Call Sign August 2016

Page 3

from the editor’s desk

Fooling the people?

that Living Streets - a charity that describes itself

Abraham Lincoln once famously proclaimed:

as being ‘for everyday walking’ - had launched a

You can fool all the people some of the time

call to the next London Mayor to pedestrianise its

and some of the people all the time, but you

1.2 miles so that it becomes what they describe as

cannot fool all the people all the time.

an “iconic, safe and enjoyable place to shop.”

Well good old Abe seemed to get that one right

In an interview with this magazine, Living

when the man who famously cocked-up London

Streets’ London Campaigns Manager Sarah

as its former Mayor, Boris

“BoJo” Johnson,

Williams told us: “The situation is about to reach

appeared to get his come-uppance when his so-

breaking point on Oxford Street. As it is, it’s horren-

called friend, Michael Gove, decided that he didn’t

dously overcrowded but with Crossrail due to

trust him enough to allow him to do the same to

open in 2018, we’re looking at a significantly bigger

the rest of the UK as he did to its capital city.

problem. We must act now to reduce overcrowd-

In his first few months as Boris’ successor,

ing, sky high pollution levels and an unsafe envi-

Sadiq Khan has already shown that he at least

ronment. For many, the experience of crowds of

has a plan for London that might hopefully work

people on Oxford Street puts them off going alto-

vers. He went on to warn TfL officials at City Hall

- unlike Boris and his stupid bike superhighways!

gether. Oxford Street is a very uncomfortable place

that Uber ignored most of their regulations

We may not like everything Sadiq does, but he

for pedestrians, leaving them feeling restricted and

before adding - tongue firmly planted in cheek -

appreciates taxis - which is more than you can say

people say the change they’d most like to see there

that if Uber was preferred, then there should be a

for his predecessor (see the Mailshot page).

is less traffic. Those who do take a trip along it end

genuine free for all, releasing taxi drivers from

But, when push comes to shove, you can’t help

up feeling flustered, frustrated and fed up. What is

their current regulations regarding the vehicles

but have a sneaking admiration for anyone who

this going to mean for future shopping on Oxford

they drive and allowing them to put “...any old

can get stabbed in the back to such a degree that

Street if nothing changes?”

piece of rubbish” onto the road!

it almost ruins his life as an MP... yet within a week

So we asked Ms Williams two pertinent ques-

In a debate held some two months later, Mr

ends up as Foreign Secretary while his backstab-

tions. Firstly, how would disabled passengers get to

Walker was again speaking in favour of London’s

ber goves - sorry, I mean goes - to the back of the

Oxford Street if we had no access? Her answer was

taxi service by claiming that there was something

queue! Or has new PM Theresa May found a

that there were 38 side streets along its length and

slightly sinister about Uber’s business practices and

clever way to keep Boris happy, while at the same

we could drop them there! There was no answer

pointing out to the Parliamentary Under Secretary

time keeping him out of the country and far away

regarding those who had to go right to the door or

of State for Transport, Andrew Jones, that in the

from trouble!

how we could even access those side streets with

USA, Uber’s board had met to discuss how to dis-

the huge amount of traffic that would be using

credit and destroy the career of an IT journalist

concerned about Uber’s business practices, before

them.

All Party Parliamentary

going on to add that Uber also bullies local author-

The second question was where would the

Group on taxis

diverted traffic go? We mentioned the always-con-

ities and national Governments and that they

With London’s licensed minicab population well

should not be allowed to bully HMG.

gested Wigmore and Goodge Streets and Living

into 6 figures and soon set to reach 110,000, even

Also on the APPG are MPs Virendra Sharma

Streets answer was more akin to Dead Streets

a cap on numbers is at least one year too late;

and Ruth Smeeth as Vice-Chairs with Yasmin

because after suggesting the closure of Oxford

however, it will have to come with the hope that

Qureshi as Secretary and Tom Brake as

Street, they told us they hadn’t thought about the

with PH drivers suffering even more than us due

Treasurer. MPs and Lords who have been

answers but “wanted to work with retailers, TfL,

to their ultra-low prices, many will just give up

involved are Kensington and Chelsea MP (not to

engineers and planners on making Oxford Street a

and numbers may eventually start to fall. Just

mention Call Sign reader and huge taxi support-

place which puts walking first.”

because it’s reasonably busy out there, let’s not

er) Lady Victoria Borwick together with Sir

We know that Sadiq Khan is also in favour of

kid ourselves what it will be like after Christmas!

Alan Haslehurst, Kwasi Kwarteng, Eleanor

pedestrianising Oxford Street alongside Val

So when I heard that the LTDA had put

Laing, Andrew Rosindell, Stephen Metcalfe,

Shawcross and in all honesty, even we can see why

together an All Party Parliamentary Group on

Bob Neil, Dr Matthew Offord, Mark Pawsey,

they would want to do it and in a perfect world,

taxis, I took notice and the more I think

Paul Sculley together with Lord Selsdon and

we’d probably agree with them. But this world isn’t

about it, the more I feel that it could provide

Viscount Simon.

us with leverage of the kind we used to enjoy

perfect and the plan will create horrendous traffic

In an article inside this issue, LTDA General

and which has somehow vanished.

problems the like of which we will never have wit-

Secretary Steve McNamara, says that the LTDA will

There is much to discuss and hopefully take

nessed before.

be working closely with the Chair and Group offi-

forward. The subjects of ‘plying for hire’ and

So is there any other answer? Of course there is!

cers to develop the work programme for the com-

whether cars are doing exactly that via their com-

There are far too many buses using Oxford Street;

ing year that will likely include an inquiry into taxi

pany app, or the ridiculous traffic hold-ups being

most are 75 percent empty as they cruise along the

and PHV regulation and accessibility. It is hoped

caused by Boris’s hopeless cycle superhighways

narrow lanes forcing traffic to stop behind them at

that the programme will start in September when

and even how much priority the taxi trade

MPs and Lords are back after their summer recess.

each stop because there isn’t enough room to get

deserves, because we seem to be losing it.

No doubt some will criticise the initiative, but

past. The answer is obvious. Buses should only be

The APPG will bring together an informal

hey, this APPG has some real taxi supporters in it

allowed to go to either the Tottenham Court Road

cross-party group of MPs and Lords who take an

and you never know, it could help to bring to the

end or Marble Arch end before being forced to

interest in our taxi trade. Whilst they would not

fore some truth about what passengers are actu-

turn round and go back. PH (and all private cars)

have any real power to do anything, they can still

ally getting when they stand at the roadside look-

should also be banned and be forced to use those

undertake a wide variety of activities such as host-

ing at their phones waiting for a Toyota Prius

38 side streets to drop their passengers. After all,

ing an inquiry, inviting external speakers to come

and hoping it will get them to their destination

they are not wheelchair accessible so have no need

and brief the group on a specific issue or organis-

without going the wrong way up a one-way street

to go right to the door.

ing an external site visit. And with huge taxi sup-

or having an accident! It’s time for the talking to

Oxford Street itself should be left with a few

porter, Ilford North MP Wes Streeting there as

stop... and the talking to start! This could just

ferry buses that just go from one end to the other,

Chairman, we know it will be taken seriously.

make a difference...

a taxi service rank that will be able to go wherever

Also involved is Charles Walker, the MP for

the passengers want to go along the street - pos-

Broxbourne and another pro-taxi parliamentari-

Oxford Street pedestrianisation

sibly taking four people at a fixed price rate of

an. In July 2015 in a House of Commons late-

The new Deputy Mayor for Transport, Val

around £2.50 each - and delivery vans at certain

night adjournment debate, Mr Walker said that

Shawcross, is pro taxi; however, she is not just pro

times. After all, with no minicabs or cars and very

London had to choose between a ‘chaotic’ Uber

taxi and neither should anyone expect her to be.

few buses, these trips will take no time and the air

or the heavily-regulated but safe black cabs,

But if Ms Shawcross reads this then we must dis-

quality will become far more acceptable

because the two could not operate side by side.

