Call Sign August 1998

Many of you will know the London Vintage Taxi Association from it’s appearance at the Taxi Driver of the Year Show. But it is far more than just a once-a-year-outing organisation. Keith White (A16 on Dial-a-Cab) is the LVTA Chairman. He and other members, will be contributing occasional Call Sign articles…
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by Keith White (A16)

Many thanks to the Editor for inviting me to tell subscribers a little about the LVTA. I will be submitting occasional notes about what we have been up to. Our most significant event so far this year has been a meet at Carbodies for all members with FX3 cabs to mark the 50^th p27_2.jpg (37929 bytes) anniversary of the introduction of the marque.
But to kick things off, I have written a little résumé on the London Vintage Taxi Association. I’d also like you to take a close look at the photograph. When do you think it dates back to? The late thirties? No, you’d be very wrong. It was taken on 4th October 1981 on one of our LVTA London runs!

THE LVTA
The Association, which celebrates its 21^st anniversary next year, is comparatively small by motor club standards and about one third of our members live outside the UK - principally in North America. Our aim is to bring together those interested in retired London-type taxicabs and, by so doing, to enable these often hard-worked vehicles to continue to lead an active life for the enjoyment and education of others. We publish a monthly newsletter keeping members in touch and operate a spares and technical advice service. Over the years, types of cab that were thought to have gone forever, have been located and painstakingly restored by our members to such high standards they would have had no trouble in getting a plate in their

day. However, Conditions of Fitness change, hence the Asquith.
Our membership is as diverse as the cab trade itself. Some are in the trade in London and elsewhere, but we come from all walks of life, including the fortunate ones who have retired early on a company pension. Some members use their vehicles for wedding hire, film and TV work whilst others, myself included, look upon them purely as a hobby.

THE OLDEST CAB?
The oldest cab owned by a member is a 1907 Unic, owned by our President Alan Withey. Many of you will remember this cab from its days in the London General’s museum. When the collection was sold off, all the significant cabs - which had not been as well looked after as one was led to believe - remained in this country being purchased by individual LVTA members. I was fortunate to acquire the prototype Metrocab of 1969 despite promising my wife that I would not buy another old cab, and over the past seven years I have restored it to ‘as new’.
   The 1932 Beardmore ‘Hyper’ is now in the Glasgow Museum of Transport which is perhaps where it belongs, having been built in Paisley, although it would have been nice to see it down south where it worked and was once owned by one of our members in the Sixties.
   DAC driver Dave Joseph (A82) now has his FX3D on the road after a ten year restoration and he has promised an article on this project for a future issue. (Next months Call Sign…Ed)
   In the meantime, if you would like to know more about the LVTA, have a word with me when you see me - snappy dresser, jet black hair, two-tone Metro (well, one out of three isn't bad!) or drop a line to our Membership Secretary, Steve Dimmock, 52 Ferndale Crescent, Cowley, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 2AY.

GERRY DUNN PRESIDES OVER HIS FIRST HACKNEY CARRIAGE DRIVERS FELLOWSHIP DAY COMPANY DINNER
Report by Ken Crawford (B40) Gerry and Janet Dunn The Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers held their Fellowship Day Dinner on the 4th July at Stationers’ Hall in the City of London. One hundred and thirty-eight guests were greeted by Gerry Dunn MBE (S84), the new Master of the Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers presiding over his first official engagement, before being ushered into the sumptuous Court Room and served with a welcoming drink. Having greeted old friends	and made new ones, the gathering were called to dinner in the Livery Hall of the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers by the toastmaster. Incidentally, Gerry Dunn is the first Company Master from Dial-a-Cab. The present Stationers’ Hall is built on the site of Abergavenny House, which was destroyed in the Great Fire of London (1666) with rebuilding commencing in 1670. Their Livery Hall features an oak screen at the south end and the stained glass windows of William Shakespeare, William Caxton (who introduced printing into England in 1476) and St. Cecilia, the patroness of music. Also displayed are shields of some of their past Masters, armorial flags of those who had been Lord Mayor of London and the banner of the Prince of Wales (Duke of Windsor) who was Master of their Company in 1933-4. In these wonderfully historic surroundings, the Freemen of the Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers together with their wives and	guests enjoyed dinner and the Ceremony of the Loving Cup. This was followed by speeches which included the Master conferring Honorary Membership on the Finnish Ambassador, His Excellency Pertti Salolainen, the proud owner of a vintage FX4, thus making him ‘the youngest Freeman’ of our Company. The Master also gave awards to Terry Spur of the London Ambulance Service and curator of the Ambulance Museum for his invaluable assistance to our Company during the Company’s annual Disneyland outings, and secondly to Ric Galloway for his unstinting work on behalf of CHATA, the charity which takes animals to visit children in hospital to aid their recovery. Remember the Company’s motto "CUM SCIENTIA SERVIMUS", or for those like me whose Latin is a bit rusty - "WITH KNOWLEDGE WE SERVE" The next major event in the Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers calendar is the weekend of September 11-12-13, the Paris Disneyland outing.

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