Call Sign March 2014

Page 3

from the editor’s desk

The case against London cabbies

cancel it and gain hopeful publicity. Is there a

I was sitting by my laptop awaiting the imminent

chance of it happening? Well if those pigs stop fly-

appearance of the February issue of Call Sign,

ing...

when the familiar click of an incoming email hit

my ears. The heading asked if I had seen the

Showing your badge and Bill

attached article from The Conservative Party

Being asked to show your badge and Bill can

publicity machine at The Spectator magazine.

sometimes be an irritation to licensed taxi drivers

Within 60 minutes, I’d had the same article sent to

and you may well feel like asking why they are

me another dozen times by Dial-a-Cab drivers.

picking on you. It certainly seems like it at times

I hadn’t realised The Spectator had so many

and indeed I have asked the question before in

taxi driver readers - but I needn’t have overly con-

this column. But remember that although you

cerned myself, because every one of the cabbies

have nothing to worry about, someone else prob-

had pilfered the article off the ‘net rather than

ably does have and in several issues of Call Sign

from the mag! Of course, by now the trade press

we have published stories on persons who have

will have read and taken the article by Harry

been illegally plying for hire using false taxi

But just in case he has been in your taxi and

Mount - who presented his case against London

papers. There have also been instances of drivers

trashed the passenger compartment but simply

Cabbies - to pieces and told him just what they

“forgetting” their front and back licence identi-

forgot to mention it while also looking out for

think of him after he claimed his taxi driver went

fiers who when challenged by police or the Cab

some nice window sills, just have a quick peep.

an incorrect way from Bloomsbury to his Kentish

Enforcement Unit, have turned out to hold a yel-

However, please don’t bother the offices of The

Town abode by failing to use Royal College Street.

low suburban taxi licence. Read the Chairman on

Spectator because they have their own problems,

After all, let’s face it, who would go through

the Yellow Badge consultation on page 4.

having lost around 15,000 readers per issue since

Camden High Street to get there when you are at

An article in this issue on touting as part of

2011. That really is surprising considering the

the southern end of RCS? So I think Mr Mount is

Operation Safer Travel at Night, tells of over 170

wealth of intelligent articles such as Harry

right to condemn all 26,000 of us because that dri-

arrests and undoubtedly most of them were mini-

Mount’s The Case Against London Cabbies!

ver with the mental blackout obviously represent-

cab drivers. Many will say that 170 isn’t a huge

And please don’t hassle his second cousin; Mr

ed the rest of us.

amount, but it still means 170 fewer touts - even

C is toning up his bun throwing arm in case there

So I’m here to ask all Mr Mount’s detractors to

though some will try their luck again and again.

is a reunion of the Bullingdon!

leave the poor chap alone, because he makes

The unit also gave away thousands of leaflets

valid points when he also accuses us of deliber-

about how to get home safely at night and even

Fare increase time

ately not getting stuck in yellow box junctions in

though licensed private hire are a fact of life, the

For several years, I have been asking through this

order to lengthen his journey. In reality, we

leaflet explains there is only one form of hire vehi-

column for the trade to consider rejecting one

should consider it an honour to pay the £120 fine

cle that you can hail in the street - us!

year’s fare increase for the sake of gaining some

associated with that misdemeanor. After all, we’re

I remember many years ago having a disagree-

welcome publicity, rather than accepting an April

not just talking about any passenger here; Mr

ment with the late Cecil Selwyn - who was a long

increase that would probably cost us money in

Mount is a second cousin to the PM and amongst

time driver on DaC. He found it to be an irritation

lost fares while adding a paltry amount onto each

other writings, ‘twas the good Mr Mount who let

that Canary Wharf security used to ask to see our

journey. Much of the country has been struggling

the cat out of the bag by penning A Lust for

Bills, while letting cars just go straight in. I argued

just to keep their jobs while this trade has contin-

Window Sills (Little Brown £12.99). Of course,

not that they shouldn’t ask us for Bills, but that we

ued increasing fares as though we were back in

that doesn’t make him a bad person. What he

should ask them to have random checks for every

the busy times.

does in his private life is of no concern to London

fourth or fifth car regardless of what it was. Cecil

But we aren’t and we often hear the cry of just

taxi drivers.

- as an LCDC Committee Member and DaC Board

how expensive we are. In fact, next to Tokyo we

And let’s face facts; this former student from

member - agreed and said he would take it up. I’m

are the most expensive city in the world for taxi

Oxford’s Magdalen College was a member of the

not sure whether it was his efforts that did it, but

fares. And that isn’t a proud boast! Are we good

infamous Bullingdon Club along with one of his

that’s exactly what happens nowadays.

value? Well yes, we probably are, but we can no

heroes, Mayor Boris Johnson, so he must be an

We sometimes have to do things that we feel

longer deny that the competition have never been

expert at throwing brickbats - or at least buns!

are unbecoming to us as taxi drivers - and in

so strong. No longer do they continually get lost -

How can we argue with his logic when he

many cases they may well be - but if it’s for the

albeit with the help of technology - but they are

reminds us of the appaling 2009 case of John

greater good then we just have to swallow our

also cheaper and the biggest kick in the derriere is

Worboys, who was found guilty of drugging and

pride and when approached by a member of the

that their vehicles are no longer old bangers!

sexually assaulting 12 women. And his claims that

constabulary or the enforcement unit, just smile

The answer isn’t to do what Hailo has done and

thanks to Worboys, our “reputation for safety” has

and say certainly when asked for our Bill! Those

to kill our fare structure by taking a chunk of com-

gone! That plainly doesn’t apply to our opposi-

that don’t probably have an ulterior motive as to

mission from your fare, it is to refuse this year’s

tion who he refers to as “highly efficient taxi and

why they are out there...

fare increase and make sure that a good publicity

minicab apps like Uber, Addison Lee and Kabbee.”

company puts the story out there. Bus fares up!

Yes, ok, so he doesn’t know that none of those are

AGM

taxi apps, but that doesn’t make him a bad person

Train fares up! Taxi fares remaining the same!

You can read all about the 2013 DaC Annual

either! Neither does his obvious inability to read

But someone will undoubtedly phone me and

General Meeting inside this issue, so I won’t say

the cheaper newspapers where he could read

say how important it is that we keep up with the

much here. However, what I would like to say was

reports about that opposition on a weekly basis

standard of living. In the meantime, we are seeing

how enjoyable it was! For the first time in some

that almost make John Worboys look normal. But

more and more PH cars with jobs in that used to

years there were very few empty seats, but judging

again, that does not mean he is anything but an

be ours. Is that because they are better drivers?

by the questions it wasn’t out of dissatisfaction, it

upstanding citizen from Kentish Town. After all,

Nope. Is it because they have better suited vehi-

was because drivers wanted to come! Because

how do we know that window sills don’t have

cles for London? Nope. Is it because they are

there was so little voting or questions on the first

feelings! However, he is still entitled to his view

cheaper at a time when this country is still strug-

part of the meeting, it left extra time for Any Other

that “the exclusive privileges given to black cabs

gling to come to terms with a recession that we

Business and made it one of the most interesting

must go.”

haven’t exactly flown away from? Sadly, the

meetings for several years. But the most impor-

Yes, we know that members of the Bullingdon

answer is yes but that is also partly perception of

tant part was the friendly aura surrounding it -

Club are well known for maintaining high princi-

how much a taxi fare is. We are expensive but per-

except for one brief moment when things

ples during jolly japes - known better to members

haps not quite as much as some seem to think.

warmed up slightly but recovered quickly. It’s all

as “boisterous rituals.” These include such quaint

Would not the publicity of a fare increase rejection

inside this issue.

customs as trashing restaurants and college

serve us better than another increase and fright-

See you next month...

rooms but always offering to pay! I’m sure it does-

ening even more passengers away? This year’s

n’t apply, because anyone who lusts after window

increase is 0.7% - an average of 10p per trip on

Alan Fisher

sills must surely be an honourable person.

rate 3. Is it worth it and would it not be better to

callsignmag@aol.com

Call Sign March 2014

Page 4

reflections of the chairman

there are several others. But as you can see,

2013 AGM

some are extremely contentious, so please

The AGM held on Sunday 9th

have your say and do not leave it to others

February went extremely well. I

alone to voice their opinion. Then - and

something that is often indicative of the taxi

thought everyone behaved

business - they complain when the new leg-

equally well and that led to a

islation is introduced! It could by then be too

very constructive meeting.

late! So please complete the survey.

What certainly came across clearly was the

In my opinion, if this is ever brought into

animosity held by most of the Members pre-

fruition, it could be a ‘game changer’ and it

sent towards the Apps. They seemed to feel

all seems to have come about since the yel-

that the only advantage they had over the

low and green identifiers were introduced.

Private Hire industry was their right to ply for

Of course, that could just be a coincidence...

hire off the street and that advantage was

couldn’t it?

being surrendered to the Apps.

As an observation; over the past forty plus

The general feeling seemed to be that the

years there has occasionally been some ani-

Apps were re-cycling much of the street work

mosity between YB’s and GB’s, but in recent

and so what was the point of doing the

should also participate as an individual.

times it does seem to have come to a head.

Knowledge and to be available for hire off the

There are some really contentious issues

I’m not really sure why this should be,

street when the public were not hailing off

contained in the survey and I urge you to par-

although I do have my suspicions. Perhaps

the street but via their App instead. And dri-

ticipate, as this topic could actually alter the

someone somewhere has an agenda that we

vers were paying 10% of the fare for the priv-

future of our trade.

know nothing about.

ilege of picking up passengers for nothing!

Some of the contentious issues as far as I am

The last thing we want is for a division

It was also very apparent that many took

concerned include the following:

between YB’s and GB’s, but it does seem to

exception to those DaC drivers advertising an

* Allowing Yellow Badge (YB) drivers to

be heading that way. Perhaps that might suit

App on their windscreen or back window.

pick up in town off the radio or via an

some, but it would be very unfortunate for

Consequently, I agreed to abide by our Rule

App.

the trade as a whole.

Book which states:

* Allowing YB’s to pick up in town dur-

So remember, have your say regarding the

Rule 5(b) ‘Members will not, except with

ing busy periods and also allowing YB’s to

survey, it is no good locking the stable door

the written consent of the Secretary, allow

enter the course for the KoL Green Badge

once the horse has bolted!

his or her taxicab or taxicabs to carry

on either 28 or 56 days, as they already

Again, please go to https://consulta-

external advertising other than that

have experience of driving a taxi.

tions.tfl.gov.uk/tph/suburbantaxis and

authorised by the Society’.

Consequently, their ‘Green’ KoL would be

complete the survey...

As a result, any Member who has exter-

shorter than someone enrolling for the

Brian Rice

KoL for the first time.

nal advertising that advertises another

Chairman

product or service, would they please

The above is by no means an exhaustive list

proposals that have been put forward,

Dial-a-Cab

remove the offending advertising immedi-

ately as failure to do so could result in a

complaint against you for failure to abide

by our Rule Book.

Members were obviously also interested in

THE SALIERI RESTAURANT

offers that have been made to Dial-a-Cab, but of

course this topic was not discussed as Non-

Disclosure-Agreements (NDA’s) have been signed.

376 Strand, WC2

However, what I could inform Members

was that since the date I had sent the original

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

letter out informing them of the interest in

restaurant where you can partake of the finest food and wine

the Society, I have also been approached by a

third organisation that is interested in pur-

And as a thank-you for helping our clients come

chasing the Society. They have now received

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

the necessary information from us, so we may

receive a formal offer from them in the not

offer you a genuine 25% discount on your bill

too distant future.

We are certain that you will be delighted

Suburban Taxi Licensing

Consultation

Some of you may be aware that the above

consultation has been released by LTPH. I

believe it is extremely important that as many

of you as possible read the consultation and

also complete the survey. You have until the

11th April to complete it and you can access

Please bring along your badge or Bill as ID

by going to: thttps://consultations.tfl

.gov.uk/tph/suburbantaxis

Salieri Restaurant

This survey could have very far reach-

ing consequences for the London Taxi

376 Strand, WC2

industry and you should not leave it to

Reservations: 020 7836 1318

your respective organisations to make

representations on your behalf, you

Call Sign March 2014

Page 5

TDOY Charity Fund Make Charity Single!

n last year’s September and October

issues of Call Sign, we were asked by

Taxi Driver of the Year Charity Fund

President and Dial-a-Cab driver, Russell

Poluck MBE (T55), if we could place an ad

asking if there were any Dial-a-Cab drivers

out there who could sing. Russell and wife

Barbara had long wanted to have a charity

single recorded by taxi drivers with any funds

used to help the charities that this trade is

famous for.

One of the drivers that read the ad was

DaC’s Jim Edwards (E76). He told Call Sign

that he always reads the mag and noticed

the ad.

“While I wasn’t sure about my singing

voice,” he told Call Sign, “I quite liked the

idea of having a go and helping to put some-

thing back. It’s been quiet for a few years but

most of us have good reason to be thankful to

our trade, because through good or bad

times it has provided us with a living when so

The London Cabbies ready to record!

many have found themselves out of work.

“We had a few rehearsals in a back room

cameras popping in to watch us, we had to be

Russell had been thinking about a charity

kindly provided at John Anderson’s new

on our best behaviour!

single for around two years and it was

Royal Oak eatery in Paddington before mak-

“We also have to thank Galactic’s Tony

while walking in Richmond where they

ing our way to the Galactic Studios in Biggin

Adams, not just for the amazing gesture of

overheard someone talking about produc-

Hill to have a few final rehearsals and to

letting us have the studio facilities for noth-

ing musicals that it suddenly looked to be

make the charity single itself. Although there

ing, but for also providing the necessary staff

possible. They got together and from that

were six of us cabbies doing the actual

- and of course the unlimited supply of cof-

moment everything began to fall into

singing, I have to say that Barbara Poluck

fees - whilst we made the recording.

place.

worked behind the scenes like a real Trojan.

“And while in thanking mode, we need to

“The recording took place on a tube strike

She just never stopped! I don’t know where

thank the world famous Totes Umbrella’s

day,” Barbara added, “so we were slightly

she gets her energy, but I’d like some of what-

for their very welcome sponsorship.”

concerned that the drivers may have wanted

ever she has for breakfast! And with the ITV

Barbara Poluck told us that she and

to go to work or even be unable to get to

Biggin Hill, but we needn’t have worried!”

DaC drivers complain that the apartments are too expensive

The single is called ‘We’ll take you there’

for them at the 50 storey...

and is by - no shock here - The London

Cabbies. The track is about London and the

taxi drivers that take people around town -

including from Manor House to Gibson

ONE BLACKFRIARS ROAD

Square! Can’t think where we know that one

from!

At the recent Dial-a-Cab AGM, two drivers told Call

In addition to Jim Edwards, the group is

Sign that apartments at One Blackfriars Road - the

made up of Nick Greer, Sharon Sanders,

soon-to-be-renamed Blackfriars Tower - were going to

Ron Geraghty, Lee Scarborough and Frank

be priced at horrendous amounts and that they would

Raggett and we expect that they will be

probably cause the whole of that area to become unaf-

making a few guest appearances when the

fordable except to corporate billionaires - with even mil-

record is released.

lionaires no longer considered wealthy enough now!

Galactic Studios have made a name for

Prices for the apartments - many of which haven’t

themselves over the past few years in pro-

even yet been built - begin for one bedroom flats at

ducing music for shows such as The Big

£1.275million with three bed apartments being tout-

Reunion, Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night

ed at over £4.5million! However, small studio apart-

Takeaway and Surprise Surprise. In the

ments will be available at a giveaway £960,000 - so

recording business, their production camp

all is not lost!

known as Audiofreaks is known worldwide,

Not surprisingly, there will be no affordable hous-

so for the Taxi Driver of the Year Charity to be

ing out of the 274 flats and penthouses, but the

given the use of their expert facilities was

developers - taking a leaf out of the Candy

really appreciated by Russell and Barbara and

Brothers Hyde Park development in Knightsbridge -

a huge help.

have paid the council to build those types elsewhere, the amount to Southwark

The record is due out shortly and TV

Council said to be approaching £30million...

Jamie Corum

appearances will hopefully follow. Good

luck to ‘The London Cabbies’ and well

Call Sign Online

done to Russell and Barbara...

Call Sign March 2014

Page 6

Jery’s World

Well I suppose if you can’t afford an electric taxi, then this way doesn’t make much in the way of emissions!

Bond in Motion

The largest official collection of James Bond

vehicles ever exhibited in London!

The London Film Museum and EON Productions are delighted to

Adults: £14.50, child: £9.50, fam-

announce that the BOND IN MOTION exhibition, the largest offi-

ily ticket: £38 (2 adults 2 children

cial collection of original James Bond vehicles, will be on display

under 16), under 5s free.

for the first time in London from 21 March.