agree with her recent comment to the London

He added that while taxi drivers had to pass the

Assembly that she would like to see the two kilo-

Knowledge as well as undergoing background

metre stretch of shopping overkill known as

Alan Fisher

and financial checks, Uber was ‘brazenly ignoring

Oxford Street closed to all traffic from 2020.

callsignmag@aol.com

rules’ and flooding the capital with minicab dri-

In Call Sign’s January issue, we broke the news

Call Sign August 2016

Page 4

Reflections of the Chairman

away on their holiday! So my best guess is we

Demutualisation

will be totally ‘live’ with VAD sometime in

This seems to be the topic that most people

September.

within Dial-a-Cab - and even outside - are talk-

In the meantime, we will be in a position to

ing about and it appears there is plenty advice

keep our current system V6 running in the

available from the Barrack Room lawyers out-

background for as long as we wish and if the

side of this Society. I have read several pieces

situation ever arose, we could switch back to

they have written regarding the subject - some

V6 immediately. We will probably never need

of which were in the trade press - and it is quite

to do that, but it’s nice to have it as backup

obvious that they do not have any idea of what

should we ever need it.

they are talking about! Consequently, if any

Member has any type of query on the subject,

then just approach me directly and I will be

PED latest

more than happy to deal with any questions or

You are probably all aware that we still have an

what we consider to be the best option - the

indeed information you may require.

outstanding situation with TfL regarding the

decision will then be yours.

We had our SGM on 11 July regarding the

siting of the PED in our taxis. I was given writ-

Finally on this particular topic, I have read

introduction of Proxy Voting and the Ten year

ten permission by TfL in March 2011 to have

many estimates regarding the initial purchase

rule. I must say that it went very well, with

the PEDs sited in the front of the taxi for safety

price of this building and they do vary quite

92.5% of the Members voting being in favour of

reasons, then earlier this year it was decided by

considerably; just for the record we paid

introducing Proxy Voting and 89% in favour of

TfL that all PEDs should be sited in the rear of

£3.7million at the end of 2006 and moved in

the Ten year rule. It was fairly obvious to me

the taxi. At no time did TfL enter into dialogue

from the earlier survey that most Members

May 2007. I still shudder when I think what

with us before the decision was taken, as I

was involved in the move, especially with the

would be in favour of demutualisation, conse-

could have pointed out that we at Dial-a-Cab

quently, it was decided to give you the oppor-

IT infrastructure. But fortunately we had

had already sought and obtained permission

planned it well and it went without a glitch.

tunity to introduce Proxy Voting and in that

for the equipment to be installed in the front of

way you would not have to attend either of the

However, if we had to move in the future, it

the vehicle. Anyway, after I pointed out the

two demutualisation meetings that are

would be probably be easier, especially as we

anomaly to TfL, I had a meeting with Peter

required, should you not wish to.

now have the ‘Cloud’ available.

Blake to discuss the situation and he promised

I have already entered into dialogue with our

that the topic would necessitate further discus-

financial and legal advisers and we hope to

VAD Despatch

sion within TfL.

have something to put before Members in the

We have had several pilot schemes where we’ve

As you know, rumours abound in the cab

not too distant future.

put the new system under stress testing with

trade and sometime later I was told that Peter

We are endeavouring to have our first of

the Members; you can test as much as you like

Blake along with his boss Leon Daniels were

two meetings regarding demutualisation in

on the bench, but you will never know for cer-

no longer employed by TfL. Consequently, I

the middle of September, albeit this is a

tain how something will work until the whole

immediately sent an email to Helen Chapman

fluid date as we are making representations

system is put under stress with the whole Fleet

enquiring if the rumour was correct; she came

to HMRC at the moment and our timetable

using it.

back to me within thirty minutes to state the

could be compromised depending on how

I must say it appeared to hold up quite well,

rumour was untrue and the situation regarding

long it takes them to come back to us with

with just a few bugs appearing that needed to

our PEDs was still under discussion.

a decision. However, in the meantime I

be rectified by the IT department. Of course,

So that is the latest information regarding the

have been working with our legal advisers

everyone now seems to be going away for their

PEDs, the situation is still under review by TfL!

on our Articles of Association and at the

summer holidays so it will take a little longer to

time of writing, we are preparing to present

Brian Rice

implement the new system. With those few

to the BoM at the next meeting for their

bugs ironed out, it was Sod’s Law that you’re

Chairman

approval, or otherwise.

ready to go live just as IT staff are booked to go

We are not in a position at the moment to

Dial-a-Cab

engage an agent regarding the sale of Dial-a-

Cab House; I intend writing to several to ask

them to put together a proposal on how Dial-

a-Cab should proceed, then together with the

participation of our legal and financial advisers,

PAUL’S TAXI SPECIALISTS LTD

hold a beauty parade to choose an agent to

handle our business. I have seen lots of figures

bandied about regarding the worth of this

Unit 10, Ford View Industrial Estate, 83 New Rd Rainham, RM13 8ET

building, but it is only worth what someone is

prepared to pay for it.

Tel: 01708 553037

We should also bear in mind that it could

have two different values, one being today’s

FREE AIR FILTER WITH EVERY SERVIC

WE ALSO HAVE CABS FOR RENT

value as office accommodation and another in

the future if sold with planning permission for

TX1 servicing from £48

TX1s, TX2s, TX4s and Vitos

development. The planning permission would

TX2 servicing from £70

Rentals from £165 per week

probably take the best part of two years and

TX4 servicing from £90

cost up to £750k, but of course all options are

open to us and when I say us, I mean you the

All Work Undertaken

Members, because I have made it quite clear to

Servicing - Running Repairs - Overhauls - Small Fleets Welcome - Discounts Available

the legal advisers that it will be DaC Members

All TX1, TX2, TX4

who make the final decision on any sale and

Starters - Batteries - Alternators - All with 2 year Warranty

not the BoM. After all, the Society belongs to

you and the BoM will hopefully be in a position

Fax: 01708 551443

Web: www.PaulsTaxiSpecialists.co.uk

to approach Members with more than one

option and just give you a recommendation on

Call Sign August 2016

Page 5

ondon now has over

100,000

licensed minicab drivers and over

85,000 PHV’s, a virtual doubling of

LTDA Form All Party

numbers in the last few years. The

effect of this massive increase in numbers in

terms of congestion, pollution and so many

other aspects of Londoner’s lives is becoming

Parliamentary Group

a major problem and a cap on PH numbers is

urgently needed. Any cap would need to be

combined with legislation covering cross bor-

Steve McNamara

der hirings; otherwise a limit on PH numbers

in London would be circumvented by

unscrupulous PH companies simply licensing

their drivers and vehicles elsewhere before

sending them to work in London.

ing Charles Walker MP,

We also urgently require a legal definition

Virendra Sharma MP and Ruth

of what constitutes ‘plying for hire’ in order

Smeeth MP as Vice-Chairs,

to provide clarity on what is and what is not

Yasmin Qureshi MP as

legal with regard to app companies showing

Secretary and Tom Brake MP

available cars on apps and accepting immedi-

as Treasurer. Outside trade

ate hirings.

organisations such as the

In order to secure this legislation and

LTDA, London Taxi Company

promote the taxi trade’s concerns and

stand and help raise awareness of a par-

and the apps can assist with

agenda on the Parliamentary stage, the

ticular topic or issue, such as hosting an

the Group’s administration and activities.

LTDA have formed an All Party

inquiry, inviting external speakers to

The LTDA will be working closely with the

Parliamentary Group (APPG) on taxis. An

come and brief the group on a specific

Chair and Group officers to develop the work

APPG is an informal cross-party group

issue or organising an external site visit.

programme for the coming year that will like-

that brings together MPs and Lords inter-

The LTDA and Ilford North MP Wes

ly include an inquiry into taxi and PHV regu-

ested in a specific topic - in this case the

Streeting

- labelled the

‘Honourable

lation and accessibility. The programme is

taxi trade. An APPG can undertake a wide

Member for the Taxi Business’ by George

likely to start in September when MPs and

variety of activities to both better under-

Osborne after he proposed a Bill on PHV

Lords are back from Summer Recess.

standards back in March - agreed to set up

The MPs involved to date are Lady

the Group. In subsequent meetings with

Victoria Borwick, Sir Alan Haslehurst,

MPs, the LTDA has encouraged others to get

Kwasi Kwarteng, Eleanor Laing, Andrew

Taxi

involved and we have been able to secure the

Rosindell, Stephen Metcalfe, Bob Neil, Dr

involvement of a cross-party group of MPs

Matthew Offord, Mark Pawsey, Paul

insurance

and Lords, all keen to support the trade and

Sculley together with Lord Selsdon and

protect its future.

