FUTURE OF THE BOM?

I know that in past articles I have been critical of the Board and I believe, with some justification. What I'm not now going to do is enter into a slanging match with a certain Board Member. The article written was both unfactual and egotistical (what's new!). It continues to show an historical failure and inability by the individual to communicate both on a personal and business level. I am certainly not going to correct all the inaccuracies made, as I will treat them with the contempt they deserve.
   What I do want to add is the way forward as I see it. The idea that a fixed term and rotation of office as a Board Member would meet with such derision from certain quarters on the Board is understandable. They will lose their jobs.... We would all fight to keep a lucrative job! The currant structure makes the proposal hard to work.
   The way forward appeared long ago, where it was suggested that Executive Board Professionals were aided and supervised by non-executive Board member's selected from our own. I believe without doubt that these appointments could be on a fixed term and rotated. Would we lose control? Not if we set-up the correct command and control procedures and rules and made sure that we could change any individual - Executive or non-executive - by resolution. Unlike some comments made, I have been on the circuit continuously as a driver and as such, I do remember the proposals to go for a Finance Manager and General Manager. These were accepted by the membership. So why were they watered down and changed...I can only see that it was changed because of self-interest. Nobody wants to lose a lucrative job. Would any of the current Board (Chairman exempted) still be around in this revised structure? In my opinion, and I'm probably biased, very unlikely. They have neither the professionalism, ability, nor foresight. But they would all make good non-executive board members.
   As an organisation, we need to go forward. We need to improve our structure from a Customer Service point of view from driver through to staff. I have always wondered why we have not sought the accreditation through ISO 9002 or Investors in People, both give a clear customer service message to the client. From a personal point of view ISO 9002 or BS 5750 (as it was) I looked at, back in 1992. These badges of excellence are gained by setting up clear and concise structures within an organisation, and clearly light the path and direction the organisation wants to go. The business community fully understands what these achievements mean. Even so, it is still down to us, the driver, to implement a speed of service and customer care. That is why all this has to be done under our control and guidance. We cannot let the self-interest of a couple of individual Board members get in the way of progress. And destiny..
Paul Thomas (A55)... Via email

It was a complete surprise to me when Alan Fisher suddenly sprung out of my son and
daughter-in-law's kitchen together with Brian Rice and photographer Alan Green when I and my wife Carol arrived there expecting to be taken out to celebrate my 90th birthday. However, I was most happy to receive the three of you and the wonderful commemorative plaque that you kindly had made for me on that great day.
   My birthday party the following Sunday at the Potters Bar Golf Club also went wonderfully well and the plaque was on show to all and received many complimentary comments.
   Once again, my thanks to you all. It really is lovely to be remembered.
Bonnie Martyn
DaC Founder Chairman
Edgware, Middx.

Bonnie, it was an absolute pleasure. I hope you enjoy seeing the centre pages of this issue to remind you of the moment...Ed

BEARDMORE MEMORIES

I was very interested to read about the Beardmore taxi in June's Call Sign. Amongst my earliest memories are those of my father's Beardmore Hyper purchased in 1929.
   As a small child, I was sometimes taken to school in the cab and as a special treat, I was allowed to sit alongside my father on the luggage platform - much to the envy of my friends. The cab was a deep maroon and the spare wheel was fixed to the driver's door. My dad told me that he had paid extra money for a full windscreen and electric headlights.
   The Hyper's ten years were up in 1939 and although he would have liked another Beardmore, he could not stretch to the extra cost of £100 as compared to the Austin Fishtail, £100 being a great deal of money in 1939.
   My own experiences of the Beardmore as a driver came in 1952. I got my badge in May and went to work for George Wright at his garage in Dyne Road, Kilburn. George had a mixed fleet and I started on an Austin Lowloader which had been first licensed in 1934. At this time, about half the London cab fleet still consisted of pre-war cabs. After a few weeks, I was told that there was a better cab for me and there it was - a Beardmore Ace! I really thought I had come up in the world. The Ace was a lovely cab, both to look at and drive and must have created a very good impression when it came out in 1938. The Ace had a full door for the driver and on the luggage side, a hinged waist high shield. The most unusual feature of the Ace was the accelerator, it had the foot brake and clutch either side of it. I have never seen another vehicle with a central accelerator. But once you got used to it, it became very comfortable to drive.
   When I joined ODRTS in Feb 1954, there was already a Beardmore Ace on the circuit. I wonder if there is anyone else on the circuit now, who drove a pre-war Beardmore?
Martin Gellman (C47J)

