Call Sign April 2015

Page 3

from the editor’s desk

Election 2015, the GLA and

just tell us a joke and all will be right with the

world!

the deputy Mayor…

Be that as it may, the emissions problem is

Politics is a subject I keep well clear of because

undoubtedly real and has to be solved. Almost as

there is no quicker way to make enemies - well,

certain is the fact that traffic plays a major part in

other than to insult cyclists! But a name should

that and those of us that go into the traffic mire

come to the fore so far as the taxi trade is con-

on a daily basis understand that. The only people

cerned and it could be one that you might want to

that seem not to have a clue what to do is the

drop into any conversation you may have with pas-

Mayor’s TfL. Of course words are cheap; it’s easy

sengers going to the Kensington area of London -

for people like me to sit on the sidelines and just

a zone we frequent more often than not - before

criticise with the intentions of filling a page…

May 7th.

isn’t it? Well sorry to disappoint you Boris, but

Not too long ago, the sitting Conservative MP

there are around 25,600 of we licensed taxi dri-

for Kensington was nothing less than a cast iron

vers and I’d bet that at least 20,000 of us could

certainty to retain the seat. However, Sir Malcolm

reduce NOx levels dramatically.

Rifkind - who had followed Michael Portillo and

We understand that City Hall isn’t really big

won a similar resounding victory - will be doing

enough for all of us, so I’ll help you out by pro-

the same as most of us on the evening of May 7th

viding a committee of six people - yes, all

and that will be to watch the election proceeding

licensed taxi drivers - that will solve London’s

on the telly rather than participating!

traffic problems and significantly reduce

Victoria Borwick is that exception and in her

Kensington is one of those seats that attracts huge

London’s NOx problems within 12 months. Sir

own words to me after the GLA meeting, taxis

amounts of publicity, with previous elections draw-

Peter Hendy is on £348,444 p/a (not including

are a subject that she is passionate about. The

ing such contenders as the late Screaming Lord

expenses) and my six will each settle for that.

trade now needs Victoria Borwick to win that

Sutch (Monster Raving Loony), who scored a

And neither will any of the six need a

seat, even though we’d have preferred that she

respectable vote (for him) of 61 votes in the 1988

Knighthood as a thank-you; we will do it for

stayed put and became Mayor! But the HoC

election, almost trebling the Anti-Yuppie candidate’s

Queen and country.

isn’t bad!

24, although he failed to catch up the rather more

And no, as much as I admired the brilliant mind

It really doesn’t matter if you intend voting Tory,

notorious Cynthia Payne (Payne and Pleasure)

of the late Monty Schiman, we won’t be cement-

Labour, Lib Dem, Green or even Ukip in your own

who also ran a brothel in Streatham and must have

ing the Thames over and turning it into a 16 lane

constituency, this is that one I was talking about

had some clients in the area after gaining an aston-

highway. And we certainly won’t be laying the

earlier where to this trade, the candidate is more

ishing 191 votes! That was the last W8 election

blame on London’s taxi fleet that do such a worthy

important than the party - at least to we 25,000+

where Conservative and Labour candidates ran neck

job, yet continually and unfairly take the flack.

drivers who chug merrily around London town in

and neck, with the Tory eventually coming out on

Just for starters, the committee would issue free

our little black boxes.

top via Dudley Fishburn - one of the very few

Power Pills to all taxi drivers. Literally overnight,

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my political

Americans to win a seat in the British parliament.

their pollution would drop through the floor.

chat finished for the year

- well, except for

So, moving on…if you went to the GLA meeting

When your cab undergoes the smoke test, a cali-

below…!!!

at City Hall recently where Sir Peter Hendy was

brated smoke meter is used to assess the density of

put under the cosh by a Transport Committee that

the smoke. If the engine emits a meter reading of

had referred to TfL as being totally inadequate,

Breathing in dirt - an

1.5m or less, it will pass the test after the first accel-

you would have heard Lady Victoria Borwick -

eration. However, if the result shows more than 1.5

answer?

Boris Johnson’s deputy Mayor - ask him forceful-

then a further two accelerations are carried out and

So now we know. The top fifty UK blackspots for

ly about Uber and why they were using a meter -

an average reading is taken. Most taxis that regular-

polluted air are all in London and the EU’s legal

the type of question we’d have asked.

ly use Power Pill will be substantially below that on

limit for poor air quality is not just being broken,

The Committee as a whole really defended

the first reading (my last MOT showed a reading of

but totally decimated by figures suggesting we are

our trade and the 250 drivers watching in the

0.5). Several years ago I suggested it to Roy Ellis at

over three times the EU limit. A worthy number

public gallery were delighted to find that

the old PCO and he thought it made sense but he

one in the soot race is still Marylebone Road fol-

someone was speaking up for us. Now I hear

wondered how the authorities would know that

lowed by Park Lane, Knightsbridge and the

that Victoria - who has lived in the borough

drivers weren’t just using the pill prior to a test and

Hammersmith flyover. If you are a day man that

with husband and former Manganese Bronze

then not bothering for another 51 weeks (there was

lives eastwards, then you won’t be surprised to see

Chief Executive Jamie, as well as raising four

just the one overhaul In those days). So it was a no.

the East Ham and Barking bypass - aka Alfred’s

children there

- has been selected as the

But the answer is simple. Pick out a dozen or so taxi

Way - take its place up there. These are followed

Conservative candidate for Kensington.

garages and give, not sell, them testing machines

closely by Oxford Street with every single place in

There are some occasions and constituencies at

where every taxi would have to go each three

that top fifty being at least double the EU maxi-

months in between MOTs. Just a quick five minute

election time when you would consider voting for

mum for nitrogen dioxide. The more often used

the person regardless of their party politics, but

trip to ensure that no one is taking liberties (as if)!!!

generic term for mono nitrogen oxides is NOx and

Much, much cheaper than the EU fines! In fact, how

voting intentions for this General Election will be

that comes thanks to the reaction of nitrogen and

about smoke tests every three months but revert

much closer than previous years - even a staunch

oxygen gases into the air during combustion, espe-

back to just one MOT?

blue area such as Kensington. But for the licensed

cially at high temperatures - ie traffic hold-ups.

That is just a small and obvious step and noth-

taxi trade to have someone in the HoC that not

Yet according to Mayor Boris Johnson, pollu-

ing compared to what the committee would need

only knows all about taxis and is also a big sup-

tion is falling. After all, he is slaughtering the lives

to do for traffic in general, but compared to the

porter of our trade - and via her hubby probably

of London’s taxis therefore pollution must be

Mayor’s LEZ and ULEZ schemes, it certainly won’t

even has an idea how they are built - Victoria

going down? By that token, the maximum life of a

come up with crazy rules that make no sense. It

Borwick MP would be a wonderful acquisition for

taxi should be cut from his proposed ten years to

would solve London’s problem in a year.

our trade.

just six months, although what if pollution still

My contact details are known to the Mayor’s

At one point it looked as though Mayor Boris

runs riot after that - surely it can’t be anything

office and they will hopefully read this because

himself would want to stand in Kensington, but he

other than taxis to blame? Well the Mayor’s office

I’m serious and sure my committee of six sensi-

will probably have to travel down the A40 to

has come out with its usual guff - he is bringing

ble cab drivers could lower London’s emission

Uxbridge. Many names were mentioned as being

down pollution with the world’s most comprehen-

readings within 12 months. One tiny problem is

in the running to carry the Tory flag in the borough

sive program that includes the Ultra Low

that we would no longer need some of the ultra-

at election time - even former Chelsea legend, cur-

Emission Zone from 2020.

high earners at City Hall whose idea of sorting

rent Manchester City player and soon to play for

Don’t get me wrong, I like Boris. I don’t

out our emission problem is to go out to lunch!

New York City FC, Frank Lampard, had been

believe he is particularly clever, but he makes

Recent events suggest that some of the 25 elect-

sounded out about standing ever since revealing

me smile and on the two occasions I’ve met

ed GLA members would be ideal partners to

that he supports the Conservative Party. Frank is a

him he was nothing less than charming. And

report back to. I’m waiting…

nice guy - you only have to listen to him to see that

for a politician that is a vote winner and the

Alan Fisher

- but an MP? Besides, he already earns an MP’s

reason he will eventually lead the Conservative

salary every four days or so from footie!

party. Then if something goes wrong, he can

callsignmag@aol.com

Call Sign April 2015

Page 4

reflections of the chairman

I explained at the AGM, for the Society to have

London Assembly

five elected Board Members all working full-time

I wrote in Call Sign last month that there was

within the Society is too much, as the roles Board

a meeting to be held on 25th February at City

Members filled in the past have now been

Hall, with the Transport Committee of the

replaced and occupied by professional Members

London Assembly asking questions of TfL

of staff.

Commissioner, Sir Peter Hendy. The meeting

was due to start at 10am, held in the Public

Logos

Gallery and as you might expect, it was open to

We have been looking for some time to replace

members of the public. I arrived at around

the logo the fleet currently have on their taxis as

9.30am to be greeted by an enormous queue

they were originally introduced way back in

waiting to gain entry into the Public Gallery - it

1997. Although the new logo is a continuation of

is a sight I had never seen before regarding an

the current one, the word ‘dial’ has been omit-

issue that involves the taxi trade.

ted from it because who ‘dials’ for a cab these

I gained entry and whilst waiting for the meet-

days? We have sought advice on the issue and

ing to start, I counted the number of seats in the

although our general conclusion was to not

Gallery - yes, I know how sad that is! There are approximately 250 and

change the name completely because we happen to have a very good

every single one was filled, the vast majority being filled by licensed taxi

name within the trade and likewise with account customers, we felt that

drivers. I’m also led to believe that there were up to 200 people still

we should upgrade the logo and replace ‘dial’. The BoM came to this con-

endeavouring to gain access to the meeting but who were locked out and

clusion as we now employ the services on a consultation basis of a

unable to gain entry. One of those ‘locked out’ was the Editor of Call

Marketing professional.

Sign, but being a bit on the inventive side he told staff on duty that he was

The new logo has now been approved by the BoM and we are just wait-

a member of the press and was given access - quite ingenious! They obvi-

ing for samples of logos in different sizes etc to be delivered; we will then

ously thought he represented The Sun or Telegraph or whatever!

decide on appropriate sizes and commence fitting the fleet in the near

The previous week, a meeting had been held at City Hall in the Public

future. Because, as I stated earlier, the new logo is a continuation of the

Gallery and the Mayor, Boris Johnson, was in attendance. It appears he

present one, we will not have to convert the whole fleet overnight.

was heckled, so he promptly got up and left the meeting, which was then

Some of you will look at the new logo and conclude that you do not

concluded. Consequently, everyone present at this GLA meeting was

like it; however, if I remember correctly, I had so many complaints when

aware of those incidents and determined not to present a repeat oppor-

we introduced the current logo that I had to state I would not enter into

tunity for Sir Peter. I have to say that the behaviour of everyone in the

any correspondence about it for three months. But after those three

Public Gallery was absolutely exemplary and a credit to our trade. There

months had passed, I did not receive even one complaint! Basically,

was the occasional round of applause from the gallery and a few guffaws,

Members had become acclimatised and familiar with the new logo.

but not enough to threaten the meeting. And anyway, the Transport

Committee didn’t seem to mind too much!

Brian Rice

Regarding the Transport Committee, it must have been very satisfying

Chairman

for them to see so many taxi drivers present and to know that their excel-

Dial-a-Cab

lent report had been so widely read and approved by the trade. All the

Committee did a sterling job in questioning Sir Peter Hendy and it

appeared to me that they quite enjoyed it. It was very apparent by the

questions they asked and the report they produced to see they have a

deep understanding of our trade and they should be congratulated for

endeavouring to bring TfL to task on their disgraceful regulation of the

Taxi and Private Hire industry.

Sir Peter Hendy came across as an accomplished speaker, but there

wasn’t any doubt in my mind that he was a little uneasy because he must

know his subordinates have totally mismanaged our industry, which in

turn reflects extremely badly on him. But it’s not too late for him to do

something about it!

I must say I was a little surprised to learn that once we had all left the

Public Gallery, Sir Peter complained about the behaviour of the trade. All

I can say is that he must have attended a different meeting to me as I

thought the behaviour was excellent - but if he thought that was bad, I

just can’t imagine what he would make of 250 really angry taxi drivers! I

just hope he never finds out!

There was also another meeting taking place at City Hall on 25th March

where it was the turn of the Mayor to answer questions and again that

meeting was open to members of the public. I’m sure once again that it

will have been very well attended by the taxi trade, but unfortunately the

meeting will be taking place after I have written this piece.

Board Meeting

At the first Board Meeting following an AGM, the BoM decides who is

doing what and there isn’t too much change this time round. Keith Cain

will remain in charge of the Sales department, while Allan Evans will con-

tinue in Driver’s Operations. However, we have also transferred

Compliance back to Allan, who will be assisted by Shelagh Adkins. New

Board Member, Joe Brazil, will be attending Dial-a-Cab House and work-

ing in various departments in an attempt to acclimatise himself to the way

DaC business operates. Although Joe ceased working for the Society near-

ly eleven years ago when he started driving his cab full-time, he should still

have a good idea and a grasp of the culture and how systems operate with-

in this organisation. After Joe has finished his initial re-introduction, the

BoM in conjunction with senior members of staff, will decide where we go

from there. It will be quite difficult to decide how we proceed because as

Call Sign April 2015

Page 5

JERRY COOPER DIES AGED 91

Call Sign feels sad when anyone that has

Germany, Holland, Palestine and Egypt. He

donated much of their lives to the trade pass-

was later decorated for his services.

es away, but room prevents us mentioning

Jerry later became a London taxi driver

everyone if they haven’t been on Dial-a-Cab.

and together with his late wife, Sadie,

However we make an exception for Jerry

were dedicated volunteers for the LTFUC

Cooper - a man that put so much into this

and War Disabled charities. Even after

trade and who died on February 25th at the

retirement in the 1990s, he continued

age of 91

supporting the War Disabled charity.