Viscount Simon.

The Group is run by and for parliamen-

Steve McNamara

for DaC

tarians, with Wes Streeting MP as chair

LTDA General Secretary

and a cross-party group of officers includ-

drivers

Val Shawcross on Oxford Street pedestrianisation...

On behalf of Dial-a-Cab, Hillier Buchan Ltd

in Bexley have negotiated exclusive rates

“I WANT TO SEX IT UP!”

for DaC members. We believe our rates are

competitive in today’s market for experi-

On July 13, the Deputy Mayor

enced licensed Black Cab drivers.

for Transport, Val Shawcross,

At Hillier Buchan, we understand every driver’s

announced that vehicles would

circumstances are different; therefore our policies

be banned from Oxford Street

can be tailored for the individual driver. We offer

a 5% discount for DaC members, with additional

- the busiest and most polluted

discounts for existing protected Bonus policies.

shopping street in Europe - with-

Hillier Buchan was established in 2002 by

in four years.

David Hillier and myself with in excess of 50

The current suggestion is that

years experience as high level Brokers working in

Oxford Street will be pedestri-

the City of London for major broking houses. We

anised from Tottenham Court

have established a reputation for professionalism

Road to Portman Street by

and service in our chosen fields.

2020 in order to create “a more

We have extensive London Market contacts;

pleasant environment for shop-

consequently we are able to offer our clients a

quality of security from companies that are all

pers.” The Deputy Mayor’s office

Where will the buses go?

available in the world’s pre-eminent insurance

announced that the project

market. As a result, our clients achieve quality of

would be carried out in two stages to minimise disruption to businesses and public transport

security and service upon which we pride our-

but that the project would be completed by the end of the decade.

selves and a competitiveness of premium that

Ms Shawcross told the London Assembly that by banning vehicles along the 2000 metre

our clients find particularly attractive in today's

stretch of Oxford Street, she wanted to “sex up the walking agenda.”

climate.

There will be a Consultation this year on what to do with London's buses, vehicles that

Our philosophy is to build long-term relation-

most would agree cause the most traffic along the single lane shopping street. Oxford Street

ships using balanced service teams providing

used to be much wider until the former GLC decided to narrow it against the advice of taxi

continuity and expertise. Compare our prices

organisations. Will buses now be forced to use Wigmore Street or will Ms Shawcross’ office

and give us a call. See our ad inside this issue of

go with Camden Council’s idea to ban all traffic except buses using those streets until 8pm

Call Sign on page 15.

each evening and send taxis into the ever-more congested side streets?

Phil Buchan,

Hillier Buchan, 01322 553313

Call Sign August 2016

Page 6

Jery’s

World

“Yeah, a few blokes have asked me to be their proxy!”

3 MONTHS OF MAYHEM: TOWER BRIDGE TO CLOSE!

Or as TfL put it, some minimal disruption is expected!

Tower Bridge will be closed in two months’ time beginning in October for three months, as

the average 21,000 vehicles a day that use the 122-year-old bridge hunt around for another

route. The City of London Corporation have authorised the job of structural repairs, includ-

ing re-waterproofing the bridge archways for the first time since the bridge was built at the

end of the 19th century. Its timber decking is also being updated while the road and walkways

will be resurfaced.

To add to the congestion to be unleashed two months from now and which will

include the busy lead-up to Christmas, Tooley Street is closed eastbound and expect-

ed to stay shut until 2018 to allow the rebuilding of London Bridge station. Yet

according to TfL, the additional impact will be “minimal.”

The Chairman of the planning and transport committee of City of London Corporation,

Chris Hayward, said that the decision to close Tower Bridge to vehicles was not taken light-

ly and only after extensive consultation and planning in conjunction with numerous stake-

holders. He added that it was the first upgrade to the bridge for 35 years.

The closure will not affect the bridge opening to allow ships through nor pedestrians

walking across it - undoubtedly many of those who would otherwise have used taxis but

who will not be prepared to pay the huge extra cost involved in diverting. It will also cause

mayhem as traffic tries to use Lower Thames Street westbound to get to Southwark

Bridge.

The popular taxi route for many prospective passengers from the Aldgate area to

around Shad Thames will probably increase by some £7 or £8 and even more if the “min-

imal disruption” turns out to be as bad as we expect - always assuming people still use us!

Call Sign has no qualms about Tower Bridge’s renovation having to be done and whenever it was, we realise that it

would cause inconvenience. But surely the City of London Corporation could have planned the closure either before

Tooley Street closed or after it reopens. A grasp on reality is badly needed...

Call Sign August 2016

Page 7

Wednesday 6 July saw Maldon play host once

East London Cabbies Outing

again to the East London Cabbies Outing.

These annual outings began in 1952 when

taxi driver Charles Flemwell took children

with special needs from the east end of

ELCO kids outing

London in a convoy of 8 taxis to the Essex

riverside town of Maldon. In 1984 Charles

became the Mayor of Newham but still con-

tinued his organising of the Maldon outing

almost up until he died in 1996. But his lega-

to Maldon

cy is that this yearly trip continues.

Departing from the West Ham ground

in Green Street with a pit stop in

The convoy travels along

Mountnessing at the George and Dragon

Maldon High Street

for refreshments, the 80 taxis travelled in

convoy to Plume Secondary School,

where they were greeted by teachers,

pupils, and Maldon Town Mayor, Richard

Miller.

like this for these children.”

After lunch at Plume, the taxis drove -

At Promenade Park, the

again in convoy - down Maldon High Street

children watched and took

towards Promenade Park passing hundreds

part in the entertainment

of well-wishers and shops that had been spe-

that included a magic show,

cially decorated with balloons and bunting.

face painting, model bal-

Mayor Richard Miller said afterwards:

loons, a juggling show,

“What an absolutely fantastic day. It was glori-

clowns, horse riding, horse

ous weather and a spectacular event for

and cart rides and lots of

Maldon. The youngsters all looked like they

decent amount about it, but never experi-

other stuff including a Best Dressed Taxi

had a great time! This outing really is an

enced it before. But what an incredible event

award! There is also a DJ who provides music

important fixture in Maldon’s social calendar,

it was. The academy felt honoured to receive

for all the little groovers!

a really special day, not just for the children

these cabs and the pupils rose to the occa-

At 6.30 pm the police escorted the convoy

but for Maldon as a whole. It’s just lovely to

sion. Particular thanks should go to Jean

back to London with individual taxis taking

be able to work with them and put on the

Ingram and the whole community team for

groups right to their front doors to end yet

mayoral robes. It’s a great occasion.”

organising it all, and to the significant num-

another successful East London Cabbies

Carl Wakefield, head teacher at Plume

ber of students and staff who wanted to help

Outing to Maldon...

added: “This was my first taxi day, it’s been in

the cause. I’m so proud of everyone involved

More info on ELCO at www.eastlondon-

place for nearly six decades and I’d heard a

and am glad the academy could hold an event

cabbiesouting.co.uk

Call Sign August 2016

Page 8

The Dial-a-Cab Special General Meeting

RULE AND RESOLUTION OVERWHELMINGLY CARRIED!

uly 11 2016 will prob-

wanted to attend the meetings

ably turn out to be as

or not, as legal advice had said

momentous a date as

that the Society should not

have been many others

demutualise via a postal ballot

in the 63 year history of ODRTS

as that would leave it open to

/ Dial-a-Cab; dates such as

a legal challenge that could

Sunday March 29 1953 when

make the result null and void.

