 31st March 2013

Kent Road!

By the way, Charles II used to go for a daily walk around

(Minimum 4 players)

Green Park, what he would call his ‘daily constitution’ - and

Alternatively 10% discount on

that is why we get Constitution Hill. I checked out a map of the

any chosen packages during 2013.

area dated 1730 the other day - Constitution Hill was simply

To book call now and speak to our sales coordinator

called ‘Road to Kensington’!

Green Park in Victorian times was a haunt for prostitutes -

Elaine Cochrane on 01992 466666 ext 249

but it wasn't 'fanny by gaslight' - they operated in the shadows

Call Sign March 2013

Page 17

Since the AGM when Chairman Brian Rice

Call Sign’s Alan Green (E52) was asked to road test the first of

announced I had been invited to road test

one of the very first of our new generation

DaC’s new terminals...

of in-cab terminals, Call Sign’s Editor, Alan

Fisher asked if I could write a report of my

CALL SIGN TESTS THE NEW MDT

impressions so far on our upcoming new

work tool. So, putting my camera down

and is extremely

and picking my pencil up, here goes!

clear to read.

Firstly, let me say that mine is a Beta (pre-pro-

Alongside that but-

duction) version and is constantly being moni-

ton is the SatNav ac-

tored for performance and tweaked as necessary

tivation with the

based on my own observations and suggestions

usual comprehen-

as a working taxi driver. It is also subject to a rig-

sive array of choices.

orous testing regime from those clever whizz-

Mine has a female

kids in the Dial-a-Cab IT department.

voice whom I have

My regime is usually to give feedback twice

dubbed Lady Pene-

a day on how the new terminal is behaving,

lope as her directions

with any suggestions I have being noted either

sound almost in-

for immediate action, or logged for possible

structional and I jok-

future changes as subsequent software ver-

ingly often reply with

sions are brought online.

a quiet “Yes M’Lady!”

That said, the Terminal has continued to

Me a Thunderbirds

work admirably over the several weeks I

addict? Oh please,

have used it. The screen graphics are excel-

don’t be ridiculous.

lent, the information regarding queue po-

Hmmm, I wonder if

sition, zone information and mapping are

there’s a Parker

good, while the SatNav facility is compre-

voice...

hensive - but more of that later.

There are numer-

To my amazement, the signal strength weak-

ous buttons on the

ened only in the very depths of the Limehouse

screens that are at

Link tunnel and like most other times when

present disabled, but

Alan Green gives a 'thumbs up' to the new terminal

phone signals dip, the system recovers almost

as further software

immediately - usually instantaneously. There is

versions come on stream, these will become ac-

And the sunshine reflection problem of

a screen icon that rotates like a windmill,

tive, widening the ability of the MDT to achieve

the old terminal? Well if the sun shines

telling you what the MDT is doing - locked

even more and allowing for future develop-

brightly, it’s never going to be perfect but

onto the cellular network, trying to locate the

ment and capacity of the system.

with its non-reflective glass, it is certainly

network or sending a message etc.

I have been made aware that there are ap-

much improved on the old one with the

There are various bell sounds alerting

parently - and seemingly as usual - the doom

option of a shaded clip-on screen soon to

you to trip offers or messages and the

and gloom brigade out there who have already

become available, which I think should get

screen flashes insistently to draw your at-

offered negative opinions on this technological

rid of any problem altogether.

tention; this is particularly useful if the

leap forward for our Society. As I was at one time

So in my humble opinion, the new Termi-

bell volume is set on low.

the only driver to actually be working the sys-

nal and the technology behind it will offer our

The touch screen is easy to read and re-

tem, I fail to see how anyone else is qualified to

Society great potential for the future.

quires only the lightest, yet positive touch to

offer an authoritative comment on the success

Finally, I would like to thank the powers

operate and asks you twice - ie 2 taps - to con-

or otherwise of this new technology!

that be for allowing me to pioneer this test-

firm your action.

I did ask if there would be a software pro-

ing/trial project and look forward to using the

The printer, in the same position as at pre-

gram incorporated that could brew a coffee

fully active system in the near future.

sent, is much faster and quieter than the cur-

while waiting for the passenger to come out

rent one.

and was sternly told that HR claimed it was a

Alan Green

The map is easily accessed with the single

Health & Safety issue and that anyway I should

Call Sign Online

press of a button, can be viewed immediately

not be drinking and driving!

Lovely Lilah!

Hello Mr Editor,

My name is Lilah Jane Hayes. My mum is Stacey who works in the Contact Centre

and my dad Lee, well, he just works to keep my seven year old big brother Bobby

and me in the comfort we expect! Oh yes, I was born on November 8 2012 at

Queens Hospital in Romford at the sensible hour of ten minutes after five in the late

afternoon and weighing in at a nice 6lbs 8oz.

My Grandparents Jane and Bob Bower together with Kim and Tom Hayes think I’m the

bee’s knees and, like the rest of the family, make a big fuss of me. Grandma Jane also works

at Dial-a-Cab, so I already feel a part of the wider DaC family and considering asking Brian

Rice for a position!

I asked mum if I could see her workplace and maybe suggest some improvements, a

woman’s touch etc, and that’s when my problem started. You see, people began leaving

their positions to give me a cuddle and a coochy coo and I kinda got carried away smiling

and stuff. I overheard something about disrupting the smooth running of the Contact Centre, so I

beat a quick retreat downstairs!

I mean, I can’t help it if I’m cute and cuddly can I? So please have a word with the Boss on the top floor because I might like to visit again in the future!

Yours with a dribble,

Lilah

Call Sign March 2013

Page 18

On Sunday 3rd February, my day started early.

As a cab driver who works nights, I got up

when I normally go to bed, walked the dog

and then started to think about the day ahead

I HAVEN’T STOPPED

with excitement and trepidation knowing that

my fate lay in the hands of the membership of

Dial-a-Cab. Would I get enough of the votes

needed?

SMILING YET!

On arriving at HAC City Road, I felt good

and composed with my thoughts about the

Garry White’s first column as a DaC Board Member

AGM that was now only 40 minutes away from

starting. I met Alan Fisher for the first time

Board for the Chairman to announce and he

and we had a brief conversation. I also spoke

said that this was unprecedented. He stated

to a few drivers whom I hadn’t met before and

that the remaining Board Member’s place had

then it was time for the AGM to start.

gone down to just one vote between the two

I thought it started off well with some in-

remaining candidates. He didn’t prolong the

teresting questions coming from the floor. I

wait, but said my name swiftly. The smile

was the first to speak about why I wanted to

quickly spread across my face and I got a few

join the Board, which I appreciated. Then I lis-

handshakes and pats on the back from fellow

tened with interest to the Board giving their

members.

reasons for staying in their position. On a few

I just can’t express enough how hon-

occasions I was asked to go back up and an-

oured I feel having received enough sup-

swer questions from members. By then we

port to become a Board Member.

were getting very close to voting time, there-

Allen Togwell acted most gracefully and left

fore the members in the room who hadn’t al-

the top table and I was asked to join the

ready casted a postal vote were then asked to

Board. I was still smiling as I walked up! I

make their decision on what they had heard

would like to personally thank Allen Togwell

from the Board and me as a prospective can-

for the years he has served as a Board Mem-

didate. The AGM then progressed onto Any

ber and wish him all the best for the future.

Other Business.

I would also like to thank the members who

Chairman Brian Rice was then given the

helped me in my campaign to join the Board,

vote to read out and did so in no particular

giving out flyers and bestowing my virtues by

order. There was just one place left on the

word of mouth. I’m looking forward to work-

Garry smiles as he takes his place with

the Board!

TAXI FARE INCREASE

ing with the Chairman, the other Board Mem-

bers and reporting to you, the members, with

my progress as I get to know the staff and the

Transport for London has agreed a below inflation taxi fare increase for the coming fi-

workings of Dial-a-Cab House.

nancial year. The 1.7% average increase is the lowest in the decade that TfL has been li-

So thank you once again for voting for me,

censing taxis and seeks a balance between maintaining income levels for drivers while

I still haven’t stopped smiling...

ensuring passengers still get a fair price for the high quality and unique service provided

by the capital’s taxi drivers.

Garry White (L65)

This year both fuel prices and operating costs have increased, raising the costs associ-

ated with driving a taxi. The Board approved the new fares following consultation by TfL

DaC Board Member

with the taxi trade and others including London TravelWatch, Age UK, London

Chamber of Commerce and Industry, London Boroughs, London Assembly and

London MPs.

John Mason, TfL’s Director of Taxi and Private Hire, said: “Taxi fares are reviewed

annually and in making a recommendation we take into account a range of fac-

SAVINGS!

tors that include taxi drivers’ running costs including vehicle costs, parts and

fuel. This year’s increase is the lowest for ten years and seeks to cover increases

★ KITCHENS

in the cost of running a black cab while continuing to provide passengers with

value for money.”