Jerry, who spent some of his early years at

Leanne Ehren, Jerry’s granddaughter, said:

Norwood’s Jewish Orphanage with his broth-

“Jerry was a popular and well known cabbie

er Judah, fought with the East Lancashire

in the East End and dedicated his life to help-

Regiment during WW2, serving in France,

ing those less fortunate than himself. He was

New Chairman at the

London Taxi Company

The London Taxi Company ha

Jerry with Marilyn and Ivor

announced the appointment

a great storyteller and would happily spend

of Carl-Peter Forster as the

hours telling his war stories to anyone who

new Chairman of the Board.

would listen.

“When he became a taxi driver, he wanted

Mr. Forster is a senior advisor to the

to pay back to the community that had looked

firm's parent company, Zhejiang Geely

after him as a child and so became involved in

Holding Group and is a member of

the charity supporting underprivileged chil-

the board of both Volvo Cars

dren. We’ve got lots of pictures of the two of

Corporation and Geely Automobile

them in fancy dress with a decorated taxi, tak-

Holdings. Zhejiang Geely Holding

ing children to the seaside over the years.”

Group acquired the London Taxi

Married in the former Commercial Road

Synagogue in 1947, the same year as Queen

Company in 2013 and restarted pro-

Elizabeth and Prince Phillip, Jerry and Sadie

duction shortly afterwards. The new

were invited to meet HRH at numerous cele-

Chairman will work with manage-

brations at Buckingham Palace before enjoy-

ment to guide the company's strate-

ing their Diamond wedding anniversary.

gic direction and will oversee ground

Jerry leaves his two children Marilyn

breaking new product developments in

and Ivor, and two grandchildren

the coming years.

Kimberley and Leanne.

Mr Forster is widely recognized as a leading global automotive expert and brings

with him significant experience and global competence from his time in senior leader-

ship positions at major automotive OEMs such as BMW, GM Europe, where he was in

Immaculate White

charge of Opel and Saab operations as well as Tata Motors, where as Global Group

CEO he was responsible for the Jaguar Land Rover business.

Cab Available for

Commenting on the appointment, Peter Johansen, LTC’s Vice President of UK

Weddings

Operations, said: “We're absolutely delighted that Carl-Peter Forster has accepted to

take over as Chairman of the Board at the London Taxi Company. The appointment of

someone with his track record is a big boost for our business and testament to the

commitment Geely are placing in the company since they acquired us in 2013.”

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Chairman, Mr Li Shufu added: “We are very confi-

dent in Carl-Peter's ability to lead the London Taxi Company and we warmly welcome

him as we work to develop current and future products. Carl-Peter has already made a

significant impact on the business through his work on various Geely Group projects,

but this appointment will strengthen our ability to drive through further improvements

in customer satisfaction and product quality. He will also play an important role in our

plans to develop a range of pure electric and ultra-low emission London taxis.”

Finally, the new Chairman, Carl-Peter Forster said: “The Black Cab is a British icon

with a global reach. Under Geely ownership, the London Taxi Company has the poten-

tial for a bright future. The company is transitioning into a new era of innovative prod-

Female driver

ucts for the taxi trade and commercial operators across the UK and the world. I'm look-

10% reduction for Dial-a-Cab drivers

ing forward to working with the management team as we move forward and develop

Contact Debbie (W18) on

this world famous brand and concept.”

07956 317040

Call Sign April 2015

Page 6

Jery’s World

“Oy, we woz here first!!!”

Best ever TX4 handed over

to 15 plate customer

LTC kicked off the new registration in style, handing over the company’s best-ever TX4 to the very f

customer purchasing a 15-plate on Sunday 1st March 2015, when the Brewery Road dealers

opened specially to hand over new vehicles to eagerly awaiting drivers. First in line was Mr Wad

who was accompanied by his wife to collect his new 15 plate TX4.

Commenting later on his new London Taxi, Mr Wadey said: “My new TX4 is fantastic; it’s so muc

better than any other taxi I’ve ever driven! It’s more solid and a smoother ride. I’ve previously rent

ed TX1s and TX4s so I’m thrilled to have my own vehicle. Ever since passing the Knowledge, it wa

my intention to have my own cab; it gives me more flexibility.”

The traditional “free first ride” was reserved for his daughter who he took from Victoria station

to Heathrow to collect her flight.

“It’s certainly turned heads,” he added, “I’ve had passers-by stop to take pictures of my new cab!”

TX4 quality has been improved through a variety of initiatives including a focus on component

quality, as well as the build process and auditing checks undertaken at the iconic black cab man-

ufacturer’s Coventry production facility.

These improvements in quality have resulted in even higher residual values for TX4s, as well as

an increase in the standard warranty cover provided. From 1st March, customers received an

extra 20,000 miles cover with an increase in the comprehensive manufacturer-backed warranty

from 100,000 to 120,000 miles over 3 years.

The 15 plate TX4 Elegance (automatic) is available from £39,195 OTR or from just £145 a

week (or £625 per month) over four years through a Personal Contact Purchase (PCP) plan with a £2,995 deposit.

The deal also includes 12 month’s road tax and 1 year RAC cover - all included in the price.

The package has been designed to provide drivers with flexibility, as well as peace of mind. So in four years customers can choose to buy the TX4 for

a guaranteed residual value of £15,725 trade-up to a new London Taxi, or simply just walk away.

Fitted with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), the 15 plate TX4 Elegance is Euro 5 compliant and is the

cleanest, greenest and safest London Taxi to date.

LTC is encouraging drivers to experience the improved quality of TX4 with a test drive, which can be booked either via www.london-taxis.co.uk or by

contacting The London Taxi Company’s Customer Relationship team at 03330 144441 or email london@london-taxis.co.uk.

Call Sign April 2015

Page 7

Stewart Byrne is one of several Account

Managers on the ground floor of Dial-a-Cab

Friday 13th unlucky? Not for Stephen!

House. As his title infers, he is in charge of a

batch of account clients with whom he inter-

email from the account. It read:

acts, assisting them with any problems and

“Dear Mr. Byrne

sorting out the very occasional complaint.

This afternoon one of your driver’s took our

“There aren’t that many complaints,” Stewart

director Mr ***

* home as he was unwell

told Call Sign, “but any there are will be very

with a back injury. Your driver was sufficiently

important to the client and we try to sort them

concerned to call back to DaC to express his

out. We rarely get a thank you because most

concern and your control room then tele-

clients expect the best service from all aspects

phoned me and I explained why I thought our

of Dial-a-Cab, but occasionally that is breached

Director was somewhat compromised.

and on sorting out the problem, we get some-

I simply wanted to say thank you - we great-

thing from a client that makes our day.”

ly appreciated the concern shown. It was very

And that’s what happened when DaC dri-

responsible of the driver concerned to alert

ver Stephen Field (F99) did something so

someone and for me to then be alerted. I imme-

simple, yet something that obviously made

diately checked with him that he had made it

a big impact on the passenger.

into his home and that he was safe and well.”

Stephen told Call Sign: “It was Friday 13th -

Stephen told Call Sign afterwards:

“I’ve

although dates like that have no concern for

never had a passenger take that much trouble

me. I was taking an account passenger home to

in order to thank me before. Strangely enough,

Gloucester Road from his Belgravia-based

my next job went to Terminal 5 at Heathrow

office but couldn’t help noticing that his

Friday 13th turned out to be lucky!

but as we got there, the passenger suddenly

breathing was heavy and erratic; something he

DaC Driver’s Line and told them that he felt

realised that he had left his passport behind!

said was caused by a back problem he had

concerned that his passenger had insisted on

That meant that I had to take him back home

developed that day. As we got close to the actu-

walking unaided and was there a way that the

and then return to the airport. Perhaps even

al set-down address, the passenger asked to be

dispatcher could call just to make sure he had

funnier, another taxi had made a u-turn right in

let out saying that he would walk the rest of the

got home ok?

front of me to try and snatch the job originally,

way. I became a bit concerned because he just

So that’s what they did. A supervisor phoned

but the passengers must have assumed he had

didn’t look well at all and said that he’d had

the account address and told them of the dri-

turned for someone else, walked past his cab

trouble walking.

ver’s concern and that the passenger had asked

and got into mine! Not much in the way of cab

“So when I stopped, I offered to walk with

him back to his house but he refused saying

to be let out some way short of his destination.

driver etiquette from the other driver, but it

that he would be ok. Nevertheless, I was con-

The account confirmed that the passenger had

worked out well for me and completed a good

cerned because he looked and sounded quite

developed a serious back problem and

day financially. But more importantly, it was a

ill. But he insisted that he would be ok and got

thanked DaC’s representative for taking the

real feel-good day!

out. There was nothing else I could do…”

trouble to phone.

“Friday the thirteenth unlucky? Not round

But Stephen did do something. He called the

Later that day, Stewart Byrne received an

these parts! What a day…”

Call Sign April 2015

Page 8

aC driver Sean Farrell (B39) looks at trade history from a different angle

Brethren of the Whip

which Parliament had set at the rate of two

28s he owed Thomas Haines plus 10s for

The

shillings (10p) per hour. Prior to 1853 the pas-

Haines’s loss of time and 4s costs. Henry again

Spanish

senger could compel the driver to charge by time

asked for time to pay but again was refused

or by distance; since 1853 the choice was the

and was locked up - this time for 14 days.

dancer’s

drivers. If a cabman was hired by time, then he

He appears to have served the full term of

did not have to travel faster than 4mph.

this sentence and nothing more is heard of

agent!

Having failed to answer to the summons, a

him until October 23rd when he once again

warrant was issued for the arrest of Thomas

appears at Hammersmith by popular

Thomas Henry was

Henry and he appeared at Hammersmith

demand. This was for bilking William George,

described as a tall

Court on August 29th 1854. William George

his first victim. The warrant officer of the

military

looking

failed to turn up on the day, so only the case

court informed the magistrate that a great

man, about 40 years

by the un-named driver was heard. His claim

deal of expense on his part had gone into

of age with black moustachios. He was said to

was for £1 with costs of 9s 6d. Henry did not

finally tracking down Henry, expenses that he

be well known in the theatrical world and

deny liability but said that due to litigation

could not apparently claim for. Cabman

had recently brought over to London’s

between him and the Haymarket Theatre, he

George gave his version of events and

Haymarket Theatre a troupe of Spanish

had no money. The magistrate, Mr Paynter,

informed the court that because of being

Dancers that had received much acclaim on

informed him that if he did not pay he would

bilked, he had been sacked by his proprietor

their recent stint in Paris. The show opened

go to prison for 21 days. Henry asked for time

for coming back short. Paynter ordered

at the Haymarket on 19th July 1854 and just

to pay but Paynter would not allow it. After

Henry to pay the £1 9s owed, along with 14s

as in Paris, proved to be a very popular show.

sentencing him to prison, he was warned that

6d costs. Henry once again asked for time to

On August 17th the same Thomas Henry

when he came out he would probably have to

pay, he knew his lines well, but Paynter was

climbed into a cab on a rank in Bond Street

answer to William George’s charge.

fed his cue and sentenced the Spanish

at 11:10am. The cab driver, William George,

Whilst in prison, Henry somehow raised

dancer’s agent to one month in jail. As he was

drove Henry to a number of places across

the money that was due to the cabman. It was

led down from the dock, Henry gave his

London, finally setting him down at Henry’s

paid into court and he was released. A week

swan-song; he would only get a cab in future

residence in Peel Street, Kensington at

after appearing at Hammersmith, the theatri-

if he had money - or else he would walk!

2:50am the following morning. When the

cal agent made an appearance at

Sean Farrell (B39)

cabman said the fare was £1-9-0 (£1.45) the

Marlborough Street Court. This was for the

impresario gave him his card and told him to

Call Sign Online

come for his money the following morning.

George returned several times for his money,

LTC reach manufacturing milestone

but the Spanish dancer’s agent had vanished.

An un-named cabman was Thomas Henry’s

The London Taxi Company has now completed

next victim on the afternoon of August 19th.

the construction of its 2,000th TX4 since the

He took Henry to a “great number of places”

company restarted production in September

2013.

and was employed by him for ten hours in

LTC Vice-President, Peter Johansen said: “We are

total. Likewise, he was told to collect his

extremely pleased to have reached our 2,000th vehi-

money the following morning, this time from

cle milestone so quickly and confident that we will

a hotel. And he, like William George, was to

continue to see a healthy demand for the TX4 in

find that there was no money waiting for him.

2015. The improvements that we have made to

Both William George and the unknown

vehicle quality mean that the current TX4 is the best

Black Cab that we have ever made, confirmed not

cabman each took a summons out against

only through customer feedback, but also via

Thomas Henry for bilking them, but the war-

improved residual values.

rant officer from Hammersmith Court had

“We’re demonstrating our increased confi-

as much luck as the two cabmen in locating

dence in our quality by extending our standard comprehen-

him and the summons were left at the

sive 3 year warranty cover from 100,000 to 120,000 miles. This is all great news for LTC

address in Peel Street.

and for our customers too.