This exciting family exhibition will transform the entire London Film Museum

space in Covent Garden and will allow Bond fans and members of the public to

see the most up to date collection, including for the first time in the UK, the 1/3

scale model of Agusta Westland’s AW101 helicopter used whilst filming

TAXI AIR

2012’s Skyfall. BOND IN MOTION will also feature a wide range of vehicles,

miniature models, action sequence boards, vehicle concept art and props from

CONDITIONING

all the James Bond films.

Iconic cars that have featured in the all-action Bond vehicle chases will also be

All makes and models

on display, including Wet Nellie Lotus Esprit S1 from The Spy Who Loved

serviced and repaired

Me (1977), the Rolls-Royce Phantom III from Goldfinger (1964) and the

Mobile service - we

Aston Martin DB5 from GoldenEye (1995).

come to you!

The London Film Museum is at 45 Wellington Street, Covent Garden

Call Mick Wheeler on

WC2. The exhibition will be open 7 days a week from 10am - 6pm (last

entry 5pm), Saturday from 10am till 7pm (last entry 6pm). The Museum

020 8715 0079

Shop and Café is open during Museum opening hours. Tickets can be

purchased at the venue on the day but to avoid the queues you can go

Covering London

to: www.londonfilmmuseum.com or www.londonfilmmuseum.c

and the Home Counties

Call Sign March 2014

Page 7

Yes, we all know that the past five or so years

haven’t been the best and the incidents of peo-

How to pass a recession!

ple standing on street corners with arms out-

stretched mouthing that magic word of ‘taxi’

phies, life stories about people’s experiences

haven’t been as often as perhaps many have

of one sort or another and my main topics of

been used to! In fact, until quite recently it

attention - war stories and history. I read only

seemed that more and more taxis were sitting

books that relate to true events - no novels or

on ranks waiting for those passengers to go to

fantasies for me!”

them!

Continuing with his one-man relaxation

Stephen Barry (A20) has seen the good

technique, Stephen added that he is a big fan

and bad times with Dial-a-Cab, having been

of BBC Radio 4 and especially The Book

with the Society since August 1989, and is now

Programme.

“I note down the title of anything that takes

my fancy and then upload it to my e-reader

from the Amazon Store and put it in the inter-

Taxi licence

nal library for future consumption,” he

explained.

fees frozen

“The big advantage of these electronic read-

ing devices is that they can be read in the dark,

Following the annual review of Taxi (and

for example in bed without having the room

Private Hire) licence fees by the Transport

light on, so that you do not disturb your part-

for London Board, the vast majority of

ner who may be sleeping beside you!

licence fees for taxi (and private hire dri-

“I can get home late at night, slide into bed

vers) will be frozen for 2014/15.

This includes taxi and private hire vehicle

and read for a while without waking the wife.

and driver application and licence fees

And the rustling of paper as I turn the pages is

which will remain frozen at 2013/14 levels.

hoping that those good times are slowly

also a thing of the past as well as you just slide

However, there will be increases in both

returning. But other than the fact we all work

your finger across the illuminated screen to

the Knowledge of London appearance and

to get money, Stephen managed to pass the

read the next paragraph!

written test fees to reflect the cost of

extra waiting-around time quietly and calmly.

“Then there’s the convenience of portability

administering the process. The appearance

“I’m an avid reading fan,” Stephen con-

for reading when away on holidays. It is cer-

fee will rise from £300 to £350 and the

firmed to Call Sign, “a real book hound! On

tainly much flatter than a 300 page paperback

written test fee from £150 to £175.

average I get through about a book a week on

- although I’m happy to cut down reading time

Taxi and Private Hire licence fees are reviewed

my Kindle device and I am always searching

on ranks with it seemingly starting to get

annually and all funds generated are used to

Amazon’s library for e-books to upload and

busier. Perhaps some of the returning passen-

cover licensing and administrative costs.

devour. Amazon has a huge selection of titles

gers may even recommend a good book!”

The new licence fees will take effect from 1

on the topics that I am particularly interested

April 2014.

in. These include biographies, auto-biogra-

Call Sign March 2014

Page 8

The Big Vote Count!

ogether with a letter sent to

Members last month by Brian Rice

on behalf of the Dial-a-Cab Board

of Management regarding interest

shown in purchasing this Society by two

organisations, a questionnaire also asked for

a simple yes or no as to whether the Board

should seek further information.

On the morning of 28th January 2014,

all votes were counted and witnessed by a

Society Arbitrator. Despite an open invita-

tion to DaC members to come to the office

to view the counting process, no drivers

showed up. However, Call Sign was there.

A total of 85.2 percent of the question-

naires sent out were returned by members.

The ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ voting papers were kept in

two separate piles and each pile was counted

three times by a different member of the

counting staff to verify the accuracy of the

count. Of those

85.2% of questionnaires

returned, 90.51% said ‘yes’ to the Board seek-

ing more information on the interest shown

in Dial-a-Cab as a business venture.

It wasn't difficult to see which way the votes were going!

Call Sign asks...

WILL THEY NEVER LEARN???

By the time you read this issue of Call Sign,

licensed cab. However close you

you will undoubtedly have heard of the lucky

are to home, however safe you

escape of actress Lydia Huhne. Whilst the

feel, you must never get in those

mainline newspapers made a big deal over the

cars. They are just touters. I feel

fact that her parents are former disgraced cabi-

quite lucky that nothing really

net minister Chris Huhne and Vicky Pryce,

serious happened, but I'm pretty

we prefer to focus on the fact that she is an

shaken up by the whole event.”

actress who also co-runs the respected

And what about the per-

BurntOut traveling theatre company that spe-

son who called the car? Did

cialises in taking classic and Shakespearian

they know that the car was

plays to historic venues in the South of

unlicensed and even if it

England. They have also raised £thousands for

had been, shouldn’t have

charity at each performance.

been hailed?

Why do we tell you that? Well it’s to

The Met Police Safer

show that the 24-year old Ms Huhne is an

Transport Command is investi-

intelligent woman who, even though

gating, but however brave Lydia

admitting to being “a bit merry” after

Huhne was, Call Sign has to ask the same question we have

leaving her friend’s birthday party, should

asked so many times before... Will they never learn??? *See page 12 for tout squad update.

have known better than to jump into a car

Baghwat Singh

just because the person behind the wheel

Call Sign Online

claimed to be a minicab driver.

Within minutes, the driver - who she

described as a “stocky Afro-Caribbean man”

had pulled over and put himself into the back

of the car with Lydia, locked the doors and

tried to sexually assault her. She may have

asaptrades

been a bit merry, but she knew enough to

realise what this driver was trying to do and

head-butted him - probably picked up from

ELECTRICAL

fight scenes in some of her plays. She also told

the attacker that she had a Stanley knife in her

pocket and would use it. She admitted after-

wards that it wasn’t true! Fortunately she then

Electrical Installations - Fault Finding & Repairs

managed to get out of the car while the driver

sat there laughing.

You may say that she wasn’t to know,

www.asaptrades.com

but her statement afterwards says other-

wise when warning others against taking

what she described as unlicensed cabs.

“That's the first time I had ever used a non-

0203 130 6798

Call Sign March 2014

Page 9

Patsy makes

Patsy McCarthy (C01) made an impassioned plea at last month’s

his plea at the

AGM - one that was rejected. But he wanted those that didn’t

AGM

attend to see the point he was putting across...

As a current and

long-serving mem-

ber of the circuit, I

Takeovers... and those

turn on my terminal

to start work and

the first words I see

that left DaC early?

are The Gentleman’s

Circuit, so please

through, there must be some way for our phil-

years seemed to pass like a day,

boys let’s try and

anthropic family to give our ill-timed, long-serv-

Was it the fumes of the traffic that took the

prove it. I’ll give you

ing ex-members a slice of the pie. For example,

strength from his limbs away?

a scenario:

for those who left within the last four months

Sometimes he thinks of the job, he got from

Imagine being on the circuit for over forty

from the date of the letter of proposal and who

Hounslow to Park Lane,

years or more. A life dedicated to Dial-a-Cab

have been on the circuit for a specified number

And the friends he made at Ealing Back Gate,

and all it stands for, with decades spent making

of years, we could let them have an ex-gratia

he may never see them again.

friends and feeling like a long-standing member

payment. Because I personally - and I’m sure

of a family - the size of which could give my fam-

As he makes his way back to his home town,

every sympathetic, good-hearted driver out

ily (and its seven daughters) a run for its money!

rain starts to fall on the ground,

there - would deem it fair. And, I'm sure my

Unfortunately, time goes on, times get hard and

And a young man just finished the

good ol’ friend, Dave Kupler (Y74) could well

through financial difficulty and dwindling cred-

Knowledge, asked him where work could be

have written this rhyme...

it rides, you are left with no choice but to leave

found.

From his window he watches as cabbies go

the family you’ve spent years nurturing. Then 3

He said, “Son, take a long look at Patsy and

and come on their way,

months, or even a matter of weeks (or in one

remember, whatever you do,

Hoping to get a job homeward, as he often

case one week) later, a letter arrives on your

That tired and worn out old cabbie, was once

did in his day,

doorstep detailing proposals for your company

a young fella like you.

He remembers the dark of the morning, and

to be bought by another - a deal which would

P is for powerful when put to the test.

the nights in the rain,

have left you with the sort of sum that would

A is for always doing your best.

The good times, the bad times and the friends

have eased so many of your financial pressures

T is for trying to see if it can be done and

he knew that he may never see again.

and made life just that little bit easier. If only

S is for staying when working was done.

you’d just hung in there for few more months -

At night when the streets are deserted, except

Y is for yearning to see you again, proud to

or even a week!

for the takeaway signs,

be cabbies and hardworking men.

I know some of these drivers personally. I’ve

He remembers the men that he worked with,

for the Beeb, the House of Commons with their

“Cabbie, remember whatever you do, you’re

known them to run from Bayswater to Prince of

chimes.

the rock that London stands on.”

Wales Drive to pick up and cover a new account

He made so many friends in the shelter, that

So I appeal to the Board of Management and

ride. As, God rest his soul, the late Manny

no one would feel all alone,

all our drivers, please, please consider this pro-

Conway used to say: From acorns, grow oak trees.

And it’s the acorns that have made Dial-a-Cab our

And maybe if there were less success stories,

posal.

multi-million pound oak tree that it is today.

he may well have got a job home.

If, and I stress IF, the sale of the Society goes

He can never explain quite what happened;

Patsy McCarthy (C01)

After manager Neil Shipperley is forced to resign from North Greenford United, Lee Pearce tells Call Sign...

DaC’s Lee: I’m off too!

ial-a-Cab driver and goalkeeper

the bar staff know that the manager is to be sacked before the

or Calor League Division One

man himself, then you know it’s time to leave.”

Central team North Greenford

Lee has now joined Bedfont and Feltham FC of the Combined

United FC, Lee Pearce (J71), has

Counties League Div1. The team are currently still in two cups

left the team following the depar-

and 9 points behind a promotion spot, but with a game in hand.

ture of the team’s manager, former

“I’m looking forward to playing there,” Lee told us, “It also

Chelsea and Southampton star

reunites me with Jon-Barrie Bates, my skipper when we

Neil Shipperley.

won the league title with Bedfont Green.”

Although the team haven’t been

Neil Shipperley resigned after discovering he was to be fired...

playing well and are currently just

two places above bottom team

Ashford (Kent), Lee has been

regularly saving them from real

Keith Reading

maulings by his outstanding

Professional Toastmaster

form. In fact, his form has been

Master of Ceremonies

so amazing at times that fol-

lowing a 4 - 1 loss at

Tele: 01279 465 938

Dunstable Town, a local

Mobile: 07774 860 374

newspaper still made Lee the

Email: kgr.2@virgin.net

man of the match following a

string of top drawer saves!

10% discount for DaC drivers and staff

Whilst Lee couldn’t pretend that Neil Shipperley’s position wasn’t

in danger, he was upset when learning that Shipps was going to

Fellow of the Guild of

be sacked - because the manager himself hadn’t even been told.

Professional Toastmasters

Lee told Call Sign: “Yes, I liked Shipps as a person, but when

Call Sign March 2014

Page 10

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

Brethren of the Whip

coachman George Smith was walking by the

he believed he had stolen the coach. A

...the

junction of Fenchurch Street and

Watchman was called in order to take the boy,

Gracechurch Street when he noticed a hack-

named as Charles Jones, into custody. Smith

younger

ney coach going past him towards London

later testified that the boy told him twice to stow

they fall!

Bridge and being driven at a rapid rate. The

it, which he took as meaning that Smith should

Hackney Coachman

coach slowed down as it went round the bend

let him go and forget about it. He added that

Thomas Clare was

and as Smith was walking in the same direction,

the boy confessed to taking the coach from

halfway through his

he ran up behind the coach and jumped onto

Charles Street, so Smith then asked him if he

shift when he pulled

the back springs to cadge a free ride. The coach

had earned any money for the driver.

up outside his usual

soon accelerated at speed over the bridge.

Unemployed people would often take a coach

watering hole, the

from a rank, with or without the drivers com-

From the chocolate brown colour of the

aptly named Coach

coach and its gold trim, Smith realised that the

pliance. They would earn several shillings

and Horses in Charles Street

(now

coach must belong to Mr Cannon of Aldersgate

before returning it, usually paying the driver 50

75% of the takings or sometimes just aban-

Wellington Street), Covent Garden. He parked

Street. At the rear of the coach was a small

opposite and asked the waterman, William

opening, ostensibly for the passengers to look

doning it altogether, much to the driver’s loss.

Wilson, to move the coach onto the rank as

out from whence they came. Smith peered

Charlie Jones was not acting as a buck; he had

soon as a space occurred.

through this opening and saw that the carriage

stolen the hackney coach - probably under

orders from an elder person.

Clare went to the rear of the pub to answer a

was empty. Puzzled as to why an empty coach

call of nature, then went into the tap room and

was travelling at such a fast pace, he carefully

Smith drove the coach - with the Watchman

and the erstwhile artful dodger in the back - to

ordered a pint of beer. Shortly afterwards,

stood up on the springs and looked over the

Wilson came in and informed Clare that he was

roof the hackney. He was surprised to see that

the yard at Aldersgate Street. George Cannon,

who had seen the return of his coach and hors-

fourth on the rank which was around the cor-

the driver was no more than what he later

es within just a few hours, was in no mood for

ner in York Street (now the eastern end of

described as a “dirty boy.” He sat back down on

mercy. He told the Watchman that the boy

Tavistock Street). The two then - as was cus-

the springs and waited for the coach to stop.

should be taken to the Compter (a small

tom - shared the pint of beer between them -

Eventually the coach came to a stop on the

prison).

apparently a half pint of beer being the going

coach rank outside the Kings Bench Prison

rate for putting a coach onto the rank.

(then situated on the corner of Borough Road

On 15th December 1792 at the Old Bailey,

They walked out of the pub together and

and Newington Causeway). Smith jumped

Charles Jones was found guilty of animal theft.

Clare walked up to where his coach should

down and made as if he had been walking from

The value of the two horses was put at £30 and

have been, only to find that there was another

St George’s Fields. As the boy got down from

he was sentenced to death. There were no

coach lying fourth in the rank. He went back to

the seat, Smith questioned him about what he

recommendations for mercy and the sentence

the waterman who protested that he had defi-

was up to.

was duly carried out.

nitely left it on the rank. Clare now had the

“My master is here,” said the boy, “we have

Charles Jones was just 12 years old...

unenviable task of telling his masters, Mr and

just set down a fare at the corner; he has

Mrs Cannon, that their hackney coach and two

given me six-pence to ride with him

Sean Farrell

horses had been stolen!

tonight.”

Call Sign Online

About half an hour later, off-duty hackney

Smith said he knew him to be lying and that

Over-ranking at London Bridge

London Taxis Private Hire has told

Call Sign that taxis over-ranking at

London Bridge station are causing

problems. An LTPH spokesperson

at the Blackfriars office told us:

“There have recently been a number of inci-

dents reported where taxis have obstructed

the entrance to London Bridge bus station,

preventing buses from being able to enter the

station and reach stops and also resulting in bus passengers hav-

ing to alight at the entrance to the station instead of at the designated stops.

Taxis obstructing the entrance to London Bridge bus station have a serious impact

on traffic in the area, preventing taxis as well as buses from being able to enter the

station to safely drop-off passengers and may create a safety risk to pedestrians.

All taxi drivers are reminded that if there is no space on the taxi rank, then

they must move on and not stop or obstruct the station entrance.