& APPLIANCES

The Board also approved changes to taxi fares for journeys starting at Heathrow and

★ BEDROOMS

the extension of a special provision linked to diesel prices. To help compensate the up-

★ WORKTOPS

front charge that drivers have to pay when entering the Heathrow feeder ranks, which

is increasing in April, an additional charge known as the ‘Heathrow Extra’ is added to

★ DOOR & DRAW REPLACMENTS

passenger’s Heathrow fares. This ‘Heathrow Extra’ will increase by 80 pence, taking it

★ PLANTATION SHUTTERS

from £2.40 to £3.20.

★ ALL TYPES OF BLINDS

Since July 2008 a special provision has been in place to allow taxi fares to be

increased if diesel costs reach a specified level. To date this provision has not

★ AWNINGS

been implemented. The Board approved an extension of this provision for the

coming year. Therefore a 40 pence increase to all taxi fares will be implemented

You are welcome to visit

if diesel reaches 179.7 pence per litre.

our showroom at:

A final change will see the automation of the £4.00 charge added to fares over the

Unit 8 Tripes Farm,

festive period (20:00 on 24 December to 06:00 on 27 December and 20:00 on 31 De-

Chelsfield Lane,

cember to 06:00 on 2 January) - previously this set charge was added manually by the

Orpington, Kent BR6 7RS

driver.

Taxi fares are reviewed annually and calculated by TfL based on a cost index

Instant Kitchen and

that has been used since 1981. The new fares will come into effect from Satur-

Bedroom & Blinds UK

day 6 April 2013.

Call Ian (R50) on 01689 897111…

Call Sign March 2013

Page 19

Question: What do Alan Lewis

(A44) and Bill Tyzack (C06) have

in common?

Answer: They are the only two drivers left

Bill Tyzack

on Dial-a-Cab from the days of ODRTS Chair-

man, Eli (Trixie) Solomons - whose ‘reign’

lasted from 1959 until 1962.

But the two recently became one when

Bill Tyzack announced that at the young

calls it a day!

age of 85, he was retiring from his ‘day’

job of driving a taxi, mainly through health

problems. Bill stressed that his charity

Bill and wife Grace

work will continue - he has been the hon-

Frank Duncan, Jack Russell,

orary Life president of the LTFUC since

Jack Taylor, Martin Gell-

2002. In 1987 he accepted a BEM at Buck-

man, Peter Fennymore, Phil

ingham Palace in honour of his charity

Messias, Ken Burns, Aubrey

work.

Siteman and of course Brian

Bill arrived at the ODRTS offices in Pen-

Rice. And they always assisted

tonville Road on 19 September 1962, just

when anything was needed by

three weeks after Alan Lewis. Third in line, Ray

the LTFUC. I offer my sincere

Sorene, is a relative newcomer, not having

thanks to them all.”

signed up until 9 July 1969!

Bill was also honoured in

Bill first became interested in the children’s

1984 when he was awarded a

fund when along with wife Grace, he was in-

Community Involvement

vited to go on a children’s outing to Southend

wives, helped organise the first Fund trips

Award by the International

in the early sixties. The outings had been run-

abroad. In addition, there were the first

Taxicab Association - nowadays known as

ning since 1928, thanks to the hard work of

Woburn outings for deaf children and the

the prestigious Taxicab, Limousine & Para-

previous committees; however Bill felt that

wonderful Christmas parties at the Grosvenor

transit Association - for his work on behalf

they could be improved and so began a rela-

House for needy children that have now been

of the LTFUC. Bill told Call Sign at the time

tionship that started when he was invited to

running for 40 years.

that he was accepting the award on behalf of

join the committee serving as Assistant Secre-

You only have to see Bill working at one of

the whole LTFUC committee - many of whom

tary and then becoming Secretary.

the functions to know how important the

were on DaC. He refused to accept that he was

The Committee started running stag nights

Fund is to him. However, he is always happy

any more or less important than any other

- drivers that remember those probably still

to help other charities get started and has in-

committee member.

feel too embarrassed to admit it - and various

deed done so on many occasions.

The presenters of the award finished by say-

other functions at places such as the Royal

He is also passionate about his time with

ing that not only was Bill Tyzack a good cab

Garden Hotel and the Lyceum. Some of these

DaC: “I have never wanted to work with any

driver and an outstanding community servant,

functions drew up to 900 guests and took

other circuit and have some wonderful mem-

he was one of the world’s finest ambassadors

much organising. But Bill was around…!

ories of my time with the Society. I have been

of the taxi industry!

Bill then became Vice Chairman and even-

privileged to work under the Chairmanship of

How can we argue with that! Our best

tually the Fund’s Hon Chairman and along

every DaC Chairman other than our founder,

wishes to Bill and Grace for a long and happy

with his fellow committee members and their

Bonnie Martyn. That takes in names such as

retirement...

Another true story from Geoff Levene...

THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF MY LIFE!

A couple stopped me in Baker Street the other day.

“We'd like to go to Lonsdale Road NW6,” the man said. “Do you know it?”

I smiled, told him that I did and suddenly it wasn't a miserable day in February any more, but a brilliantly sunny

day in early October 1971...

I no longer remember how I got from my Mum's place in Neasden to a house off Hale Lane, Edgware where I

was to pick up a full-flat cab for my first day's work as a taxi driver. The plan was for me to drive the brand new

JLM 519K, but the guv'nor had decided to run it in himself so in the meantime I would drive AGP 304G with its

‘bunny ears’ indicators and little round wing mirrors.

So I paid my £21.50 for the week and I was suddenly on my own, armed just with a cloth bag full of change

(including pre-decimal coinage), an A-Z and a Tuckers Guide - that little book with all those points that were so

useful on the Knowledge, but which I don't think I ever used in anger once I began doing the job for real.

So I had the taxi; what should I do next? I decided to drive to the VIP garage next to Kilburn Station to get some

diesel - or Derv as it was often known. This stood for Diesel Engined Road Vehicle. Not surprisingly, there was no similar abbreviation for petrol! So I

filled up, got back in the cab, turned my for hire light on and then saw an elderly man and woman running across the road waving at me frantically.

The man was holding on to his homburg hat and wore a black coat. The lady was dressed in brown. He spoke with a slight German accent.

"We would like to go to Lonsdale Road NW6. Do you know it?”

I looked blank. “I show you,” he said and five minutes later I'd done it. My first job! What a doddle!

In Maida Vale, a tall girl asked to go to Harley Street and from Portman Square I took a Scottish woman to Gloucester Road. She also gave me my

first rollicking!

Apart from getting a bite to eat in Finchley Road, the only thing I can remember from that period was on day two. The cab was on Dial-a-Cab - or

rather Lords as it was known in those days and I dared to do a cash job from Mill Lane (Kilburn again) to St. James's Square.

There was a procedure sheet in the cab which explained that you could arrive at the pick-up with 24 pence on the meter. I got there with 18 show-

ing, made contact and waited. When the meter got to 24p I wondered what to do, so I decided to start it again. I did that three times!

When the passenger came out, he looked at the meter with some surprise and I soon realised my mistake. I made plenty more mistakes in the days

to come, but didn't repeat that one!

Geoff Levene (W32)

Call Sign March 2013

Page 20

With the current spate of unsolicited phone

Call Sign looks at a subject that could mean you paid too

calls and text messages, emails and exten-

much for your cab...

sive media advertising regarding Payment

Protection Insurance, Call Sign has done

some research into this area of finance with

some revealing surprises along the way. If

PPI AND YOUR TAXI???

you currently have repayments on your cab,

that’s the PPI element. It might be phrased

or any other purchase - be it furniture,

on the document as ‘Protection’ or ‘Insur-

home improvements or an item of domestic

ance’ or even another terminology. Some

equipment (fridge, freezer, washing ma-

repayment schedules will actually state ‘No

chine et al) you may have PPI included in

PPI’ - which is clear enough.

your repayment schedule!

A wealth of information is also avail-

Where to look for it and how to deter-

able on the Financial Ombudsman Ser-

mine how much it is can mean you could

vice website. Just punch in ‘FOS’ and

possibly claim this amount back from the

pages of useful info will come up.

lending bank if you believe you were mis-

If you find you do have a claim against a

sold such ‘protection’. This situation could

finance house, you can pursue it yourself

be effective on any HP agreement.

limit their exposure to such claims and have

but it is not necessarily an easy road to

At present you can actually go back over

set aside £billions to settle claimants’ de-

travel, which is why claims companies such

a number of years to previous HP agree-

mands, but this scenario of unrestricted

as Investor Compensation UK Ltd will charge

ments, even if they have already matured,

time slots for claims will not continue in-

30% + VAT for recovered money - albeit on

to see if PPI was included without your

definitely.

a ‘No Win No Fee’ basis. If your claim goes

knowledge or consent!