“Two years ago, we pledged to put our customers first in everything that we do by improving the

Then four days after bilking the last cab-

quality of our products and services. This increase from 100,000 to 120,000 miles is a physical and tangi-

man, the Spanish dancer’s agent was at it

ble benefit, only made possible through a focus on improving both product and build quality. For my

again. Accompanied by a 14 year old girl, he

team, these changes are part of our commitment to continuous improvement. And for the trade, it’s a

climbed into a cab driven by John Haines

reflection of our confidence in our vehicle. A confidence they can now have too.”

that had been standing on a rank in Jermyn

It is the first time in more than 10 years that the Black Cab manufacturer has been able to increase

Street and drove them all over central

coverage provision with its comprehensive, manufacturer-backed vehicle warranty. Customers purchasing

London. Fourteen hours after picking them

brand new TX4s will all receive the new improved 3 year, 120,000 mile warranty cover as standard. Used

up, Haines set them down in Peel Street. He

TX4s are protected with a robust 12 month, 50,000 mile manufacturer-backed vehicle guarantee also

included as standard.

told Henry that his fare was

28 shillings

As with the previous cover, customers can take their vehicle to any of the London Taxi Company’s

(£1.40) but unlike the previous cases Haines

Approved Service Dealers for required warranty work.

was actually offered money - at least most of

A new TX4 Elegance (Automatic) is available from £145 per week (£625 per month) with a

it. Henry said all he had on him at the time

deposit of £2,995 through LTC’s 4 year PCP deal, which also includes a year’s free road tax and

was 24shillings, which Haines would not

12 month’s RAC cover.

accept. He may have wished he had done as

At the end of the term, the deal allows customers the flexibility to either buy their vehicle for a guar-

he went back to Peel Street sixteen times but

anteed residual value of £15,725, use the residual value to trade up to another new TX4

or to simply return the vehicle.

could not get anything more than a promise

To find your nearest Approved Service Dealer, to find out more about purchasing a new or

to pay.

used TX4, or to find your nearest LTC dealer, visit london-taxis.co.uk.

All three cabmen had charged by the hour,

Call Sign April 2015

Page 9

Following his successful election to the Board at the recent AGM,

Joe Brazil writes for Call Sign

BRAZIL CALLING…

regulators within London, or have we as drivers

Drivers with low overheads will survive

been hamstrung by archaic cab regulations?

this crisis, but drivers with newer vehicles

Let’s face it, the Cab Acts that we follow are from

will find it almost impossible to continue,

the 1830s onwards and solutions have been

leaving London with the same problems

debated by everyone from Gladstone to

Gladstone had - of too few cab drivers ser-

Livingstone, while meters have been part of

vicing rail stations with a reverse engineer-

this discussion since 1907 in fixing our costs.

ing policy having to be adopted by the

authorities to correct the distinct problem

As for minicabs and private hire, take a look

that has been created by non-enforcement

at this quote from The Duke of Devonshire

of existing regulations.

London and Price

in a December 1965 debate from the House

Policymakers from the House of

of Lords (courtesy of Hansard)…

Commons and Lords will have to decide

Equilibrium…

“Noble Lords may remember that a few

which way TfL exercises its authority; the

The structure of cab pricing is that of equilibri-

years ago there was an ill-fated scheme - I

Duke of Devonshire may have had his say

um and it protects the people of London from

never quite knew why it failed - to introduce

many years ago about how he saw the

overcharging. The supply and demand culture

minicabs. These vehicles could convey,

future, and I have no doubt MPs and Lords

employed by modern competitors usurps this

though in some discomfort, four passengers

will have to have their input today. But suf-

economic constant by surging when demand is

just as an ordinary taxicab does, but I

fice to say - as Dennis Healy put it - we are

high and leaving the London travelling public

should have thought that they occupied

being squeezed till the pips squeak and if

absolutely unprotected from this unregulated

about one third of the space taken by a taxi-

the future of the London cab and driver as

practice. It still surprises me that so few of

cab. Both omnibuses and taxicabs are part

we know it is to survive, politicians of all

London’s travelling public do not realise that

of the London scene and visitors from over-

parties must have their say.

the meter is there to protect them from

seas gaze on them and say "Aren't they won-

In the 1960s there was a policy to buy

unscrupulous practice.

derful,” but they are also antiques and if we

British, just as there should be today; British

The meter can be the best friend of the

wish to advance into the modern world, as I

vehicles built by British nationals to support

cab trade or its’ greatest stumbling block,

am given to understand the Prime Minister

trades across the UK, taxes collected to

perception may be that prices are high but

is anxious that we should, I suggest that a

improve this country and not shifted overseas

nevertheless regulated, or that at the point

long look should be taken at the design of

at the earliest possible convenience.

of hiring we have a monopoly - as suggested

the vehicles at present plying for hire in the

The London taxi and its driver now, as in the

by the Law Commission - although I find it

Greater London area.”

Duke’s “Aren't they wonderful” quote, shows

hard to follow their argument in that TfL

that tourists still have the same response; well

control pricing and a monopoly only func-

sometimes it takes a traveller to make you

Taxis and the future…?

tions if pricing is unregulated. The meter

realise how well the London taxi trade works!

So is the London taxi the vehicle for the future?

governs all our actions.

So with help from our bicameral representa-

Will the public still resonate with the taxi trade

Dial-a-Cab as a society has to maintain stan-

tives, a nudge in the right direction to guide

into the future? Well, history tells us it will, but

dards that give the travelling public the greatest

TfL and stating those very facts, especially in

at the moment we find ourselves under mas-

chance of a safe, secure and value for money

the run-up to the Thursday 7 May 2015 gen-

sive threat from companies that will squeeze

experience. We also, as drivers, have a level of

eral election, could help us and the country…

Londoners for all they can get, leaving after

expectation regarding the amount you can

regulations catch up with them to then exit in

charge for supplying those services and purpose

Joe Brazil

a way not unlike a rather unsatisfactory smell

built vehicles that comply with the regulations

in a lift!

DaC Board Member

foisted on us. We struggle in the face of compe-

tition from the unregulated industry, as our

costs are predetermined and theirs are not,

returning us to the thinking of the 60s where

Dial-a-Cab Credit Union

the minicab was considered the “best worst

case” solution.

Ever needed money quickly but were anxious about

So who is at fault for the situation we find

variable bank interest rates?

ourselves in? Have weak regulations allowed

large corporate ventures to unseat the present

Well wonder no more! If you are a subscriber, journeyman or

member of staff at Dial-a-Cab, then you qualify to join the

Dial-a-Cab Credit Union. Any member of your family residing

Fare Increase Frozen

at your address also qualifies for membership!

decision was made at the

Then if you are over 18, have been a member of the Credit Union for

February TfL Board to freeze

over 3 months and have established regular savings, you can borrow

taxi fares at this year’s

up to 3 times your total savings…

(2014/15) level for the next

financial year (2015/16). The suggestion

The cost?

was made by Call Sign several months

Just 1% per month on the outstanding balance (or APR of 12.7%).

ago when we discovered that the pro-

Loans can be paid back early AND there can be an annual dividend on your shares.

posed increase would be around 0.3

The question is: Can you afford NOT to be in it…?

percent and said that even a small

Call us on 020 7729 8171 or 020 7749 0585

amount of publicity would be better

than an increase of 30p on a £100 trip!

Members of the Financial Ombudsman Service

We just hope TfL are as quick to notify

Member’s funds protected up to limit set by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme

the press re no increase as they are

DaC Credit Union Ltd, Peterley Business Centre, 472 Hackney Rd E2 9EQ

when there is one!

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

Registration number 213263

Call Sign April 2015

Page 10

Like most in the

The Mayor’s Cycling Commissioner and the cycle Superhighways…

London taxi trade,

Call Sign is concerned

about the traffic con-

CALL SIGN QUESTIONS ANDREW GILLIGAN

gestion that will come

from the introduction

lanes to be protected from the rest of the road and

the

Cycle

traffic using it by pavements. So my question is

Andrew Gilligan: Taxis have their own spe-

Superhighways as

whether cyclists will have the choice of not using the

cial lanes, and a lot more of them than cyclists!

the two lanes cross the

superhighway lanes and instead use the main sec-

Are you saying that should mean taxis should-

capital, east to west

tion of the road reserved for cars, taxis and buses etc

n't be allowed to use the rest of the road?

from Tower Hill to

if they feel the cycle lane isn't moving fast enough?

Westbourne Grove

and south to north taking in the Elephant & Castle

Call Sign: There is not a single taxi lane that

Andrew Gilligan: We're not going to ban

to Kings Cross and how it will affect Dial-a-Cab.

buses and cyclists cannot use; following your logic,

cyclists from using the road, but our experi-

And we wondered if all those saying yes in the con-

we should have access to all cycle lanes! But if I can

ence on the existing segregated track we've

sultation realised that segregated lanes would have

accept a need for cycle-only lanes, then I fail to see

installed (on Stratford High Street) is that the

one element missing - segregation!

why they should have the option to leave the lane in

vast majority (97% +) use the track. The tracks

In January

2013, Boris Johnson appointed

order to go faster. Surely the reason cyclists have

we're installing will be 4m wide (mostly) -

Andrew Gilligan as his Cycling Commissioner.

their own lane is for safety. Taxis and buses need

enough for fast cyclists to pass and overtake

His brief was to oversee the development of TfL’s

access to the kerb. The comparisons do not add up.

slower ones within the track itself.

cycling policy and to ensure that cycle safety remains

I have read and admired many of your articles in

a priority. Certainly London’s taxi drivers do not

the Telegraph and other papers; you are also some-

Call Sign: I can't really understand why, if the

want to see cyclists injured or even worse, as the

one that has always pushed strongly for the freedom

lanes are that wide, that 3 percent of cyclists need to

February cycling fatality showed when a young

of speech. So I just find it amazing that you can

leave them (other than for an emergency). Surely

honestly tell me that after spending an estimated

French lady, Claire Hitier-Abadie, was on a Boris

that detracts from the whole purpose - which is to

£3million per mile on the cycle superhighways, you

bike and died under the wheels of a tipper

keep them safe. Why cannot it be made compulsory

are happy for cyclists to leave the lane whenever they

truck. Fault is irrelevant and undoubtedly separating

for cyclists to stay within the lane? That would also

want and that you only expect around 15 an hour

bikes from cars, lorries, buses and of course taxis

pacify those against the lanes due to the extra time

to do so. Are you saying it because you believe it or

would go a long way towards solving the problem.

some journeys will now take.

because as Cycling Commissioner the position then

So this magazine asked what we considered to be

dictates what you have to say? Stand on Millbank

a fairly obvious question to Andrew Gilligan: If the

Andrew Gilligan: I don't think 3 percent makes

outside MI5 (but don't tell anyone!) and watch the

two lanes are completed - apparently there is now

much difference either way, to be honest. We're

cyclists fly by one after the other and then tell me

no stopping them - and London’s motorists put up

talking maybe 15 cyclists an hour, tops.

that only a 15 per hour rate will be expected to leave

with the huge inconvenience that they will undoubt-

the lane.

edly cause during peak hours, could we have Mr

Call Sign: I fail to understand why any cyclist

Perhaps it’s just Call Sign working on some silly

Gilligan’s assurance that cyclists will be compelled to

that has a lane specially designated for their use

logic or is it that TfL really don’t care about anyone

stay within their lane and that the speedy ones that

should use a section of the road designated for

other than cyclists? But you tell us - and if you are

we have all seen shooting along with no thought as

motorists etc. Neither do I believe for a single second

a cyclist, then even better…

to what is ahead, would have to learn how to live

that just 15 cyclists an hour will use the main sec-

within the cycle Superhighway. But Mr Gilligan’s

tion of road, especially during busy periods. But

response wasn’t quite what we expected…

accepting that they can do so if they wish, can

Alan Fisher

Call Sign: It appears the plan is for the cycle

motorists then drive in the cycle lanes?

Call Sign Online

An occasional review from a struggling 14 handicapper at some of the marque golf courses

I've had the privilege to play in my golf days away from the taxi…

SIMON’S GOLF COURSES

Hankley Common Golf Clu

Surrey has often been called ‘Gods ow

County for golf courses’ while

Sunningdale and Wentworth have

often been described as being out of

the reach of most people’s golfing bud

get. But there are others that are more

than worth playing.

Hankley Common Golf Club is

definitely one of those. It has

often been compared to Walton Heath - high praise

indeed - but in many ways I prefer Hankley.

But let me explain. Set in 860 acres of outstanding

sandy soil, Hankley Common is a heather and spruce pine

course that only utilises 160 of acreage - but does so

superbly. There are no weak holes and whilst it’s a tough

test, it is certainly playable - although not the way I played in early

March!

Pictured is the stunning par 3 seventh, one of the great par 3 holes anywhere. The finish on the long par 4 eighteenth

is as tough a closing hole as anywhere - do you lay up on your second shot or take on the deep gully in front of the

green?

Go and play if you get the chance, you will definitely not be disappointed.

