The staff at
Brunswick House are a very important part of the Dial a Cab organisation. In fact, without
them there wouldn't be an organisation! So Call Sign aims to make this their magazine too.
In each issue, we'll introduce some of the people who work for Dial a Cab yet have never
driven a cab in their lives....
WHO’S WHO
 LOU GITLINWe make an exception
to the above rule today where it talks about "never having driven a cab in their
lives." Lou Gitlin will be 63 next month and has driven a cab for 42 years - 41 of
them with Dial a Cab! When he started with DAC at Pentonville Road, there were 143 cabs on
the circuit. Within a year, Lou had become a part-time dispatcher and is STILL a part-time
dispatcher running the Saturday evening shift. He used to do 2 - 3 days a week but now
"…is at the age where I don’t feel inclined to do more than one day a
week."
During the years when DAC operated a ‘voice’ system, Lou used to
keep the drivers in stitches with tales of his wife Ruth’s exploits. Now on Data, he
is just another faceless name that appears on a VDU screen!
As for his preference between Voice and Data, Lou is adamant that he would never want to
go back to voice again. "Too much aggravation" he hisses!
Lou and Ruth have been married since 1963 "but it seems much longer" says Lou
with a smile. In reply to the question on how many jokes he has told about her, he replies
"…believe me, it’s no joke!"
Lou has two children, Simon and Adam. One is a dentist while the other teaches Applied
Science and Chemistry.
 JIM WARREN
Jim has been on the DAC front security desk for almost twelve years. He
told Who’s Who that he really enjoys working at Brunswick House. "They are such
a nice crowd" he says. He worked for many years on the late shift before changing
over to his current day-time spot. Jim also has a world famous brother in boxing promoter
Frank Warren, but, not to be outshone up until four years ago Jim had his own sports
program - mainly boxing - on Channel Television. He used to fly out weekly to Jersey, do
the program and fly back in time to resume his security shift at Brunswick House! While on
screen, Jim did many major TV interviews with the world’s top boxers - such as Thomas
"hitman" Hearns - via a satellite link-up between the Jersey studios and USA.
I had to ask whether it felt strange being a TV star one minute and back
behind his desk the next. But Jim had no problem with the situation.
"I love boxing and I love working at Dial a Cab, so why should there be a problem?
Jim has been married to Joan for 51 happy years. They have three daughters, Susan, Carol
and Rosina, who between them have provided six grandchildren. That generation have now
given Jim and Joan two great-grandchildren! No word yet about great-great grandchildren,
but Call sign will let you know if we hear any rumours! |
|
KUPKAKE’S
KORNER
 He is
irreverent, humorous and whatever else he chooses to be, but Kupkakes’
komments are klearly always his own…
TRANSIT MENTAL VEGETATION
I Was driving down The Highway
Towards Canary Wharf,
When a white Transit van cut me up
Driven by a tattooed dwarf.
With shaven head and earrings
And blackened, broken teeth,
Beside him sat a woman
Ugly beyond belief!
The white van jerked in my path
Forcing me to slow,
n their mirror I could see them laugh
Putting on quite a show.
Each time I went to overtake
the van moved into my way,
Causing me to hit my brakes
And the cab to sway.
Then we both approached a red light
And I was able to squeeze beside,
I glanced at the unwholesome duo
With distaste and anger inside.
The driver revved the Transit
Waiting for the change,
He was mouthing off and shouting
His head full of ‘Road Rage’
His foot released the clutch
And he shot off in a haze of smoke,
He fishtailed on some wet stuff
And into a skid he broke!
I watched with no concern
As he slid into a skip,
Just like a trophy in an old house,
He was pinioned on the lip!
I pulled along beside him
And slid my window down,
I offered no assistance
Just smiled to meet his frown.
I continued on my journey
Into the Limehouse Link,
When I was cut up by a Transit van
But this time it was pink!
A hand came from the window
With nails long and red,
Saying "Sorry, I didn’t see you"
Least that’s what I HOPE she said…! |