When Call Sign spoke to Investor Com-

back over a number of years and is of con-

There is, however, a proviso regarding

pensation UK Ltd, a spokesman explained

siderable value, then it may be worth in-

certain credit cards such as Vanquish

that to calculate if any PPI is included in

vesting in professional help to secure your

and the like where these type of cards

your repayment schedule, you should note

refund. Certainly our talks with Dial-a-Cab

were issued regardless of a person’s

the amount borrowed and the interest rate

drivers gave us the impression that very few

credit rating and the risk was considered

quoted to calculate the total repayment and

had given the subject much thought.

high enough to justify PPI in case of re-

any differential is PPI. This is usually

Call Sign would like to thank Vernon at

payment default.

phrased differently by individual finance

Investor Compensation UK Ltd for his con-

While there is currently no set time limit

houses, so you need to view your repay-

siderable help and advice on this important

for re-visiting past HP agreements, the time

ment schedule carefully to see accurately if

financial topic. They can be contacted on:

slot in which you can make representation

PPI is involved - even hidden - somewhere

0800

083

0800

or wwwww.ppiclaim

to the finance house is steadily diminishing.

in the schedule.

back.co.uk.

Banks have applied to the courts for a rul-

As a basic example: The loan is £3000, in-

ing on the closure of claims and a decision

terest quoted at 10 percent is £300, total re-

Alan Green

is expected, possibly either later this year or

payment = £3300 over the life of the loan.

early in 2014. The banks want to reduce or

But if it works out you have paid more,

Call Sign Online

PCN request from

Barrie Segal

Dial-a-Cab’s PCN expert,

Barrie Segal has an incred-

ible record of getting

Penalty Charge Notices

cancelled. However, he is

asking for some assis-

tance from DaC drivers

and asked if Call Sign

could put a message out:

“Can I ask that all drivers

please write the date of re-

ceipt on all Penalty Charge

Notices (PCNs), Notices to

Owner, Notices of Rejection Charge Certificates, Orders for

Recovery and any other correspondence they receive relat-

ing to a PCN and then take photocopies before they send it

to Jacqui Franklin in Drivers Services.

This will help enormously, particularly where councils

claim they never received an appeal or where they say

they sent out a notice of rejection which they claim was

ignored.”

Barrie Segal

Call Sign March 2013

Page 21

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

The Brethren of the Whip

Pic courtesy Vince Chin at

www.netxposure.net

cabs on the stand, so he told the

drivers to return to their cabs and

any other men were told to leave

the area. PC Down testified that

Cates was drunk and began swear-

ing about Lord Palmerston and

the police. It was whilst Down was

taking the plate number on

Fouling the rank...

Cates’s cab that a large stone hit

We have all been there, sit-

him on the side of his head, caus-

were coming to him. As the argument be-

ting on a rank whilst another cab

ing him pain and damaging his hat to

tween Miller and Gaywood progressed,

such an extent it could not be worn

comes and takes your fare! Some-

he just watched on with stoicism. He did

again!

times you remonstrate with the

not get involved as he “had been on the

By now, PC Down had assistance from

stones a long time” and when he lost a

driver, sometimes you just wipe

fellow officers and Cates was arrested. In

job he “wiped it off afterwards.” He cor-

court Cates denied all the charges saying

your mouth. In August 1857, An-

roborated Gaywood’s testimony of not

that somebody else had sworn at Palmer-

tonio Miller, badge 11941, went

touching the passenger and that Miller

ston and thrown the stone. He also de-

was not with his cab at the time as he was

further. He summonsed the other

nied being drunk. He had been in the

“on the cross.” To this the magistrate

army and if accused of being drunk, he

driver to appear before the magis-

asked him if plying for hire was the best

was taken to the guardhouse and put

trates to answer the charge of

way to pick up a job? Cates replied it was,

through his facings (drill). The police

but such actions were not allowed.

stealing his fare...

sergeant should have put him through his

Ingham, the magistrate, dismissed the

facings “...had he known anything about

Miller testified that he was on the stand

summons, meaning all were free to leave.

drill.”

at Notting Hill by the Castle Tavern and

Miller lost out on the two shillings it cost

Cates produced three witnesses, all cab-

he had just opened the door to his cab to

to take out the summons but was perhaps

men, who backed up his version of

let a passenger in, when another driver

fortunate he did not have to compensate

events, though it is doubtful that one of

on the stand, Thomas Gaywood, badge

Gaywood for loss of earnings incurred an-

them was Miller, but to no avail. He was

12378, physically prevented the passen-

swering the summons.

found guilty and fined £1 or fourteen

ger from entering the cab and forced him

days imprisonment. The fine was paid

into his own. There then followed a

And Henry...???

and life on the Notting Hill stand re-

slanging match between the two on who

The rather stoic Henry Cates was up be-

turned to normality...

had the best horse, and therefore the

fore the magistrate himself a fortnight

most comfortable cab. It appeared to be a

later. A policeman saw a crowd of men

Sean Farrell

clear cut case, but then Miller was asked

creating a disturbance outside the Castle

where on the stand was his cab? Miller

Tavern. There were several unattended

Call Sign Online

replied that his cab was the last cab on

the stand and that there were six cabs be-

tween him and Gaywood.

Thomas Gaywood then testified that

he had been waiting on the rank for

over three hours and had worked his

way up to be first. Miller had arrived,

and since the waterman, who was in

charge of policing the rank, was not

present, Miller left his cab, crossed the

road and began “to ply for hire” - tout-

ing!

He denied touching the passenger, but

on explaining that he was first cab, the

two men willingly climbed into his cab.

Miller, he said, was a regular on the stand

and would often leave his cab and go

looking for passengers.

Not to be outdone, Miller called a wit-

ness to back his story up, but this back-

fired as Henry Cates, badge

11624,

appeared to back up Gaywood’s version.

Cates stated that he was third on the rank

and at first thought that the two men

Call Sign March 2013

Page 22

Dial-a-Cab driver John Gerber (N62) was re-

A lady carrying a heavy case cannot be driven to her front door...

cently issued with a PCN via a CCTV smart car

for dropping a female passenger with a large

but more importantly, is there a clash between PCNs and having

suitcase in Ganton Street W1. John hadn’t re-

our taxis passed following the new twice yearly MOTs?

alised that he was contravening any traffic reg-

ulations until reversing the short distance back

out into the street, which is when he noticed

PCN for dropping

in his mirror the smart car parked and look-

ing straight at him.

As John reached the junction with Marshall

Street, he saw the sign prohibiting motor ve-

passenger off at home!

hicles and within a few days received a PCN

from Westminster Parking Services. John was

Should John have made his pas-

incensed, especially as the smart car driver

senger walk with her heavy case?

must have seen the large suitcase the passen-

ger was carrying out of the cab. He decided

nearby Newburgh Street, then reversed

out and that this manoeuvre took a rela-

not just to appeal but also to write to the Lord

Mayor of the City of Westminster, Councillor

tively short length of time to conduct in a

Angela Harvey and copy in London Mayor

seemingly quiet road. Nevertheless, even

Boris Johnston. John wrote:

on a Sunday evening, the vehicle access

restriction is in place to help ensure the

Dear Lord Mayor

safety of pedestrians. With this in mind,

I’m writing to you today because of a PCN I’ve

the contravention was observed and the

just received from your council and although

PCN correctly served.

the normal procedure is to appeal via Parking

That being said, Parking Services

Services, I feel in this instance the need to ex-

have exercised their discretion and

plain to you, the Lord Mayor of the City of West-

cancelled the PCN, you are no longer

minster, how your Council adds more

liable for the charge and no further

unnecessary stress to an honest, hardworking

action is necessary on your part.

licensed taxi driver who during the course of

Thank you for bringing this issue to my

my day, serves your residents and the people

attention and affording me the opportu-

who visit Westminster.

nity to address your concerns. I trust I

I was dropping a female passenger with a

have clarified the City Council’s current

large suitcase off in Newburgh Street W1 at

position and that my comments have

about 10.30pm on Sunday 6th January. I

been helpful.

turned into Ganton Street W1, a dead-end

blocking the road to any other road user and I

Leith Penny

street of no more than about 25 metres and

was in and out of that road in less than a

Strategic Director for City Management

dropped the passenger off at the junction with

minute!

Newburgh Street. At that point I started to re-

We are living in very stressful times because

Quite noticeably, even though John was let

verse out of the street on the account that is all

of the financial mess this country is in and

off the fine, there was no mention of the

you can do. When I looked in my rear view

when you get notices like the one I received

heavy suitcase his lady passenger would

mirror, I noticed one of the Smart Cars your

from your council, it just adds to my stress level

have had to carry to her house. And has

council like to use to film drivers who contra-

I have to endure in trying to carry out my job.

anyone noticed the name of the company

vene road signs etc. As I got to the end of the

John Gerber

carrying out the PCN procedure? They are

road, I saw the sign that prohibits motor vehi-

the same people you will have to present

Westminster Parking Services Customer

cles at certain times of the day. From the angle

your taxi to each year after the two new

Relations responded that they would in-

I came in, the sign wasn’t noticeable because it

MoT examinations - NSL Ltd!

vestigate John’s complaint and put the

was turned slightly away from the direction I

In the March 2012 issue of Call Sign, Dial-

PCN on hold until the results become

was approaching from. I might be slightly cyn-

a-Cab’s PCN guru, Barrie Segal, shocked

available. Two weeks on and John got his

ical, but was the sign deliberately turned away

readers when writing of a sensational legal

response...

to catch the drivers out by one of your enforce-

verdict against Kensington and Chelsea Coun-

ment officers?