Happy golfing…

Simon Wallis (M11), Call Sign Online

Call Sign April 2015

Page 12

he date of 25th February had been

The GLA question Sir Peter Hendy with…

advertised as being the day that the

Greater London Authority Transport

Committee - authors of the Future

Proof report that was so critical of TfL - were

CITY HALL AWASH

going to question Sir Peter Hendy, TfL’s cur-

rent Commissioner of Transport, with the

trade needing as many taxi drivers as possible

WITH CAB DRIVERS!

to create a presence in the City Hall visitor’s

gallery. The hope was that there would be no

Sir Peter Hendy

embarrassment with drivers choosing to work

answers questions

rather than go to Tower Bridge for the two

from the GLA

hours. But no one needed to worry because all

committee

250 seats were snapped up by London’s finest,

with an estimated 200 or so drivers standing

outside for the duration after being told the

gallery was full and that no more drivers could

telling

the GLA

get in!

Committee that Uber

Not only that, but we were asked by

had said they intend-

Caroline Pidgeon, the GLA Committee Chair,

ed to start up some

not to call out. She didn’t say as much but the

new practises in

previous week, a meeting involving the Mayor

London. While Sir

was suspended while the gallery was emptied

Peter said he didn’t

due to heckling. We didn’t want that and

know exactly what

showed how well we could behave - applaud-

that would be, we

ing when necessary - but with no heckling and

hear that they are

not giving Sir Peter the opportunity to leave!

looking at food deliv-

Sir Peter had said that many of the laws we

eries in some coun-

operated under were over 200 years old, but

that proving offences was difficult. The gallery

tries. Hendy said that if they tried to change

that smart phones had changed the way things

allowed their emotions to dictate

- albeit

what they were licensed for, they would be

were done today and that in his view

briefly - when groans filled the room following

deemed as acting illegally and their licence

Londoners seemed to want that. He added that

his answer.

would be revoked.

TfL had no plans to bring out an industry wide

Then it was Uber’s turn when Boris’ Deputy

When asked about extra ranking space in

app saying that would be up to us if we want-

Mayor, Lady Victoria Borwick, asked Sir Peter

London, Sir Peter said there much competition

ed it, but also said that he believed the trade

if they were using a meter, but the

for road space but that TfL had put away

needed to modernise.

Commissioner replied that they had asked a

£600,000 towards the expected cost.

Val Shawcross then said that senior TfL

top QC if the Uber app was actually a meter

Talking about ULEZ, Sir Peter said that in his

management were out of touch with the Taxi

and they were told that it wasn't. He went on to

view there would be taxi drivers going bank-

trade. Sir Peter disagreed, but loud applause

say that the LTDA proposed court cases against

rupt if a 12 or 10 year age limit were to come

from the 250 people listening suggested that

individual Uber drivers had delayed a High

in. For one second there was a belief in the

drivers agreed with Ms Shawcross! She also

Court ruling. They have since been withdrawn.

gallery that we would be staying with 15 years,

spoke about trade fragmentation and Hendy

When asked by Committee Member Tom

because that would then be the more sensible

agreed when he said that there should be some

Copley why TfL had only used one QC for

way of bringing in new cabs - via a natural

consensus. Most agree that there are too many

advice rather than two to make sure the advice

wastage process. But what Sir Peter was infer-

organisations.

that Uber’s ‘meter’ being legal was correct, Sir

ring was that - in his view - there should be a

A question on minicab markings on vehicles

Peter said this wasn’t just any QC, but one of

compensation plan for drivers affected and that

led the Commissioner to say that he supported

the top men in the field of Taxis and PH. Then

should also apply to those buying the new elec-

identification on PH vehicles and would look at

when asked who it was, Sir Peter said he could-

tric cabs. However, no figures were mentioned

it again, mentioning the possibility of remov-

n’t remember! Call Sign was later told by TfL

and no guarantee there would actually be such

able identification on bumpers. The trade are

that it was Martin Chamberlain QC of Brick

a plan.

not enamoured with the idea because the

Court (although internet rumours surfaced

Brian Rice told Call Sign after the meeting:

markings could lead a prospective passenger to

after the meeting suggesting that it was actual-

“Nothing was mentioned about what actually

approach the minicab driver and ask if they

ly an investigating report given by Howard

constitutes a pre-booking; which was a shame

would take them. Dial-a-Cab Chairman Brian

Carter, a TfL General Counsel). To loud cheers

as I would have liked to have heard Peter

Rice has long campaigned via Call Sign against

and applause, Lady Borwick simply said that

Hendy’s interpretation. But it really was a bril-

minicab identification markings.

we didn’t want Uber in London!

liant turnout with the chamber full of well-

Next came enforcement and Sir Peter read

Sir Peter actually admitted that he didn’t like

behaved taxi drivers that were a credit to the

out some figures from TfL’s website regarding

Uber but went on to tell an interesting tale

trade. The committee loved it and ended up

the number of officers used. There was a small

about when he had ordered a Hailo Taxi via

playing to the gallery with Lady Borwick saying

amount of jeering, as if the drivers disbelieved

their app, but they didn’t have a black cab and

that Hailo had gone over “to the dark side”

him - although it came with a smile! Baroness

offered to supply him with a PH vehicle

whilst Uber were compared to Satan!”

Jenny Jones added that the Assembly Police

instead. He agreed, but said that he was

All in all, we owe a huge debt of thanks to

Committee would look at the Met's Road and

amazed when the driver used his iPhone to

the GLA Transport Committee for their wel-

Traffic Command. It is that department that

work out the fare after being assured that it

come support of our trade, because despite

helps to enforce taxi regulations.

would be no dearer than a taxi (ie £14). He

some reaching out to the trade by Sir Peter

His answer regarding Pedicab enforcement

said that TfL had now asked Hailo how they

Hendy with his answers - although after

brought a few more groans from drivers when

worked the fare out. Hailo later said that they

most had left he replaced that with criti-

he claimed that there was nothing they could

work out fares just on distance and not via a

cism - it was the GLA that actually had the

do and he was hopeful that a Private Members

smartphone.

believability we needed to see. We must

Bill could be presented to Parliament later this

Lady Borwick said that Taxi drivers had to

hold on to that support…

year. Baroness Jones suggested that Mayor

put two years into the KoL; we were disability

Boris Johnson could actually put forward a

aware etc and deserved support. “As a city,” she

PMB, although Sir Peter thought otherwise.

said, “we have to decide what we want.”

Alan Fisher

Moving from Pedicabs to touting, he said

Sir Peter continued on the Uber theme when

Call Sign Online

Call Sign April 2015

Page 13

League Cup quarter final: Colliers

Wood Utd 3 (Harding 2, Embalo)

Lee: “The final is in sight!”

- Badshot Lea 0

After blaming himself for giving away a soft

late equaliser against Spelthorne Sports in a

league game just a few days earlier, Dial-a-Cab

driver and Colliers Wood United goalkeeper,

Lee Pearce (J71) was still feeling down for the

home Combined Counties League Cup quarter

final game against Badshot Lea on March

11th. But he needn’t have worried, making

several important stops, which together with

two goals from Dan Harding and a strike from

human scoring machine Mario Embalo, sent

‘Wood into the semi-finals with a match

against Farnham Town or championship

favourites Cove, on April 1st.

“And that,” Lee told Call Sign, “is just one

game from a Final and Colliers Wood want

to be in that game.”

Close on from an excellent save by Lee

Pearce from Badshot’s Gavin Muir, Wood

took the lead after 17 minutes when Darren

Lee played a blinder to help CW reach the League Cup semi final

Caesar sent Mario Embalo away. He squared

the ball to Dan Harding who sent in a lovely

have scored a hat-full of goals but the shooting

soon after yet another save from Lee Pearce

shot to the left of the goalkeeper.

boots weren’t working as they should have.

and as the game moved into the sixth minute

Twenty minutes later and almost a repeat of

However, at the other end, Badshot Lea were

of stoppage time, Joe Mead and Dan

the first goal, Lee Pearce took a well struck

throwing everything at the goal and it was just

Harding linked to set up Mario Embalo who

cross and soon after, Dan Harding struck

Lee Pearce playing an absolute blinder that

smashed the ball into the net to make it 3 - 0

again for his second of the game, beating the

kept them goal-less.

and set up that semi-final game to take

goalkeeper exactly as he had done earlier.

It looked as though the half time score was

Colliers Wood to within one game of the

In the second half, Colliers Wood should

going to be the score at full time, but again,

League Cup Final…

TfL successfully prosecute another 4 touts

Transport for London’s Taxi and Private Hire Compliance Teams have successfully prosecuted four more drivers

as part of its ongoing activity to crack down on non-compliant drivers in London.

Meherj Husain Choudhury was sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 4 February 2015. He was reported for touting and illegally accept-

ing a booking on Clapham High Street in a vehicle that was not registered as a private hire vehicle and without a valid PHV driver’s licence. He plead-

ed guilty to five separate offences, including driving without insurance and was ordered to pay £570 in fines and court costs. He was also disqualified

from driving for eight months.

Habib Sheikhomar was sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 28 January 2015. He was reported for illegally plying for hire and accept-

ing a booking on Acre Lane, Brixton, as well as working without a valid PHV driver’s licence and motor vehicle insurance. He was ordered to pay

£1430 in fines and court costs and was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Abdirahman Nurie Yusuf was also sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 28 January 2015. He was reported for illegally plying for hire

and illegally accepting a booking on Chalk Farm Road without a valid PHV driver’s licence. He was found to have been previously convicted for touting

and driving without insurance less than a month earlier and this was drawn to the court’s attention. He was found guilty of four separate offences and

ordered to pay £1410 in fines and court costs as well as being disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Leonard Ofori-Atta was sentenced at City of London Magistrates’ Court on 8 January 2015. He was reported for illegally plying for hire, accepting

a booking and driving without appropriate insurance at Whitcomb Street. He was found guilty of three separate offences, including driving without

third party motor vehicle insurance and ordered to pay £2799 in fines and court costs. His DVLA driver’s licence was endorsed with six penalty points.

The cases were all led by TfL’s compliance and legal teams and are in addition to prosecutions which are undertaken by London’s policing agencies to

improve taxi and private hire safety across London.

Since the beginning of this year, TfL has recorded 18 successful convictions for illegal plying for hire and other related offences with many more cases

currently awaiting court dates.

Call Sign says:

This is a very difficult point for Call Sign to make but someone has to. We do not know or care how many Dial-a-Cab drivers were not

born in this country. Everyone on this circuit is equal in stature and that is how it should be. But what we DO know is that every one of

those that were born outside of the UK is driving a London taxi because they completed the Knowledge and then became licensed to

drive a London taxi.

We always publish TfL press releases that publicise successful prosecutions. We can argue all day long about whether there should be more touts

caught, but we also realise that court cases have to be prepared correctly in order to get a decision. But this is about something else altogether.

We are publishing the names given by TfL in the last three press releases regarding the successful prosecution of touts beginning with the above

release. The four names given there are Meherj Choudhury, Habib Sheikhomar, Abdirahman Yusuf and Leonard Ofori-Atta. In the February 2015 issue,

another four touts were found guilty in court. They were Nasser Ndaganira, Oladotun Shonowo, Omonirume Gbemre and Alemayehu Ayele Before that

came another three touts caught in the September 2014 issue. They were Olaide Tijani, Tahir Zaheer Baig and Rajalingham Paheerathan.

There is something wrong; the question is what? Every single name in the last three PRs from TfL contain nothing but foreign names. No doubt if we

went back further then there would be more. We are at a loss to know the answer…

Jamie Corum

Call Sign Online

Call Sign April 2015

Page 14

Another true story from Geoff Levene…

Eating Out (but not in Waterloo)!

I think that one of the great things in

and asked: “Maybe your eyes are bigger than your stomach.” Charming!

life is eating out. Whether it's giving

A decent restaurant has to cater for all tastes. My eldest son Dan and

the wife a night off from the kitchen,

his long-time partner Sue are Episcopalians - no, that's not right,

celebrating a special occasion or meet-

they’re pesky Tories! No, that's wrong too. I know…they're

ing up with family or friends, you can't

Pescatoreans. They are semi-vegetarian. They eat fish but not meat. The

beat a nice venue, great atmosphere

good lady wife, however, eats fish only because she should. In a perfect

and of course good grub.

world she would always choose meat.

The chefs working here are now

It was a cousin of hers from Blackheath that suggested a family

considered some of the best in the

get-together. She recommended a place she liked; one we’ve all

world and you can choose from just

passed many times as taxi drivers. It was La Barca - on the left as

about any cuisine; Italian (who does-

you go up the slope to Waterloo. And having eaten there, I would

n't like Italian), French, Chinese,

say that going past it is probably the best option!

Japanese, Lebanese, Greek, Somali and the list goes on. In this job

We parked close by in Lower Marsh and that was probably the best

we get to take people to all the best places. There's the Savoy Grill,

part of the evening. I've wiped most of it from my memory but a few

Wiltons and all those places around St James's Street.

things remain - the eye-watering prices for a start. It’s at least £10 for a

I went into the Caprice once. I had picked up the passenger I call

starter and £20 for a main. True to form, the wife went for the steak -

Lady Botox, who I think must have been ennobled for services to the

£25! I assumed it included vegetables. I chose what was described as a

cosmetic industry! You wait outside her flat and out comes a young

typical rustic Tuscan dish. Well those rustic Tuscans must be doing ok

Geisha - black hair, almond-shaped eyes and high cheekbones. As she

because it was £22 for some square pieces of sausage on a bed of pota-

gets closer to the cab a strange thing happens. She ages before your

to! But back to the steak - a huge white plate appeared and there

eyes! The hair is unnaturally black. Her white face shows signs of the

dumped in the middle was a lump of meat. Nothing else. Not a mush-

surgeon's knife and when she speaks she has difficulty opening her

room, not a bit of tomato, not a lettuce leaf, just nothing! She asked for

mouth. A shame that the very rich try so hard to retain their youth - or

it to be cooked rare and it turned up well done. She had a couple of

in her case, maybe someone else’s.

mouthfuls and pushed the disappointing veg round the plate!