a meeting took place in the

Proxy voting would mean you

back of Bonnie Martyn’s taxi

could pass your vote to a col-

parked on the Grosvenor

league or Board Member to

Gardens rank; or Sunday June

vote on your behalf in the way

Bill Cobb, Peter Murphy and Dennis Heavin were three of the

7 of that same year at the

you want to.

drivers asking questions

Albany Tavern at the top end

He then went on to talk

of Great Portland Street when a group of

uses to ply for hire for all or part of his/her

about the 10 year rule and explained that the

owner drivers led by Bonnie Martyn collected

weekly income, save that this shall not

BoM felt it was reasonable that drivers whose

£200 in a whip round amongst themselves

apply where the member has completed

cabs were close to 15 years old and didn’t

with the intention of starting a radio circuit for

10 years of service as an owner driver

want to invest in a new cab should be able to

owner drivers only.

member of the Society provided that

rent a cab while keeping the Society equip-

Then there was the first official dispatched

he/she:

ment in it and still remain a member. The

trip on Tuesday 26 January 1954 when a

(i) Continues to pay his/her subscrip-

recent vote suggested that drivers were over-

gentleman whose name has been lost with

tions at the rate from time to time deter-

whelmingly in favour of such a rule.

time, phoned to go from Pentonville Road to

mined by the Board of Management; and

Those drivers that hadn’t already voted

Gamages - a once famous store close to

(ii) rents (and continues to rent) a

were asked to vote and while the Electoral

where the Prudential is now in Holborn. The

licensed taxicab which is fitted with the

Reform Services went through the count,

caller had discovered the phone number from

radio or other communications equip-

the Chairman answered questions, but

the café across the road that was actually

ment installed by the Society and which

because the meeting was purely concerned

owned by two drivers from the new circuit and

he/she uses to ply for hire for all or part of

with voting and questions on any other

was also the place where ODRTS Board meet-

his/her weekly income.”

topic were not supposed to be asked, we

ings were often held!

will not be reporting on who asked what.

Also important was the official launch the

However, questions brought up mainly

The Resolution: To

following year on Tuesday 8 March 1955

involved the payout should we demutu-

when Sir Ian Fraser MP dispatched a job and

introduce Proxy Voting:

alise.

announced that ODRTS was here! Sir Ian was

That Rules 9(j) to 9(o) inclusive of the

There were questions on what would hap-

a hugely respected MP who had been blinded

pen to drivers whose cabs were on the verge

rules of the Society should be deleted and

during active service in WW1 and who worked

replaced by new rules 9(j) to 9(r) inclu-

of being 15 years old, would drivers retiring

tirelessly to promote welfare for blind people

sive.

after this meeting be entitled to a share of any

and ex-servicemen. But the reason Bonnie

money received from a sale and would every-

Because the new rule takes up over two

Martyn - by then the founding Chairman - was

pages, Call Sign hasn’t repeated it all here,

one get the same amount. One question bring-

prepared to wait for a year was because Sir Ian

ing a smile asked whether anyone would be

but DaC members received a copy with their

was national President of the Royal British

getting a “consultancy fee!”

‘Notice of Special General Meeting 2016’ pack

Legion - an organisation that helped many

The answers were similar for most of the

dated 22 June 2016. The first few sentences

war WW2 veterans become licensed taxi dri-

questions - once the vote has been registered,

probably explain what the new rule is about:

vers.

then any DaC member having to rent but

(j) Members shall be provided with an

Of course there was also Monday 11 June

keeping on as a DaC member with our equip-

alternative to voting in person at each

1984 when this Society decided to rename

ment fitted would still be a member. Also any

General Meeting of the Society. This alter-

itself as Dial-a-Cab and Saturday 29 April

driver after the vote who had to retire for any

native shall be either Postal Voting or

1989 when DaC made its second attempt to

reason, would be entitled to their share pro-

Voting by Proxy (but not both). The alter-

launch a data dispatch system after the first

viding that they were genuinely retired and

native to be adopted shall be specified in

attempt failed. It has stayed on ever since.

not working for anyone or anywhere else. As

the notice of meeting.

Finally, there was our first home at 172

to amounts, everyone from drivers to Board

(k) A member is deemed to have attend-

Pentonville Road, which we bought on

members had just the one share and no one

ed and voted at a General Meeting if

Thurs 24 November 1953 for £2400 before

would be getting any consultancy fee!

he/she has voted:

moving onto 144 Shirland Road (Monday

Regarding proxy voting, the obvious ques-

(i) By post in respect of that meeting

8th March 1965) and then to Brunswick

tion was asked as to how drivers would know

accordance with rule 9(l) (if postal voting

House (Wednesday 11 August 1984) before

that the proxy they passed their vote over to

is available for the relevant meeting); or

finally landing at our current home of Dial-a-

would vote as the person wanted them to? The

(ii) Via a “proxy” for the relevant mem-

Cab House on Saturday 5 May 2007.

answer is that anyone wanting to vote in that

ber duly appointed in accordance with

We bought this building outright for

way could pass their vote over to the

rule 9(m) if Proxy voting is available for

around £3.7million - it is now worth an

Chairman or a colleague.

the relevant meeting).

estimated £18million and that was one of

The meeting closed after around 50 minutes

the reasons some 90 or so DaC drivers

The meeting began at 6pm and opened with

with the final voting results:

turned up at the Central Foundation Boys

Chairman Brian Rice explaining what the

School in Cowper Street! The official rea-

meeting was about. He began by saying that

The 10 Year Rule:

son was to pass one new Rule and one new

the recent unofficial driver’s vote to demutu-

Infavour 926... Against 110

Resolution.

alise the Society had been overwhelmingly in

Proxy Voting Resolution:

favour of that route and that as the procedure

In favour 956... Against 77

The 10 year Rule: 5(e):

involved more than one meeting, the Board

“(e) A member shall cease to be a member

felt that it would make life much easier for

if he/she ceases to be an owner or part-

subscribers if Proxy voting was brought in so

Both were carried and will be put into the

owner of a licensed taxicab which he/she

that members could then decide whether they

rule book.

Call Sign August 2016

Page 9

1st July saw the 100th anniversary of the

Jim Rainbird’s niece passed out as an officer in the Royal Navy last

Battle of the Somme, the worst battle of

year, but recently she was honoured in front of the Queen, Duke of

World War One and where 20,000 British

Edinburgh and then PM, David Cameron, by taking part in a

troops were killed on the first day alone. The

remembrance service to the Battle of the Somme...

centre of remembrance was obviously the

Thiepval Memorial to the Missing in

France, but it was also commemorated at

Westminster Abbey with a service on the

Westminster Abbey

evening of 30th June. It was attended by The

Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and the-then

Prime Minister, David Cameron.

‘Unknown Warrior’ vigil

It was followed by an overnight vigil by

both members of the armed forces and

civilians around the tomb of The

Unknown Warrior and

the very first member of

the vigil guard was the

niece of Jim Rainbird

(T25), a Sub-Lieutenant

in The Royal Navy, the

'Senior Service', who led

the first watch out in

front of The Queen and

other dignitaries.

She had previously

been Guard Officer dur-

ing

ceremonial

duties while training at

the Britannia Royal

Naval College in

Jim's niece on the far right with the cap on during the overnight vigil

Dartmouth.

inset pic: Passing out as a Royal Navy officer last year

recently, she was cho-

sen for this important

role. The guard was changed regularly during

Bulwark whilst it was engaged in

late grandfather, my dad, was a Chief Petty

the night and she was on watch three times

rescuing migrants from the Mediterranean

Officer on the aircraft carrier HMS

throughout the vigil. She is currently on HMS

last year.

Illustrious in WW2 and he would have been,

Diamond and has previously been on HMS

Jim Rainbird told Call Sign: “My niece’s as are the whole family, so very proud of her.”

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Call Sign August 2016

Page 10

JUST LIKE DRIVING MISS DAISY!