Enforcement action with the police is planned to tackle this problem.

There have also been reports of taxi drivers being abusive towards bus station staff

and any incidences of abuse or other complaints will be reported and investigated.”

Call Sign March 2014

Page 12

Since I last wrote in Call Sign, the Dial-a-Cab

Sales team have been busy completing a

DAC SALES REPORT

number of tenders. As much as I would like

to keep you better informed, we do need to

With Keith Cain

keep all our cards close to our chest at the

moment.

tantly advertise they are 30 percent cheaper

Needless to say the completing of a tender

than black cabs. But where most cannot beat

is very time consuming in asking us to supply

us is fleet size.

various types of information. Evaluation of a

During the recent tube strike, one car

tender is completed using a scoring value

company simply told their clients they

relating to how one answers each question.

could not take any more bookings as they

Every question has a contributing percentage

were full. In situations like that, it shows

towards the total score, but the question that

up the men from the boys.

can hold up 60 percent of the overall score is

With the request from JPM to extend our

the one describing the actual cost. How we

service, it has delayed Carol Carpenter join-

offset our carbon footprint costs, which we

ing the team. However, by the time you read

need to do to maintain our accreditation, can

this Carol will be with us in her Customer

be as little as

10 percent. I smile at that

Relations role. As much as we are proactive-

because it is compulsory within the tender

ly searching for new business, Carol will be

for us to do it.

focusing on our existing clients - an area we

As I write this, I have received notifica-

sums, they are clients and we must be mind-

so need to develop and ensure our clients

tion about one tender we completed and

ful of the fact that they have chosen to open

know what we can offer.

for which we have been shortlisted and

an account with DaC.

All I can ask of you is to keep delivering

requested to give a presentation.

As I gauged the feeling of members attend-

the service we are renowned for. Take the

Hopefully, this is a start of better things to

ing the AGM, I have taken on board what was

trips that are offered to you and ensure

come.

said about gratuities and run-ins. I can assure

your cab only has the Dial-a-Cab logos

January was busy, as I thought it would be,

you that I will do whatever can be done to

on...

with account enquiries and requests for

gain more work and I will judge each new

opening accounts. Each one has been sent

client on their proposed spend and size. It’s

Keith Cain

our terms and many have been returned for

a tough market out there, especially as many

opening. While these may not spend vast

private hire companies on their websites bla-

DaC Head of Sales

Illegal cab touting crackdown...

Over 170 drivers arrested!

Over 170 arrests have been made for cab

regulation and licensing, enforcement and education. The communications

related offences during two crackdowns as

campaign aims to make people travelling at night aware of the dangers of

part of Operation Safer Travel at Night, a

picking up un-booked minicabs off the street, as well as informing them o

joint initiative by the TfL funded

the best ways to get home safely.

Metropolitan Police Service’s Safer Transport

Acting Chief Superintendent Rob Revill, Safer Transport Command, said:

Command (STC) and City of London Police

“These results demonstrate our commitment to tackling touting and other

(CoLP). A spokesperson told Call Sign...

illegal cab activity in London. Our dedicated Cab Enforcement Unit will

continue to be out on the streets of London, all year round, using a vari-

“Minicabs picked up off the street without

ety of tactics to disrupt, deter and detect cab related offences.”

being booked through a licensed minicab operator

Inspector David Aspinall, from City of London Police, said: “The City of

are illegal, unsafe and pose a danger to the travel-

London Police are pleased to have supported this year’s Safer Travel at

ling public, including the risk of sexual assault.

Night campaign, as we have done previously. Over the past year we

The arrests were the result of continued targeted

have been undertaking enforcement and compliance activity amongst

enforcement against un-booked minicabs (also

black cabs and private hire vehicles, making sure that they are roadwor-

known as touts or illegal cabs) and other cab-

thy and that we know who is driving them.

related offences across the capital as part of Safer

We have also worked with the public providing advice on the best

Travel at Night - a partnership between TfL, the

ways to get home safely. We also continue to send a strong message to

Mayor, MPS and CoLP to reduce cab-related sexu-

those drivers who plan to operate cabs illegally, it will not be tolerated

al offences.

in the City and we will catch them.”

In conjunction with Safer Travel at Night’s two

With the Lydia Huhne case (see page 8), we do not envy them their task...

main periods of activity - during the new academ-

ic year in September and over the festive period in

December - officers from the STC, CoLP and TfL's

Taxi and Private Hire compliance teams stepped up

activity to help raise awareness of the dangers of

THE ALPHA POWER PILL

using un-booked minicabs. In addition to the

arrests, officers stopped and checked over 5,000

Now even better!

taxi and private hire vehicles and drivers. TfL’s face

to face teams also engaged with over 77,000 stu-

Helps cut the cost of diesel - and reduce Emissions!

dents during September, which included a pres-

ence at 24 university freshers’ fayres across

OnlyCabs.co.uk are pleased to supply

London.

TfL’s Cabwise app saw download figures double to

Dial-a-Cab drivers with the amazing Alpha Pill

53,000 during the festive period - with total

downloads now standing at 92,000 since its

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

launch in 2012. Face to face teams also visited

around 50 bars, pubs and clubs in hotspot loca-

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

tions, engaging with over 55,000 people and

on the ad code

handing out 138,000 ‘Z cards’ - information

leaflets on how to get home safely.

The Safer Travel at Night partnership was

Or telephone your order to:

launched in 2002 and aims to improve the safety

Stephen Vale at Only Cabs 020 3239 6101

of travelling at night via cabs through industry

Call Sign March 2014

Page 13

DaC’s Network Administrator, Jon Winterburn, looks at the best Apps around and all tried by him first.

This month to help your children with their maths……

JON WINTERBURN LOOKS AT…

Top 5 Basic Maths Apps

If you have children still at school, you’ll know

how much of a battle it can be to get them to

do their maths homework (unless they’re one

Maths Mage

of the lucky ones for whom it comes naturally).

Whilst the more complex stuff like Algebra is

the correct position and tap to identify

The Math Mage is an action-adventure game

important, maintaining a good command of

repeating decimals. With loads of lessons and

that transports you back to the middle ages,

the basics is paramount. Kids love technology,

randomly generated problems to solve, your

where a magic spell has unleashed all man-

so why not use it to help their maths skills?

kids will conquer long division in no time.

ner of monsters in your village. Only you can

Here is my list of the top 5 maths apps cur-

Available on iOS for FREE

defeat all the monsters thanks to your math

rently available for iPad (sorry, none of them

skills by casting spells using mental arith-

Oh No Fractions! is a fractions App which

are available on Android yet). My 11 year old

metic. With more than 200 equations to solve

lets students explore and learn about frac-

son has extensively played with each of these

and 4 difficulty levels, The Math Mage is a top

tions with a simple and intuitive interface.

on an iPad 2 and has enjoyed them. Each App

quality role-playing fantasy game with stun-

Compare and visualise two fractions and

is ideal for 8-12 year olds.

ning visuals. Your kids will enjoy it so much;

guess which one is greater, reduce fractions

Functns is an iPad App for practicing and

they won’t feel like they’re learning!

and visually explore fractions with pie charts.

learning multiplication tables. Linear pro-

Available on iOS for £1.49

Basically, this App provides everything the

gressions of the Times Table provide pattern

kids need to take the pain out of fractions,

recognition while a random or shuffled table

using simple visuals.

Jon Winterburn

progression develops memory retention.

Available on iOS for FREE

DaC Network Administrator

Students earn achievements to represent

completion of specific skill sets related to

both styles of times table progression. The

achievements - some of which are very diffi-

cult to attain - lend the App a game-like feel

which appeals to kids. Functns is a gorgeous

App, and best of all it is totally free!

Available on iOS for FREE

Quick Maths improves arithmetic fluency

and promotes development of mental strate-

gies for addition, subtraction, multiplication,

division and mixed operations. As all answers

must be written on the screen by hand, it also

improves handwriting skills. With a focus on

self-improvement, Quick Maths provides

feedback on the student’s progress as they

develop arithmetic skills at their own pace.

Just like Functns, Quick Maths has a game-

like feel to it.

Available on iOS for £1.49

Long Division Touch takes one of the most

hated, painful maths disciplines and turns it

into a fun exercise. Students can learn the

mechanics of long division with a touch inter-

face. Drag digits down, slide the decimal into

Call Sign March 2014

Page 14

Have you ever had a

Looking for a tourist office since the London Visitor Centre on

question that you,

Regent Street shut its doors? Call Sign’s Bob Woodford asks the

even as the world’s

finest taxi drivers,

City of London Information Centre what they are about..

couldn’t answer and

just didn’t know who

to ask? Passengers

Parla Italiano,

who couldn’t speak

English? Someone who wanted to know

the opening times of a Wren church?

Sprechen Sie Deutsch...

Where is the nearest free-to-use loo?

Well let me point you to the very place

HELP!!!

where all these answers and more can be

found: The City of London Information

Centre (CIC). I spoke to Deputy Manager

Andrew Bright who took us through some

top tips on how to help your passengers get

the best out of their time in London...

“The CIC is where visitors can come with

no idea about where to go or what to do and

leave chock-full with so many ideas that a

return visit to the capital becomes a must.

Whether they’ve got an hour or a week to fill,

we’re the people to come to for suggestions.

We’re located right next to St Paul’s

Cathedral on St Paul’s Churchyard and are

on hand daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm and

Sundays from 10am to 4pm. The only days

we’re closed are Christmas Day and Boxing

Day.

But I hear you cry Parlez-vous Français?

Views on life as seen through the

The CIC at St Pauls

eyes of David Kupler (Y74) at...

Parla Italiano? Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Mais

watch the weekend’s big match, what’s play-

oui, whatever the language spoken is by our

ing at some of London’s best fringe theatres

many visitors - and we average over 400,000

and lots more besides.

Kupkake’s

per year - the chances are that we’ll speak it.

Do you remember the Britain & London

French, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian,

Visitor Centre that was at 1 Regent Street?

Romanian, Lithuanian, Polish, Basque and

With that now closed we are the only official

most recently Chinese, mean that whatever

tourist office in central London, so we’re by

Korner

the question, not only do we have the answer

far the best place to come for some advice on

but we have the language for it as well.

where to go for a weekend away outside

We’re also a one-stop shop. We offer any-

London. We’re also stocked with maps and

thing and everything a visitor will need for

brochures available for free or to buy. Across

their trip to London. Discounted tickets to

the team we have over 70 years’ experience

top West End shows? Check. Oyster cards?

in the travel & tourism industry, so who bet-

Check. No hotel for the night and doesn’t

ter to advise on how to have the time of your

want to traipse around town looking for

life in London and the rest of the country?

somewhere? Check. Passenger in a rush to

And, of course, we’ve also had some of those

visit the Tower of London, Madame Tussauds

questions that are a little trickier to answer.

or any other leading attraction and wants a

Some of our favourite questions on the odder

Splintered???

fast-track ticket (and to save money at the

end of the spectrum include being asked

same time)? Check. Or even have a day away

where Sherlock Holmes is buried, what time

London cabs - the best by far,

from the big smoke and head into the coun-

the clowns perform at Piccadilly Circus, if we

Diamond geezers - each a star,

tryside for a trip to Stonehenge and the

could recommend a plastic surgeon and even

Cotswolds? Check! Perhaps they just want to

where horse tranquilisers could be bought!

In our City, no matter where you are,

know who the best taxi drivers in the world

So our message to taxi-drivers would be:

They’re always better than a hire car.

are. Check!

come in and say hello when you’re passing by

As you might expect, we’re also experts on

and even test the team and we’ll find you an

But even as I begin to write,

the City of London itself and if visitors are at

answer! So when you’re next asked if there is a

Emission rules will make us fight,

a loss at where to explore, then we’ll jump at

tourist office in central London, you now know

the opportunity to talk about hidden gems

the answer. Send any questions our way and

As the posts are moved from the light,

like the Guildhall Art Gallery with its

we’ll be delighted to help.

By those that think they’re always right.

Roman Amphitheatre, the Clockmaker’s

And finally…we don’t like to brag too much

Museum, a favourite hidden City pub or a

but we have previously been endorsed by

We’re just another trade that’s splintered,

wander through the oldest part of London

licensed black cab drivers who have been

Like the firemen - and the printers,

with our free City Visitor Trail map.

known to say that if anyone else can find an

We’re also passionate about the rest of

answer, we can!”

So who is next for the redundant pile?

London. Each and every one of us knows

So there we are guys - it’s there for you to

Take a guess... Sit on it a while...

something special about the capital so that

use...!

when we come together as a team, we know

Bob Woodford

Kopyright Kupkake 2014

almost everything that’s going on - whether

that’s something to do with kids, where to

Call Sign Online

Call Sign March 2014

Page 15

All you need to know about

the 2013 DaC AGM

Sunday 9 February 2014 saw the

Colin Jenkins (Y22)

one case with Budapest and Costa Rica in the

was next up and

other. Service has apparently no bearing on

2013 Dial-a-Cab AGM held again

asked which mem-

who they use in the future - purely cost. Brian

at the HAC Barracks on City

bers of the DaC

also gave a personal viewpoint that if the com-

Road. What follows are not the

senior staff classified

pany gave more work to cars, then he didn’t

for a pension? Brian

think they would be able to cope and that any

official minutes, but an unoffi-

told the meeting and

loss would be short term. He quoted the case

cial record of the meeting as

added that the Board

of the HoC/HoL account which went to a car

captured by Call Sign Editor

were not among

firm, but it soon became apparent that the car

those that would receive one. The Chairman

firm may have been cheaper but they just

Alan Fisher. It is not a full record

explained that to entice top people into

couldn’t cope. He also added that the House

and neither should it be taken

working in high profile jobs such as IT, you

was also out to Tender. Steve came back and

as including every word said or

needed to provide items such as pensions.

asked whether the JPM loss was purely because

Gary

Cowderoy

indeed the exact wording spo-

ComCab had offered no run-ins and no gratu-

(N17) asked what

ity and when Brian said it was, Steve asked

ken. Some paragraph grammar

plans the BoM had to

whether we should consider doing the same?

has been sacrificed in order to

try to reduce any fur-

Brian came back and said that it made no dif-

ther losses, especially

make the report as compact as

ference to the Board if there were no run-ins

after the loss of our

etc, but also added that it would mean our ser-

possible. Approximate atten-

Dockland account.

vice would become abysmal and we would end

dance taken by Call Sign was

Brian responded that

up losing the account anyway through that bad

we would look at our

105, not including the BoM.

service. He told Members present that the ser-

overheads and possibly subscriptions but that

vice offered by Hailo earlier that week when

The meeting opened at

11.00 with

nothing had yet been decided. He also added

there had been the two-day tube strike, had

Chairman Brian Rice asking for the tradi-

that Keith Cain had recently moved to head

tional one-minute silence to remember those

been “zilch.” Drivers, he said, would not pass

the DaC Sales department and was very expe-

that had passed away during the previous 12

work when there was no run-in if it was busy

rienced in that field. But Brian also said that

months. Approval was then requested and

out. He compared that to drivers running to

while the current market dictated that cus-

given for the presence of a sound engineer

the Island at night when the Limehouse Link

tomers wanted more for less, there had been

and two young DaC ladies, Jacqui Chart and

was closed and said that it would undoubtedly

a slight but noticeable improvement and he

Shelagh Adkins. The Chairman pointed out

affect service.

hoped that would be maintained, especially

that those who had already voted by post

Brian then spoke about the AGM in 2003

as signs suggested that the economy was pick-

should not vote again...

when there was something of a downturn and

ing up. If that proves to be the case, Brian

drivers at that AGM had asked him to “go in

said, then we would come into our own again

2012 Minutes

cheap” for the-then HoC Tender and that they

with customers paying for service, whereas

Minutes of the 2012 meeting were passed with

would put up with lower prices in order to

they are currently getting it “on the cheap.”