Anyway she left her coat in the cab and I took it back into the restau-

One thing I've never tried is Vietnamese. I suppose it can't be dis-

rant. What a place! Packed to the gunwales. Every table full. Those wait-

similar to Chinese, but I need to find out for myself. I've discovered a

ing for a table were sitting at the bar and there’s a queue for that! And

place at the

Chelsea Farmers Market in Sidney Street. A bit of a

the amazing aroma of food and drink. I just wish I had the money.

schlepp, but I'm going to give them a call. Of course it's got a

The aroma of Indian restaurants used to be so inviting, but the past

Vietnamese name, which translates to Happy Buddha. I just hope the

few we visited smelled of nothing. And to be honest, they didn't taste of

guy who answers the phone gives that name. I don't really want to ask:

much either.

“Excuse me, is that the Phat Phuc…?”

Chinese food is always tasty and of course they invented the takeaway

Geoff Levene (W32)

- although given the way the world’s changed, it's more a case of

Call Sign Online

takeover. I once drove home with a bagful of food on the passenger seat

of the car. At some stage I braked sharply and the carton of chicken and

sweetcorn soup shot out and spewed its contents over the carpet. For

years afterwards whenever the car heated up, a beautiful aroma filled

HACKNEY ROAD TAXI TYRES

the air!

But the waiting staff can sometimes be a bit abrupt. At an excellent

place in Harrow, I was defeated by a huge dish of chicken on a bed of

FOR THE BLACK CAB TAXI TRADE

vine leaves. An Italian waiter might have asked: “Was there something

wrong with it, Sir?” But in that establishment the waitress just sneered

• Austones for the TX

• Barums for the Vito

DaC credit/debit cards

To save any embarrassment for drivers, there are now new par-

• Michelin and Continental

tition stickers available at Dial-a-Cab House which state that

there is a 10% charge with a minimum of £2 for credit and

also supplied

debit cards, because some passengers have apparently pointed

out that the old notice only mentions credit cards.

Please pick up one when you pass the office and replace the

•

4-wheel laser tracking

old one.

for the Mercedes Vito

• Puncture repairs

Keith Reading

Professional Toastmaster

• Also free tyre checks

Master of Ceremonies

Tele: 01279 465 938

Find us downstairs the

Mobile: 07774 860 374

Email: kgr.2@virgin.net

DaC Credit Union at

The Peterley Business Centre,

10% discount for DaC drivers and staff

472 Hackney Road, E2

Fellow of the Guild of

Professional Toastmasters

0207 729 5237

Call Sign April 2015

Page 15

Congratulations Uber…

but what exactly for?

Dial-a-Cab driver Mark Tiller (K90) phoned

of the Uber driver accused of raping his

driver who refused to pick up a gay cou-

Call Sign recently sounding distinctly upset.

passenger in New Delhi that caused the

ple or the London driver who threw Corey

Having been on the circuit for over 20 years,

app to be banned on the sub-continent, or

Watts and Jordan Sloan out of the cab - or

he said he couldn’t remember feeling this

the London Uber female passenger who

should that be car - for kissing and cud-

bad before. So we naturally asked if it was

was sent £20 compensation after the dri-

dling on New Year’s Day. But then again

DaC or Call Sign that had caused this reac-

ver allegedly asked her if she wanted him

perhaps it was the case of the London

tion in the usually mild-mannered driver. It

to perform a sex act on her.

Uber driver who called a ‘drag queen’ rid-

was neither, but he’d just heard that Uber

Then there was the lady who picked up the

ing in his backseat a “disgusting fag boy.”

had won the Taxi/PH Innovator of the Year

same Uber driver twice, close to New York’s

prize and asked if we knew. We said that we

Then there’s Holland that joined India,

Lincoln Centre, when at the end of the trip

did and would be congratulating them in this

Spain and Thailand in having complete Uber

the driver asked her if she had been near

issue!

bans and issuing a preliminary judgment say-

there earlier before showing her a full-length,

It was at the plush confines of the former

ing that Netherlands Uber had to stop work-

close-up picture of herself wearing the track

Royal Lancaster Hotel - now minus its

ing with drivers who lacked a taxi license but

suit she had worn an hour earlier! She com-

Royal prefix - that Sir Peter Hendy, current

charged passengers for rides. German courts

plained about the driver taking photos of

TfL Commissioner of Transport, presented the

in Hamburg and Berlin banned Uber in

unaccompanied women.

2014 London Transport Awards - spon-

September and there are ongoing legal cases

Sir Peter may also dislike Uber because of

sored by the DoT and TfL! It was no shock to

going on in Deutschland.

the Uber driver who was arraigned in Boston

find that even though the London licensed

Nevada banned Uber when a court

for allegedly kidnapping and raping a pas-

Taxi trade is known as the best taxi service

claimed that the app’s drivers were acting like

senger who got into his car. The female pas-

anywhere in the world, it received absolutely

taxi drivers - something they are obviously

senger had got into a vehicle operated by

nothing; not even an honourable mention!

not. Mind you, Uber voluntarily pulled out

Alejandro Done. She told the driver where

However, Uber - the company Sir Peter said

from San Antonio, the second most popu-

she wanted to go, but he took her to a place

at last month’s GLA meeting that not only

lous city in Texas. Why? Well the city council

she was not familiar with, pulled over in a

passed an ordinance requiring drivers to pass

does he not like, but that that they did not

secluded area and jumped in the backseat

like him either - won the Taxi/Private hire

city-reviewed background checks. How dare

where she was sitting. According to a DA

the council propose that!

Innovator of the Year award.

report, the driver then allegedly struck her

But there’s none of the above in

Perhaps one reason Sir Peter doesn’t like

with his hands, locked the car doors so that

London, here they’ve won a prize! Isn’t

Uber is because the app’s joint founder and

she couldn’t escape and covered her mouth

something wrong with TfL for getting

current CEO Travis Kalanick has said that he

so she couldn’t scream. Then during the

involved in presenting the award? But

couldn’t care less about TfL because he can

physical struggle, the defendant allegedly

don’t ask us - we weren’t invited!

and does as he wishes! Mr Kalanick wasn’t

sexually assaulted her.

The other two shortlisted were Kabbee and

present at Bayswater’s renamed Lancaster

Let’s also remind Sir Peter of the Uber dri-

Carrot Cars. We’re not mad about either, but at

Hotel to pick up the prize, otherwise he

ver in Chicago who allegedly raped a 22-year-

least they count as legitimate opposition who

might possibly have answered questions on

old female passenger on her way home from

so far as we know, work fully within the law.

some “problems” his drivers seemed to have

a party. She had fallen asleep in the cab and

picked up along the way. And no, their prices

claimed she later woke up with the Uber dri-

Baghwat Singh

at the drop of a ‘surge’ hat do not count as

ver on top of her in an unfamiliar apartment.

problems - well not to TfL apparently.

Call Sign Online

We were thinking more about the case

We could also mention the Parisian Uber

Russell’s one man anti-Uber battle!

An Australian private hire driver, who became famous down-under for making citizens

arrests on Uber drivers, recently came to London with the intention of toppling the

Uber empire in London.

Russell Howarth was a former policeman over here before emigrating to Oz. His police

background included two years in the advanced riot squad and counter-terrorism, which he says

helps him to understand the law when he makes his arrests.

Last year he founded the campaign, Arresting Uber as a protest against Uber’s unlicensed

drivers transporting passengers illegally - although he admits that unlike Australia, Uber are

licensed in London. However, he believes that after he meets and explains his views on the

app’s flouting of the law to TfL, that they will withdraw Uber’s licence.

So well is Mr Howarth known by Uber executives in his now-home country that the London

version has written to all its 20,000 drivers warning them of his presence in the capital. The letter stated:

“We have been made aware that there is a person in London who has approached Uber partners and attempted to

provoke them. He has made claims that Uber London is some way illegal - this is not true. We would like to take this

opportunity to reassure you that Uber is 100% legal and compliant with all TfL requirements, as was confirmed in the

letter that TfL sent all PCO-licensed drivers last summer. We would ask you to keep your doors locked and to call the

police if approached by anyone making accusations about your legality.”

Mr Howarth had previously been on Uber for around two years. However, his view on the app changed when he looked closely at

how Uber operated and said that he felt he had become a part of a lie. He added that if he wasn’t going to be with them, then he

was going to try to stop them!

In addition to his meeting with TfL, he has or will meet many of the taxi trade organisations…

Call Sign April 2015

Page 16

n August 21st Dial-a-Cab dri-

ver Patsy McCarthy (C01) will

RENTING A TAXI - IN 1925!

have been with this Society for

then he would face a further charge of one

thirty years. But even he was-

old penny per mile. However, should at

n’t around on September 28th 1925,

any time after the first year had been com-

unlike Charles Talbot who on that date

pleted and if Charles Talbot was fully up to

went along to the Mount Pleasant Motor

date on his payments, then he would have

Company at

69 Margaret Street,

the option to buy the taxi at a cost of £350.

Farringdon in order to rent a taxi.

We mentioned the agreement to Bill

Thanks to Patsy, Call Sign now has the

Munroe, author of London Taxis: A full his-

actual agreement and we thought read-

tory (Earlswood Press) in addition to writing

ers would be interested in some of the

many other taxi books, running a Knowledge

details from 90 years ago.

school and also being a taxi driver himself

Mr Talbot, who lived in Stoke

and his belief was that £7 wasn’t much less

Newington, signed to rent taxicab registra-

than the average weekly takings back then.

tion number XH 3980 and by doing so,

Looking at the agreement, it seems that

agreed to rent the taxi and have a night-

had the cab not been shared, then Mr

man as well - although according to the

Talbot could have been working for very

document, if either should become “bank-

little and although all the included costs

rupt or a lunatic” then the agreement

are itemised, it comes down to just renting

would become null and void!

a cab “on the clock” with an option to pur-

Whilst there was no actual rental charge,

chase thrown in, an option few drivers

the drivers would have to hand over all the

problems and all parts and accessories

could probably afford.

money showing on the meter at the end of

and an annual chassis adjustment

Patsy has had the document for many

the day and would receive a percentage

£2.85.The annual overhaul added 60p

years but has no knowledge of who

back, which explains why tips were so

per week. Petrol (the pump price per

Charles Talbot was. Mr Talbot lived in

important back then.

gallon was 7p) came to a mighty charge

Cressington Road N16, a road that does-

However, there was a £7 weekly mainte-

per week of £1.75 whilst 75p per week

n’t seem to exist anymore although

nance charge shared between the two dri-

went to the cost of any new tyres need-

there is now a Cressington Close. If any-

vers which does seem to have included every-

ed. The taxi licence charge of £15 a year

one thinks they knew of Mr Talbot or

thing - even fuel. The charge included the fol-

was included at a cost of 30p a week,

more likely, his descendants, then

lowing - originally shown in pre-decimal cur-

whilst insurance added another

50p

please let Call Sign know…

rency but converted to pounds/pence for

and the £7 contract was completed by

anyone under 90 years old!

the meter rental weekly cost at 11p.

Michael Toomey

For weekly washing, polishing, all

Mr Talbot had to agree that should he

oils, running repairs, gearbox or engine

drive more than 25,000 miles in a year,

Call Sign Online

JACQUELINE HART

COUNSELLOR

BA (Hons), Dipl in Transactional Analysis

MBACP, EATA

• Do you feel as though things are getting on top of you?

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• Do you find yourself asking “why does this always happen to me’?

• Are you noticing your behaviours changing, maybe using alcohol, food or drugs to make you feel better?

• Are there any of your relationships ie with your husband, wife, partner, boss, manager, son, daughter,

mum or dad that make you unhappy and question yourself too often?

Any of these and many more could be an indication that your well being needs some attention.

It maybe a surprise to hear that there needn’t be anything wrong with you for you to see a counsellor.

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www.hart-counselling.co.uk

Call Sign April 2015

Page 17

After TfL lost a batch of driver’s CRB disclosures in 2011, it has

happened again…

TFL LOSE TAXI DRIVERS’

MEDICAL REPORTS!

In a development that caused much conster-

ing such important papers should also be

received letters confirming their licence

nation among licensed taxi drivers, Transport

reported? And let’s not forget, the request for

renewal.

for London admitted that a batch of Criminal

a medical disclosure is signed by the Mayor of

Ron Yarborough

Record Bureau forms sent from Palestra

London, Boris Johnson…”

House in Blackfriars to the CRB HQ in

All three drivers we spoke to had since

Call Sign Online

Liverpool had been lost. It was 2011 and DaC

driver Marc Turner (R97) had alerted Call

Sign after TfL contacted him explaining about

the loss following his application for a new

THE NEW VITO?

Bill.

We then discovered that it wasn’t just

ith three electric

Marc’s CRB but a whole batch. As Marc said at

Metrocabs said to

the time, with a CRB check, there could be

be running around

information that you wouldn’t want to get

London and fully

out. The only fortunate part was that the orig-

licensed, it seemed to be just a mat-

inal documents accompanying the CRB were

ter of time before the rest came

all safe, just the forms had gone missing. TfL

along behind and Call Sign hap-

blamed the postal service.

pened to have a driver at the S&B

Now four years on in 2015 and we have

Vito dealership at Welham Green

heard from three DaC drivers, none of whom

to snap a hidden photo of staff

would like to be identified, but all telling a

looking at the new Vito. No photos

similar story; TfL have contacted them to say

were allowed… and neither was a

that a batch of completed medical forms had

date mentioned for the taxi version.

gone missing and they were asked to please

But it must be close…

send them a photocopy.