When Call Sign bumped into John Wiles

“The guys at Stanway managed to free

(C60) recently, he didn’t look much like a

the seized component so that it mov

happy bunny and told us why!

smoothly again, then bled the brake syste

“I don’t drive fast at the best of times, but

of air by pumping brake fluid through th

when I suddenly heard a metallic, grinding

pipes, and got me back on the road wit

noise coming from around the front wheels

the minimum of fuss,” John told us wit

every time I applied the brakes, it didn’t take

the smile returning to his face.

me too long to figure out that something

“I can usually get around 18 months o

wasn’t right, but as I was nearing the end of my

use out of a set of brake pads and regular

shift I managed to complete the stint, albeit dri-

servicing helps to keep tabs on the wear,

ving even more carefully than usual!

otherwise you can find yourself not only

“The cab was fine while it was actually run-

replacing the worn pads, but if left unat-

ning, but at slower speeds the noise would

tended they wear down so far that the

begin to materialise. There was no tell-tale

metal base of the pads can rub against

pulling of the brakes to the left or right as I

the metal brake disc itself, and you end

applied the footbrake, so I felt confident in

up having to replace the brake disc as

continuing to work out the shift. But admitted-

well - and that’s an expensive exercise.

ly, it was a bit like ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ until I

Eighty percent of the braking effort is

got to my regular service agent, Stanway

taken by the front brakes, and with a 2

Engineering at Chingford the following

tonne taxi you can see that they must

morning. I admit that part of me was rather

take a lot of punishment!”

relieved that I actually made it uneventfully to

With that, John - a happy bunny

E4!”

again - drove off into the sunset, albeit

The source of John’s trouble was a seized

a rather grey one!

brake piston. These are sited either side of

Stanway Engineering is at 14A

the brake disc within the brake calliper and

Chingford Ind. Centre, Hall Lane

apply pressure to the brake pads, which in

E4 8DJ Tel: 020 8559 4988

turn squeeze the brake disc to slow the taxi

to a stop when the pedal is pushed down. Alan Green, Call Sign Online

THE BEST VITO EVER!

“So far as I am concerned, this must be the

best Mercedes Vito taxi ever,” Dial-a-Cab driver

John Davis (V41) told Call Sign after road test-

ing the vehicle at high speeds of up to 90mph

at the Millbrook testing station in

Bedfordshire.

Mercedes-Benz Vans are almost ready to launch

their all-new Vito Taxi to succeed the vehicle that

took the industry by storm when first released and

which has sold over 3,000 units since that 2008

launch. This latest Vito is said to offer unrivalled

levels of space and refined comfort for the driver

and up to six passengers.

Currently available in a national specifica-

tion only, from later this year a London spec

version will be available for taxi drivers that incorporates

the rear steering axle to allow it to meet the 25ft turning

circle, a powerful e114CDI engine with a 114hp Euro 6

engine as standard, together with the 7G-Tronic seven-speed

automatic gearbox that is now controlled using a steering col-

umn mounted lever offering easy gear selection.

Standard equipment also includes fuel-saving BlueEFFICIENCY measures that feature an engine Start/Stop function, air conditioning for driver

and passengers, electric folding mirrors, improved electrically operated sliding doors on both sides, an electrical nearside step in addition to an

additional off-side step and with lighting for both.

Steve Bridge, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Vans UK, commented: “We are passionate about supporting the UK’s taxi drivers and are

delighted to be offering the most fuel-efficient, modern, comfortable, reliable vehicle ever seen in the market.”

Vito driver John Davis (V41) told Call Sign: “I love my Vito, but this new one is even better than my one. It feels smoother, quieter and

quicker - even the automatic doors are quieter! There is a solid feel to the vehicle and however much my current Vito looks and feels ultra-

modern, this latest Euro 6 version is better. It also has an improved cockpit with the controls put on the dashboard in a form of a video screen,

including the satnav, radio and even assisted parking - not that I need that of course! One of the few complaints I have with my current Vito

concerns the placement of control buttons all over the show - but no longer!

Another bugbear of mine was the rear lighting that kept going off when you pulled away with passengers - even if they wanted to keep it

on! That has now been improved and no longer goes off when you pull away, unless the passenger wants it to!

“I have to say it again - this Euro Six Vito is undoubtedly the best taxi ever to hit the road!”

Call Sign August 2016

Page 12

Brazil Calling

merging. This along with

The future is not yet written...

the figure of 40 percent in

This article comes five days after the first of a series of meetings and

favour of creating a smaller

votes that you, the shareholder, will be called upon to make. Both

leaner Dial-a-cab tells me

votes, as I’m sure has been mentioned elsewhere in this issue, were

that there is an appetite to

returned with an approximate majority of 9 to 1, showing in no uncer-

continue trading within the

tain terms the direction we as Board Members have been called upon

market or accepting a merg-

to take.

er. This will be open for fur-

I believe the demutualisation of Dial-a-Cab will come before

ther discussion in the near

the end of the year; we will then have moved from an industrial

future and a merger, if prof-

and provident umbrella to the structure of a limited company

fered, will be at the behest of the membership to accept or refuse.

listed at Companies House. With a team of city lawyers for guid-

If we are to sell wholesale, I believe some members will be looking

ance, we will be able to direct the Society towards an outcome

to the future and saying: “I don’t want my income to be governed at

that I believe will be favoured by the majority.

any juncture by a company that has not necessarily got my best inter-

It is still just a relatively short time since I stood at the lectern at the

ests at heart.” So a leaner Dial-a-Cab may offer protection.

Honourable Artillery Company and spoke of what I believed was the

If asked, I would say that my personal preference would be to cre-

true value of Dial-a-Cab and its building; the figure I gave of £18.5mil-

ate that smaller leaner company. Its structure would have to be app-

lion for the building was thought of as incredulous at the time, but

based with fewer staff, but still maintaining its premium service and

has since been borne out by a market valuation given independently

the pricing that reflects that premium product. From a premises that

as £17.9million. This kick-started a conversation on the day that has

at a future point could again be sold with profits distributed to the

reverberated throughout my tenure and profound decisions now

members, you as shareholders would again profit.

have to be made - the most profound of them being whether we want

Should the new premises increase in value, just as ours has now

Dial-a-Cab to continue?

jumped over four times the purchase price from its 2007 figure of

Radio Taxis on its merger with Gett were given a market capi-

£4.3m up to £17.9m now, this will entice many drivers to stay with

talisation figure in excess of £4.3million. This figure was for the

Dial-a-Cab and invest in our future together. However, if a complete

business as it stood after selling their primary asset, the build-

sale of all assets is sought, then the best price possible must be the

ing, for approximately £5million after which they then had to

goal of all concerned.

repay monies owed or outstanding. The buyers of the former RT

As with all these options, you the driver and shareholder will deter-

site then subsequently offered it back up for sale at £6.75mil-

mine our direction and we must be mindful to always act in your best

lion! It was a reminder of what happens when you get it wrong!

interests at all times; after all, that’s why you elected us...

We, on the other hand, maintain our full value and are in consid-

erably better shape within the market place and will be mindful

Joe Brazil

not to make the same mistakes.

DaC Board Member

The questionnaire distributed to DaC members returned a figure of

59 percent in favour of winding up the company completely…or

New Call Sign Website

all Sign has been online since the late 1990s and amazing-

ly, its website has continued year after year with very little

maintenance needed. However, it has finally been brought

back to earth by no less than Microsoft, who told us that

our website was so old that within five weeks it would no longer work

after being put temporarily onto their last Windows Server 2008.

In that time we needed to either redesign Call Sign or lose the

‘search’ capability. So thanks to our website master and mainte-

EVERY SATURDAY AT WEST THURROCK BOXING &

nance guru, Vince Chin, Call Sign now has that new website.

FITNESS GYMNASIUM

The addresses are the same (www.dac-callsign.co.uk or .com) but

everything else has been brought up-to-date. After logging on, the

10am - 11.15am & 11.30am - 12.45pm

choice is simple with the menu easily seen at the top. It will open on the

£7.00 per class

‘Home’ screen where you can read the latest issue by hovering over it

and clicking the PDF sign.