Dear Mr Gerber

cil’s parking enforcement contractors, NSL

My question to you is why would the council

Limited. An employment tribunal judge had

Thank you for your email to the Lord Mayor

feel the need to place a smart car in that area

issued a devastating judgement against NSL,

dated 15 January 2013 regarding the above

late on a Sunday night, when in truth the only

who in court had been named as employers

PCN issued via CCTV-smart car. In light of your

reason you would go in that street is to drop off

of parking attendant Hakim Berkani, who

concerns, the Lord Mayor forwarded your cor-

and reverse out (no doubt it is mostly taxis that

claimed he was sacked from his job as a park-

respondence to me, as, in my capacity as Strate-

would be doing that). In my job I see many

ing attendant for not issuing motorists with

gic Director for City Management, I have

areas around Westminster where there is a real

overall responsibility for Parking Services.

enough PCNs!

need for the use of such vehicles for traffic en-

According to the judge, NSL maintained

The CCTV Smart car was deployed at that

forcement. I often wonder how the thousands

particular junction as a result of drivers not

a ‘clandestine quota system’ to issue park-

of minicabs that frequent Westminster and are

complying with the restricted access times. Hav-

ing tickets to motorists in a ‘predatory and

often parked on double yellow lines or even

ing carefully examined the footage of the PCN

dishonest’ way. He said it showed that NSL

double parked in some instances, yet seem to be

and in acknowledgement of your concerns

Ltd had set its civil enforcement officers a

immune from your very eager enforcement of-

about the angle of the access restriction sign,

minimum quota of ten parking tickets

ficers. Again call me cynical but could there be

our on-street enforcement contractor, NSL Lim-

each day per warden.

some favourable financial agreement going on?

ited, conducted a site visit assessment. The in-

It cannot help but make you think and

As you can tell from the tone of this email, I am

spection was carried out on 22 January 2013

after our warning at the time, how NSL Ltd

very angry.

and confirmed that the sign is perpendicular to

were ever given the account to pass any-

I ask you, Lord Mayor, all I’m trying to do is

the road and sufficiently visible to motorists as

one, let alone taxis! After all, we’d hate to

go about my job. I’m not asking for immunity

they round the corner into Ganton Street. Fur-

think that they had to have a certain num-

from any traffic indiscretions, but just a more

thermore, the Department for Transport ap-

ber of ‘failures’ each day...

sensible approach to traffic enforcement and

proved the placing of this single sign at this

feel that in this instance it was a very heavy

location.

Alan Fisher

handed approach. I wasn’t parking, I wasn’t

I appreciate you dropped off a passenger at

Call Sign Online

Call Sign March 2013

Page 23

The main section of Dial-a-Cab’s 2012 An-

Dial-a-Cab AGM sensation as Allen Togwell loses his position on the

nual General Meeting had passed fairly un-

Board...

eventfully and other than the usual Any Other

Business, all that was left of the meeting were

the election results and after all, drivers often

voted by post because they claimed it was im-

BEATEN BY ONE VOTE!

possible for a Board member to lose his seat

under our postal balloting system. Well this

year proved those drivers to be wrong as it

seems probably that the voting in the hall was

the decider!

When a member of the Electoral Reform

Service crept onto the stage and whispered

to Company Secretary Howard Pears, some-

thing important seemed to be in the air. But

when Chairman Brian Rice interrupted the

proceedings and said that in all the years he

had been associated with DaC, he had never

known a situation like the one that had sud-

denly materialised - that he had the results

and the difference between the bottom two

names was just one single vote - the atmos-

phere turned electric!

Reading out the numbers of votes cast, he

arrived at the last two; they were that Allen

Togwell had 684 votes but that Garry White

(L65) was elected onto the Board with 685

votes. Never before in our almost sixty year

history had a vote been so close. The results

were counted three times to make sure but

there was no mistake - but DaC definitely had

a new Board member in 47-year old Garry

White (L65) who, while relatively unknown

to the majority of drivers, had been on DaC

for some 23 years.

In the meantime, a rather shocked look-

ing Allen Togwell got up to leave the plat-

form. Suddenly and en masse, the entire

attendance got up and gave him a two

minute standing ovation, until he disap-

peared through the doors.

Allen had been with DaC since 1979 and on

the BoM since 1986. Although he was in our

Sales department for many years and later

moved to Marketing, over the past few years

he has been responsible for putting together

printed matter that had previously gone out

at a huge cost to the Society, whereas Allen

helped reduce the cost substantially. You only

have to look at the End of Year Report to see

how well he did his job.

But no matter what he turned his hand

to, he will always be remembered for his

campaign to make taxi drivers dress re-

spectably rather that the scruffy look that

he hated so much. Allen was never seen

dressed anything less than immaculately

or without a pocket handkerchief and he

believed we should all follow suit - al-

though he didn’t push the handkerchief

bit! And it has to be said that there has

been a noticeable improvement over the

years.

When Call Sign spoke to Allen after the

meeting, he admitted feeling shocked but

wished Garry White the best of luck. He also

admitted to feeling very moved at the standing

ovation. Dedication to a cause such as that

which Allen Togwell gave to Dial-a-Cab, de-

served his huge thank you...

Baghwat Singh

Call Sign Online

Call Sign March 2013

Page 24

Firstly may I take this opportunity to thank the

half of the circuit that took the time to vote for

THE UNTOLD HISTORY

me to stay on and represent them as a Board

Member for the next two years. The voting was

quite close with just 278 votes between the top

and bottom votes. I’d also like to welcome

OF DIAL-A-CAB

Garry White onto the Board, but also say that

I was sad to see Allen Togwell leave. I have

Bits you may not know as remembered

served with Allen since the beginning of the

1990s and found him to be a man of great

by Tom Whitbread

artistic talents that saved Dial-a-Cab many

£thousands by him producing door logos, seat

who does business deals in many European

plaques, window messages, AGM paperwork

countries as well as the US. This was a man

and many other pamphlets, with no need for us

who used to be as mad as a hatter, but it goes

to use outside contractors. I enjoyed his dry wit,

to show how people change and shows what

which many may have mistaken for abrupt or

I know about realising someone’s potential!

bad manners. I wish him well with whatever he

decides to fill out his time with, whether an-

Marks time...

noying his doctor, MP or local councillor!

During my time at Shirland Road, there was a

driver, Stephen Marks, who used to come

Beware Boris!

out to work at 2am in the morning and was so

Over the past 40 years or so, I have come

regular you could set your watch by him. He

across many great characters in the taxi trade

was closely followed out by Mickey Walsh

with the largest number being associated with

who always asked over his radio: “Is he out be-

DaC, ODRTS or Lords, as we were also known

fore me!” The two of them would rush into

in the past. This name was linked to the tele-

London from the north to catch the last of the

phone number we used whilst our office was

late night stragglers trying to get home. This

in Maida Vale.

was just before the early starters began going

At the recent AGM, it was nice to have sub-

in to work at hotels, businesses or antique

scribers come up to me and say they enjoyed

him! Off ran Boris at the speed of light, hair

markets. It was also at a time when newspa-

reading about the many friends of theirs that

flowing in the wind to apprehend the miscre-

pers were printed in and around Fleet Street

had passed away but who had been part of the

ant - until he remembered that he had been in

and with the money their workers earned,

history of our circuit.

the office for a good few hours and hadn’t re-

they could afford to catch a taxi home. Most

But not all the characters have died, some

are still around and on the circuit. If you were

lieved himself! So paws digging deep into the

of this money was marked down to some fan-

earth, Boris screeched to a halt and watered

tastic workers, who in those days didn’t want

at the AGM, you will have seen one who can

give the Chairman a quick reply to any hu-

the local building instead allowing the bilker

the tax man to know they had a second job!

morous retort made against him. I think this

to run off. David was left standing on the pave-

So we had M Mouse, D Duck even W Churchill

subscriber was wearing a disguise this year, as

ment not knowing whether to laugh or cry!

working on the Mail, Telegraph and News of

he sported a multi-coloured beard and mous-

David later went to America to see if he’d

the World!

tache. But he couldn’t disguise his enthusiasm

like to live there permanently; he had a fellow

Stephen and Mickey really contributed to

to keep the Society in the forefront of poten-

DaC cab driver friend in Brian Myers already

building up the circuit and keeping its good

tial clients’ minds. His name is David Kupler

there and he had started a business. David

name at a time when we serviced most of the

(Y74), ex-despatcher, ex-American cab driver

ended up driving a taxi over there but could-

West End hotels. The account was to bring

and dreamer of being DaC’s first Poet Laure-

n’t keep out of the limelight. He made news-

them in the early morning and take them

ate.

paper headlines as an Englishman driving an

home late at night. I could guarantee if these

I was night despatching at Shirland Road

American taxi who had stopped to assist some-

two drivers were out working, we would

when I first got to know David; my first meet-

one who was being mugged. David chased the

never scrub a journey. They didn’t care how

ing was as I descended the stairs to the base-

mugger down the street in a country where

far they ran; if the meter was running they

ment of the office and confronted by a 2 foot

most people do not want to get involved in

were earning!