98.8% of the total membership voting in

keep the account. So DaC went in with low

Gordon Bennett

favour. There were no matters arising…

prices. The result was that we couldn’t cover

(Y91) asked whether

the work. He did add that although he was a

our Concierge sys-

Annual Report including the

firm believer in run-ins and gratuities, he

tem was also bring-

Chairman’s Report

admitted that there was room to reduce gratu-

ing in less money.

ity if it made a difference. Steve then men-

There were several questions regarding the

The

Chairman

tioned that he would be against paying the 10%

Chairman’s Report within the Annual Report

replied that it had,

as Hailo charged and Brian said that if drivers

and the Report itself.

together with the

wanted it, they could do away with subscrip-

First

up was

general

economy

tions and charge a 10% “fee” for every trip dri-

Laurence Kelvin

and named the

vers did, but added that it would probably cost

(W88) who pointed

accounts that used it.

most drivers far more than the £30 (+ VAT) a

out that our termi-

Next up to the

week subs they currently pay. He said that dri-

nals depreciate in

lectern was Steve

vers wanted to do what was best for them as

value each year, but

Hutchinson

(S49).

individuals and he understood that, going so

that the value of the

He asked about the

far as to say that he didn’t blame them but said

building was surely

Citigroup account,

that the BoM had to do what they felt was best

going up. Yet in the

having read in Call

for the Society as a whole. He told the meeting

accounts, it is shown as depreciating. Brian

Sign that it too was

that had DaC worked on the 10% as against

Rice answered that it was to save getting a new

up for Tender. Brian

subscriptions in the last accounting year, then

valuation each year. He assured Laurence that

said that they were also looking to save money

it would have earned an extra £80,000!

should the building ever be sold, then it

and although they would be using DaC as their

The Financial and Chairman’s reports were

would be correctly valued and would be worth

taxi provider, he believed that they would be

then passed with 99.1% of the total membership

far more that the £4.7million valuation in the

using more cars at night. Brian added that

voting in favour.

report. Brian added that the building had

already increased in valuation by around

there seemed to be no continuity on these big

accounts and that the people brought in to

£2million since we bought it. Mike Tovey,

Auditor’s report and reap-

from DaC accountants Chantrey Vellacott

deal with any cost savings were not those that

actually used the account and in fact told the

pointing Chantrey Vellacott

added that when there was no intention of

selling, getting a valuation would be pointless.

meeting that for both main Dockland accounts,

Mike Tovey then spoke about the Chantry

It was only if DaC House were to be sold that

those dealing with the Tender results had been

Vellacott Auditor’s Report. He said we had a

you’d get it valued and gain a correct price.

brought in from other countries - New York in

strong balance sheet and generous reserves

Call Sign March 2014

Page 16

All you need to know about the 2013 DaC AGM continued from previous page

in the bank and

Ray Sorene

about the progress of technology but

also asked about ou

had done well

(A53) was next

said that we were doing what we had

where the customer

considering out-

and queried the

always done for the past 61 years and

end of the trip. He

side

circum-

difference

that technology wasn’t just about that

most of the time but

stances. But he

between this

moment. As one example, the DaC

he did involving m

warned that

year and last

Chairman said that clients liked the fact

town where the

there were still

regarding cash

that the meter was connected to the ter-

accepted. Max aske

challenging con-

in hand and said

minal and they knew that no one could

go back to pre-au

ditions

out

£3mi l l i on

just add money on. With smart phones,

agreed with Max an

there.

appeared to have vanished! Brian put

you couldn’t do that and many accounts

in touch with our cl

Adrian Landau

his mind at ease when he said that was

without the facility of knowing what was

subject. He said th

(T14) was first

the bond that caused us to move due to

on the meter at arrival and at the end of

businesses were all

up to question

low interest at the previous bank. He

the trip would just move straight over to

rise. One was hotels

Mike

and

assured Ray that we still had it in our

cars where they don’t need meters

car hire companies

brought a few

new account and it was just that they

because they can always get fixed prices.

inclusion as a specia

smiles when he

had to wait for an expiry date before

Pat went on to say that he felt we

Paul Heatley

asked

transferring it.

should also have gone to a GPS system

(V09) was next

C h a n t r e y

Last

under

and that he had written to Call Sign

up. He said he

Vellacott

still

this section was

about that. Brian said that was our next

had been on

used Dial-a-Cab! Mike responded that

Gerry Harris

project and the reason we hadn’t done

DaC for seven

they did but on a reduced level, Brian

(D58)

who

it earlier was because we were in the

years but was

chimed in to say that they were much like

asked why the

process of developing the new terminals

upset that the

other accounts - their useage had gone

Board had “only

in addition to designing an App - not to

£1 subs for thir-

down. Adrian then asked why we had

cut down their

mention the new accounting system and

ty year drivers

changed our bank account and Brian

wages

call taker screens that were both built

had been taken awa

explained it was purely that we had sub-

£7000?” Brian

in-house. Once they had been achieved,

the advert for new d

stantial cash funds and this bank had

said that they had made savings last year

a new dispatching system featuring GPS

put into the trade p

offered us a far higher interest rate on

of over £700,000 and asked how Gerry

trip distribution was next on the ‘to do’

ting and one month

those funds. Brian brought another smile

thought these would be made if the

list. The only item on the ‘to do’ list that

that he bought a n

when adding that he supposed we were

BoM were out driving cabs rather than

never went ahead was a driver App

have been availed t

doing to our old bank what our account

being in DaC House and working on

where after discussing it, the BoM felt

had written to Brian

customers had been doing to us - and

those savings. Did Gerry want the BoM

that taking outsiders could put our stan-

replied that it was si

putting cash first! Adrian pointed out that

to work on making those savings and at

dards down. Brian took the opportunity

offering incentives

the bank we had moved back to had

the same time take a pay cut? Brian took

to remind drivers that when they

but not existing on

almost put us out of business during a

Gerry back to Christmas 2007 when

received a credit card trip on their ter-

our loyalty was bei

much darker time for the Society and yet

DaC paid subscribers over half a million

minals, that may well have come via our

said that the £186,0

we were now moving back to them.

pounds in bonuses to cover the work.

App as the terminal shows no distinc-

away the £1 and re

Brian agreed but said that in reality a

He said that he didn’t remember Gerry

tion between that and a trip ordered via

subs had been re-in

bank was a bank and that they were all

getting up at an AGM and tell the Board

the Control Centre.

fully liveried taxis w

pretty much the same - they would lend

that we’d had a brilliant time and that

Russell Poluck (T55) then returned

(those drivers ge

you an umbrella when the sun was out

the BoM deserved a bonus. Brian also

to the lectern and suggested that our

rebate). Respondin

but would want it back when it rained.

added that it had been far easier to run

welcome boards were not professional

claim, Brian said tha

Russell Poluck

the Society in 2007 than it was now, yet

enough. Brian asked Allan Evans if he

vers were now pay

MBE (T55) was

the Board hadn’t taken a wage increase

could oversee

plus VAT and that w

next and asked

for almost three years.

production of a

There was some b

what percent-

The Auditor’s report was then passed

better

name

Paul mentioned tha

age DaC earned

and Chantrey Vellacott reappointed with

board as soon

Tweet the previous

from credit card

98.2% of the total membership voting in

as the current

that he had read i

charges. Brian

favour.

batch was gone.

content of Paul’s Tw

said that we

Russell went

it apparently denigr

charged an extra

Rule Changes

onto say that it

connection to the tu

10% and out of that there was a mer-

There were none this year...

was about time

replied and Tweeted

chant fee plus administration charges.

DaC drivers smartened themselves and

had been greatly up

Russell then brought up the previous

Propositions

their taxis up comparing us to the more

comments made to

week when the tube strike brought

There were none this year...

upmarket PH companies. He said that

or non-arrivals occu

chaos to London and the ‘bid’ zone was

the public liked a smart driver and vehi-

and that some of th

filled up - many of them being credit

Any Other Business

cle. Brian said that he agreed but added

been brought to tea

card trips but with no destinations.

Pat

Keefe

that it would have to be up to the indi-

Paul’s Tweet, Brian

Russell asked whether it would have

(G01) was first

vidual.

n’t usually put out

helped coverage had they been

up with AOB

Max Arnold

access - tweeted tha

unmasked? Brian replied that he under-

questions and

(D66) followed

vice levels had fallen

stood Russell’s point, but it was the way

asked whether

Russell and sug-

ed to complain then

the system has been programmed and

we had missed

gested

that

union leader Bob

golden

to change a program for just two days

accounts on the

staff and call takers

would not be worthwhile. He queried

opportunity

Island needed

they could. Paul clai

before getting

why so many reject trips weren’t accept-

an incentive to

political statement,

ed when drivers were close to the pick-

new terminals with most drivers having

use us and that

hadn’t been politica

smartphones, of just selling our build-

up anyway, but added that evening dri-

our only prob-

making it into one.

ing and moving into a railway arch with

vers were much better when it came to

lem was when the Link route was shut.

and then Brian add

just two girls (with miniskirts) in it? To

covering work than the day men -

He added that he wasn’t an advocate of

the Tweet denigrati

laughs, Brian asked whether drivers

although he also said that he accepted

getting work at any costs, but suggested

emailing Paul to say

would be able to stop there for tea!

some of that could be down to traffic

that Rate 3 after 10pm was ludicrously

bad, how come he h

Taking a more serious look, Brian spoke

conditions.

high and possibly worth looking at. He

credits in January. H

Call Sign March 2014

Page 17

All you need to know about the 2013 DaC AGM continued from previous page

r credit card readers

not to write it. After some crosstalk

pay if it got busy and that if as hoped,

but hadn’t signed up to no run-ins even

didn’t pay until the

between the pair, they moved on to

things started to get busy again, then

though he would actually have no run-in

admitted it was ok

Paul’s next point. He said that our repu-

that morning and evening busy period

on arrival? Brian said he felt it could

t then spoke of a job

tation for service was second to none

would last the whole day. To applause,

become divisive. He said that in his opin-

many miles around

but that we would have to start being

Brian reiterated his point that once you

ion the BoM were there to make deci-

credit card wasn’t

more realistic with our cost to cus-

give something away, you will not be

sions otherwise we might just as well

d why we couldn’t

tomers and that we should look at run-

able to get it back. He added that he was

have a clerk sitting at a desk asking dri-

uthorisation. Brian

ins, gratuities and administration

totally against giving up run-ins and gra-

vers to vote on any decision that were

d said that we were

charges. He admitted he had written a

tuities, but that he had slightly softened

needed. Gerry came back to say that he

earing house on the

letter to Call Sign before Christmas say-

his views on gratuities depending on the

was doing things now that he had never

at currently only 2

ing that we had to keep run-ins.

spend of an account. He added that all

done before, such as ranking, because in

owed to pre-autho-

However, he had now changed his mind

the major banking accounts had three-

the old days there was always another

while the other was

claiming that we would never prosper

monthly service meetings and knew

job round the corner. Times were now

. We’ve applied for

with these charges in place. He then

what others were paying, so if you gave

very tough. Brian came back, to

al case.

suggested a pay-as-you-go system

one account no run-ins etc, within

applause, when he reiterated previous

although not the

10% that Hailo

weeks they would all be knocking on the

statements about why should we give

charged. Brian responded by saying that

door demanding no run-ins etc. It was,

excellent service for nothing. Gerry took

he knew why Paul didn’t want the 10%

he said, a domino effect.

the point.

charge - because it would cost him

Trevor’s second point was to ask

Michael Tarr

money compared to what he was cur-

whether DaC had considered using a

(R02) was next

rently paying in subs. Paul suggested a

two tier system - one more expensive

and began by

weekly charge of £7 and then a charge

that would provide a better service. He

saying that he

per job depending on its distance, simi-

queried why DB were still using so many

was not anti-

lar to the system employed by GetTaxi.

cars when the service we provided was

Board and loved

ay. He also spoke of

Brian said that if Paul’s system were to

excellent. Brian almost repeated his pre-

DaC, wishing he

drivers that DaC had

be introduced while drivers were given

vious point about how when it was busy

could just do

ress offering free fit-

destinations, they would become very

they wanted excellent service, but when

DaC work all

h free subs. He said

choosy and say that certain jobs weren’t

quiet they wanted to pay as little as pos-

day long! Brian, probably sensing a ‘but’,

ew cab and should

worth that cost and our service would

sible. Trevor asked if we were losing

replied by saying that he loved Michael

hose two perks. He

fail. Paul thought that this system would

accounts and Brian said that we weren’t,

too! Mike’s point was about the letter the

n and the Chairman

encourage younger drivers to come to

but many were using us less.

BoM had sent out regarding the two

milar to Virgin or BT

the Society. Brian then said that he had

Trevor then ended by saying that as an

companies interested in buying DaC. He

to new customers

looked at RTG’s new system of £5 a

RMT member, he agreed with the previ-

asked what the process would be.

es. Paul asked how

week and then 10% per trip covered up

ous speaker re Brian’s Tweet being

Without naming any of the companies,

ng rewarded. Brian

to a maximum of £66 per week (includ-

“political.” We were then treated to a

he went through how the offers had

000 saved by taking

ing VAT) and smiled as he said he

review of the Tweet passage and both

come in and emphasised that there was

placing it with 50%

wouldn’t be opposed to doing that but

agreed that it might have been better

no connection between the two but that

vested by putting 50

asked Paul if he would like that, the

had Brian said: “Complain to Bob and

it was just an amazing coincidence. He

with our App ad on

inference being that those who did a

Boris” rather than “Complain to Bob

also revealed that a third party had now

t a monthly

50%

substantial amount of DaC trips would

Crow.” Much to the relief of those on the

come in after hearing about the two

g to Paul’s loyalty

be paying far more than they do now.

floor who hadn’t a clue what it was all

offers. He added that the BoM had a

at those 30 year dri-

Paul said that the charges could be

about, the matter was then left to peace-

problem in deciding which would be the

ying £15 per week

capped at £30 per week plus the initial

ably go away and we moved on!

best way forward. Would that involve

as very good value.

£7. As he said that, a large groan broke

Making a second visit of the day to the

forums where the three could put their

brief acrimony when

out from the floor and Brian thanked

lectern was Gerry Harris (D58) who

points or should the BoM pick what they

t he had sent out a

Paul and called for the next speaker.

asked whether the drivers who had the

considered to be the best one and go for-

day and Brian said

That

was

£1 subs increased to half should have

ward with that. As he had signed a Non-

t. Whilst the actual

Trevor Denton

had first option at the liveries, which

Disclosure Agreement, he couldn’t go any

eet wasn’t read out,

(Y51). He had

would then have reduced their half subs

further but in response to Michael asking

ated DaC and was in

two points; the

by half again. Brian said that it was a very

if we would have financial advisors on

ube strike. Brian had

first one was

good point but that the only reason

hand to assist us, Brian said that yes we

d that our call takers

that we should

those drivers were not given priority, was

would and added that we would also

pset by some of the

follow up on

because they tended to be drivers who

need legal advisors. To laughs, Brian

them when delays

those accounts

were cutting down their hours and the

added that he had learned something

urred on those days

that suddenly

purpose of the liveried cabs was to

from account customers and would be

he female ones had

used us on tube strike days after using us

advertise our App and as such they need-

getting a fixed price for their services! He

rs. So in response to

rarely for some time or perhaps had not

ed to be on the road for as long as pos-

added that nothing would be done with-

- who said he does-

even used us at all. Trevor said he

sible each day. Gerry understood the rea-

out first getting professional advice.