Minimum age of 16

You can also click on the ‘Archive’ screen; there you will see a copy

of Call Sign from every year. Hovering over the icon you will see the

Suitable for all skill levels, from beginners to

year and a message on each one to click on here to view the monthly

accomplished boxers

magazines. Click on whichever year you want and then hover over each

copy to find the month you want. Hover over the message to ‘click

Female ONLY classes subject to demand

here to see full magazine’ to see the issue but in a smaller version for

those with X-ray vision! Click the PDF sign to see the complete issue,

but in a large easy-to-read format.

You can also just go to the ‘Call Sign’ screen if you want to go

straight to the year you want and finally to the ‘Search Call Sign’ but-

ton if looking for something specific by just putting a relevant word into

the search box.

There are also issues from the 1960s/1970s and 1980s in addition

to every issue since January 1998. I hope you like the new look...

Alan Fisher

callsignmag@aol.com

Call Sign August 2016

Page 13

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

Brethren of the Whip

Dunhill’s of Jermyn Street had done by using flashing lights in

1916

order to attract empty taxis. The use of telephone ranks was

Continuing with my retrospective look at

more widely publicised in order to abate the cab whistle men-

the cab trade of 100 years ago and the

ace. There were 47 cabmen’s shelters, each connected by tele-

effect the Great War was having upon the

phone, as well as nearly 200 other cab stands. When the Home

drivers.

Secretary eventually banned the use of whistling for cabs

The main complaint regarding the trade

between 10pm and 7am, it had the desired effect of making the

was not even of the trade’s doing - whistling

streets quieter again and more drivers began using the ranks.

for cabs! A shortage of taxis had made it hard-

Many saw the effect of large numbers of drivers that had volun-

er for the linkmen and porters to find a taxi

teered to serve in the forces as the reason why there was a shortage

for their customers. It had been an exasper-

of cabs and hence the cab whistle menace. But the problem could be

ating problem from before the war, now

alleviated if women were allowed to drive taxis. As an indication that

three years on and the problem was epidemic. Large numbers of casu-

misrepresentation of the trade is nothing new, the Daily Mirror pub-

alties returning from the front saw tens of thousands of wounded

lished the “Life Story of the First Woman Taxicab Driver in London.”

men being hospitalised in London. Many of these soldiers were con-

The paper, like the driver Mrs Moule, saw nothing wrong with

valescing and large buildings were handed over to the government to

a person licensed to drive a taxi in Portsmouth working in

help provide the necessary care. Many of the buildings were in central

London instead for the simple fact that there was more work.

London, close to hotels, theatres and restaurants and the cacophony

For four months she appears to have illegally worked in London,

of whistles that appeared to go on all night were severely detrimental

proudly proclaiming that the most she ever had in her cab at one

to the health and recuperation of the wounded personnel. One per-

time was eleven people!

son complained of a man blowing a whistle in Courtfield Gardens

There was a blackout imposed on London and this made for haz-

for 35 minutes after 10.30pm, a street without any taxi ranks and not

ardous driving with at least eight people being killed by taxis in 1916

likely to be used as a cut through by empty cabs.

alone. Less seriously, Ernest Hewlett sought damages against the

Some places, such as the Criterion Theatre, experimented as

Great Central Railway Company after he crashed into an unlit post

outside Marylebone Station. He was eventually awarded £50 dam-

Call Sign’s Marc Turner investigates the latest news

ages but the railway company took the case to the House of Lords

from Camden and asks...

where they found in the company’s favour.

Camden Council and

Fuel shortage

Petrol rationing was imposed for the first time during the war in 1916.

Tavistock Place - The End?

Taxi drivers were originally limited to 1¹/2 gallons per day, but this was

later raised to two gallons when it was found the drivers could not pos-

Thursday evening 14th July I attended Mary Ward

House - perfectly situated in Tavistock Place,

sibly earn a living on such rations. They had wanted 3 gallons per day

Bloomsbury for an exhibition of proposed revisions to

per man but this was never forthcoming. It was found, however, that if

the disastrous implementation of experimental traffic

paraffin was mixed with the petrol after the engine had been started,

changes to the area by Camden Council last year.

then the equivalent of three gallons could be achieved.

There was a respectable turnout of concerned

Getting the mileage out of the petrol mix was another problem.

cabbies, far outnumbering the local residents. But on chatting to

The British Motor Cab Co had promised its drivers they would get

those locals I was surprised to hear their lives have been blighted

20mpg, but the men found the actual consumption was closer to

even more than ours over the ill-judged 'traffic tinkering' that

18mpg. Over 1000 drivers walked out on strike, which was short-

even Camden Council concedes isn't' working! It emphasised to

lived as the company soon backed down and agreed to supply the

me that Camden local residents and London’s Taxi drivers are

men with the equivalent of 20 miles a gallon but with no added

singing off the same hymn sheet!

cost to pay for the extra petrol.

When John McBlain was flagged down by an Army captain and told

that he would be needed to drive to several army bases, McBlain replied

that he did not have sufficient petrol. The problem was solved by the

captain siphoning off petrol from his own car, which had broken down,

and pouring it into the petrol tank of the taxi. At the end of the job,

McBlain said his fare was 9s 10d, but the captain refused to pay this as

McBlain had refused to return any of the petrol - only about a quarter

of what had been added was used. The magistrate agreed with the cap-

tain and McBlain was only paid 5s 8d of his fare, the cost of the uncon-

Cab drivers look at Camden's new options

sumed petrol making the difference. McBlain was not allowed any costs

They exhibited three revised plans, but only one was preferred by the

either so the petrol proved to be quite expensive in the end.

taxi fraternity. It wasn't perfect, but certainly an improvement on what we

A major alert was sparked when a spokesman at a meeting in

and our customers are currently suffering.

Southwark told those assembled he believed his taxi driver that morn-

We all filled in a questionnaire with the welcome option of choosing for

ing was an enemy alien! Scotland Yard stated that all such people who

the failed experiment to be totally scrapped and for the area to be returned

had held licences had had them revoked. Given that a driver could over-

to the areas original layout!

hear conversations or gain access to areas where the public were usually

The exhibition was organised by Imperial London Hotels prior to Camden

denied, there was an all-out effort to locate the enemy alien. But they

Council’s Consultation document, which is expected to be in September.

found him - he was Scottish!!!

Marc Turner (R97)

Sean Farrell

Call Sign Online

Call Sign August 2016

Page 14

Some people are on the pitch, they think it’s all over!

NOW!

Bob Woodford looks at London’s long lost sporting venues

Despite the dismal performance of the

inally for the Merchant Navy. The Scottish

10 years here, the last ever game played on the

England football team this summer at Euro

firm, founded in Aberdeen in 1849, now only

Isle of Dogs was the 3-1 defeat of Portsmouth

2016, our passion for the game will be reignit-

has a moderate existence in Lowestoft. Back

on 8th October 1910.

ed once again just a week after this latest issue

then James Thomas Morten set up an enter-

Morten’s old factory was demolished in the

of Call Sign drops on your doormat! On the

prise that would eventually supply food to the

1980s when the London Docklands

ranks and shelters, bragging rights will once

Polar Expeditions led by Shackleton and

Development Corporation began the gentri-

again be claimed, while here in London we’ll

Scott and was one of the principal suppliers

fication process of E14, and the modern high-

have an ‘unlucky’ 13 teams - 14 if you include

of canned food to the armed forces during

rise yuppie pleasure dome Cascades was built

that other favourite ‘local’ club, Manchester

World War One.

on the old site.

United!