6 inch high by 3 foot long mass of grey/white

case violence rears its ugly head and they get

One Sunday morning I called Carshalton

and black long hair. Its hair was so long I

hurt. This was some years ago, but goes to

Beeches back to one of the West End hotels,

could not distinguish which end I was look-

show another side of a person you work with

on assistance. Stephen came in offering 20

ing at! This was Boris - Dave’s Old English

and where you just do not realise their caring

minutes. I knew that not long before I had

Sheepdog.

side.

given him; a job back to the Churchill, so I

Despatchers in those days knew all the dri-

Brian Myers also had a dog, a slobbering

told him it wasn’t possible. He said to give him

vers by name or call sign and that built up a

loveable boxer dog. When you wanted to

the job and he would call when he was out-

friendly family-like association where drivers

get into the office in Shirland Road, you’d

side. The drivers did the jobs week after week,

knew one another and went out of their way

ring the doorbell and they would buzz you

so they knew where the pickups were. True to

to assist any that were in trouble. Every

in, so they had prior warning you were on

his word, 19 minutes later Stephen asked me

despatcher had his own way of working,

the way down.

to ring them out and to confirm he was there!

which was either loved or loathed by drivers.

Brian had been doing the evening shift and

This hard work paid off as the hotels that

David had his own way of joking with them

knew I was coming in, which gave him time to

we did not have were serviced by Radio Taxis

and had a gentle way of embarrassing or

set up a ruse. As you got to the top of the base-

(Southern) - known as Mountview. Their dri-

putting down a driver who had made a com-

ment stairs, you got a perfect view of the con-

vers had a similar attitude to that which a few

plete hash of a journey.

trol room. As I looked across the telephonist

of our drivers have now. So at 6am on a Sun-

When I spoke to David at the AGM, I remi-

positions towards where the despatcher was,

day morning, the Mountview despatcher

nisced about the now departed Boris. One

I was thrown as I saw the despatcher for the

would call me up and give me 20 or more

night David left the office at 11.30pm to do a

west channel was a light brown boxer dog,

jobs, some of which were airports as his view

few hours on his taxi with Boris sitting in the

sporting a headset and microphone! Was he

was if they were not covering the account

luggage compartment! His first passenger

was looking for jobs to Barking and the Isle of

work, they would not cover a cash ride to the

wanted to be dropped off at Shepherds Bush

Dogs for all his friends!

flyers! And when looking at the balance sheets

Green, but on arrival decided that he wanted

David also told me that Brian, who first

of ODRTS and RT now, you realise the drivers

to do a runner. So David, quick as a flash,

started a toy business in America, is now a

opened the luggage door and told Boris to get

hard working multi-millionaire entrepreneur

continued on page 25

Call Sign March 2013

Page 25

Yes, pretty much most of us have suffered

Most of us have suffered from stress or panic attacks from time to

from stress or even panic, but it usually ends

time. Remember the nerves before your PCO Knowledge appearances

up as a distant fading memory. But for Fred-

die Jones (A49) this is a daily hell that has

or perhaps your wedding? But for some it’s far worse than that...

haunted him for the past two years. Freddie

explained to Call Sign the background to his

FREDDIE JONES AND HIGH ANXIETY...

problem

grim by now as the memories began returning.

“I was playing golf with some friends some fif-

“I’ve tried driving my taxi occasionally, but I

teen years ago and just keeled over while bending

very soon start to lose confidence, start shaking

down to find my golf ball. I got up ok but heard

and sweating and am unable to concentrate, with

a strong buzzing noise in my ear. However, that

symptoms of hunger brought on by anxiety and

did not stop me from finishing the round.

then the need to return home before things get

“However while at home two days later, I sud-

really bad. I have driven my taxi just 20 days in

denly had heart palpitations and struggled to

these last two years due to what I call my grem-

breathe. I was rushed into the Resus ward at my

lins,” Freddie admitted solemnly.

local hospital and after extensive tests was

“I have learned to recognise when symp-

moved into A & E for further tests and was kept

toms are building up and try to occupy my

under observation, only being sent home after

mind with little activities such as washing the

assurances I had not had a heart attack but just a

cab or walking down to the shops, anything

panic attack.” Freddie grinned at the memory of

that will allay the onset of a full blown anxi-

the word ‘just’.

ety attack. I have had all the basic tests for

“I was then referred to General Medicine for

liver function, glucose, cholesterol, kidneys

consultation with a doctor, accompanied by stu-

and prostate, all of which have returned neg-

dents, who conducted numerous tests for Ver-

ative, so I know there is nothing physically

tigo, all of which proved negative. I was

wrong with me. Even the enzyme test, which

prescribed Valium and Diazepam and told I

is supposed to disclose if a person has had

would not be driving any vehicle for a long time.

heart attack, came back negative; so it really

Not the best news a taxi driver can hear!

is all in my mind.

“Eventually and on a reduced dosage, my doc-

Ending, Freddie gave Call Sign some helpful

tor told me that I could return to driving if I felt

perience that there was nothing physically wrong

advice for anyone who may feel that they suffer

comfortable and confident enough to do so -

with me, I somehow managed to drive home.

from high anxiety problems. He said:

which I did until two years ago.”

But by mid-afternoon, my breathing became very

“All the consultants I have seen - and there have

But his recovery didn’t last and no longer

shallow and I went to my doctor. He immediately

been quite a few - tell me it is something deep

displaying and signs of a grin, Freddie con-

called an ambulance from his surgery and I was

down in my subconscious mind of an early, possi-

tinued with his story to Call Sign...

taken to Croydon’s Mayday Hospital, eventu-

bly childhood experience of fear or something un-

“In 2010 I attended a function on a Saturday

ally being discharged at 11pm that evening after

pleasant which remains unexplained so far, yet

night at my Dulwich and Sydenham Hill Golf

having had a whole variety of tests, including

haunts a person in later life. I have read widely on

Club, but on the Sunday I felt unwell, jumpy and

ECG and blood, etc and told it was definitely an

the subject, and found a series of helpful guides

nervous. I was however ok on the Monday until

anxiety attack and that there was definitely noth-

and internet sources. I also have a pamphlet pub-

around midday, when I was hit by a major panic

ing physically wrong with me!

lished by Northumberland Tyne & Wear NHS en-

attack while at Coachline Taxis. I was dizzy, nau-

“The next day saw me back at my doctor as an

titled Panic - A self help guide that is full of very

seous and confused with the heart palpitations I

emergency appointment and he promptly put me

useful information. Also, if anyone would like to

had experienced all those years previously sud-

back on long-term anti-depressant, Valium, and told

contact me, perhaps a fellow sufferer or carer, they

denly returning. But knowing from my past ex-

me not to drive!” Freddie was looking decidedly

can do so at hilight@02.co.uk.”

THE UNTOLD HISTORY OF DIAL-A-CAB continued

were correct. ODRTS has a good amount of

had the upper hand remembering this was

Mick entered the room and spied an arm-

cash in the bank to pay any debts we may

voice despatch. When I called a good job and

chair in the far corner and made a beeline for

incur, while Radio Taxis seem to use a red

Henry came in, I would just ignore him. I

it, turning as he got to it and lowering his

pen for their financial report.

could hear his voice being raised and imag-

posterior onto the seat swab. At that mo-

If Stephen - with his ultra-wide hair part-

ined his heart rate increasing up to the speed

ment, a series of sharp steel and wood cracks

ing - and Mickey together with their mates

of a Formula 1 car. I’d leave it for as long as

filled the air and Mickey disappeared

were still on DaC and working, our Chair-

I could and then asked him if he was trying

through the solid wooden frame, his poste-

man would not have to berate anyone at an

his breathless voice! That was all I needed to

rior on the floor and legs flapping in the air

AGM for giving clients an excuse to go to PH

make it a joyous achievement for me.

- not a pretty site! I didn’t know whether to

due to service issues.

laugh or cry at the sight of Mickey on the

Another win double we had were the

Mickey Faust

floor or the cost of the suite. I was lucky that

Levine brothers, Henry and Barry. Henry

In one of my previous articles, I said I’d been

I had done an extended course in carpentry

was the comedian - his one aim in life being

told that Mickey Faust had died. At the

at Holloway County School before going into

to get one over on me and humiliate me dur-

AGM, David Kupler said he had not died as

the Merchant Navy, so I was able to salvage

ing busy periods. Henry was the day man

he had seen him recently! Mickey was a great

the chair. This stopped 6foot 3 inch Mickey

while Barry did late afternoons. During my 8

friend of mine, living in Stoke Newington not

being battered to within an inch of his life by

years despatching on nights at Shirland

far from me and was always joking. He once

my 5foot 3 inch wife!