DaC Tweets but had

assumed that it would be to do with

son and went on to his next point which

Patsy McCarthy

t he was sorry if ser-

price. Brian replied that DaC Sales

was to compare two Brian Rice articles

(C01) made his

n but if anyone want-

Officer Keith Cain, together with

in Call Sign, one where Brian said that

way to the mic

it should be to RMT

Natalie Ezekiel and Carol Carpenter,

no one knew what offers other taxi com-

and

asked

Crow and that our

had already begun doing that. Brian

panies had put in their Tenders and a

whether long-

were doing the best

then mentioned a letter sent to Call Sign

second where he said he was against

term drivers that

med that had been a

from Jon Robinson (E88) in which he

offering no run-ins etc. Gerry asked

had recently left

but Brian said that it

said he had gone to pick up a passenger

whether it could have been arranged for

the

Society

al and that Paul was

from an account address and mentioned

drivers to be given the choice and vote

could also get a

The two disagreed

that he hadn’t picked up there of late.

via their terminals whether we should

pay-out should the Society be sold. Brian

ed that after seeing

They told Jon that they used GetTaxi

have an attribute so that drivers pre-

gave a definitive no but added that he

ng DaC, he felt like

when it was quiet as they were cheaper

pared to work for no run-in would be

would try to have it written in that drivers

y that if we were so

but used us when it was busier. Brian

given those trips that asked for it. Brian

who had left the Society through ill-

ad taken so much in

said that it proved his point that when it

then asked Gerry what would happen if

health and were unable to work again or

However, he decided

came to service, they were prepared to

the nearest taxi was outside the account,

those that had genuinely retired and

Call Sign March 2014

Page 18

All you need to know about the 2013 DaC AGM continued from previous page

handed in their badge and Bill, could be

idea, the Board would always look at imple-

in case there was a buy-out and those drivers

included, but definitely not those that had just

menting it. But what the Chairman said he

would cash in. Brian said a rule was already in

stripped out. He said that when you left for

didn’t know, was how to make the meter

place which said that drivers had to have been

reasons such as financial ones, then you were

cheaper to attract customers other than offer-

with DaC for two years before being allowed

no longer a member and couldn’t be included.

ing them fixed prices. He then quoted a letter

to participate in the process. Pat then asked

Patsy then suggested that those drivers that

from Paul Charters (J08) that appeared in

how much the Board would get compared to

did collect the money if a sale went through,

Call Sign’s January issue as an example

drivers if the company was to be sold. Brian

might consider donating some of it into a fund

where he did a morning trip from Bank Street

said it would be exactly the same. Pat then

for those that had put in many years and only

E14 to Basinghall Avenue EC2 with a fixed

asked about the 10% credit card charge and

just left.

price of £19.30. Paul hit a lot of traffic going

quoted a private passenger he had for a week

Peter Bond (L67)

through the Limehouse Link and was upset

and who had to pay £36 on a £365 fare. He

then spoke and

that the actual meter price came to £27.60.

said that clearing it via an App would have

asked whether we

Brian said that the problem is that when F/Ps

only cost £14. Brian pointed out to much

had asked our

are set, there is no way of knowing what the

laughter from the floor that the App driver

accountants,

traffic will be like on any given day. But

would have to pay that £14 himself and that

Chantry Vellacott,

Graham came back and said that we needed

had Pat been that upset, he could have

to Tender for our

to do something and if that meant more fixed

knocked off the £14 he would have paid and

work? Brian said that

prices, then so be it.

then his passenger would only have had to

he had compared

Jim Baptist (E06)

pay £22. Brian inferred that anyone spending

CT’s charges with others and we were getting

was next to speak. He

£365 on a credit card for a taxi fare was prob-

a good deal in addition to the fact that his

wanted to see a rule

ably doing so on a corporate card and would-

relationship with Mike Tovey was excellent.

that said any driver

n’t overly worry about the extra cost. Pat came

He also said that this past year was the first

on DaC with a sticker

back and admitted that his passenger could

time in four years that they had put their fees

advertising another

well afford to be one of our possible buyers!

up. To laughs he also added that he shouldn’t

company, such as

DaC Marshal Bill

be too nice about them or they might put

Hailo, should be put

Chatterway

(A43)

their charges up again!

on complaint. He

spoke about run-ins

Peter then said that he supported the BoM

called it disgraceful when he saw drivers with

and said he was total-

and that they were doing a very good job. He

Hailo stickers on their taxi in addition to the

ly against giving them

also jokingly asked where his car was, making

Society logo. Brian said that would be done

up. One of the rea-

reference to the fact that he once won one of

and said they had photos of a DaC liveried taxi

sons in addition to

three cars that were presented to DaC drivers

picking up at a GetTaxi account - the only

just losing money

over 10 years ago for covering work! He fin-

major account the Chairman said they had -

was that as a Marshal,

ished by asking whether Hailo and GetTaxi

and the driver had the GetTaxi terminal fitted.

he had heard that taxis might be banned from

To applause, he said that they could be

parking near the Wharf unless they were on a

drivers were allowed on the circuit. Brian

said that GetTaxi involved having their own

expelled. Brian quoted a sentence from the

rank and for hire and that any trips called

DaC rule book, which said that there can be

would involve cabs running from whichever

hardware and was not allowed. He then said

no exterior advertising other than the DaC

place they found to wait away from the actu-

it would be churlish to try to sort out Hailo

logo on our taxis without the express permis-

al Wharf

- such as Limeharbour or

drivers, but in response to Peter, he agreed

sion of the Company Secretary. Jim came back

Millharbour. Brian confirmed that the Wharf

that those drivers should not be allowed to

and again called it disgraceful that Apps such

security had complained on several occasions

advertise Hailo on their taxis and it would be

as Hailo and GetTaxi weren’t just taking radio

about our taxis parking there and that they

made a complaint. He added that if at any

work by having no run-ins etc, but were

could actually kick us out. As an aside, Bill

time Hailo were to bring into fruition a

“stealing” work from drivers working the

added worryingly that the security there kept

Business side where they took accounts, then

streets. Brian said the drivers were cutting

records of any drivers having been warned

the situation would change. Brian also took

their noses off to spite their faces and ended

and that they could ban you from entering

the opportunity to pass a personal point of

his reply to Jim by confirming that advertising

onto the Wharf and you could do nothing

view regarding Hailo. He said to applause

would now be taken up as a complaint in

about it.

that the only advantage we had over minicabs

addition to that already in force re other com-

Peter Doyle (P60)

was the right to ply for hire and yet here were

panies hardware.

queried the ‘bid’ zone

drivers who were destroying street hails by

Next up was

and that any trip in it

not only going to pick up passengers for

Robert Stroulger

could only be offered

nowt to save them going out, but who were

(Y50) who spoke

to one cab at a time

paying 10% for the privilege!

about any possible

with everyone else

Next up was

takeover of DaC and

being given the ‘no

Graham

Waite

pointed out that as

trip in zone’ message.

(B35) who said that

we had so much cash

Peter gave an exam-

it was better to get

in the bank in addi-

ple of how he believed that could be improved

80% of something

tion to a valuable

when he said that although the bids showed

that

100% of noth-

building, it sounded as though a company

an uncovered trip in NW6, if a message also

ing. He said that he

paying for the business would get so much

went out saying a trip needs covering in the

felt we needed to be

back that they would be getting the business

actual street, then many who may have bid and

a bit more creative

for nothing. Brian said that depended on how

were not far from NW6 but a substantial way

and suggested a high useage discount for cus-

much they paid! Brian gave an example and

from the actual street - especially during the

tomers. Brian said that we already did that

said that if the business was worth, for exam-

peak traffic hours - wouldn’t bother, leaving it

and that high users get a smaller admin

ple, £13million and someone wanted to pay

clearer for those that were fairly close. Brian

charge. But he added that it wasn’t so much

£13million, then yes they’d be getting it for

said that he agreed with Peter 100% and would

the small admin charge, it was the cost of the

nothing. But Brian inferred that anyone mak-

ask Control Centre Manager, Allan Evans, to

meter. Graham also suggested a regular dri-

ing an offer would have to pay more than the

speak to our dispatchers and to try to improve

ver’s forum, but Brian said that we have had

paper value of the current business.

that situation.

forums in the past and no one went. He also

Next to speak was Pat Keefe (G01) again.

Call Sign heard that it was implemented

said that if anyone goes to see them or sug-

He queried whether we were likely to attract

the following day and was considered to

gests it in Call Sign and it sounds like a good

carpetbaggers who would want to join purely

have been successful, although some dri-

Call Sign March 2014

Page 19

All you need to know about the 2013 DaC AGM continued from previous page

vers did complain about the number of

ing out.

Chairman to get a show of hands as to how

extra messages.

Laurence ended by saying that there was a

many of the 100 + drivers present wanted

Brian added that both he and Allan Evans

possibility that this could be the last-ever AGM

run-ins scrapped. Brian agreed to that but

received data concerning scrubs and every

of Dial-a-Cab and if that was the case he want-

purely for the sake of interest. He needn’t

scrubbed trip was checked to see whether any-

ed to thank the Board for everything they had

have worried because just five drivers voted

thing could have been done to improve that

done for the Society over the years.

in favour of getting rid of run-ins!

particular piece of coverage, but that some-

Trevor Denton (Y51) also made his second

Brian closed the meeting at 1.17pm and

times there was nothing more.

appearance of the day. He asked whether we

we all rushed home to watch Spurs play -

Laurence Kelvin (W88) then made his sec-

would retain zones after switching over to a

well some of us did!

ond trip to the lectern. He spoke of a letter he

GPS system. Brian confirmed that we would

had written to Call Sign suggesting that per-

have virtual ranks. That satisfied Trevor and it

Alan Fisher

haps part of DaC House could be rented out

left just one more driver - which was just as

because he felt we no longer needed so much

well as the Editor’s writing hand was begin-

Call Sign Online

space. Brian said that he didn’t think we need-

ning to turn blue!

ed to do that as we were cash rich and didn’t

Barry

Groner

really need the money. He said that our build-

(V30) had that dis-

ing was a credit to us and mentioned how

tinction

and if

Jacqui Chart, who is the Building Manager in

Laurence Kelvin was

addition to being Brian’s PA, did such an

right, he could be the

Call Sign

exceptional job. Brian added that in addition

last-ever DaC driver

March 2014

to any damage an outside company could

to speak at an AGM!

Editor: Alan Fisher

cause, there was also the matter of security

He also spoke about

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

with our IT department holding much valu-

Hailo and GetTaxi

Tel: 0207 251 0581 Fax: 0207 553 7293

able information. He said that the possible

and the fact that they have no run-ins or gra-

Email: callsignmag@aol.com

annual income for the one floor would be

tuities so that if a trip wasn’t covered, there

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

approx £100,000 and we would have to put

was “nothing in their tool box to encourage

Printers: Premier Print Group

that against the added risk of security prob-

drivers to put themselves out.” He said that

25 - 31 Violet Rd, London E3

lems. He did add that we moved from

we had run-ins and even premiums to assist

Design: Aldan Publications

Tel: 07958 300 428

Brunswick House with its 30 position call cen-

in coverage and added that one of the rea-

Email: deborahfresco@gmail.com

tre to DaC House with its 80 position call cen-

sons we were all on radio was because of the

Views and opinion expressed in Call Sign must

tre, but that with modern technology (online

incentives. Brian replied that drivers could

not be assumed to represent those of the Editor or

bookings, Aspect etc), we only needed a 30

see what a contentious issue the run-in

Board.No part of Call Sign may be reproduced

position call centre again! However, there was

debate was.

either manually or electronically without the express

permission of the Editor.

no current plan to rent any part of the build-

A driver from the floor then asked the

Call Sign March 2014

Page 20

s part of their celebra-

London Taxidrivers’ Fund for Underprivileged Children

tions for 85 amazing

years, the LTFUC

Committee asked

Valentine’s

Night Ball

theirs and Dial-a-Cab Board

Photos: Alan Fisher

Member, Mike Son, to organise

a ball at the historic surround-

ings of the London Guildhall. It

took place on the evening of

Friday 14 February - Valentine’s

Day - 2014.

This year’s LTFUC Chair and former

DaC driver, Simeos Yiannikaris, had

welcomed everyone and explained what

the Fund has been doing for the past 85

years. That led to an excellent meal

which preceded a silent auction.

The auction raised a significant

amount of funds for the charity -

with among the successful bidders

being DaC Board member and

Chelsea season ticket holder, Allan

Evans, who purchased a signed shirt

Organiser Mike Son with Brian Rice

of Chelsea’s Frank Lampard.

After the dinner and silent auction,

everyone got up to dance the evening

away to Pulse - a brilliant band who

knew all the right songs to play! Special

guests at the ball were former DaC dri-

ver and LTFUC President, Bill Tyzack

(ex-C06) along with his forever-young

wife, Grace. Bill joined ODRTS in 1962

and only finally called it a day last year.

DaC are always well represented at

trade charity events and this event

was no exception with Brian Rice,

Howard Pears and Allan Evans togeth-

er with their significant others. And

doing a brilliant job as toastmaster

was DaC’s Keith Reading (W76).

It was in 1928 that taxi driver Mick

Cohen fulfilled his ambition of one day

returning to the Norwood home he had

Bill and Grace Tyzack

spent his young years at to take some of

the children on an outing in his cab.

Mick’s idea was to find 2 or 3 other cab-

bies to join him and take a few kids on

an outing to the zoo. He mentioned the

idea to a few other drivers and 12 turned

up to take fifty children on the outing!

This was the same year that UK

women had their voting age reduced

from 30 to 21, Alexander Fleming dis-

covered penicillin, Herbert Hoover

was elected US President and the

LTFUC itself was founded at the

Leicester Square taxi shelter. Three

years later, the Fund made their first

Southend outing.

Here’s to the LTFUC and the next 85

years...

Dennis Latchett

Call Sign Online

Dancing to Pulse in the heart of the Guildhall

Call Sign March 2014

Page 21

Hello Ladies & Gents,

Operations Manager

Tube strike days...

Over the past month, a number of issues were

brought to light during and after the tube

strikes, and again by members at the recent

Chat from the Call Centre

AGM. The two strike days generated a lot of

extra work for everyone; but traffic conditions,

In answer to Ricki Rands (M81) letter in

tremendously high demand for our services

this issue’s Mailshot, the Editor’s idea of

and at times a lack of working members put a

holding a QP and regaining the original posi-

lot of strain on us all. We tried desperately to

tion back within the fifteen minutes is cer-

notify passengers of the situation prior to the

tainly not unreasonable; the problem at this

strike days, but long delays caused the

particular time is that to implement this

inevitable frustrations from all sides. At certain

change on the present operating system will

times of the day - especially early mornings -

necessitate major reprogramming. The good

the fleet size was surprisingly reduced and

news is that the IT department are well on

coverage was tough, to say the least, with

the way to rewriting a new in-house operat-

demand far out weighing supply. But I must

ing system that will not only be GPS based,

give praise to the Call Centre staff who did a

but one that will be so much more flexible

great job under very trying circumstances.

and allow us to make these types of changes.

I, along with the Board, can appreciate that

General coverage

certain members may benefit from similar

their position in the zone by pressing the TO

On a general day to day basis the south, south

upgrades, which may make their working day

button, which was hard to regularly monitor

west and western areas have been a major

a little easier. It is a very reasonable request

even with the help of GPS.

cause for concern and it seems that no

and one that will certainly be considered in

As you know, when you activate Temporary

amount of effort from dispatchers and Call

the near future.

Off, you not only hold your queue position

Centre staff seem to improve this situation.

Be very lucky, drive safely and keep press-

but actually gain a lower QP as trips are dis-

We have every different way of dispatching

ing the accept button...

patched to other members. As a Board, we

trips following your suggestions and now,

can appreciate that if you leave the taxi for

Allan Evans

ladies and gentleman, it is up to you to help

varying reasons, you could be offered a trip

Control Centre / Operations

us out. We have tried to implement all ideas

whilst out of the taxi that could result in

Manager

that members have asked us to consider,

being booked off.

adding street and road names to the pick-up

addresses, unmasking trips so that destina-

Book Review *** Book Review *** Book Review

tions are shown and even giving times that

On Wednesday 22 January 2014, Barney Curley became the scourge of bookies every-

trips in certain problem zones are due to be

where pulling in his third orchestrated horseracing coup and forcing them to pay out

fired out. Most drivers have approved the

around £3million. It has been described as the greatest coup in horse racing history. Now

new methods, with a minority voicing disap-

you can read how it was done…

proval, but it is now getting to the situation

where we must try to improve coverage dur-

ing certain times of the day and from certain

THE SURE THING

areas. I’ve mentioned it before, but I’m still at

The Sure Thing (Hardback, Century £20) by Nick Townsend is the

a loss as to why the same call signs still reject

incredible true story of how gambler Barney Curley masterminded the

job after job in such a short space of time,

biggest betting scam of all time - twice! If you are interested in horse-

especially when some are worth upwards of

£45.

racing, this book will fascinate you. But even if you don’t care about the

The lead-in times are set according to the

sport of Kings, you will still enjoy an amazing tale - perhaps even more

zone location and although they may be

because it is true!

adjusted depending on traffic conditions, the

The story begins with Curley’s early life when he went from becom-

inner London postal zones (eg W1SW) are set

ing a priest to a gambler and his 1975 win with Yellow Sam, who won at Bellewstown

at twelve minutes and the outer London

country track in Ireland where there was only one telephone. Curley had a friend act out a

zones

(eg SW19) at eighteen minutes.

prolonged call to a fictional dying aunt, thereby blocking desperate attempts by off-course

Outlying zones within the M25 such as SE99

bookmakers to cut Yellow Sam’s odds. Then there was his incredible 2010 gamble when he

are forty five minutes and if outside the M25,

netted £4million. This story takes a unique look at a big time gambler and gives an inside

are set for ninety minutes. With this in mind,

look at the world of horse-racing, where despite the odds, anything is possible.

I urge you to offer reasonable delays on trip

Barney Curley is a legendary punter - albeit a man of mystery - who has always delighted

offers so that the clients are offered a taxi and

in trying to beat the system. But put his name into Google or any search engine and you

we let them decide if the delay is acceptable.

will think you are following someone’s mythical adventures.

It is always better to offer something rather

It was Wednesday 22 Jan 2014 that Barney Curley became the scourge of bookies every-

than nothing.

where when he pulled in his third orchestrated horseracing coup and forced them to pay

out around

£3million. Curley has never divulged the full details of how he did it - but

EC5 and Temporary Off

now The Sure Thing reveals the complete story of the months of planning and preparation,

For as long as EC5 (Finsbury Square) has

trials and tribulations that went into the biggest organised gambles in racing history. It’s the

been in operation on the data system, the

warts-and-all story of Barney Curley's incredible life and the millions he has won. Some

temporary off button has not been active.

think of him as a folk hero - others as a card shark!