Morten hired cheap labour from Dundee

Later on in the season I’ll explain why the

There were, of course, plenty of near misses

to work at his plant and it was those guys

club decided to relocate and develop a cabbage

and the usual disappointments in 2015/16 with

who liked to kick a football around during

patch on the other side of the river and also

only AFC Wimbledon picking up any silver-

their tea break that gave birth to Millwall

where their Lions nickname came from. I’ll

ware. But during the 2016/17 season, I shall

Rovers and their first HQ, The Islander, a

also counter an urban myth - probably next

feature most of our London clubs and their

pub in Tooke Street that was eventually a

May when the Lions have secured promotion

heritage, flagging up their previous and first

victim of The Blitz in 1940.

back to the Championship!

grounds, many having long since been victim

These Scotsmen liked to play in blue and

But next month it’s over to west London

to the wrecking ball.

white colours of course and once formed,

to explore the heritage of a club that Dial-a-

Fulham may have been the very first in

began playing local sides before becoming a

Cab Chairman, Brian Rice, will hope fea-

1879, as many pub quiz-goers will confirm,

member of the Southern League. They would

tures in the shakeup of this season’s

with Charlton Athletic the most recently

entertain islanders at four different grounds

Championship and gives him something in

founded (1905). But my first trip down

before making the move to south-east London

return for the cost of his family’s season

memory lane finds me at E14 in the year

25 years later. The Islander was ideal for

tickets - Queens Park Rangers!

1885. Every cab driver and Knowledge boy

makeshift dressing rooms in those early days

I hope your team has good fortune in the

will be able to take you to Zampa Road

when the Iona - the team’s initial nickname

coming months! Keep reading - they may fea-

SE16 or Cold Blow Lane SE14, but Millwall

after a distinctive Scottish name - played their

ture here!

Bob Woodford

Football Club had four previous grounds

first season on waste ground in Glengall Road

on the Isle of Dogs before moving to New

(off Tiller Road) in a neighbourhood once

Call Sign Online

Cross in 1910.

coined Tooke Town. Glengall Road no longer

The Millwall area was named after seven

exists due to wartime bombing and redevelop-

windmills that once stood on the western side

ment, so it is difficult trying to pinpoint its

of the Island on a bank of earth which kept the

exact whereabouts.

TX1

Thames from flooding the farmland at high

Bigger space was found and a new pitch laid

tide. You can still find evidence of that raised

out behind the Lord Nelson pub on East

bank if you explore the river end of thorough-

Ferry Road between 1886 and 1890, but the

TAXIS

fares like Cuba Street and Hutchings Street

landlady eventually requested the club move

just off the West Ferry Road. The last remain-

on - the pub still exists, although the area

ing of those windmills (that ground corn) was

where the pitch would have been is now hous-

WANTED

the Wheatsheaf Mill, which gave the

ing. The team were then nicknamed The

McDougall brothers from Dumfries the ability

Dockers after the occupation of most of their

to self-raise flour - hence McDougall’s self-

fans. They reclaimed land a little further north

raising flour. However, the grain workers

when the Mudchute area was cleared of its

became known as toe-rags because they had to

spoil from the engineering overspill of

cover their boots with sacking!

Millwall Dock.

But it was Scotsmen from Dundee in one

This third home was known as The Athletic

of the new late 19th century factories that

Ground between 1890 and 1901, but the smell

would start up Millwall Football Club in

of reclaimed mud was apparently nauseous

1885. It was at the junction of Cuba Street and

and once caused England international Fred

West Ferry Road that existed JT Morten’s

Pelly of Corinthian Casuals to remark: “I

canning factory which supplied foodstuff orig-

don’t mind having a tumble on any football

Your old TX1 Taxi is wanted

ground, but when I fell to the ground at

Millwall, I couldn’t rid the smell for weeks!”

✓ Quick viewing and decision

The club were forced to move on again by

the Millwall Dock Company, who wanted to

✓ Cash waiting!

use the land for a timber yard - the ASDA

Superstore today covers the former home of

✓ Top price paid for really clean

the Southern League’s first ever FA Cup semi-

examples

finalists back in 1900. But by far the Club’s

most successful home on the Island between

1901 and 1910 was where Millwall Park is

Please ring Graham on

today - and a stroll around the perimeter of the

07435 562759

public park will reveal trace of the old terraces

that once housed over 20,000 for an FA Cup tie

or e-mail on

A pavement tile on the east side of

with Aston Villa. Originally an open field with

oldlondontaxis@yahoo.co.uk

West Ferry Rd north of the junction

cattle, this was the last remaining patch of land

with Cuba Street

for a sports field on the Island and after nearly

Call Sign August 2016

Page 15

For those that don’t know Dial-

a-Cab driver Alec Wilkey (W83),

he doesn’t just drive a taxi but

in a life far away from this job,

Alec is also a much respected

trainer in professional boxing

with several of his Team Wilkey

having picked up championship

belts including the GBU

Women’s World Lightweight

Champion, Areti Mastrodouka.

Now yet another of Alec’s stable, Danny

‘Cassius’ Connor, has won a Championship

belt when at Tolworth on Saturday 16 July he

defeated tough opponent, Daniel Bazo, by a

convincing 98 - 93. Danny had been boxing to

order, but the fight then turned very physical

with no quarter given and that resulted in both

boxers being warned over a clash of heads

when Bazo received a cut in the 6th round.

But Danny won through and picked up the

International

Light

Welterweight

Challenge Belt. Being a local lad, the sell-out

crowd cheered Danny through the roof and

created an amazing atmosphere.

Alec told Call Sign: “It was a great night

Alec (left) with Danny Connor and belt, with Alec's right hand man Johnny Sparks

with Danny following orders exactly and

deservedly coming away with the gold!”

Alec, who trains Danny at the Lansbury

Danny's management team, MGM Marbella,

Jamie Corum

Boxing Gym in Chrisp Street, went on to

and hopefully push him on for bigger titles

Call Sign Online

tell Call Sign that they will sit down with

next season.

TfL’s message to Utility companies: Don’t mismanage streetworks... or else!

TfL prosecutes second utility company in 7 days!

Transport for London, having successfully prosecuted BT for not completing roadworks on time, have

now done the same thing to Vodafone! They say this is part of their commitment to ensure roadworks are

completed on time. This was the 100th prosecution of a utility company since 2010 and the second one in

seven days. Vodafone’s offence, which followed completion of work in Tooting Bec in January, was for fail-

ing to serve a required statutory Streetworks notice. They also failed to pay a Fixed Penalty Notice issued by

TfL after the stop notice was not served. The previous week, BT was ordered to pay more than £8,000 for

dangerous and disruptive roadworks.

Vodafone pleaded guilty to the offence at Westminster Magistrates Court, was fined £1,250 and

ordered to pay £1,386.50 in prosecution costs. Although Vodafone didn’t attend the hearing, they

apologised in a letter for their “failings” and pleaded guilty. Passing sentence, the Judge said:

“Vodafone has clearly recognised the issue in this case but I am aware TfL prosecuted the company

Boris did nothing for 8 years!

only last year for offences similar in nature to the one in issue today. I take note of the early plea but

nonetheless the fine must reflect Vodafone’s overall conduct in this matter.”

Garrett Emmerson, TfL’s COO for Surface Transport, said: “This is the second time in 18 months Vodafone has been prosecuted for

failing to provide required Streetworks notices. We are committed to keeping London’s roads as clear as possible preventing

unnecessary traffic build up, which disrupts people’s daily commute and worsens air quality. We will continue to push for the

toughest penalties possible for utility companies caught acting unlawfully and are pleased that Vodafone themselves have recog-

nised the need to improve.”

The fines are chickenfeed and yes, we still have so many problems with traffic. But it doesn’t do any harm for TfL to take these liberty-tak-

ing companies to court, because even if the fine is almost nothing to them, the publicity won’t do them much good! But our acknowledge-

ment of the fact doesn’t mean we are happy.

In the February 2008 Call Sign, then Mayoral candidate Boris Johnson agreed to answer questions from Dial-a-Cab drivers. One came

from Bill Kibble (K86). He asked Boris:

“There are road works and congestion all over town, especially with the renewal of water mains. These could be completed in

a third of the time if work was carried out at night as well as during the day. In many places such as the Strand, there are few

residents to disturb and in any case, surely people would prefer to get work completed quicker, rather than have heavy traffic

outside their houses for months on end. Is it something you would look at if elected?”

Boris responded with this: “We have to sort out what happens with roadworks. How many times have we all driven past a giant

hole in the road left unattended? They do roadworks at night in other major cities and I will certainly look at it, yes.”