Road, I had a driver who would come out in

popped round for a visit after I had just pur-

the early morning and drive me mad by

chased a beautiful three piece suite of Danish

I hope these memories are enjoyable

using a funny woman’s voice. This was be-

design, solid wood arms, legs and back. The

for you. I know I’m enjoying remember-

fore vehicle identification so the despatcher

seats and backing were a lovely brown mate-

ing these characters and how they

had to use his knowledge of all the different

rial filled with solid foam, which looked great

helped ODRTS reach the position we are

voices and attach them to call signs. It took

in our living room - we weren’t posh enough

at now. More soon...

me six months to get this one, due to them

to have a lounge in Dalston! Mick, who was

not doing it all the time only when I wasn’t

far from being small or light - he would have

expecting it.

two large doner kebabs for half way through

Tom Whitbread

One morning Henry signed on and just a

the night and then at 9am he would be in the

DaC Board Member

syllable he used gave me the clue, so then I

Granby Gill for his two breakfasts.

Call Sign March 2013

Page 26

JIM AND THE

MCN MOTORCYCLE

SHOW

Jim, Chris Walker and Tommy Hill

Dial-a-Cab driver Jim Rainbird (T25) has

often appeared in Call Sign after being in-

volved in various filming promotions,

going right back to 2001 when he aston-

ishingly turned up on a Japanese TV station

quiz! He and his cab were also used by a

newspaper to chase Princess Diana and on

another occasion appearing alongside

motor racing F1 stars Lewis Hamilton and

Mika Hakkinen in a Johnnie Walker anti-

drinking campaign alongside another DaC

driver, Janet Ramsden (G35J).

Of late, his work with the Worshipful

Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers

Chris Walker and his incredible 'undertaker' stunt

has taken away much of his free time, es-

pecially during his year as Master, but as a

lover of speed he just couldn’t turn down a

filming job promoting February’s MCN Mo-

torcycle Show at the Excel Centre.

Motor Cycle News copyright restric-

tions meant removing his DaC logos

and replacing them with the number

33, but he did manage to sneak a quick

pic of himself (left) with two of the

sport’s amazing riders, Chris

‘The

Stalker’ Walker (centre) and Tommy Hill

(right).

Tommy was the British Champion in

2011 and won it in the most amazing last

race, last lap, last corner drama of any mo-

torsport race that most people have ever

seen! The breathtaking climax to that race

is on YouTube and well worth looking up.

Chris Walker has been runner-up in the

championship four times and runs his own

Moto Cross circuit in Lincolnshire. The

week before our filming, he took part in an

amazing ‘undertaker’ stunt for Alfa Romeo

when he rode his bike almost underneath

Tommy Hill - 2011 British champion

the car - which was going round on two

wheels! The car is the official safety car in

Jim told Call Sign: “It was hilarious be-

over the place. Even the director was im-

this year's Championship and you can see

cause he wasn't insured on the cab so we

pressed with the two Superbike riders’ act-

the

astonishing

clip

at:

shot his 'driving' scenes in the Asda car park

ing abilities! Considering their normal

http://youtu.be/7Tm0LMKyLNc.

on the Island. I was press ganged, along

working activities take place at 175mph

As for Jim’s part in the promotional film,

with two of the crew, to rock the cab from

using amazing skill, technique and enor-

Chris Walker hailed a cab (amazingly it was

side to side and hold up reflectors to cast

mous amounts of courage, they were up for

our Jim) and asked to be taken to the show

brief shadows on Tommy's face and then

a laugh and got right into their 'roles'.”

at Excel. With some very clever cutting

take them away to give the impression of

room expertise (and a little dressing up on

movement. While all that was going on,

Dennis Latchett

Jim’s part) the cab driver becomes Tommy

Chris was changing into his racing leather

Hill!

suit in the back of the cab, being thrown all

Call Sign Online

Call Sign March 2013

Page 27

Stephen Berndes (R14) with a another collection of…

Marcel Berlins. I asked why he didn’t go for the big payday quizzes,

Quizzing the

but he said that he only did them for fun.

quizzer…

Fred is still in high in demand as an after dinner speaker, doing

regular radio work and quizzes but sadly his recognition has not

Late last summer I hitched onto

the back of the Tower of London

been used enough for the betterment of the taxi trade.

For those of a certain age, who could forget Fred’s display in the

rank at Lower Thames Street,

poured a lukewarm cup of tea from

1980 final of Mastermind as Magnus Magnusson fired questions in

his inquisitorial manner at the notorious black leather chair inhabited

a thermos and hobbled over to the

taxi in front to engage in small talk

on that day by a nervous Fred. But the taxi driver cutely answered the

questions using surnames, thus saving vital seconds in a mesmerizing

- a diversion from driving a pro-

longed stint without a rest.

metronomic fashion.

On receiving the winner’s glass bowl, Magnusson famously told him:

“Been waiting long,” I enquired?

“Just driven down from Pevensey Bay, Eastbourne,” he re-

“They’ll be rejoicing on the ranks tonight!”

Given that Peter Hendy has now been bestowed with a lofty knight-

sponded.

“Eastbourne? East Sussex? I can see why you need a blow,” I

hood from the Queen for services to transport, his ineptitude in wast-

ing tens of millions of taxpayer’s pounds on free combustible bendy

replied.

buses - which lead to millions of working hours being lost due to traf-

“Yeah,” he responded, “I only work three days and stay over in

fic congestion - seems perverse.

Croxley Green near Watford.”

Fred Housego, still a household name over thirty years after

I dissimulated his brief words.

succeeding in winning Mastermind, is singularly responsible for

“You’re Fred Housego,” I said, half asking and half telling!

giving dignity to the London taxi trade.

Still beavering away self-learning at the age of sixty eight, his daugh-

Surely there is no more deserving case for a gong unless - like man

ter had emailed all the generals in the world wars on all sides of the

of the people, painter LS Lowry, who famously refused honours from

conflict; Fred was absorbing the information on his vast memory bank.

an MBE to a Knighthood - unbeknown to us, Fred has done likewise. I

He also told me that in 1984, he won best London tourist guide of the

suspect Fred Housego would prefer to be called Fred Housego.

year award.

But the vacant plinth at Trafalgar Square? Hmmm…

Still competitive, he was competing on BBC Radio 4’s Round Britain

Quiz.

Stephen Berndes

I chided that he still had yet to win, coming second on numerous oc-

casions with his quiz partner, the eminent lawyer and legal journalist

Call Sign Online

CREDIT UNION UPDATE

Once you’re in, you’re in...!

Tiger Tyres

Hello once again ladies and gentlemen of Dial-a-Cab,

As you may know, Tiger Tyres share our building and they help us pay

I hope you are all well and not struggling too much in these relatively

the rent and bills, which in turn helps us to be very close to the City.

hard times - which leads me on nicely to my article heading! Unfortunately,

There is good free parking and hopefully a good service.

there have been a number of drivers leaving Dial-a-Cab for one reason or

In addition to tyres, they are also doing brake pads for the TX1, TX2

another, but before they leave I often get a call from them (and staff too)

and TX4 and as members of DACCU, you can utilise your savings and

asking if they also have to leave the DaC Credit Union?

pay for any tyres or pads from your account, especially if you come to

So we have widened the rules to keep in any DaC leavers. As regular

work and realise you don’t have enough money with you to pay. We

users of DACCU know, we use a standing order system, which is different

can make things easy for DACCU members with hardly any down time.

from a direct debit in that you have total control on the payments to us. A

And you never know, being booked into E2 you may get a job as well!

In this issue of Call Sign, if you bring the Tiger Tyres ad in with you,

direct debit would give us the control, but it would also cost us to use that

you'll get a 5% discount on your tyres! That can’t be bad, so hopefully

method. So we don’t! I hope that is clear for you; if not, please give the CU

we’ll see you here.

office a call on 0207 729 8171.

We are still actively looking for members, so if you’re interested, come

down to the office or call us and we’ll give you any information you require.

Harp Credit Union

It’s generally open from 1 - 7pm every day although we do endeavour to

And for my last throw of the dice to help you save and prosper! In previ-

get there earlier, so keep trying as our answerphone is currently not work-

ous articles, I’ve mentioned the Harp CU as a credit union anyone can

ing!

join if they aren’t connected to DaC. The FSA had asked us to take it over,

which we duly obliged - with some caution I must add - but it is now

The 7% investment account

doing well and showing a good profit from its previous minus one, when

We’ve been running a very successful 7% investment scheme for the last 3

we took over, to a healthy one now. So if you know someone who wants

to 4 years. That account re-opened recently, but if you were thinking of

to join a Credit Union then get them down to the Harp office - which is

putting money in as soon as it did then you would only have been accepted

in the same place as DACCU.

if you were already a member and saving with us. After all, it’s your savings

Thanks for taking the time to read this. In case you have not got our ad-

that we lend out to enable us to pay the 7% interest! In the past we’ve al-

dress and phone numbers, here they are:

lowed people to join the CU and put their investment money straight in,

DACCU (0207 729 8171), Tiger Tyres (0207 729 5237), Harp Credit

but we now feel we’d prefer you as a member first.