In all fairness to the licensing authority, the

original letter does “recommend” that you

Dennis Latchett

keep a photocopy of the original report “for

Call Sign Online

your own record.” However, not everyone has

access to a scanner or fax machine or a local

shop that photocopies documents. And

depending on your doctor, you can pay any-

Staff try to hide it from

the DaC driver whose

thing from £94 to £165 for the original med-

ical and form filling procedure!

phone seems to have

One Dial-a-Cab driver told us: “Fortunately

snapped the new Vito

I had kept a copy, but I was very concerned

that they could lose such an important docu-

ment. After all, on the first page it actually says

You may not need us now, but cut us out for when you do!

that the information included in the form may

be passed to law enforcement agencies if

criminal activity is suspected or where they

are otherwise required to do so by law! You

LOCKHOUSE SECURITY

don’t need to be brain of Britain to realise

that is an important document.

All types of locks, opened, repaired and replaced

“Besides anything else, call me old fash-

ioned but I don’t want strangers knowing my

10% discount on keys and locks for DaC drivers

health details including my name, where I live

Transponders / chipped keys

and my GP’s address. That information could

On site key cutting services including taxis

feasibly be used against me - not to mention

Locks replaced / fitted to insurance specifications (BS3621

fraudulently. I was also extremely upset to be

asked via a TfL phone call to send them a pho-

Burglary repairs / boarding up

tocopy. Surely informing me that they had lost

Additional security / security upgrades

such an important document and requesting

Safes opened, repaired and serviced

a photocopy should have come in a recorded

Grilles and security gates

letter?”

At the time of writing, Call Sign had not

Specialists in UPVC doors and windows / patio doors

heard if the originals had been found or

Free estimates / no call out charge

whether TfL, as a second DaC driver suggest-

24hr service

ed, had passed the matter over to the police.

“After all,” the second driver told us still

You can find us at:

with an obvious sound of anger in his voice,

8-10 The Arcade, Farnham Road, Harold Hill

“they would have been very quick to pass over

anything they suspected about us that they

Tel: 01708 371115

perceived as being a bit dodgy; so surely los-

Call Sign April 2015

Page 18

In this series, Cab Guide, City of London Guide and City of Westminster Guide Bob Woodford looks at

infamous peace time London explosions

Blast!

any cab drivers will recall the

IRA bombing campaign in

London, which

regular distrac-

tion in the 1980s and 1990s.

I can recall sitting in the staff

canteen at the SW1 Distric

Office of the GPO in Howic

Place one Saturday after

noon in 1983, when ‘Ol

he former Clerkenwell Prison was used as a bomb shel-

Mac’ had come in from h

r in WW2. (Inset) plaque where the school now is

post box collection round

Belgravia boasting that h

post van had been comma

False evidence suggests that Michael Barrett was incor-

deered by police officers

ectly charged with causing the Blast, but he nevertheless

Sloane Street anxious to get

was hanged on 26th May 1868 outside Newgate Prison.

Harrods because they had j

It’s spooky thinking that people flocked to the execution,

received a coded warning ab

many by way of the London Underground, which was already

a planted device in a parked

operating before Barrett became the last person to be hung in

outside.

public in Britain. You can imagine Londoners rushing out of

A few years later, in the

Farringdon Station to witness the spectacle!

when I used to work the ‘fly

ld Clerkenwell Prison was demolished in 1890 to be replaced

a cabbie told me that he too had had his vehicle taken over by police

by the Hugh Myddleton School, which has now been converted into

in Walton Street in their haste to get to the department store, packed

residential flats with an entrance in Clerkenwell Close. Call Sign read-

with Christmas shoppers.

ers might like to go and check out the plaque in the picture. A

Nobody knows if any of the constables that took the forceful deci-

sequence of tunnels beneath the old prison remains undisturbed,

sion to steer these two drivers towards the carnage that would ensue,

having been used as World War Two bomb shelters. More recently a

were any of the four police officers killed in the explosion that ripped

museum was opened up, which was sadly short-lived.

apart the Hans Crescent side of one of London’s iconic landmarks.

In the aftermath of the Blast, Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli

But this month’s ‘Blast’ features another peace time explosion

urged a step up in security operations - and where have we heard that

that was the work of Irish terrorists - a different part of London

before.

in a different century, but which also took place just before

Christmas.

Bob Woodford

It was December 1867; so-called Fenian agitators (forerunners of

Call Sign Online

the IRA) used a barrel of gunpowder to blow up the outside wall of

the old Clerkenwell Prison in Corporation Row in an attempt to

free some of their comrades. They included

Richard Burke, who was being detained for

the murder of police officer Charles Brett.

Drawing parallels with the Harrods bomb

just over 100 years later, the barrel had been

placed under the cover on the end of a coster-

monger’s barrow and wheeled to the site

where they knew prisoners would be exercis-

ing in the yard behind the wall. A massive sec-

tion of the wall was blown away and the rick-

ety old tenement block on the other side of

the street was destroyed in the blast - result-

ing in 12 people killed, with over 50 suffering

from various injuries. The end result left many

families homeless while grieving for their

loved ones. The explosion was heard for miles

with low traffic levels and the lack of high rise

buildings in the late 19th century allowing

sound to carry.

Call Sign April 2015

Page 20

Every issue of Call Sign takes a look back at ODRTS history through the pages

of the magazines of the time with a Flashback…

DIAL-A-CAB FLASHBACK

This issue harks back to the July 2003 issue and looks at Call Sign’s view of London

possibly winning the 2012 Olympics - still nine years into the future...

Will a London Olympics be good for DaC drivers?

With London now officially in the race against Paris, New York, Moscow and others for the 2012 Olympic Games, drivers may well be

thinking that nine years from now could be a real boom-time for the taxi industry. But is that how it worked for other Olympic cities?

Taxi Driver David Gawthorn was born in the UK but resides and works in Melbourne, Australia. He is also the author of a book on

his Australian taxi experiences and has his own weekly radio show. Call Sign asked him about the Sydney Olympic Games and

whether their cab trade benefited.

“They were a total disaster for Sydney cabbies,” replied David, “the whole city shut down for the period that the Games

were on and just concentrated on the big event. Even Sydney's public transport, which is notoriously bad, ran properly

for the duration of the Games! In addition, all transport was free on production of an Olympic ticket - and very often if

you didn't have a ticket! The system strongly favoured public mass transport rather than the inferred 'expensive' cabs.

“But we were given a rank which was sited around a kilometre from the stadium and many people who might have

considered taking a cab, took the free train instead because that involved no walking - and who could blame them?”

David went on: “My wife, youngest daughter and myself made the pilgrimage to Sydney and stayed about 80 kilome-

tres (50 miles) out. Even though we had no intention of going to any of the events, we got to travel free on the trains to

get into the city! Not much use to cab drivers though!”

David concluded by adding: “Apart from bits and pieces of Olympic work, there was also less of the regular cab driving

work as so many streets were closed. And it wasn't just we cabbies who complained with many retailers, restaurants,

bars, cafes and pubs that weren't in the immediate area of the events and the city, seeing their takings drop.”

So what about London? As Transport for London will obviously be looking to Sydney to see how they planned the

event, it looks like London’s taxi drivers may have a battle on their hands rather than a windfall! Perhaps we shouldn’t

wait until 2012 to make our point? Atlanta 96 Olympic cab drivers even lost their taxi lanes. Melbourne doesn’t have

them, but if London is confirmed as getting the 2012 Games - and admittedly that is still a year or so away - then the

time to start putting our case will be soon after and not the day before the Games commence….

Alan Fisher

A trade now inundated with opposition shouldn’t be surprised to hear it but…

NOW FORD MOVE INTO THE PEOPLE

MOVING BUSINESS!

In a disturbing, yet unsurprising move

in an era where everyone wants to be

a taxi driver without doing any of the

hard work, the Ford Motor Company

are said to be experimenting with an

“Uber-like” ride-sharing app. If suc-

cessful, they would send out their

own fleet of vehicles to aim at a mar-

ket between taxis and buses. The

company refers to it as a “dynamic

social shuttle.” And before anyone

puts two and two together and

comes up with the two words of

April Fool, no, the story is genuine.

The article, which first

appeared in the Washington

Post, claimed that the Ford vehicles could be tested

on London’s streets “as early as this year.”

Ford say that the new sharing service would be faster than taking a bus, whilst cheaper than an

Uber cab. Ford CEO Mark Fields hinted that the idea came from seeing the world-wide success of

Uber and the US success of Lyft and Sidecar.

The Ford app service would obviously run in direct competition to Nat Rothschild’s Maaxi Taxi,

with the possibility that the vehicle used could be the Ford Transit. Could the reason be that Ford

are having trouble selling their Transits and have a huge surplus of the model available?

In a trade now inundated with opposition, we shouldn’t be surprised at anything and were

going to ask Dial-a-Cab Chairman Brian Rice if he had any plans to build cars, but didn’t bother

as he was talking to two drivers about property development at the East Road offices!!!

Other than laugh at the Ford story, I really don’t know what else to say…

Michael Toomey

Call Sign Online

Call Sign April 2015

Page 21

ALL WHITE ON THE NIGHT

The views of Garry White…

Hello Ladies and Gents,

putting aside their differences and uniting

against the woefully inadequate TfL. I believe

AGM

it to be imperative that you now belong to

one of the trade organisations that are work-

Firstly I would like to thank you for returning

ing on our behalf to combat the multi million

me to the Dial-a-Cab Board of Management.

pound hi-tech companies circumventing taxi

It was good to meet and talk to so many of

legislation and tax avoiding measures by

you at the AGM.

operating outside the UK.

You might be aware that I am no longer the

Compliance Officer for DaC as the Board

have made a change following the AGM, that

Marketing

change being that I am no longer in DaC

I believe that we need to up our game in the

house on a weekly basis. The other two

way we market the Society and our own app,

Board members with positions remain with-

because that's how I see the immediate future

out change.

of people hailing taxis whilst paying by cred-

If you wish to read my thoughts on Dial-a-

it card…

Cab matters, other current affairs or you just

Be Lucky

want to contact me, you can do so via Call

Sign, where I still have a bi-monthly column.

Garry White

You can also email me on garryw@diala-

United trade

cab.co.uk.

It’s good to see the trade organisations

DaC Board Member

Bank of England new note signatures…

With effect from 3 March 2015, the Bank of England will be issuing into circulation £10, £20 and £50 notes bearing the signature of the current Chief

Cashier, Victoria Cleland. These notes are the same design as those currently in circulation, which bear the signature of Chris Salmon, the previous

Chief Cashier and of his predecessors Andrew Bailey and Merlyn Lowther. Cleland notes will circulate alongside the remaining Salmon, Bailey and

Lowther notes with the same status.

The first £5 notes bearing the signature of Victoria Cleland will be printed on polymer and introduced into circulation from the second

half of 2016.

£10, £20 and £50 notes bearing Victoria Cleland’s signature will be made available to the cash industry from 3 March 2015 and will be dispensed

from some ATMs and branch counters shortly thereafter. Low serial numbered notes will not be available from the Bank’s counter.

OBITUARY: RAY SORENE

When I heard that Ray Sorene (A53) had passed away, I wasn’t surprised - just deeply saddened. I

didn’t know Ray socially, just from his being on Dial-a-Cab for almost 45 years and for his kind offer of

always being available to stand in whenever Call Sign’s regular snapper, Alan Green (E53), couldn’t

take his place as this mag’s photographer. Ray’s photography standard was excellent and I never had to

worry on those rare occasions when Alan was unavailable.

Ray joined the Society in 1969, just as Jack Taylor was handing over the ODRTS Chairmanship to Jack

Russell and was proud of the fact that only one driver - Alan Lewis (A44) - had still been with the

Society for longer than he, although before his retirement last year Bill Tyzack (C06), would have knocked

Ray down to third. Alan Lewis is the only driver still on the circuit who joined when the Chairman was Eli

(Trixie) Solomons.

Very often Ray and I would have a yearly catch-up at the AGM, because I don’t remember him ever missing one as he always placed himself

next to me on the front row. It’s also difficult to find one of our yearly meetings where he never got up to speak, because he took a great

interest in the Society.

He last spoke at the March 2014 meeting when he queried where £3million had vanished to from the Society’s accounts! Fortunately it had just

been transferred to a different account in order to gain more interest! But when he sat down again after speaking, he shocked me by saying that

this would be his last AGM. I could see how sad he looked when he said his taxi was about to lose its licence due to the Mayor’s 15 year emissions

policy. He also told me that his time with DaC had gone far too quickly, but that he never regretted his decision to join.

Not long after that, he phoned me to say that he had stripped out and his cab had gone. He said that he would be reading every issue of the

magazine in the online version and has actually written several letters to Mailshot since then - one coming with a humorous tale in the February

issue and even one in this issue regarding the sad death of Steve Marks. But he also told me that he had been diagnosed with cancer.

He phoned a number of times following that and was under no illusion as to how ill he was. On one occasion he called to say how thrilled he

had been when Brian Rice wrote to him after I told the Chairman of Ray’s illness. It wasn’t just the fact of it being Brian, but it was a contact with

DaC - and he loved that.