The way the zone has operated and the

Nick Townsend is a long-time confidant of Barney Curley and tells a human story

method of booking-in may have changed

over the years, but to prevent the rules being

about the man behind the bet, about the beauty of chasing the exact odds, the per-

violated the Board have always felt that the

fection of having worked out all the possibilities for one unique time and the

TO button should remain disabled in this

obsession of balancing every little detail to bring home as large a win as possible.

zone. Unfortunately, there were always a

The book is an excellent read whether you like horse-racing or not.

small minority of drivers booking into EC5

The Sure Thing: The Greatest Coup in Horse Racing History by Nick Townsend

from far away locations and then holding

was published on February 27 by Century at £20.

Call Sign March 2014

Page 22

STICKY, STICKING, STUCK!

“I’m grateful the cab

Old gearwheel on the left

was still driveable,” Dial-

and a new one on the right

a-Cab driver Graham

Flitton

(G66) declared

all over the place and find their

to Call Sign, his voice

way into those tiny and delicate

clearly relieved at being

valves.”

mobile again.

Call Sign was shown some

“I’d started to notice

very worn and broken gears

that the auto gearbox on

and other internal working

my TX2 was beginning to

parts of a rather complex auto-

get slower between gear

matic gearbox, and it was easy

changes once it had

to appreciate just what damage

warmed up a bit, and so

can be done when things break

I decided to get the gear-

up. Carl offered some advice to

box serviced at the earliest opportunity.

DaC drivers...

“Strangely to me, everything was fine at the start-up when the

“If things don’t feel right, do not try to carry on driving the cab

engine and ‘box were cold, but then things went downhill after that.

because you are likely to do further damage that will usually end up

Before long I began having real difficulty changing up into the higher

costing you far more. Graham was lucky that he was close by.

gears and soon after that the gearbox stuck solid in second gear - the

“In extreme cases a gearbox can be damaged beyond repair within

engine revving away and me not moving very fast at all! So I called

a day. But I don’t want to scare you, just to alert DaC drivers to the

someone I know who runs a fleet of cabs, and he suggested I visit

possibilities!

Globe Automatics in Cudworth Street E1 as he’d been there and

“I would recommend regular servicing so that the gearbox has

was very happy with their service.

clean, fresh oil, which in turn will extend the working life of the gear-

“I know there are other auto gearbox specialists who also do a fine

box and save you money in the long run. Winter snow and road salt

job, but as I was close to the City, I decided to give Globe a try. I gently

can be a problem too,” Carl added.

drove the cab there at 9am and was back on the road by 4pm that same

“The electronically controlled TX4 gearbox is another beast alto-

afternoon How about that!” Graham’s face beamed at the memory.

gether because it works in conjunction with the engine, so if it detects

Continuing his story, Graham told us that Globe Automatics

a problem with the engine, it will try to compensate and if it detects

carried out some checks and had found metallic particles and

a problem within itself, it may have a bearing on the running of the

other debris ‘clogging’ up the works big time. After the work had

engine. So you need to bear that in mind too.”

been done, Graham took the cab back after completing 500 miles

Our thanks to Globe Automatics who can be contacted on 020

for a final check and, yes, his gearbox problem had been cured.

7377 577

So Call Sign went off to speak to Globe Automatics, where owner

Carl greeted us warmly and gave us the story on Graham’s woes.

“Firstly, we lowered the gearbox oil sump to see what ‘dropped out’

and in Graham’s case, lots of metal bits did! These foreign bodies clog

up the delicate, finely engineered passages of the governor valve and

valve block, and that stops the gears from changing up and down as

they should. The gearbox generates very high internal hydraulic pres-

sures and considerable heat and as friction plates, clutches and bear-

ings wear over time, those minute metal particles get thrown around

Hammersmith

taxi rank

he February Call Sign con-

tained an article about

Steve Thomas (N10) win-

ning his case against

Hammersmith Council who had

presented him with a PCN for

over-ranking on the Hammersmith

Broadway taxi rank.

DaC’s former PCN guru, Barrie Segal, has written to

us to say that whilst we considered the Steve’s win to be

a precedent, it should be borne in mind that the circum-

stances would have to be exactly the same for that to be

the case and that the result could change if the

council submitted the appropriate Traffic Management

Order and proved that the double yellow lines were valid.

The only way to find out is to Appeal...

Call Sign March 2014

Page 23

DAC SALE AND

“RICE’S PORKIES!”*

discussion with Brian Rice, who

Cab and it went no further than that. That

explained to me the process of how any

was probably the best part of two years

'takeover' might work.

ago, perhaps even a little more.

We have been surprised by the strong

According to Lee, there are rumours regard-

rumours that we are one of the two bidders

ing Cabvision and Dial-a-Cab, I would like to

announced in the letter to DaC members;

make it quite clear that I have never mentioned

again I stress that Cabvision has made no

that Cabvision were interested in purchasing

financial offer for DaC and did not advance

Dial-a-Cab. Consequently, I am at a loss to

to a stage where we would even receive any

understand why an individual (obviously not

financial or management information. The

Lee DaCosta) is stating that I am not telling the

rumours are totally unfounded and curious.

truth regarding Cabvision and Dial-a-Cab -

Whilst I have never been on the

Cabvision are not bound by any confi-

that can’t be right, as I have never said any-

London Taxi Driver’s Forum, I have

dentiality agreement with DaC. We have

thing to anyone regarding the two companies.

often been sent comments taken from

no idea where the rumour has come from

Incidentally, in my letter to Members

it by our drivers when they concern

or who leaked them, but we do remain an

where I mentioned two organisations that

Dial-a-Cab, Brian Rice or me!

interested party and may revisit our posi-

were interested in Dial-a-Cab, neither of

The emails passed over usually come from

tion some time in the future.”

them were Cabvision. “

one of two people on that list. However, I’ve

Dizzy comes into the situation, but not

Perhaps Dizzy is a former driver and jeal-

mentioned a few times that unless they really

because he placed a link to Lee DaCosta’s let-

ous of having lost out on the possibility of a

are serious, then I have no interest in their

ter. It’s just that he labelled it as “More of

windfall? But the bottom line must be just

petty insults. But this time several DaC dri-

Rice’s porkies.” In other words, he - the man

who really cares what he thinks. The only

vers thought that a comment from the per-

who won’t give his name - is calling the

ones whose views really matter are those

son, who is apparently the moderator of the

Chairman of Dial-a-Cab a liar even though

Members of Dial-a-Cab and it is they - not

list and who goes by the name of Dizzy, went

Brian has never said Cabvision were interested.

Dizzy - who are the important people in any

beyond being described as petty. Perhaps vin-

So how can he be telling lies? Of course, when

possible sale. Dizzy’s views are totally worth-

dictive, plain nasty or even actionable might

people are too afraid to put their name to stuff

less and certainly not put online for the good

describe him better.

they write, then those like Dizzy can just say

of the trade, purely to start trouble. But that

I haven’t a clue as to whether I know

what they like. Had Cabvision gone beyond

freedom stops when referring to people as

him or not, but as I’m not that keen on

just a general enquiry, DaC’s subscribers would

telling lies - although in reality, it is Dizzy who

people who throw insults while being

have been told. The fact that this article is giv-

is telling the lies. But of course my name is at

afraid to give their name, I hope that I

ing Dizzy far more publicity than he would ever

the bottom of the page.

don’t because he sounds like a thoroughly

get otherwise, is irrelevant.

Incidentally, one rumour that I did hear

nasty bit of0 work.

Brian Rice wrote to Thomas the Taxi and

became fact at the AGM when Brian Rice con-

So what did he say that was so awful,

his response to Dizzy’s “liar” accusation was

firmed that yet another company has

because I have little doubt that the huge

also published. This is what he wrote:

expressed an interest in DaC, and that isn’t

majority of drivers are not on that list? Well it

“Regarding the statement made by Lee

Cabvision either...

follows on from a letter sent out to drivers

DaCosta, I agree with his statement, he

*Porkies - pork pies (lies)

from Chairman Brian Rice informing the fleet

did in fact visit this office with his father

that two offers had come in for DaC. The letter

Alan Fisher

Peter as they were interested in Dial-a-

from Brian included a separate sheet asking

Editor

drivers whether they wanted the Board to

investigate the offers further

- and it was

emphasised the both offers were from taxi ori-

Dial-a-Cab Credit Union

entated businesses. 91.5% of the 85% DaC dri-

vers who responded voted in favour of looking

further. But it brought an appaling response

Ever needed money quickly but were anxious about

from Mr Dizzy when he posted a link to a let-

variable bank interest rates?

ter that was sent to the Taxi Leaks blog site,

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

which I believe is moderated by Jim Thomas

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

aka Thomas the Taxi. I do occasionally look

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

at that site and even though it is more than

at your address also qualifies for membership!

capable of having a pop, unlike the LTDF, it

often contains interesting information for taxi

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

drivers.

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

The letter came from Lee DaCosta. In it he

up to 3 times your total savings…

said that rumours that were apparently circu-

The cost?

lating - although I hadn’t heard them - were

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

linking his Cabvision as being one of the two

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

companies said to be involved. He said that

had no basis in fact. He wrote:

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

“I can confirm that I personally have

Call us on 020 7729 8171 or 020 7749 0585

visited DaC and raised the 'possibility' of

making an offer for the Company.

Members of the Financial Ombudsman Service

Cabvision's interest did not extend

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

beyond this point and it did not lead to a

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

formal offer or a signing of a

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

Registration number 213263

Confidentiality Agreement. I had a lengthy

Call Sign March 2014

Page 24

This series commemorates 2014’s centennial beginning of WW1 hostilities by telling of their time in

the forces by those connected to Dial-a-Cab. This month, Mike Walsh...

DAC WAR HEROES

Called to the bar

sometimes go down

The connections to

into the Control Room

Dial-a-Cab go back a

to say hullo and have a

long, long way for

chat. That’s when we

Mike Walsh (ex-C77),

discovered our com-

in fact to our earliest

mon army heritage

days at Pentonville

and we became

Road...

friends.

“I joined ODRTS on

Johnny was also some-

9th April

1961 at our

thing of a Cribbage play-

then office of

172

er. Our regimental cap

Pentonville Road and

badge colours were red

enjoyed almost 52 years

and green so I made a

with the Society - firstly

Cribbage Board from

for 40 years as Charlie

the butt of a Lee Enfield

77 and latterly as a jour-

303 rifle, a familiar

neyman, giving me I

weapon to both of us. I

believe, the role of sec-

drilled Cribbage holes in

ond longest continuous

the stock and mounted

serving driver behind

our regimental cap

Alan Lewis (A44).

badge onto the end with

But eight years

red sealing wax. I took it

before my ‘calling’ to

to him expecting he

Mike in 1953 and now

would play with it dur-

ODRTS, I was ‘called

up’ to serve my coun-

ing quieter moments

try and do my National Service between 1953 and 1955. And of

between dispatching shifts before returning it to me, but he must

course I remember my service number - 22869880... Sir!

have liked it as a memento rather than Cribbage board, because I

I joined the Kings Royal Rifle Corps as an infantryman after hav-

never saw it again…”

ing passed my medical ‘A1’. Co-incidentally, Johnny Thwaites, a

well-known ODRTS night-time dispatcher from the past, was in the

same regiment during WW2. But more of him later.

We did 12 weeks basic training in Winchester and were given vari-

ous ‘trades’ choices, for which I had high hopes of joining the RAF

Maintenance Regiment or perhaps the Royal Electrical and

Mechanical Engineers - known as REME. But by the time my name

was called out going in alphabetical order, it meant that my ‘W’ was

towards the end and there wasn’t much left on the list, so all hope of

REME was dashed!

Black Cab

I was offered the posts of Officers Batman or Sergeants Mess

Barman and thought it sounded ok - so there I was. To this day I

Heritage Tours

can honestly claim to having been ‘called to the Bar’ although the

Law Society might take a different view!

Black Cab Heritage Tours have some pre-

Those soft-sounding positions certainly didn’t represent reality

because we were forever being sent on various training exercises or

booked corporate work in 2014 and we

manoeuvres. The firing ranges at Bisley - including live rounds field

need to increase our list of associates to

firing - took place at regular intervals. It was also the Army that taught

me to drive, albeit a Bedford 3 ton truck, so pushing an FX3 around

help cover that work.

the streets of London some years later came easily! But it might have

We only use owner drivers - but our client has

been even easier had I remembered to hand in my Certificate of

requested black (in colour) taxis only. However, your

Competence and automatically qualify for a full civilian driving licence,

Dial-a-Cab logos are fine provided the taxi is black and

so I had to go through the procedure again.

has no other ads of any kind.

Later, I was promoted to HQ Company Store man while serving at

If you would like to join our contact list please

Sennelager Training Camp in Germany. We went by boat to the

Hook of Holland and then by rail. I guess that could classify as my first

email me (Bob Woodford) at:

cruise!

rob@blackcabheritagetours.co.uk

While serving at the Mess bar, there were a couple of sergeants who

No guiding skills are required and I should add that

were real jokers. One day the Regimental Sergeant Major informed

this client is a Kensington based events Management

the gathering there was to be a formal dinner and everyone was

Company and fellow member (together with BCHT) of

expected to attend immaculately attired in Full Dress Uniform for the

UK Inbound, so the trips are totally different from nor-

occasion. This required a dress coat with tails as in formal evening

dress and rather like a musical conductor’s coat tails. To cut a long

mal taxi work. Therefore there is not any direct compe-

story short, these two characters arrived in their pyjamas with their

tition whatsoever with Dial-a-Cab work.

day shirts hanging out at the back over their PJ bottoms, claiming they

were correctly clothed as they were in evening dress complete with

Bob Woodford

tails! The whole Mess laughed, but the RSM was less impressed!

Going back to John Thwaites at ODRTS; he’d be in the office

rob@blackcabheritagetours.co.uk

overnight while I’d be in my cab for early mornings, so I would

Call Sign March 2014

Page 25

My Lords, Ladies and

Gary Cox looks at the influx of electric taxis and poses the Mayor a

DaC Gents...

question...

Please be upstanding

for the next great

British experiment!

We give you the

Electric taxis:

Frazer Nash group of

companies, current

The cart before the horse?

owners of Bristol

Cars (which they took

him! In my eyes, he should have got knighted for

Now what was that bloke in the ad saying: You

direct from the admin-

that one (even though many years later he

can charge it off a three-pin plug? Don't you

istrators in 2011 via another of their companies,

became Lord Jamie). After all, Sir Alex got knight-

believe it! If you live on a council estate, or share

Kamkorp Autokraft). It comes direct off the

ed and cheered on in Milton Keynes and the

a cab, or you do a 40 mile return trip to work, at

drawing board and has been tested by no less

Home Counties for far less.

least you can guarantee 8 hours in bed at night.

than the Mayor - of course it is the brand new

I can't help but think that if Ken Livingston

After twenty years, you should be a good golfer

Metrocab electric taxi, which has been devel-

was Mayor today, the first question he would

with all that time on your hands whilst you await

oped by Ecotive Ltd, part of the Frazer Nash

ask is whether the emergence of electric taxis

the spark of life to ignite your world. Then again,

group of companies!

were actually the return of the ice cream van

you will need to factor in time to see the bank

As much as I’d like to blow a fanfare for this

with a cable run from a block of flats via a

manager to get a loan for the new batteries.

“new” vehicle, I can't help but wonder if hav-

window to the van!