Union (0207 033 9434)

As soon as we re-opened the account, a message went out on your

Unit 14 Peterley Business Centre,

terminals giving a phone number to text. Members who are no

472 Hackney Road, E2 9EQ

longer on DaC were contacted by phone. If still open, that number is

John Riley (K38)

07887 421 614 - text your badge number and how much you would

Vice-President DACCU

like to invest.

Call Sign March 2013

Page 28

COMPLIANCE OFFICER’S REPORT

Society forward in what is now a highly

tances and remaining in certain zones for

competitive workplace that is very much

long periods until a regular trip is offered.

price driven. But to do this successfully,

The Contact Centre has been consistently

we most certainly need your help along

monitoring specific trips for some time

the way.

now and the regular offenders will be

dealt with in the correct manner.

Please remember that outlying zones

New Board Member

are physical at all times of the day and to

As you are by now aware, we have a new

correctly book into inner zones, you must

Member on the Board of Management

be able to reach the furthest part of the

(Garry White) and I would like to go on

zone within fifteen minutes. This is very

record to wish him every success for the

easily established by GPS and quite hon-

future. We met very briefly and I am sure

estly there really is no excuse, it is unfair

that coming onto a vastly experienced

to the vast majority and not in keeping

Board will help him enormously over the

with the spirit of the Society.

Hello ladies & gents

coming months, as it did me when I was

Can I start by thanking you once again for

first elected. Because believe me, it is a

your support at the recent AGM elections

Door logos

continuous learning circle.

and for having the confidence to vote for

Finally, can I again remind you that it is a

To say farewell to Allen Togwell was

me to represent you on the Board of

Society rule that the door logos are dis-

also quite hard, as he has done much for

Management for a further term in office.

played on both sides of the taxi, it surely

this Society over the years and as a friend

In my address to you, the members, I did

must make sense to advertise your circuit

and colleague I would also like to pass on

say that I would not let you down; that as

and if it is easier to pick the replacement

my regards. Above all, I would like to

a member of this present Board we are

logos up from this office rather than

wish him well for the future...

fully committed to steering our Society

Roman Way, please contact me and I will

forward and my views have not changed.

arrange for a set to be left for you to col-

Booking in

I firmly believe that under the guidance

lect at a convenient time.

of the Chairman, we are up to the task

Since my last report, it has been brought

Be lucky and drive safely...

and have the experience and know how

to my attention that a small number of

to not only consolidate, but to guide the

you have been booking in from long dis-

Allane@Dialacab.co.uk

TX4 “ALMOST

BACK TO NORMAL!”

There is an open let-

ter from Peter Jo-

hansen, Executive

Vice-President of

the London Taxi

Corporation Ltd in

this issue giving an

update which in-

fers that things are

almost back to

normal.

In the meantime,

those interested in pur-

chasing a new or used

TX4 can register their interest by calling

the Customer Contact Centre on 02476 572008 or by going online to

www.london-taxis.co.uk/new. These customers will be amongst the first to know

when sales restart and will receive a personal phone call to advise them of the news and

help them progress their order.

To find your nearest local Approved Service Dealer or for information, call the Customer

Contact Centre team on the above number or email enquiries@london-taxis.co.uk; al-

ternatively, information and updates are also available at www.london-taxis.co.uk.

Call Sign March 2013

Page 29

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

magazines of the time with a flashback

DIAL-A-CAB FLASHBACK

This issue harks back to probably the weirdest

story Call Sign has ever published...

From Call Sign, May 2001...

WHAT A BUMMER!

Call Sign’s editorial office has been inundated with phone calls

just appeared in

and copies of either Private Eye or The Times. Why? Well if YOU

the Court where he had

were the driver in this photo that was published in both papers,

famously won the right

then you would know, but it’s up to this magazine to explain it to

to walk around in the

everybody else!

nude! Who said only the

It was a bit of a bummer to have to write about the experience, but

Yanks have ‘em!

we tried to make it easier for the driver by asking him if he would like

A respectably dressed

to write about it in two halves! And while we have solved the mys-

lady had hailed a Dial-a-

tery of the photo and who the Dial-a-Cab driver was, we have been

Cab taxi outside the

told that he doesn’t want his name and call sign revealed.

Court and asked the dri-

“It was hardly a job to be proud of,” a friend of the driver told

ver to wait. Then she

Call Sign, “and he was as astonished to see his passenger as his

came out and jumped

facial expression describes. It was rather apt that the photo in

into the cab followed by

Call Sign was at the bottom of the page!”

the male nude and a bevy of photographers who had obviously been

It was also made clear to Call Sign that the photo wasn’t - if

warned about what was to happen.

you’ll excuse the expression - touched up in any way!

If any Call Sign readers have photos of any aspect of DaC that might

The gentleman with the exposed buttock area and described by

raise a smile, please let us have them - but not the view from the other

some hacks in the courtroom as a ‘low-down bum’, had apparently

side of the accompanying pic…!

And you think life’s tough!

This seems to be one of the poorer kipper seasons, but things could always be worse! The following

item comes from the 1930 book by Anthony Armstrong called TAXI!

“Every London taxi driver is currently earning his living under one of three systems; the owner driver (mushroom or mush driver), a jour-

neyman or a flat-rate driver. Below are the average weekly expenses of a mush. They will of course be criticised, but I think the greater

number of experienced men will agree with them in substance.

They are:

£ s d

Weekly garage and servicing

Road licence

Meter rent

Insurance

Overhaul and repairs

Tyres

Average weekly petrol

Weekly cab hire purchase

2 10

Total

£6

Therefore the mush has to take £6:10s (£6.50 ed) a week before he can begin to

even earn. But if he is a good driver and knows his London, by which I mean he knows the times and places to

catch the taxi riding public, there is no reason why he should not take at least £11 or even £12, which gives him a living weekly wage

of around £5 - although that will probably involve at least a 12 hour day.

A driver who always goes to the nearest rank may be lucky to earn £4 a week, however an extremely clever driver working from say

9am until 10pm each day could make as much as £6 a week profit.

Anyway keep your fingers crossed that somewhere in your daily workload are a few £1 jobs. Perhaps when it gets busier?”

A.A.Armstrong

Punch Magazine and author of TAXI!

Call Sign March 2013

Page 30

Mailshot

Either write to Call Sign at

Dial-a-Cab House

or email us at

callsignmag@aol.com

Airport set-downs...

Hi Al

Can you believe we can no longer drop off pas-

and the time you devote to doing them. Both

low ‘pounder’ I have to disagree with your

sengers at Stansted Airport unless we pay

magazines are always full of interesting items

memory. The year may be correct, but it was

wonga! Plus there are cameras on the road out-

for both the London working cabbie and LVTA

never voted on. It was just introduced by the

side to stop you dropping those passengers off.

members and my compliments go to the edi-

BoM and as such they could take it away.

You have to go into the short stay car park

tors of both magazines for always producing a

Will they? Well those of us old ‘uns who

where the charge is now £2 for 10 minutes or

worthwhile publication. I am amazed by all the

don’t yet have arthritis in our hands should

£3 for 15 minutes - even for taxis. Who would

changes and developments that seem to be

perhaps keep our fingers crossed! I wrote

have believed that Heathrow would have been

putting an extra burden on the licensed guys

this before receiving the Chairman’s Report

cheaper - although for how much longer!

earning their living and having to keep up with

but I would be surprised if he hasn’t also

Gary Cox (O46)

all of it.

written about the 30 year topic ...Ed

I must be honest and say that I didn’t be-

I also read that Manganese Bronze has now

lieve Gary’s story at first, assuming that he

been sold to the Chinese company Geely. Let’s

had just gone to the wrong set-down, but

AGM and

hope this will be a good thing for the London

he is right! Stansted Airport introduced

taxi trade in general.

that £2 charge for dropping off or collect-

Allen Togwell

Barry Elson (Membership no 1077)

ing passengers at the terminal doors last

Hi Alan

November. The airport said it wanted to en-

I can't understand why Allen Togwell failed to

courage more people to use public trans-

get re-elected to the BoM as he always used to

AGM and the thirty

port, reduce traffic emissions and

get the most votes. However, I would like to

discourage parking in nearby streets.

thank him for everything he has done over the

year rule

It claimed to be the UK's best perform-

years for Dial-a-Cab. Yes, he was outspoken but

Hi Alan

ing major airport for public transport with

he told the truth and that sometimes hurts. I

Following the AGM attended by around 60

over 49% of its passengers arriving by train,

remember him once saying that private hire

members, I feel I should write to Call Sign.

coach or bus. Taxis obviously don’t count!

would in time become a big threat to the li-

The £1 per month rule for those having com-

...Ed

cenced taxi trade and that has come true. Also,

pleted 30 years started in 1996 and was voted

when we introduced the £8 minimum (a good

on by the attending members of that AGM and

Manganese sale

few years ago now), I remember him saying:

was said to be for life. The Chairman has now

Hi Alan

“If you lot smarten yourselves up, always have

hinted that the Board might consider charging

So Geely have bought the remains of Man-

a clean cab and are always polite and courte-

a fee to those drivers as a way of helping the fi-

ganese Bronze for just £11.4 million! Dial-a-

ous, I can get you a £15 minimum!” Typical cab

Cab could have beaten them with the reserves

nances. But it seemed to me that the percent-

trade apathy rules - except when things go

it has and then sold drivers brand new cabs

age of £1 members present showed that we

wrong, then the biggest screamers are the ap-

every six months for a knock-down price! N’est

care about what’s going on more than the rest!

athetic, so here is something for the apathetic

pas!