I last spoke to Ray two days before he died when he called to ask if we could tell a regular account customer with whom he had established a

connection in that they both collected old whiskey bottles, of his illness. The message was passed thanks to Caroline McGowan on the DaC House

ground floor. But sadly, a call from Ray’s friend, Dave Cohen (E94) on Saturday 21 March, told us that Ray had died. It was before the customer

had the opportunity to contact him.

Allan Evans and Keith Cain represented the DaC Board at Ray’s funeral.

Our deepest sympathy goes to his wife and daughter with our sincere thanks to them for sharing Ray with us for all those years…

Alan Fisher

Call Sign Online

Call Sign April 2015

Page 22

Gary Cox (O46) looks at a strange protective structure that will

allow cyclists to use bikes in the most difficult weather conditions -

if the makers get the funds needed to put it into production…

The Bike Brolly???

room and they say that they have become

So back to the question at the top of the

impresarios like those guys on Dragons Den

article; the obvious answer is no, but if any

and have invested a tenner in “this fantastic

cyclists do get hold of one they will have to

idea,” just smile knowingly and tell them that

pay for larger cycle parking bays at hospitals!

even Dial-a-Cab Chairman Brian Rice’s

On second thoughts, maybe more ambulance

favourite footie team at Queens Park

bays would be more appropriate in this

Rangers win occasionally, but you wouldn’t

case…”

want to put money on them doing it too

Gary Cox

often!

Call Sign Online

“Will Boris ban it, can Boris ban it? I'm not

ranting, but this latest feat of modern

DRIVERS WANTED FOR

engineering for pedal cycles is, to be quite

truthful, the most stupid contraption I

have ever seen!

LTFUC SOUTHEND TRIP

It's not just this country's police force that's

concerned, the Spanish Guardia civil traffic

Drivers, come and have a fun-packed day by the sea…

cops - who are more than honest, reasonable,

fair and forward thinking (so they tell me) -

Drivers, we need your help to give 300 ‘special needs’ and underprivileged children a brilliant

are also more than a little taken aback with

and memorable day out at Southend-on-Sea on Wednesday 1st July.

this one. When I showed the evidence to a

In case you have any doubts, we welcome all drivers regardless of what colour cab you

senior police officer from another European

have, whether you have radio circuit logos or advertising. This applies to all our outings. As

region who was here to attend the ExCel

well as giving a great deal of pleasure to so many children, we promise you will have a bril-

liant and fun-packed day out yourself.

Motorbike Show, his response was simply to

tap his head and say… ‘You English’!

Without you there are no outings. So please contact our driver liaison: Steve Bell

on 07811 508772.

So what is this wonder of technology that

The Hon President, Hon Chairman and Committee would be deeply grateful if you could

I’m divulging into your subconscious? It's a

join us and we look forward to seeing you on the day…

plastic modelled sheet with no doubt a plastic

“None walks so tall as he who stoops to help a child”

zip to bring back the glory of those halcyon

Raymond Levy

days of the pacamac, walking down the sea

front with chapped legs in April, granny with

LTFUC Press Officer

her Brillo pad hair and a packet of humbugs

that you needed false teeth to navigate. And

not to mention a Sketchley’s coat hanger

frame, although l suspect the wire will be too

expensive so you can bet your bottom dollar

THE SALIERI RESTAURANT

that the frame will be plastic in no time, which

I’m sure will stand up to a whack just as well!

376 Strand, WC2

Of course the finished product will need

some ventilation, as cycling

(and cyclists)

We Invite Dial-a-Cab drivers and their guests to our

tends to be a bit hot and smelly at the best of

restaurant where you can partake of the finest food and wine

times, let alone when the condensation kicks

in on a nice wet evening. Maybe someone

And as a thank-you for helping our clients come

should have mentioned a window wiper as a

good idea - and of course a mirror, but you

and go over the years, we are happy to be able to

probably wouldn’t see through the plastic.

offer you a genuine 25% discount on your bill

As the Leafxpro YouTube clip clearly

shows, on a nice warm day it all folds into a

long thin package that can be attached to the

We are certain that you will be delighted

cyclists back. Maybe someone needs to point

out that after half a dozen folds, it will never

go back into its container. And of course, just

one sudden gust of wind and it will make a

cheap shroud in all its technicolor splendour

for all to wonder at the inner workings of the

human body. Well that's a lay man's descrip-

tion, for what it's worth!

Please bring along your badge or Bill as ID

As I write this, there is a fundraising cam-

paign going on at the Kickstarter crowd-

Salieri Restaurant

funding platform in an attempt to raise

money for this bonkers idea. I guess in their

376 Strand, WC2

defence they will say it's not illegal to raise

Reservations: 020 7836 1318

money for something that's not against the

law. So when you pop up to your kid’s bed-

Call Sign April 2015

Page 23

Alasdair Kay is in his 41st year with DaC, but tells Call Sign about a

recent death that you wouldn’t normally expect to read about in

this magazine…

THE SAD DEATH

OF A BAG LADY…

Royal Academy of Music; she had also

Anne was once again on the move and

performed at the Wigmore Hall. But

lived in a clump of bushes outside a

somehow things went downhill; she lost

London underground station.

her home, and later on the Ford Consul

Many have compared Anne Naysmith’s

in which she then lived - it had been

story to that of Miss Shepherd, who was

towed away following complaints by a

said to live in a van outside writer Alan

neighbour that it was a blight on the

Bennett’s home in Camden. She was

view and Anne could not afford the

later immortalised in his play The Lady

charge of getting her car back.

in the Van. Either way, London is now

She then lived on a patch of land near

minus another character…

Stamford Brook Station, but the coun-

cil decided it had to be cleaned up and

Alasdair Kay (C47)

TfL confirms intention to lodge High Court application…

UBER AND TAXIMETERS

A Transport for London spokesperson has told Call Sign:

“We have made clear previously that it is our view that smartphones used by private

hire drivers do not constitute the equipping of a vehicle with a taxi meter where they act

as GPS tracking devices to measure journey distances and relay information so that fares

can be calculated remotely from the vehicle. However, we acknowledge that this issue is

not straightforward and is open to an alternative interpretation. The most appropriate

way forward is to invite the High Court to issue a declaration on this issue.

Whilst there were ongoing criminal proceedings in the Magistrates’ Court, we could

The bag lady: Anne Naysmith

not proceed with an application to the High Court. The Magistrates’ Court has been

invited to withdraw those proceedings and TfL will now proceed with its application to

e see some sad and dread-

the High Court.”

ful things during our work-

ing day on the streets of

London, but I wonder how

many of us ever noticed Anne

Naysmith. Perhaps she just didn’t regis-

ter as we passed by her walking along

the streets of London.

Over the decades, I had often driven

past a woman who appeared to be wear-

ing plastic bags on her feet, whilst carry-

ing even more carrier bags - although,

EARLY TREATMENT MEANS SPEEDY RECOVERY

strangely enough, never Sainsbury’s

because apparently she didn’t like them!

Treatment for pain & discomfort doesn’t have to be expensive

But regardless of which brand, the plas-

tic bags contained all her worldly pos-

The Centre offers fully qualified therapists in Physiotherapy,

sessions.

Osteopathy, Sports Massage, Reflexology, Shiatsu, Remedial

She could be anywhere at any time

Massage, Indian Head Massage, Hydrotherm, Massage

and I saw her at various times from

the City itself right out as far as

Therapy, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.

Shepherds Bush. And regardless of

the weather - rain, hail, snow or sun

Call us on 020 8507 8169

- she would always be walking.

or mobile 07973 639 473 for an early appointment

Anyway, I was recently listening to

Email: andy@bptconline.co.uk or fax: 020 8507 9650

Radio 4’s Last Word and the obituary of

Out of hours enquiries welcome

a famous concert pianist who had lived

in a car in Chiswick for many years and

who had been killed by a lorry.

Barking Physical Therapy Centre

Returning home, I Googled the name

90 Longbridge Road, Barking, Essex, IG11 8SF

and what a story it brought up!

Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 9am till 8pm and Saturday 9am till 2pm

This was the same woman I’d seen

www.bptconline.co.uk

over the years. She had trained at the

Call Sign April 2015

Page 24

LOOKING AT (TAXI) LIFE

With Tom Quigley (Y33)

having a car close to their workplace.

NHS free for all?

With the closing of most small local hospitals, the two hospitals we

As we run up to the General Election,

visited were in major heavy traffic areas and getting a space to park

much debate will focus onto the

was a stress in itself. With the general visiting time starting at 2.30pm

National Health Service.

it meant you had to be there for around 2 o’clock to find a space, with

With all the sides of the political spec-

clever parking fees milking us for every extra penny that they can

trum promising anyone prepared to lis-

because the machines work in two hour increments, which meant you

ten that they will protect and improve

lost the first half hour of every visit. It also meant that everyone left

the service, the biggest argument will be

the hospital smack bang at the start of the rush hour, bringing further

about how this service that is currently

traffic to already crowded runs - in our family’s case, Homerton High

free, will be preserved and kept free.

Street and Lea Bridge Road.

Of course, free it maybe for some, but it’s not free when hon-

It must be happening all over the country, but particularly in

est people do the decent thing and visit their friends and rela-

London and also makes you wonder what the carbon value of

tives.

that exercise is over the week.

Our family, who have had two elderly relatives in hospital at the

Yes the NHS is free, but for many companies it’s more of a “free for

same time, can assure you that such visits are expensive. I may sound

all…”

miserly in calculating the cost of the visits, but the fact is that with

these visits we hope to stimulate the patients, help with their care,

take some of the workload off an already overworked NHS staff and

The Knowledge

help speed up the recovery of our relatives, thereby reducing the

Just to let Call Sign readers that have anyone on The Knowledge

costs to the NHS and the country as a whole.

know that “appearances” as of May 5th 2015 will be at a new venue.

But we are charged for our efforts; I sat and calculated that in

They will no longer be at Palestra House - yes dinosaurs, they haven’t

one week alone it cost our family over £120 in parking fees! Yes,

been at Penton Street for yonks as that building, which was the

that was £120! If this money went straight back to the NHS then

Palace of fears and dreams for most of us, has been reduced to a Boris

we would all benefit. But as we’re all aware, it doesn’t and

Bike depot!

instead goes to private companies.

The new address will then be at 230 Blackfriars Road with the

Then if that wasn’t bad enough, one of the hospitals actually

entrance in Chancel Street.

charges the staff - including nurses - a colossal £600 a year to park in

their car parks! How ludicrous is that? These poorly paid people work

Tom Quigley

and finish at unearthly hours and need their vehicles to get home

when there’s limited public transport - never mind the safety factor of

Call Sign Online

GLA QUESTION TFL TAXI/PH RESOURCES

n page 12 of this issue, there is a report on the GLA questioning of TfL Transport

Commissioner Sir Peter Hendy at City Hall. Call Sign has now heard that Transport

Committee chair, Caroline Pidgeon has since written to Sir Peter expressing concern

over which resources are available for the enforcement of regulations surrounding the Taxi and

Private Hire trades.

The letter spells out the committee’s concern following Sir Peter’s statement that some Met

Borough Commanders did not view enforcement against touts as a priority. Ms Pidgeon added

that the Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee would be looking at the issue and also

asked for any legal advice on the question of the Uber app and its connection to a meter be

released to the committee. She suggested that a greater understanding and transparency

should have been made available following the authority’s decision to licence the San

Franciscan app.

TAXI AIR

The Flower Mill

Creating Beautiful Flowers For Weddings

CONDITIONING

All makes and models

Tel:

07854 738895

serviced and repaired

Mobile service - we

Web: www.theflowermillessex.co.uk

come to you!

Email: theflowermill@yahoo.co.uk

Call Mick Wheeler on

Covering Essex & The Surrounding Counties

020 8715 0079

Covering London

“It is at the edge of a petal that love waits”- William Carlos Williams

and the Home Counties

Call Sign April 2015

Page 25

On 26th April Dial-a-Cab Driver

Running in aid of Haven House Children's Hospice…

Colin Greaves (M91) and his son

Ben will be running the 2015

London Marathon in aid of

DaC’s Colin takes on

Haven House Children's Hospice.

Over the past few years, due to

London Marathon

the experience of close

friends, they have both become

increasingly aware of the

tremendous work the charity

does in support of young chil-

dren with life limiting and life

threatening conditions, includ-

ing providing specialist nursing

for seriously ill children and end

of life care.

It’s amazing the difference the care and

treatment can make to the individual chil-

dren and their families in what for many

cases is a very traumatic and often short peri-

od of time.

Colin (left) and Ben in training for the London Marathon

On a personal note, Colin is motivated to

lion to run the hospice; of which around

pledges of donations via more traditional

complete one last marathon (his last one was

£1.5million will need to be raised from vol-

methods, please feel free to contact Colin at

around 12 years ago) before his ageing legs

untary sources.

colinggreaves@aol.com or text / phone

and one remaining 'good' hip finally call time

Colin and Ben will be attempting to raise

07917 198631.

on his running. Also, when Ben was younger,

£6000 for this wonderful cause and anything

Thank you very much for your support

he used to say that when he was older he

Call Sign readers could please donate

from Colin, Ben and everybody at Haven

would complete the London Marathon

towards that target would be so gratefully

House Children's Hospice. You can read

with his father, although he may be regretting

received and very much appreciated.

about the Hospice and its work at

that promise now!