Thanks for an interesting letter, Martin. I hope you don't mind, but I have passed it onto Call Sign's Merle Peirce who may use it in the LVTA's international magazine aimed at old taxi enthusiasts. Any other Beardmore - or any other now-defunct cab - drivers are welcome to share their experiences in Call Sign. For the benefit of newer drivers, Martin Gellman is a former Chairman of this Society...Ed

LIMOUSINES?

I would like to ask a few questions. The first one is easy. I have looked at my holiday for next year which starts on the day of the AGM. Will I be fined for non-attendance?
   Secondly, in connection with having cars on the circuit, why has Dial-a-Cab got to buy the cars? Why not run it the same way as we do with cabs ie owner drivers. If you look at the top-end of the minicab business, they have a mix of large saloon cars such as Volvo's, Mercs and Rover's etc. You could have 'people carriers' as well. Then you could ask our drivers if they have cars not more than five years old and if they would like to work the car on Dial-a-Cab. The Board could vet the motors and make sure that everything is in order, ie insurance, MOT and clean etc. If we cannot get enough DaC drivers at first, we could get some from outside. Doing it this way, there would be no cost to DaC yet we would still have control.
   As another point, what is going to happen to our old terminals when the new ones arrive? Why not put them into the cars?
Lastly, I think that we should get motor bikes as well on DaC.
Reg Carpenter (B3)

I have been told that anyone who has booked their holidays before the date of the AGM will have no problem with non-attendance. You may be asked to provide a photo copy of the booking form.
As to the rest of your letter and purely as a personal opinion, I wouldn't be too happy about having outside drivers. While I feel that I could possibly be convinced about our drivers driving up-market limos - and I don't consider Volvo's to fall into that category however nice they may be - your suggestion sounds to me as though it would turn us into a minicab outfit with some licensed taxis. I'm sure the debate will continue on these pages...Ed

TRAFFIC GAMES

I wonder how many Call Sign readers are like me. When stuck in the never-ending traffic jams, they tend to let their mind wander and try to think of something interesting. My particular favourite is to look at the registration plate of the vehicle in front and see how many words I can make up from the letters.
   Of course, some plates are already set out as a name - perhaps of their owner such as Bob, Alf, Ted etc. Then there are the informative ones like the car often parked in Berkeley Square whose plate reads ANY 1. Also, the named embassy cars with their own distinctive markings like SPA 1N or FIJ 1 and of course 1 CY for the Icelandic embassy. Many stars like to show off a bit with number plates like Jimmy Tarbuck who has COM 1C,and some years ago Shirley Bassey tried for her own personalised plates but was thwarted by Stanley Baker who owned SB 1, 2 and 3. Recently, I noted down some comical numbers I'd seen like H1 DAD and H1 5EXY.
   The cab trade isn't immune from this practice and I have noted all the Arsenal supporters who sport the letters AFC followed by various numbers and of course, all the many CAB plus numbers. For some time I've noticed the cab with plates reading H1 PCO, (is he an official from that dreaded place?) But the registration plate that really takes the biscuit is one that is parked not more than a quarter of a mile from where I live in Chingford and which has the number T1P ME (I wonder if he ever gets any legals!) I bet there are many more that your readers can name.
Bernie Pressman M31J

There are some amazing personalised plates about. If anyone has anything stunning, let Call Sign know. And incidentally, I don't think that Georgie Vyse works for any department of the PCO!

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