If the current number of subscribers was the

to bear in mind.

Roy ‘the boy’ Manix (Ex-K98)

max and we were stopping others joining,

Good old Jack Taylor was as outspoken,

Hey Roy, I told you getting that Monopoly

then a charge would seem reasonable but it is

possibly even more so than Allen Togwell. I re-

set for Xmas was a bad idea! ...Ed

not and we are covering work to add to the So-

member being in the front office collecting my

ciety’s income. But the Chairman said that we

credits in cash in Shirland Road while Jack was

Insurance quotes

had taken on about 30/40 new drivers in the

talking to another driver about a cab demo re-

Hi Alan

last year.

garding a massive increase in licencing fees.

I am writing to you regarding Stephen Bern-

It is also a fact that some of us now work

The driver’s licence had gone up from 15p to

des' (R14) article in the February Call Sign. As

part time, so a charge may just mean we leave

£40 in one hit - almost 26,566.666%. It should

taxi drivers, we can usually only get insurance

and that would not be in the Society’s interests

have made the Guinness Book of Records! At the

from the handful of insurers that advertise in

- in fact counter-productive as we need drivers

same time the cab licence went up from £zero

Taxi or are able to scour from the internet to

and we DO cover work that we were told by

to £48. Jack asked the driver whether he went

look for their cheaper quotes. So I was won-

drivers at the meeting, they do not run to cover

to the demo and the driver said he couldn’t be

dering - as I think it would be beneficial for all

- especially AD jobs! I do hope that if this mat-

bothered as he was busy that day. Jack ex-

readers to know - whether there are any

ter is being considered, it will have to be voted

ploded and said: “You're a ****, it's ***

cheaper insurance companies out there that

on by the members again. It was suggested that

drivers like you that bring this trade down. You

are not explicitly advertised, leaving us to be-

a new rule be introduced that present £1 dri-

don't need a £40 fee, you should be paying

lieve that we can only use those half a dozen or

vers stay the same and that new 30 year men

£200, then you’d scream, you ****”.

so insurers that are promoted to us. Perhaps

be asked to pay a very reduced fee.

By the way, how much are we paying for our

drivers out there know of some?

Also, my personal thanks to Allen Togwell for

licences now? Seems like Jack was also right...

Martin Powell (G40)

all he has done over the years for us and I am

Brian Marcantonio (R73)

Does any driver in DaC-land know of any

sad that he has been voted off the Board, how-

I remember those days well - and the lan-

insurance companies that don’t advertise

ever, my best wishes go to the new member,

guage! Yes Brian, a 26,566% rise was a bit

in the trade press but which provide good

Garry White.

much! ...Ed

London taxi cover? ...Ed

Gentlemen and ladies, as was pointed out

again at the AGM it does not matter a jot what

Christmas working

Sent to Hans Dooren,

the Board do to get work - if we do not cover

Dear Alan

it we will lose it! The little jobs come with the

I would like to thank Tony Arnold (F03) for

LVTA PR

big ones, so please do them all. These are my

his kind remarks about me in the February Call

Hi Hans

thoughts as a driver since 1970...

Sign regarding the help I gave him and other

Just a word of thanks to you for your efforts in

Martin Freeborn (C67)

drivers while dispatching at the Christmas pe-

sending out PDFs of Call Sign and Taxi Globe

Thanks Martin, but even speaking as a fel-

riod. It’s nice to feel appreciated by the drivers

Call Sign March 2013

Page 31

Mailshot

Continued from page 31

and in turn I’d like to belatedly thank them for helping to cover the

work at that time...

Ivor Belkin (C97)

Top Hat

Hi Alan

your family at your loss. Sunday evenings were much easier with Reed's

Through Call Sign, I would like to thank Tom Whitbread for tickets to

messages and quips.

a really amazing and enjoyable show, TOP HAT, at the Aldwych Theatre.

John Addis (K97)

The show sticks firmly to the original film storyline, and although no

Dear Alan

one can match Fred and Ginger, the leading couple are fantastic and pay

I was extremely sorry to hear of the sad loss of your son, God rest his

a great homage to their "Heroes of song and dance."

dear soul. May I wish you and your family a long life.

I got my tickets on 4th February for the show on Tuesday 5th and

Faye Messias and family

was told by the box office that all other tickets for the shows on 6/7/8th

Faye was the wife of the former late DaC Chairman Phil Messias

February had all gone. So thinking I would be helpful and stop any

(1990-1992) ...Ed

other drivers going on a fool’s errand, I sent a message on my terminal

to the dispatchers to let other drivers know the situation! After 10 min-

Hi Alan,

utes no message was put out, so I phoned the control room to ask if this

Just read the February Call Sign Online and more so than any other issue,

could be sent out as a fleet message to stop anyone having the trouble

this one made me realise that all of you at DaC are part of one great big

of parking up and wasting their time as all other tickets had gone. The

family. You are amazing for bringing out this issue that was filled with so

telephonist (female) I spoke to flatly refused to put the message out

many words about Reed and who in spite of all his suffering and along

saying “we don't put those kind of messages out.” I thought this was

with his family, was endured so bravely. And how wonderful to have in the

rather unhelpful and would like to know why, as it would have stopped

same issue such happy pictures of the LTFUC Grosvenor House party

other drivers going there and stop Tom getting an earful from disap-

that was so well captioned by your granddaughter Imogen. This was truly

pointed drivers!

a Call Sign to keep and treasure.

Pat Keefe (G01)

Daphne Sherman

Keith Cain responds: It is very unusual for a controller to receive

Daphne was the wife of world famous shirt designer and trademark

such a message informing us tickets are sold out. While there is

name, Ben Sherman.

no reason why the message could not have been sent out, con-

trollers have been advised to forward a driver who has any infor-

...and Bob

mation appertaining to theatre tickets to a Board Member. That

Dear Alan

way it will avoid the possibility of any incorrect information being

The February issue of Call Sign has brought back memories of my 15

sent out.

years with the Society; albeit I have been retired now for 12. The death

of your son is absolutely tragic and I join all of the members and friends

who have sent in their condolences and may Reed, whom I knew as a

New design licences and area

young man making his way in the world, rest in peace.

The same issue showed the passing of Bob Branwhite, who I had the

identifiers

honour of working with for many years when we first started the Dial-a-

Hi Alan

Cab Credit Union, a man who put a lot of work into this to make it the

This is a copy of an email I have sent to TfL...

success that it still is today and I offer Lynne and Paul my sincerest con-

I have just read the TPH notice with regards to the new identifiers. It

dolences. May he too rest in peace.

talks about some drivers being requested photographs for the identi-

Trevor Clarke

fiers. The Taxi drivers licence has a scanned picture on the new style li-

Bishops Stortford

cences and therefore TfL already have them on file, surely these source

Trevor Clarke was DaC’s Company Secretary from 1986 until retir-

files could be used without asking drivers to spend time and expense

ing in April 2001 ...Ed

on providing duplicates.

Alan Nash Badge (A95)

Dear Alan

The original press release Alan is referring to is on page 6 of this

On behalf of everyone in the Dial-a-Cab Credit Union, I would like to

issue ...Ed

say how sad we were to read of the passing of Bob Branwhite (F29) in

the February Call Sign. Bob was one of the early members whose hard

Reed

work and belief in the concept of DACCU helped to make it the success

Hello Alan

it is today. Our sincere condolences to Bob’s family...

I do not know you personally, neither did I know your son - although

Terry Dodd (W15)

I read some of his messages in Call Sign. However I was moved to write

DACCU President

to you to express my condolences at the sad loss your family has suf-

fered. I admire you greatly and congratulate you on producing another

excellent issue, despite extraordinarily difficult circumstances. As all

cabbies know, there is no greater camera or video recorder than the

Hungry?

human mind, so Reed will always be with you. I hope that those mem-

ories help you and your family to gain inspiration at this very sad time.

Nellie’s waiting!

Paul Howe (O78)

20% off the bill when you show your badge

Dear Alan

Great pastas, chicken, steaks, fish and roasts!

I have just read Call Sign Online and was very sorry to read about the

sad loss of your son Reed. I would like to wish you and your family a

Nellie's Restaurant

long life and hope this will be the last of your troubles for many years

12-13 Greville Street, EC1N 8SB

to come.

Monty Dobrin (ex-B56)

Show your badge and it’s 20% o !

Hello Alan

Open 9.30 am to 12 pm

I just wanted to offer my condolences and sincere sympathy to you and

Free parking from 6.30 pm