If you would like to make a donation

www.havenhouse.org.uk.

So here they are; ready, willing - probably

towards this tremendous cause and help

Could I please thank you in advance for

against the advice of his hip replacement sur-

ease some of their aching limbs, Colin has

contributing and taking the time to visit my

geon - and hopefully able to run this year's

a Just Giving donation page where you

fundraising page.

London Marathon for Haven House

can read his story at:

Children's Hospice in an attempt to raise a

www.justgiving.com/colingeorgegreaves

Colin Greaves (M91)

combined total of £6,000.

Also, if anyone would like to make any

Haven House Children's Hospice

colinggreaves@aol.com

provides planned and emergency care

24 hours a day, 365 days a year to over

150 children and young people who

Tower Hamlets 20mph speed limit

have a life-limiting condition. It pro-

As of Monday 13th April, the London borough of Tower Hamlets is introducing a bor-

vides extensive support to children

ough wide 20mph speed limit that will apply to all roads except those on the TfL road

from birth to 19 years old, including

network, which include the A11, A12, A13, The Highway, Burdett Road and Aspen

end of life care.

By combining specialist nursing care for

Way. Commercial Street will be included in the 20mph limit.

There will also be a no right turn from Mile End Road into Burdett Road due to the

seriously ill children, along with help for the

wider family, Haven House seeks to deliver a

Mayor’s new cycle superhighway.

sense of trust and most importantly ease the

burden of care. Whilst their services are free

to the families they support, they are not free

to provide and every year it costs over £2mil-

Fined if you leave your

Call Sign

engine running!

April 2015

Motorists who sit in a stationary vehicle with the engine running could be fined £20

Editor: Alan Fisher

if they refuse to switch it off. Westminster Council claim the move reflects con-

Address: 39 - 47 East Rd, London N1 6AH

Tel: 0207 251 0581 Fax: 0207 553 7293

cerns from residents and businesses over air quality in the borough. Traffic marshals

Email: callsignmag@aol.com

will be on patrol and ask car/taxi owners with stationary vehicles to switch their

Website:cwww.22-callsign.co.uk

engines off but if they refuse, a penalty notice with a £20 fine will be given. The

Printers: Premier Print Group

new scheme commences on May 1st.

25 - 31 Violet Rd, London E3

A spokesperson at the Institute of Advanced Motorists said the key issue would

Design: Aldan Publications

be how the new marshals enforced the fines and whether it was used as a genuine

Tel: 07958 300 428

attempt to help air quality or just as another Westminster revenue-raising exercise.

Email: deborahfresco@gmail.com

Views and opinion expressed in Call Sign must

The new measure could cause owners with weak batteries who were afraid of

not be assumed to represent those of the Editor or

switching off their engine in case they couldn’t restart it, to buy a new one possibly

Board.No part of Call Sign may be reproduced

earlier than they had perhaps hoped.

either manually or electronically without the express

permission of the Editor.

Call Sign April 2015

Page 26

Mailshot

the paltry valuation as presented to us.

Either write to Call Sign at Dial-

As we have spent a lot of money on possible

a-Cab House

mergers, could we not have a true valuation of

or email us at

our land should we go down that route?

Bruno Manfredi (F23)

callsignmag@aol.com

Thanks for the email Bruno, yours is a

Fare increase

question that is often brought up. The

Hello Alan

problem is that having the building val-

that you awarded Garry. I guess we’ll

I know it’s a bit late in the day, but I was just

ued yearly is an expensive process and

never know.

wondering if anybody had put forward a

seems pointless until such time as DaC

I’d also love to know where your

motion about cancelling the fare increase for

are seriously intending to sell it. So a fig-

assessment of the BoM being fractious

this year. I think you mentioned the subject

ure of £5million has been put alongside

comes from. Garry would unsurprisingly

in your Editorial some time ago, being as it

the valuation and isn’t altered. However

be upset at events, but there are several

was so small that it would do us more good

the figure is meaningless other than for

others on the Board and I heard nothing

through the public eye, to reject it for this

our End of Year Report. Once a decision is

resembling any disagreements from any

year. As you may have guessed, I am of the

reached and we decide to sell the build-

of them. Come to that, neither did any of

same view.

ing, it will then be properly valued and

the drivers that I spoke to at the meeting

Do you think this is likely? If not, who

the correct figure put up. But until then,

make your point …Ed

would be in a position to put this idea to

what would be the point in spending so

Mayor Boris? If that did happen, then I am

much each year …Ed

Unpronounceable!

sure it would go a long way in helping the

Hi Alan

public to look up to us and I don't think we

AGM reprise

It's okay; this is not some condemnation

would suffer financially. What are your

Dear Sir

from the Pope, but about the name of a fact.

thoughts?

I am sorry you misunderstood the point I was

Almost all the people convicted of touting

Chris Passfield (Y25)

Hi Chris, TfL have agreed to freeze the

trying to raise with regard to the Board

have names that are for me anyway, unpro-

increase for this year that I believe would

Members standing for election (March Call

nounceable. I wonder what that tells us.

originally have been

0.3 percent but

Sign). It seemed to me and my colleague

Terry Farmer (Ex-T55J, retired member)

could have dropped to 0.1 percent.

Bruno Manfredi (F23) that as the majority

That only those with unpronounceable

Hopefully the Evening Standard will tell

of votes had already been cast and we had all

names are allowed to drive??? …Ed

it the correct way, because knowing their

heard the arguments of the prospective

allegiance to all things small (ie mini-

Board Members, it was a waste of good

cabs) they are unlikely to try to make us

debating time going over the same ground.

Steve Marks

look too good. Of course, that always

What might have swung the votes for re-elect-

Alan

assumes that TfL pass on the news to

ing the Board was the way both Mr Rice and

It was sad news reading about Steve Marks

them. But no one can stop us telling our

Mr Son treated fellow Board Member Mr

in the March Call Sign. We used to work the

passengers that we are doing our bit to

Garry White, who behaved with great digni-

same early morning shifts, so I was used to

help keep prices down …Ed

ty and maturity. If the present Board is as

seeing him around on most days. One lasting

fractious with each other as they appeared at

memory I have is of doing a two-cab job with

the AGM, then it is no surprise that we are

him from the West End to Northolt Airport at

Diesel or diesel?

like a rudderless ship in a hurricane.

around 5 o’clock one morning. We got onto

Dear Alan

I hope that in the future we can forger per-

the Westway and then Steve’s cab just went -

It was interesting to read the article about

sonalities and tackle the present dire situation

within minutes his taxi was out of sight! I

Islington Council proposing to charge resi-

we find ourselves in.

don’t know what fuel he was using, but he

dents owning diesel vehicles for parking out-

Paul Hammett (V42)

made sure he was faster than anyone else!

side their homes (March Call Sign). Even

Paul, I didn’t misunderstand you because it

Fond memories! Rest in peace Stevie…

more interesting, I have been reliably

all comes under the same umbrella. You

Ray Sorene (Ex-A53, retired member)

informed that Islington Council have just

obviously don’t think that the 167 drivers

God bless you as well (Ray’s obit page 21)

renewed their van fleet - powered by diesel!

who bothered to turn up deserve to have

I was very sad to read of the passing of Stevie

Bob Francis (Y98)

all their questions answered and they

Marks in the last issue of Call Sign. I remem-

They need the money to put in more

couldn’t do that without hearing what the

ber his gravelled voice that I heard so often

humps - a sore subject with me and Chris

Board had to say. So we’ll have to disagree

when I used to dispatch on voice. We really

Caselton (O24) …Ed

on that point. I also must challenge your

had some fantastic banter over Dial-a-Cab

view of what actually transpired on the day

airwaves! I will always hold his kindness and

Valuation of DaC

because it seems we may have been at dif-

wit fondly in my memories. Never to be for-

ferent meetings! Yes, Garry certainly

gotten, thanks Steve! My sympathies go to his

House

behaved well, as did everyone present at a

wife and family. May he rest in peace…

At our recent AGM, new Board member Mr.

very difficult five hour long AGM. I never

Tony Arnold (F03)

Joe Brazil made an interesting point in

heard the Chairman say anything that

Call Sign also received many phone

regard to the value of DaC House. While I am

Garry challenged as being untrue. He cer-

calls following the sad passing of Steve

not in favour of a merger with God knows

tainly never complained about anything

Marks …Ed

who, or a sell off of DaC, the value of our

afterwards to me when we left the HAC

assets have been estimated at £5million. I

together.

have recently been informed that the

Yes, Mike Son may have lost votes for

Bidding App?

Clerkenwell Road site of Lellers Cab Wash,

being honest in declaring that should

Dear Brian

which is closing on the 10 March 2015, has

Garry win the election for Chairman, then

I recently had a thought (I don't get that

been sold for £l6million to facilitate the

he would have no alternative but to give up

many) about the DaC App and it occurred

building of a new 10-12 storey hotel. I am

his seat as he felt that he could not work

to me that if the public put together their

not a surveyor, but looking at our site in

with him. But on the other hand, he may

love of their mobiles and their money, it

comparison to Lellers site, ours looks bigger

also have won votes for being nothing less

would allow them to either enter a bid for

and therefore should be worth more than

than honest and showing the same dignity

a journey or get a fixed price via the com-

Call Sign April 2015

Page 27

Mailshot

puter. This isn't a new idea (the bid that is)

Many have tried to write off the taxi circuits

but, if it brings in work, who cares?

over the years, but arguably what they offer

Sorry that I missed the AGM, it was

licensed taxi drivers today is more important

because the boss had to have an operation

than ever. Stability, improved earnings, the

on her foot.

ability to accept street work, radio account

David Hughes (A73)

work and credit card payments and, crucially

Brian Rice replies: Sorry to hear ‘The

the experience of people who have weathered

many a storm in the industry year after year.

many years, they did not have a single sec-

Boss’ had an operation on her foot and I

Yes, a lot of account work has been won by the

ond hand cab for sale! It’s crazy when you

wish her a speedy recovery. But I hope

private hire operators and that trend is likely to

realise how bad trade is, but so many drivers

the operation on the wife’s foot had noth-

continue; but the taxi circuits, DaC included,

just shrug their shoulders and say that it is

ing to do with you opening your mouth!

are responding to that shift by reviewing the

what it is!

On a more serious note, the scenario of

run-in and gratuity charges. There are still a

I sometimes think that many drivers are

members of the public entering a bid for

great many firms out there that prefer taxis to

like ducks on the water; they will just sit

a trip was introduced by the three taxi

minicabs and unique selling points such as a

there until it has dried up. We need to make

drivers involved with Hailo. It was called

private partitioned passenger compartment,

an input…

Taxilight, the idea being that a member of

use of the bus lanes, the Knowledge and 100%

David Heath (Ex-W27)

the public entered a pickup and set down

wheelchair accessibility remain key assets to

It was good to see those 250 in the City

and then a price they wished to pay for

the trade.

Hall Public Gallery recently. But had it

the trip; it was then up to a taxi driver to

It looks likely that the next couple of years

been a 25,000 seater stadium instead,

accept that trip. I think it fair to say the

will bring more change to the taxi trade, but

would we have more than those 250 turn-

idea was an unmitigated disaster and the

well managed and long standing circuits such

ing up? I think not, and thereby lays the

whole concept was abandoned after a

as DaC will still have a crucial part to play. We

trades problem... Ed

short space of time. Like many things,

have seen some new entrants, especially apps,

David, the concept seems fine but the

come and go, which should remind us that

Our enemy’s enemy?

reality is something totally different…

strong stewardship from people who live and

Dear Alan

breathe the industry, such as Brian, is a vital

If you have not seen the piece in The Times

part of surviving disruption - whatever form it

where the Dept of Business has advised

From the former

takes.

Civil Servants to use Uber because they are

opposition!

Malcolm Paice (Former GM of ComCab)

cheaper, then please look. Our PA people

Master of the Worshipful Company of

are on it but given there's an election based

Dear Alan

Hackney Carriage Drivers.

on getting rid of tax fiddlers, why are the

I trust you are well. Now that I no longer

Thanks for the letter Malcolm. I hope you

Government telling their staff to use an

work for one of Dial-a-Cab’s competitors

are right about the long term prospects of

organisation like Uber that many have

(ComCab) I feel free to write to Call Sign

the radio taxi circuits. Good luck in your

accused of exactly that? We need to get this

magazine for the first time!

term as WCHCD Master …Ed

out there and Ministers etc should be

Firstly let me pass on my congratulations

embarrassed. This is an outrage!

to Brian Rice on being re-elected as

Finding a cab…

Mike Galvin

Chairman. There was never a doubt in my

Hi Alan

Addison Lee

mind that the DaC membership would

I had to leave Dial-a-Cab some time ago

I have known Mike Galvin for many years

return Brian as there is simply too much at

thanks to the 15-year rule but would like to

and have no problem believing anything

stake to consider trying an untested individ-

come back. However, buying a new cab at my

he says - even though he works for the

ual in the role. The point you made in your

age would be foolish, so I phoned the London

opposition.

Editorial of the March Call Sign is quite right

Taxi Company and said I was looking for a

But my question to Call Sign readers

- that it is a risky strategy opposing the

second hand TX4. They said that for the first

has to be this: Is our enemy’s enemy our

Chairman, as some customers might get the

time they could remember going back over

friend? You tell me… Ed

jitters at such upheaval.

In the years I was running ComCab I can

tell you that Brian himself was one of DaC’s

most valuable assets in terms of competi-

tion. Yes, we all tender for work using tech-

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