NO TIME FOR ‘THEM’
Over the past years, aggravation within the Licensed Taxi Industry has prevailed, which appears to me, to not have gone away. It is bad enough for us to be the recipients of this kind of thing from the general public or the media, but for it to come from amongst us is ludicrous, stupid, heart breaking and truly diabolical. Whether we accept it or not, the Licensed Taxi Trade is in business for one reason - to make money! In order to achieve this and in the same way as any other business in the land, certain rules and regulations usually known as company policies have to be introduced and more importantly, implemented. Dial a Cab are absolutely no different in this respect. However, we appear to have 'saboteurs' amongst us, who appear to gloat over almost everything they can criticise the company for and think nothing-of-it to keep throwing spanners in the works to disharmonise! Well ladies and gentlemen, I for one am sick to the teeth of hearing, listening and reading of the antics of these individuals, who should thank their lucky stars that in the first place they have got a job! Thousands haven't! They decided to become cab drivers, they obtained their individual Bills for which they, like all of us, worked damn hard over the two/three years to qualify. Why then, when they decided to improve themselves and seek acceptance onto DAC, do they try to go against most of the principles of the company, which has a much longer experience of matters and which gave them the means of earning the additional bread to eat? Over the past few years there have been many a man and lady (God Rest Their Souls), who have contributed so much to the improvements of the organisation. I am in no way going to name them because (1) it brings almost tears to my eyes in remembering because they were all so nice and (2) because I am sure you will recall many yourselves, of which several became famous within the trade

and for it's good. If they only knew of the goings on today, I am sure that they would send their most perfect God-trained Representative to knock some senses into the few and make them realise how unfair, selfish and irritating, quite apart from the lack of team expertise, they are causing to almost every member of the circuit and trying to dispose or/and despise our chosen and most acceptable Board of Management. A few years ago I used a term; ‘we are all on the same side’. This was especially used when myself, together with others were forming the London Metrocab Club. Since then, I have used the term many times. Think about it and repeat to yourself - we: are: all: on: the: same: side. However, I respectfully suggest to each and every lady and gentlemen on the DAC circuit that although 99.999% of us are on the same side, the very, very few that make up the infinitesimal difference, should be treated with the contempt they deserve and not allowed to operate their underhanded, unpleasant and disharmonious activities, which could easily jeopardise the earnings of each subscriber. Whilst I appreciate that as a democratic Friendly Society, each and every subscriber is entitled to have the opportunity of making his or her contribution towards the betterment of the company, I am totally against any trouble maker(s) who are causing havoc simply because they are looking for a piece of the action for themselves or looking to cause chaos for everyone. Remember, we are on this earth for three score and ten, so why not do the very best you can for your fellow man and any organisations you may be associated with? By coming to terms with this avenue of thinking, I am sure that the few would sleep a lot better and allow the rest of us to get on with our lives.
Ronald S.Colman (B13)

BELATED THANKS
A chance mention of the name of Dial a Cab on the Jack Docherty Show (Channel 5 which we get on cable in Holland) finally enabled me to track down Call Sign on the Internet WWW. I have been trying to contact someone from the London taxi business since the week of the 22nd September 1997 to offer my heart-felt thanks to one taxi driver.
   The moment the cab drove away in the massive traffic bustle of Regent

Street, I realised I had left my bag in the cab. One hour later, the bag was in my hands again, with all my precious belongings in it: mobile phone, car keys, driver's licence, diary, you name it! What happened in that hour?
   As soon as I discovered my loss, I realised I had to reschedule the two hours left before my flight back to Holland, so I would have no time left to see Mr Hiroshige in the Royal Academy.
   My friend and I made looking for a police station our first priority. Fifteen minutes later we explained the situation to the most kind, compassionate and helpful police officer I have ever met. It was a great pity that he couldn't actually help because I could not give him the cab number. However, he gave me all his details, including his telephone number and officer ID. There was a great possibility I would get my lost property back, but not today. The drivers usually deliver every item they find to a police station at the end of the day. Surely, this cab driver would do so too. He told me he was sorry and to phone him in a couple of days. Next thing, I had to phone my wife in Holland to arrange for new car keys, since the spare key was in the missing bag. After struggling with a red telephone box and using a credit card fortunately left in my pocket, we were walking in Regent Street once again.
   Almost one hour later, walking towards Piccadilly Circus, still discussing what the cab and cab driver looked like and where they could be by now (maybe Heathrow?) my friend suddenly shouted:" There he is!" And when I looked up I saw that great person, our cab driver! Gesturing behind his wheel, crossing Regent Street from right to left, through all the traffic, he was coming towards us. I climbed over the fence just in time to grab my bag and another suitcase I had not even missed so far, out of the opened cab window.
   "Thank you very, very much, you are great. You deserve all the credit" I yelled. And just seconds later he vanished again in that continuous metal stream of black and coloured vehicles. In the enormous city of London, with so many people, cabs and traffic, a miracle had happened. And again I had forgotten to take note of the cab number!
Dick Verstegen
GD Eersel, The Netherlands

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