A big job fitting in those batteries - you'll

ing read the words Frazer Nash energy sys-

The second thing ‘Red’ Ken would have mur-

have to book it in, but tell you what son, you

tems, specialist in design and development of

mured is that he was not having 26.000 loose

can run it on petrol for now until we can fit

components and SUB systems for electric

cables running over OUR city - makes it sound

you in... possibly some time in the next two

vehicles and hybrid electric - oh yes, and plug

like Red Ken is my hero. God help us all if that's

weeks.

in hybrid vehicles - that the words have some-

all we have to cajole Mayor Boris with but at pre-

When your partner told you to flog that

thing of a familiar ring to the Mercedes rear

sent, I'll take anything that helps. Thinking about

moped, they were wrong for once. If you do pick

wheel experiment about it?

it, 26,000 live cables dangling around might keep

up Boris, just ask him who's paying to dig up

We all know that Geely - that's the proper black

the population of Feltham Young Offenders

London for the cables for your new dream

cab to the public and us - and Nissan, not to

Institute down! I doubt anyone would find a way

machine? Then smile your best and ask him if

mention Mercedes, are all wandering along the

of borrowing the cables and switches to drop off

he’s gonna charge up all those buses parked out

path of an inevitably electric future. But to me it

down the scrapyard for the price of a fix and a

on the road at night due to lack of space in the

all sounds a bit like Geoff Kaley (Chairman of

can of Special Brew thrown in.

tram shed? He’ll probably refer you to the big bus

Computer Cab and LTDA COM member at the

Then again, the folks blowing the biggest fan-

man, the recently knighted Sir Peter Hendy. The

time), who many years ago waved a piece of

fare will come from the biggest ‘House’ in town.

stock answer will be that the Mayor gets what the

paper like Neville Chamberlain - that's the bloke

Let's face it; they are not actually going to be

Mayor wants. Ping pong or is it whiff whaff? It’s

who gave Churchill his big break in the

putting their hands into their own pockets to

your call.

war. Geoff proudly stood up and said we had a

purchase this experiment while trying to balance

With a little help, perhaps I might be able to say

wider door in a wheelchair accessible cab, com-

the exes. It’s down to us to try to drive a bargain

that I'm ready to take on the next challenge, but

plete with ramps that would take the weight of a

- excuse the pun!

understand this Mr Mayor; all that stuff that

twenty stone man. The future was going to be

Nope, I've had it with experiments! Let

comes out of the Department for Trade about

bright and civilised.

ComCab take the gamble with credibility by

help for small businesses never seems to ring true

Then we all watched the TaxiCard work roll in

offering drivers that wish to become sacrificial

when it comes to the London Taxi trade - unlike

under Ken Livingston - until it dried up into a

Guinea pigs on the altar of sexy science, a bed

the buses and trains who get everything going.

slow painful death, leaving us with the earache

partner that only they seem to know anything

You deal the cards in this game of poker -

due to under-funding later on. Then the penny

about - ie the electric Metrocab. I wish them all

called politics - in London, I understand that. But

dropped onto the head of the cab trade

the luck in the world renting it out and truly

you have to know when to show them, know

overnight! The manufacturers - LTI and Metro -

hope that in fighting it out with the boffins, they

when to throw them in and know when to walk

had in one swift move managed to say goodbye

can get some money and help out of Boris along

away. This is not the time to walk away pushing

to all their old cabs while upping the price of a

the way. I can't see anyone getting any money out

your bike.

new taxi by a considerable chunk after informing

of my pocket for this project unless the Mayor

Me? I’m off to buy a moped quickly before the

us that the wheelchair access had added over

£1000 to every new cab!

underwrites a guarantee saying that he will share

price of a second hand bike goes through the

the heartache if I’m left spending hours in a

stratosphere. When she who must be obeyed

Some might say that getting the 2012

Olympics for London, could well have been

garage being fobbed off, holding the reins of

asks why I need one, I can tell her why - it’s

won on such things as wheelchair accessible

a white elephant within six months of purchasing

because all the boys in the school lab have got

taxis, but that was soon forgotten when the

a golden promise ticket of a freedom pass to the

one...except me!

Games arrived that summer, along with more

electric board of my choice.

Gary Cox (O46)

special - but not taxi - lanes than a good party

on a Saturday night in town!

Those who were around in the 1980s will

2014 taxi fare increase

remember Ken Livingston - then as leader of the

GLC - dishing out a big fat cheque for the devel-

TfL has agreed a well below inflation taxi

special provision has been in place to allow taxi

opment of a new taxi to be built in Coventry,

fare increase for 2014/15. The 0.7 per cent

fares to be increased if diesel costs increase drasti-

something for which we couldn't knock him.

average increase is the lowest since TfL took

cally. The Board approved an extension of this pro-

over responsibility for licensing taxis in 2000

vision for the coming year and a 40 pence

Then years later, that same cheque was returned

and will take effect from Saturday 5 April

increase to all taxi fares will be implemented if

with the words: One cheque, thanks for the loan.

2014.

diesel reaches 175.48 pence per litre.

Sorry mate, no new cab.

The new fares seek a balance between maintain-

A change will see the £4 Christmas extra

Rumour had it that Skoda - or was it Trabant -

ing income levels for drivers while ensuring pas-

charge automatically added to fares over the

would not play ball with the parts. Maybe they

sengers still get a fair price for the high quality

festive period from December 2016, which is

knew the Berlin Wall was coming down and the

service provided by the capital’s taxi drivers. The

currently added manually by the driver.

Board approved the changes following consulta-

The Board also agreed to review the date when

markets were their oyster shell. More like it was a

tion by TfL with the taxi trade and others, includ-

taxi fares and tariffs are reviewed with the possi-

lack of support from national government that

ing London TravelWatch, London Boroughs,

bility of aligning changes with those made on

saw the demise of the project. We did finally end

London Assembly and London MPs.

London’s bus, rail and Tube network - so from

up with Jamie Borwick’s mighty TX1 to give us

The Board also approved the extension of a special

January each year, rather than April.

some respite in the madness of life. God bless

provision linked to diesel prices. Since July 2008, a

* See Editor’s comment on page 3...

Call Sign March 2014

Page 26

Convalescing from his recent seri-

ous operation, Tom Whitbread

gave us a few memories from

years gone by...

Tom’s Tales

With smoke coming from my cab’s exhaust

(and remnants of an Old Holborn roll-up exit-

lady slapped the legal fare into my hand and

ing the driver’s window) it was off to search the

scurried off towards the Underground

streets of 1980’s Dalston for anyone with a

entrance.

raised hand and it wasn’t too long before I got

I drove the rude twosome back to the air-

a job to Manor House, dropping off by the old

port and received another legal. I was about

Woodbury Down rank.

to tell them they had forgotten their lug-

It was there I was approached by a large

gage when I realised the previous passen-

African lady in a colourful wraparound

ger had left her overweight items that

dress. She had to go to Haringey, pick up

should have been on their way to Africa. I

her luggage and continue onto the old BA

felt well and truly peed off .

terminal in Buckingham Palace Road. Little

All I wanted to do now was get shot of the

did I know then that this was to turn into a

items and get back to work; I dismissed the air-

taxi driver’s nightmare.

port police as too much aggravation and pro-

On arrival at a side road off Green Lanes, the

ceeded to Hammersmith. Parking outside the

lady asked for help with the luggage and as she

police station, I went in and spoke to a rather

was going into town, I didn’t mind. I climbed

articles out of the trunks. As she released the

bored-looking police officer, asking if I could

the stairs to the first floor and was confronted

latches, the lids shot open and I stared at what

bring in some lost property. He just nodded

with two very large trunks - the sort you’d use

must have been all her worldly belonging

without really looking but his boredom was

if emigrating. I knew there was no way I could

inside.

about to vanish!

get these wooden trunks down the stairs and

She took out a large Singer sewing

I began by bringing the sewing machine fol-

machine, an old Dansette record player and

lowed by the Dansette, guitar, iron and other

into the cab on my own, but luckily a man on

the ground floor seeing our plight, offered to

an Iron from the first trunk. The second

oddments. The police officer began to turn a

was another Aladdin’s cave of household

dark shade of purple while asking me in a not-

help. Between us we struggled and sweated

items but the first thing she removed was a

to-friendly tone if I was taking the pee? I

but eventually got the trunks into the cab - one

guitar. The warehouseman and I stood

assured him I wasn’t, so he proceeded to book

on the floor and the other on the back seat.

there with our mouths wide open in amaze-

every item in ultra-slowly; a child of six could

They felt like they were filled with cement!

ment, this amount of items were more akin

have completed the forms quicker.

However, they blocked the tip-up seats, so

to being sent in a large lorry container. The

It was some 5 months later that I had to

the lady had to sit on the trunk positioned on

lady asked that I put all the retrieved arti-

go to the PCO to collect a reward for some

the floor with her legs up and use the other

cles into the luggage compartment of my

other lost property - 10% of the value of a

one as a backrest. The journey to SW1 was

camera that had previously been left in my

uneventful, except that the lady kept sliding

taxi while she organised the payment and

despatch of the two trunks.

cab. Whilst there I innocuously said to the

sideways every time I negotiated a corner.

lady administrator that they must get some

On arrival at the terminal we were met by

However, after paying for the luggage to be

odd things handed in?

Mr Jobsworth who, without any hint of a

sent, the lady did not have enough money to

Quick as a flash she answered: “Yes, there is

smile, said that they refused to handle any-

return all the way to Haringey by taxi and asked

one driver I’d like to get hold of; he convinced

thing over 15 kilos, adding that trunks that

for a cheaper way. I said she could catch a train

a police officer that a lady had left a sewing

big had to go straight to the cargo village at

from Hatton Cross back into town, to which

machine, record player, guitar and a load of

Heathrow! So the choice was the passen-

she agreed.

household items in his taxi - probably offload-

gers: Back to Manor House or onto

At Hatton Cross, the lady was in the process

ing his own rubbish! I have to keep moving

Heathrow?

of paying me when two tall, well-dressed men

them around to try and make room for other

She elected for the latter adding that she

strode up to the cab and brusquely asked for

stuff.”

only had a certain amount of cash on her as

Heathrow, saying they were late. Call me fussy,

I wished her luck in looking for an idiot like

she’d closed her British bank accounts that

but because of the omission of the word please,

that and assured her that most taxi drivers were

afternoon. But it seemed enough so off we

I rather coldly informed them that I was being

sensible!

went and apart from her moans every time I hit

paid off and they would have to wait. The two

Tom Whitbread

a bump and her posterior crashing down onto

men became aggressive towards the lady

telling her to hurry up as they were late. The

DaC Board Member

her wooden seat, it was uneventful.

On arrival at the cargo village, we found the

airline warehouse and she produced her docu-

ments. But the trunks needed to be weighed.

THE CHILTERN FIRE HOTEL

The warehouse man and I struggled to extri-

It’s always - well usually - nice to welcome a new

cate the two trunks from what had become

hotel into London. No doubt many of you

their most recent resting place, although with

remember the fire station in Chiltern Street W1.

all this heavy lifting I was becoming concerned

That is about to re-open as the Chiltern Fire

about a part of my interior anatomy suddenly

Hotel. So Call Sign popped in there recently to

dropping down to my ankles!

tell them about the service London taxis provide

The scales were in the warehouse floor so

and how they have been voted World’s Best

we dragged the first trunk over and onto the

Taxis for an amazing six years in a row.

metal plate. The needle shot around the face of

However, a very pleasant young lady look-

the scales with the speed of Apollo 10. It was

ing after the premises prior to the official

when the man explained how much the cost

opening informed our reporter that they

would be to transport the item that I thought

wouldn’t be requiring taxis as they had

opened a contract with a car company!

the lady was going to faint - and this was just

Naturally this magazine would never wish to lower itself to a level of spite, so

the first of the two! We pulled it off the scales

just because they are sending their clients in cars, that doesn’t mean that you should tell any pas-

and struggled to get the second one on. The

sengers going there that you can’t take them to the door, because yes, that would be childish.

needle again tried to complete a full circle of

Now where is my Lego set...

the indicator face, so my passenger said that

Ron Yarborough, Call Sign Online

the only thing she could do was to take some

Call Sign March 2014

Page 27

Call Sign’s Stephen Berndes (R14) says...

IT’S A CABBY’S LIFE!

Soon after I heard that England’s average

DaC AGM

side were further depleted by injuries to

It will not be prescient to predict that it was

Captain Steven Gerrard and Kyle Walker. I

the last AGM I attended.

promptly joined an internet gaming site and

Brian Rice conducted the Chairmanship in

on noticing I could get 4-1 for Chile, I craven-

his usual capable combative style with

ly sought consent from er indoors and

aplomb. Once we dealt with the minutiae of

wagered £250 on a Chile win.

terminal procedures and miscellaneous odds

So to the evening of Saturday

15th

and ends, the proceedings livened up with an

November and the 8pm kick-off. However I

orchestrated intervention by two members of

deliberately avoided knowing the score and

the RMT union.

the next morning I walked up the road to col-

There was something of the Twitter about

lect my newspapers, inexplicably forgetting

them, a private matter that most members

my bet. However, Chile had won 0-2.

were not privy too. They eventually twittered

I cleared £1000, which I used towards my

off and finally the elephant in the room

tax for the year, my first bet proper in seven-

raised its benign head.

teen years.

Brian Rice announced to loud whispers

lent Tim Vickery on talkSPORT, the radio

But Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs are

that there were now three bids for Dial-a-Cab

station’s South American football expert. In

not too proud to receive tax payments - even

on the table. Because of a confidential agree-

his bullish enthusiasm, he said there would

from a bet against England!

ment, he was not at liberty to divulge the

be lots of money behind Chile against

make-up of the bids but in the fullness of

England when they came to play at

Last word...

time the bids would be revealed to us share-

Wembley.

Because of the precarious nature of our job

holders when voting will take place. Sadly I

He predicted Chile to be the neutral’s

and after twenty three year of driving a cab, I

sense a fait accompli has been manoeuvred.

favourite at the World Cup, targeting a semi-

have finally succumbed to the protection we

The founder Chairman, Bonnie Martyn,

final place. Now I know you should never bet

need by joining the LTDA. You can never

who in 1953 set up ODRTS as a friendly

against your own club or national side

under estimate security...

industrial provident society, believed in the

because it is seen as bad form and even, you

selfless ethos that all members have equal

Stephen Berndes

may feel, unpatriotic. But friendlies are open

rights and can determine how the society is

game to me.

Call Sign Online

run, crucially deciding who is elected onto

the Board.

To my mind, this is just as relevant or even

more relevant today, giving up your self-

employed mind set and working for a profit

driven employer with expulsion at their fin-

gertips.

KEEP FIT

Bonnie Martyn‘s vision has been betrayed

With former British boxing Champion Matt Marsh...

by a city freehold property and a strong bal-

ance sheet.

Are you still struggling to los

Taking a gamble

the weight you piled on at

One of my previous occupations was as a

Christmas with all that deli-

croupier working in London clubs, including

cious food? After all, you tol

a long stint in the Bahamas. I eschewed doing

my money in because I have seen too many

yourself that once they were

doing theirs on the tables or the dice and

over, you would knuckle

roulette wheel - often with me dealing!

down to regain the fitness

Nonetheless, I was listening to the excel-

that may have mysteriously

escaped after that third por-

tion of Xmas pud!

St Johns Road

Well you now have that

open to taxis

opportunity as Dial-a-Cab dri-

vers / staff members can get

Very few drivers can remember a

fit for 2014 with former super

time when St Johns Road by the

bantamweight British boxing

old Clapham Common taxi rank

champion and six times

was open to traffic other than

national champion, Matt

buses. But following the removal of

Marsh.

the rank to the side of the station,

Matt’s gym is in Welling

the road has now been opened up

and he offers training based

to taxis as well as buses.

around pad work and cir-

The opening was part of a ‘swap’

cuits. There are one-to-one sessions or

deal in exchange for taxis clearing

you can train in twos or threes.

the centre of the road and agreeing

You can call Matt on 07850 683 440 for advice and information on

to move across the road.

times etc. Mention Dial-a-Cab and you will get a special deal.

Call Sign March 2014

Page 28

Reading about the stroke suf-

Another true story from Geoff Levene

fered by Dial-a-Cab driver Dave

Hook (S80) in the January Call

Sign struck a chord with me. I've

Mystery on 3 March...

never had a stroke, but like

oner on

ghastly - much worse, in fact, than I did after

Dave I certainly didn't know

D e a t h

the original incident. When they showed me

R o w

the ECG, I realised why. There were the usual

what was round the corner on

about to

peaks and then when the tilting occurred, a

3rd March 2011.

receive a

period of 14 seconds when I flatlined and my

I'd had a good day and was on my way

l e t h a l

heart had just stopped. It wasn't in the same

home. I had the cab washed and popped into

injection!

league as footballer Patrice Muambe, who had

the garage in Cricklewood to have a bit of

collapsed during an FA Cup match at Spurs

Then the

loose bodywork secured (and on the taxi as

bed was

while playing for Bolton Wanderers, but it

well)! They completed the job in 5 minutes

was 14 seconds longer than I would have liked!

tilted to

and I felt rather pleased that everything was

“It's a no-brainer,” said the Doctor, “you

an angle

set up for my next day’s work.

need a pacemaker. We'll do it tomorrow.”

I reversed out into the Edgware Road and

And they did. It regulates the heart rate. It's

degrees

headed north, but after a few hundred yards

not something I need all the time, but it is

with my

I realised that the gearbox wasn’t changing

supposed to kick in when I'm severely

feet down

up... but why not? It couldn't have been any-

stressed. Two months later, the DVLA and TfL

and head up. It doesn't seem too critical...

thing they'd done at the garage.

gave me the all-clear and the next day I was

does it?

