FIVE WEEKS ON AND BRIAN RICE RETURNS
On July 8th, exactly five weeks to the day that he suffered a
heart attack, Dial-a-Cab welcomed back it’s Chairman, Brian Rice. Looking very fit
and tanned (he had been sunbathing while waiting for a bed at St Georges, Tooting!), he
reclaimed the seat in his office as though he had never been away. He found it difficult
to get down to any work, however, due to the non-stop stream of well-wishers who told him
how delighted they were to welcome him back.
Brian told Call Sign:
"I feel better now than I have for 15 years. I am delighted to be back and I would
like to thank everyone for their good wishes and cards (he received over 200!). Brenda and
I may have to move to larger premises in order to store them! The Society has been in good
hands during my illness and I would like to thank the BoM for that and for the constant
concern they showed. Thank you all."
ANOTHER RECORD MONTH
July’s Call Sign revealed that March had seen a record number of calls
and that June had started off even better. Well June was indeed another record month when
the highest ever amount of answered calls were recorded - 184,013 incoming and 88,525
outgoing. Congratulations to all drivers and staff for a job well done…
DAC IN CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT
On Tuesday July 16th, Dial-a-Cab were invited to play in a
charity celebrity golf foursome along with 21 other teams. The proceeds of the day were to
go to the Variety Club of Great Britain towards buying yet another of their magnificent
coaches. Representing DAC were Peter Boxall (B89), David Adelman, Allen Togwell and our
guest player, the former boxing light-heavyweight Champion of the World - and more
importantly, a DAC client - John Conteh. Duel congratulations are in order: DAC came an
excellent 4th, and the tournament raised enough to pay for almost half a coach.
NORTH TO ALASKA…
Our thanks go to Checker Cabs of Anchorage, Alaska (see June’s Call
Sign) for welcoming Denise Zemma of our Credit Control department at Brunswick House to
Anchorage, Alaska and giving her a guided tour of their operation. While Denise told Call
Sign that their business was much smaller than ours (far fewer cabs), she said that was
impressed by the friendliness and speed of their dispatching system. She wants to thank
Laren Eggleston and all the others at Checker for looking after her so well. Any time you
are in London, Laren and Co, come and see us…
LTDFUPC CELEBRATE 70th BIRTHDAY WITH A TRIP TO
BRIGHTON
One of the London Taxi Driver’s Fund for Underprivileged
Children’s first outings was to Brighton. A trip like that in the
Fund’s early days must have looked awesome! Seventy years on, the Fund is a very
respected and well known charity that has helped untold numbers of children and
children’s organisations to provide money or equipment that perhaps they may not have
had the chance to purchase otherwise.
Now, in mid 1998,
the Fund celebrates it’s 70th birthday and where better to take a couple
of hundred eager-eyed kids than back to Brighton.
On the day, over 100 gaily dressed taxis formed a double-lined ‘guard of
honour’ around the perimeter of the Parade Ground at London’s Wellington
Barracks. As the kids went to their allocated cab, they were issued with yellow jockey
caps.
To celebrate the Fund’s 70th year, a surprise leader appeared
at the front of the cabs - in his yellow open-top car, who else but Noddy and his
security guard in the shape of Mr Plod! Following Noddy is difficult at the best of
times, but to the watching tourist’s delight there appeared the wonderful Band of
the Welsh Guards.
Then it was time to start. The Fund would like to thank Mr Plod who managed
to stop the peak-hour traffic without any hint of annoyance from those eager to get to
their offices. Mind you, Mr P did have the help of the Met Police outriders! Then
Noddy led the convoy through a huge arch of balloons which had kindly been presented by Party
Plus and they headed towards Brighton via a kind tea and wee stop courtesy of the
Hilton National, Croydon.
At the Brighton Centre, the children were met by The Mayor.
Together with the Hon Chairman, welcoming speeches were made and prizes for the best
decorated taxi were won by Brian Buckland and Ken Taylor.
Then it was off to the Palace Pier, Sea Life Centre and
Volks Railway, all of whom waived any charges for rides or admission. Those who still
had the strength (ie everybody!), were then taken back to the Brighton Centre for a
Kings Cuisine tea, an Electric Dream Road Show and Laser Magic disco plus a
bag of goodies including a commemorative mug. The drivers received commemorative key rings
and a diesel voucher from BP in Clipstone Street. Thanks are also due to the
Sussex Police, the St John’s Ambulance and Buxton Natural Mineral
Water.
But the biggest thanks should be reserved for the tireless Fund
workers and the 100 plus taxi drivers who volunteered their help. Call Sign
thanks you all….
If you would like to help on the next Fund outing to Woburn Safari Wild
Animal Kingdom on October 6th, phone Barry on 0181 550 8106 or contact any
committee member, several of whom are on Dial-a-Cab.