The gearbox was under warranty, but that

driving a cab again. So thanks Terry.

I was spark-out immediately. The good

meant a long trip in the morning to Bethnal

I just hope Dave gets his licence back as

lady wife was sitting just outside and

Green. And it threw me! Suddenly my head

soon as possible as well...

heard the tannoy call for a doctor and

began spinning. What was going on? By now

watched with horror as one rushed past

Geoff Levene (W32)

I was on the Staples Corner flyover and I

her and into my room!

glanced down at the gearshift. Aha! I wasn't in

Call Sign Online

I came round a few seconds later and felt

Drive but was in second gear! I stuck it into

Drive and the engine changed up. So that was

it! There was no longer anything to worry

about! But I continued to feel unwell.

I pulled off the road and waited a few

Thump Start!

minutes before starting to feel a bit better. I

decided to carry on but almost immediate-

At DaC’s Roman Way depot recently,

ly felt bad again and I was starting to lose it.

a young driver astonished those

I needed something sweet - a Mars bar or

around him when his new cab fail

something similar. Then I suddenly heard a

to start via the ignition key in the

scraping noise. Was the windscreen smashed?

usual fashion. Instead, with the ign

tion switched to on, a firm hand w

Why was I on the wrong side of the road? And

brought to bear down on the rim

how did I smash into that concrete bollard?

the steering wheel with a resound-

That was the scraping noise. And why were

ing thump and, as if by magic, the

people nervously approaching me? Was it

taxi engine burst into life!

because they thought I was a goner?

Call Sign later spoke to

I had blacked-out, miraculously crossed

Michael Andreou, the special-

the Edgware Road without hitting anything

ist auto electrician from

or anybody and hit the bollard hard enough

M.A.M in Blundell Street,

to smash the windscreen. I staggered out of

close to Roman Way.

the cab, took a few breaths of fresh air - or

“Ah, yes, a fairly common

as much as of it as is possible on the

fault” Michael suggested mat-

Edgware Road - and fell onto the back seat to

ter-of-factly, “it usually occurs in

await the Emergency Services.

older TX4s but new vehicles are

The paramedics gave me an ECG and the

not immune either. The prob-

police pushed the cab into a car park. Then I had

lem invariably lies in the

my first -and hopefully last - ride in an ambu-

transponder, the tiny chip in

lance. At Northwick Park I had another ECG

the ignition key that ‘talks’ to

together with an X-Ray. The A&E doctor decided

the immobiliser electronics in

it was a one-off but told me to see my GP - which

the steering column. When

I did the next day. The first thing she said was for

they match up, things are fine

me to stop driving until she could sort out what

and the cab will start on the

had happened to me and that I may possibly

key as usual, but if there is a

have to inform the Authorities if necessary.

mis-match between the two,

that’s when the fun and games start!

I was then told to stop driving for at least 6

“Banging the steering wheel to start the cab is a short term measure to get you out of

months and to hand in my Bill - which I did.

trouble and is clearly an early indication that something in the immobiliser electronics needs

Now I began a series of tests, saw a

attention. That attention is often to replace the suspect parts and then reset the system.”

Neurologist and had a brain scan - yes they

So there you have it. If the cab does not start instantly on the key, give the steering wheel

found one! I also had to wear a portable heart

a firm ‘thump’ and hopefully you will be on your way - for the time being at least!

monitor for 24 hours before being booked in

Our thanks to Michael at M.A.M Auto Electricians who can be contacted on 0207 607

for a Tilt test. The Internet gave me a clue

3915.

what to expect. The idea was to cause me to

NOTE: No steering wheel, electronic parts or tools were harmed during the making of this

faint and if that occurred, then the problem

article…

was cardiac .If it didn't, it was neurological. I

was convinced it would be the latter.

I was strapped to a bed - similar to a pris-

Call Sign March 2014

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 month’s Flashback goes

minutes to drop them off and look for a bomb shelter in the

Hyde Park area!

back to 1982 and a story

One of the two passengers told me that it was my duty to

involving former Board mem-

inform our dispatcher so that he in turn could give our drivers

ber and voice dispatcher of the

at least 15 minutes warning of the impending doom, so that

they could shoot off home and spend their last 15 minutes on

time, Phil Messias, and current

earth as they would wish (take the rubbish out early perhaps)?

Call Sign Editor Alan Fisher...

Anyway, as an upstanding citizen and ODRTS driver, I thought I would

tell the dispatcher, in this case Phil Messias, what I had just been told. He listened

From ODRTS News

and asked if I was serious? I assured him that my passengers had told me and for

the sake of peace, I would appreciate it if he could placate them by putting the mes-

and Views March

sage out. I said I would turn up the volume so that the passengers could hear the

1982

warning go out. So Phil put out the following message…

“Gents, could I please have your attention. I have been told that the world is

END OF

going to end in 15 minutes. Can you please make sure you clear your outstanding

THE

credit dockets!”

The duo accepted the message and nodded in agreement as it went out over the

WORLD!

air. I assumed at that point that there was no way I was going to get paid - and I

ODRTS dri-

was right! When they got out at the hotel, they came to the luggage door and said

ver

Alan

that God was looking after their money and that he would give it to them when

F i s h e r

they got to heaven. They offered to give me a note to show when I got to heaven!

(F07) has

I declined and said that while I didn’t have a direct line to the Almighty, I did have

been on the

the facility to call the police and that I would do exactly that if they didn’t cough

S o c i e t y

up the two quid. But they just walked away and up the hotel stairs. Then the door-

since

1974,

man asked if there was a problem. I explained about the end of the world and with

three years

that, he ran up after them and dragged the male back down. He told him that he

after getting

owed me £3, whereas the passenger said it was only £2. Alf (the brilliant doorman)

his Green

informed him that the driver would be donating £1 to the end of the world fund!

Badge. He

He threw in three crumpled £1 notes and stormed back up the stairs! He didn’t

was

out

seem to realise that by now it was almost 11.40 and we were all still here!”

working recently on a very quiet

If any drivers out there have an interesting story they would like to pass on

Saturday evening at around 11pm and

to our 900+ drivers who all eagerly await the next copy of N&V, please write

suddenly trapped a ‘him and her’ who

it out as neatly as you can and send to me at 144 Shirland Rd W9...

turned out to be rather strange. He

told News & Views about it.

Phil Emden (C84)

“It was February 6th and I was still

Ye olde N&V Ed

buzzing having earlier watched my

Spurs wallop the once mighty Wolves

by 6 - 1 with Ricky Villa grabbing a

hat-trick and Mark Falco, Garth

Crooks and a Glen Hoddle penalty

racking up the half-dozen.

Later that evening I went out to

work and even for mid-winter, it was

really quiet and I found myself just

reliving the Spurs goals. I came back to

EARLY TREATMENT MEANS SPEEDY RECOVERY

earth when I saw a hand shoot out just

as I was level to them outside Dirty

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

Dicks in Bishopsgate. I slammed my

brakes on and a man and woman got

The Centre offers fully qualified therapists in Physiotherapy,

in and asked for the Mount Royal

Osteopathy, Sports Massage, Reflexology, Shiatsu, Remedial

Hotel in Marble Arch.

Massage, Indian Head Massage, Hydrotherm, Massage Therapy,

For several minutes, all was quiet,

but I became slightly concerned when

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.

my passengers informed me that they

were members of the Sons of Joshua.

Call us on 020 8507 8169

I told them that I was a member of the

or mobile 07973 639 473 for an early appointment

Woolwich, which they didn't seem to

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

think was very funny (I can't think why

Out of hours enquiries welcome

not as it was one of my better jokes).

Apparently the Sons of Joshua was

Barking Physical Therapy Centre

their religion and they believed that at

90 Longbridge Road, Barking, Essex, IG11 8SF

precisely

11.36pm on that Saturday

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

evening the world would end in a puff

of smoke! That left me just under 30

www.bptconline.co.uk

Call Sign March 2014

Page 30

LOOKING AT (TAXI) LIFE

ing being exasperated thanks to inclement

Ticket offices

With Tom Quigley (Y33)

weather.

I will put my cards on the table here, I am an

Whilst my points were not the only causes

RMT member, but what I’m writing about

and explanation, it has now dawned on gov-

here are my own views and I have not attend-

ernment, local council and the Environment

ed any meetings in regard to recent matters

Agency that they will now have to throw in

that caused the tube strikes. I just can’t com-

large amounts of money to correct and put

prehend why LU want to shut the ticket

right the damage that will probably far out-

offices, regardless of how many tickets are

weigh the original figures they tried to save.

being sold through them.

My own borough, Waltham Forest, is now

There is not an office, gym or any other

number one on the risk of flooding in

building that I enter that does not have some

London. I know that this same borough is

sort of reception or security desk. If I have

where one of our local playing fields, where

any query or problems, that is the place

whilst renewing a fence around a local sports

where I go. I book my holidays or short

field, gave up some land to the local residents

breaks online, but when I arrive at the hotel I

because to have taken down the original

expect to see a receptionist there to meet,

packed station would be like trying to find

fence would have cost more.

greet and inform me of anything I may need

‘Where’s Wally’...

Unfortunately, this land also included

to know. The fact that the receptionist never

ditches which the groundsman used to keep

sold me the ticket has nothing to do with my

Mother Nature rules

clear to help drainage. Well, the residents

In the July 2011 issue of Call Sign, I wrote

now have extra land and filled the ditches in

stay. I also know that the receptionist will

how Mother Nature rules. It included a few

bringing on drainage problems. This season,

have all the right contact details I might need;

paragraphs on the maintenance of our water-

the sports pitches have not been played on

hospital, emergency services, first aid details,

ways, ditches and tubular system. I criticised

(since before Xmas) and the gardens are

layout of the hotel or office and they should

the government and local councils for trying

flooded. That means a loss of revenue for the

be able to sort out a multitude of other prob-

to save money in vital areas and also for

council, the sports club and problems for the

lems as well.

building supermarkets, housing estates and

residents. Carry this sort of policy throughout

I have been to many busy hotels and

local playing fields on reservoirs, claiming

the country and it’s no wonder we have the

offices, but none of those are as busy as most

that to be a flawed policy.

problems we now have...

of the London underground stations, so the

It now seems that some of my predictions

Tom Quigley

thought of having to look for a staff member

have come back to haunt large parts of Surrey

in an emergency situation on a massive

Call Sign Online

and West London with the problems of flood-

PICTURE GALLERY

Call Sign is often sent photos by DaC drivers of strange, unusual or even irritating

situations, so with a half page to spare we thought we’d put a few in…

Several drivers spotted this online minicab ad.

We have asked LTPH if they can spot anything!

Call Sign March 2014

Page 31

Mailshot

flow in front of the traffic lights outside

Either write to Call Sign at

Boots. So they are in just as much dan-

Dial-a-Cab House or email us at

ger as any pedestrians crossing the road

callsignmag@aol.com

at that point when the lights they can't

see turn green before those on the actu-

The year of the taxi!

al junction turn green

(unless, of

Hello Alan

course, they actually all comply with the

With the Mayor recently launching the

cycle traffic light sited there and we all

Ray and for a long, happy retirement

Year of the Bus for 2014 following 2013

know how compliant the average cyclist

...Ed

having been the Year of the Tube, why

is to this)! They are far more likely to

not have the Year of the Taxi in 2015?

see that that junction lights are red and

Graham Waite (B35)

go regardless of what the cycle

Online readers

Keep praying Graham because I have

traffic light shows.

Dear Alan

it on good authority that we are get-

It would make more sense, if as I orig-

After many years of enjoying your

ting close! 2015 will the year of the

inally stated, for the lights on the actual

online version of Call Sign, I thought

pedicab, followed in 2016 by the year

junction to turn green first to enable

I’d just say hello from Singapore. I am

of the brewery dray horse and 2017 by

any cyclists who have turned right out

now in my eighties and when I lived in

the year of the dead donkey. But we

of Argyle Street to get away before the

the UK in Kentish Town many years ago,

have been pencilled in as favourites to

Boots lights change and which are hold-

I managed to get a job with ODRTS at

come onto the scene in 4039...

ing back a very large number of vehicles

Pentonville Road. Whilst I was fairly

most of the day.

young and not particularly interested in

Eddie Lambert (V37)

taxis

- I could only afford bus travel

Temporary off at EC5

Hi Alan

Hi Eddie, TfL are adamant that

back then - as my time there developed,

cyclists are safer this way and that

I began to take more of an interest and

The reason for this letter is to ask why we

don’t have the 15 minutes temporary off

the majority are law abiding thanks

became much friendlier with those

to the recent cyclist police checks - a

working there. Three names that spring

facility on EC5 like we do elsewhere. I,

like Tom Whitbread, have diverticular

regular one apparently often being

to mind were Bonnie Martyn, Frank

disease and when it decides to strike it

sited at that and the next junction

Duncan and Adolfo Boca - who we

really does strike in an instant. How it

(York Way). I tried, but banging your

knew as John. I never did the

has not happened with a passenger on

head against a brick wall is a reason-

Knowledge, but mixing with so many

board I do not know, but what I do is to

able analogy for when it comes to

passionate people at the office, I began

go to the nearest hotel. This is where the

getting TfL to admit that there is a

to feel part of a taxi service and really

15 mins temp off facility would really

better way! ...Ed

took a pride in the organisation and

come in handy as I have lost so many

often went round to local houses and

jobs because of it, sometimes after hav-

Tube strike and DaC

put our card through their doors.

ing done 35 to 40 minutes and getting

Hello Alan

When I met my wife Xin Lin in 1959,

down to a low number, when all of a

Please pass on my thanks to the back

I soon realised that she was the woman

sudden it strikes. Well I certainly am not

channel guys and dolls. It must have

for me and 18 months later we married.

going to book off, but when I come out

been very stressful for them on tube

Two years on and we left the UK and

of the hotel, I find that 9 times out of 10

strike days but they were always polite,

went back to Xin Lin’s birth home of

I have been offered a job and knocked

always helpful.

Singapore. I have worked at Comfort

off, only to have to book on again and

Stephen Field (F99)

and SMRT taxi companies over here but

wait another

40 minutes. Could you

Thanks Stephen, I’m sure they will

am now retired. Xin Lin died last year

please explain to me the reason we do

appreciate that. They came in for a

and I don’t think I will ever get over

not have this facility on EC5 as I cannot

substantial amount of abuse from

that, but having the ability to read Call

see any reason not to.

those whose taxis were delayed but

Sign Online gives me the feeling of still

Ricki Rands (M81)

hopefully those drivers who had to

having a family out there somewhere.

I asked Allan Evans whether it would

wait that bit longer for a response on

So for that I offer my sincere thanks.

be feasible to implement a system on

strike days will have understood the

My best wishes go to everyone at

EC5 whereby drivers needing a tem-

reasons why ... Ed

ODRTS / DaC and I look forward as

porary off for whatever reason

always to your next issue. You may not

even just to grab a cuppa, never mind

Bye Ray...

realise it, but you are, and always have

going to the loo - could do so but

Dear Alan

been, a huge part of my family. God

would retain the position they held

As I said to you at the AGM, I have now

bless you all...

at the time and so there would be no

stripped out as my cab licence has

Liam Grosser

benefit other than not being booked

expired and I will not be getting another

Singapore

off. See Allan’s report inside this

taxi due also to health problems. So I

Thanks for the letter Liam, it’s always

issue for the response ...Ed

have decided to retire from cab driving

nice to hear from former ODRTS

and I am looking forward to putting my

employees abroad. The last time I

Kings Cross bus lane

feet up in the future. I certainly will not

looked, Call Sign had 8004 online

Hi Alan

miss getting up at 2am to go to work! My

readers - although I haven’t a clue

I'm afraid Mr Blackmore's Mailshot

best wishes to you and all at DaC and

how that is calculated! The total

response to you over the situation at the

thanks for the great time I have had...

included 5611 UK readers, 1382 in

Euston Road/Pancras Road eastbound

Ray Sorene (ex-A53)

the USA, right down to 10 in China

junction does not stand up to scrutiny

Ray arrived at ODRTS in July 1969

(London Taxi Company in Shanghai

(February Call Sign).

and was one of DaC’s longest serving

perhaps???) and even 3 in Poland! All

He is right that there is a cycle turn

members. He was also the standby

I can say is that if you ever come to

built into the junction (for cycles wanti-

photographer for when Call Sign’s

London for a holiday, I’m sure you

ng to turn right out of Argyle Street

happy snapper, Alan Green, was

would be welcome to come to DaC

WC1), but they also enter the traffic

unavailable. Good luck for the future

House to have a look around ...Ed