So the question is this; Boris was asked that question well over eight years ago. Since then he became Mayor, served two terms - and did

absolutely nothing when it came to sorting out Bill’s question - other than look at it! And as he was in charge of TfL, they cannot be allowed

to think it has all been forgotten... because it hasn’t! But we’re hopeful that Sadiq Khan as Mayor will do a far better job than Boris ever did.

If the prosecutions work and cause the utilities to get their fingers out, then that’s a start.

Many of us remember the hole in the Strand that was there for so long, even Westminster Council couldn’t tell us who and

why it had been started by because by the time we asked, it had been filled in and emptied again by the gas company, the elec-

tricity company and the whoever had the water contract there - and all had returned more than once! The result saw the hole

remain there for almost two years! We don’t want a return to those bad old days! Perhaps these prosecutions are the answer to

that problem at least...

Call Sign August 2016

Page 16

London Taxidrivers’ Fund for Underprivileged Children

LTFUC 2016 Southend Outing

n their 88th year, Wednesday 13th July saw the fiftieth annu-

at 10am were a number of children’s entertainers including regulars

al London Taxidrivers’ Fund for Underprivileged Children’s

Jolly Jack, the Honey Monster and Furry Tail Folk in addition to

trip to Southend, where 300 very excited children in over

jugglers and magicians. Suddenly a big cheer went up as the first cab

100 taxis set out to have the day of their lives! The weather was

in the convoy left Chingford and everyone else followed for their day

fair and dry and stayed that way until a few drops of rain late

at the seaside.

into the afternoon.

The huge convoy arrived at Southend just after midday and drove

The day began at around 6am for the Committee and drivers -

along the sea front to be greeted by hundreds of waving onlookers,

including a number from Dial-a-Cab - that had to decorate their cabs

many who had left the beach area to come and watch the amazing

at Sainsbury’s (Low Hall), who kindly lent their car park once again.

site.

Before too long, the excited children began arriving via various forms

Arriving at Cliffs Pavilion, the children were met by yet more chil-

of transport.

dren’s entertainers and the LTFUC have asked Call Sign to thank

On hand to keep the children occupied as they piled into their taxis them all for giving up their time making the children’s wide grins even

wider! The kids gulped down their lunch so as to get their taxi rides

down to Adventure Island for a fun filled afternoon, for which the

Fund thanks the management and staff for their help and assistance.

There were vouchers for ice creams, donuts, candyfloss and

drinks to help keep those grins wide - albeit rather ice-cream

covered grins!

At 4.30, the tired and weary drivers and children returned to the

Cliffs Pavilion for tea and a Dave Davies disco, but woke up as the

music hit! Those too tired to boogie elected to sit and have their faces

painted - even some of the drivers!

But all good things must come to an end and at 6pm a conga lead

the children out of the room! It was an amazing outing and the smiles

on the children’s faces all day long were lovely to see.

Of course, without the drivers there would be no outings at all, so

well done to all of them as well as the anonymous donor who covered

the costs of the driver’s diesel and all the sponsors. Here’s to outing

number 51...!

No prizes for guessing why they are smiling!

Ready to go!

Arriving at Southend - led by DaC’s Colin Greaves (M91)

Sim, Malcolm and Mike together with some friends!

Call Sign August 2016

Page 17

Another true story from Geoff Levene...

RIO TAXIS AND THE LONDON OLYMPICS!

ight now in a favela (the Editor says

strange northern folk! I had been there once

I’m not allowed to say shanty town or

before. It was 29th April 1970; Leeds 1

slum) in Rio or Sao Paulo, someone

Chelsea 2. But enough of that...

called Joao or similar is polishing up a

I don’t know how I found my way around.

battered old Mercedes. He’s making sure all the

Did I buy a local A-Z? At one stage, a drunk

lights are working and that there is some ‘meat’

climbed in. He wouldn't believe I wasn't a local

on the tyres. He applies tape to the several knife

driver so I had to take him home. But I did it

slashes in the seats and paints over the many

At a place called Newton Le Willows, a cop-

scratches and gouges in the bodywork. Finally

per directed me to the motorway and I was on

he tests the ‘Taxi’ sign on the roof and steps

my way home. It makes you wonder how they

back to admire his handiwork!

managed years ago. How did the early flyers

He is satisfied and ready for the bonanza that

find their way around with no radios and basic

is coming. With all the money he is going to

maps? The first commercial flights to Paris start-

make, he'll be able to get Maria that new sewing

ed after the Great War. They were operated by

machine and also repair the corrugated tin roof.

Handley Page Aircraft and took off opposite

The 2016 Rio Olympics are getting closer! Well,

its factory in Claremont Road, Cricklewood. A

I wish him luck. I expect we all do because if it’s

pilot explained the route...

anything like our London 2012 Olympics, he's going to be sadly disap-

“We flew down to the Edgware Road, followed the number 16 bus

pointed.

route down to Marble Arch and across country to the Channel.”

My only connections to that great 2012 Festival of Sport were

They were simpler days.

firstly when two elderly Americans with Olympic accreditation

But even with sophisticated equipment, things can still go

went from a hotel in Southwark to... another hotel in Southwark,

wrong. Like the empty Jumbo Jet en route to Heathrow whose

whilst on the very last morning I took a party to the Basketball

pilot landed at Northolt. As if that wasn't bad enough, the plane

Finals at Earls Court. And that was it. I never got to the Olympic

was too heavy to take off on the shorter runway so they had to strip

Park. Subsequently I went once to Stratford International and once

out all the seats etc to get it off the ground! Then they painted a

to Westfield.

notice on a nearby gasholder:

But a month or so ago, a chap stopped me and wanted the Press

Centre at the Olympic Park. At last! So off we went. Just to make sure, I

<<<HEATHROW

>>> NORTHOLT

phoned my friend Max.

“Turn left at the Bow roundabout,” he said, “and then turn right fur-

Geoff Levene (W32)

ther up.”

Call Sign Online

“Can I go over the flyover and turn left,” I asked in reply. He said I

could but the roundabout slip road was solid with traffic, so I went

over the flyover, turned left for Westfield and looked for signs. And

looked. And drove. And looked. And nothing...!

I knew it was there behind a fence, but I just couldn’t find a

way in. Perhaps I didn't look far enough but I was getting a bit

hot and I think the passenger was wondering what was going on,

although he was very patient. Anyway, eventually I found myself

back on Stratford High Street, found the Station and stuck him in

a local cab. And I went home completely fed up. Olympic

Park...you can keep it - always assuming that you can find it, that

is!

Of course that wasn’t the first time I’ve been lost. It's not even the

first time in that general area. In my early days, it was at Euston when

in climbed three chaps and a racing greyhound. They wanted Clapton

Racetrack...or was it Hackney? Either way, I took them to the wrong

one, I think I went to Hackney and it was derelict. I now had to find

my way to the right place. It became what I called a map in the lap job.

Eventually the dog started barking.

“We must be getting close,” said one of the guys, “he can smell

the other dogs!” I resisted the urge to suggest he should walk

ahead with our four-legged friend so I could follow, but we got

there in the end.

Ever since then the words Hackney Wick or E9 or over the Marshes

get me into a cold sweat! But let’s face it; despite our famous reputa-

tion we can't know everywhere.

When I got my Badge, my brother asked me if there was an area that

I wasn’t sure about. I replied that Fulham seemed a bit complicated

with lots of little streets. And I have to admit that although I am a life-

long Chelsea fan, I still feel the same. When I get to the area bordered

by Lillie, North End, Fulham and Munster Roads, I often don't know

whether I'm facing north, south, east or wherever. Thank heaven for

the mapping facility on the Dial-a-Cab terminal.

About a thousand years ago when dinosaurs roamed the earth

and I was fairly young and even more foolish than now, I did a

delivery job to Manchester one afternoon. Four packages, four

places to find and two hundred miles from home amongst

Call Sign August 2016

Page 18

An explosion at Maplin’s or is it...

JUST JIM RAINBIRD’S TAXI!

It may look like an explosion in a branch of Maplin’s, but this

mess of wires was expertly put in and taken out again of the Dial-

a-Cab taxi belonging to Jim Rainbird (T25) during a film job.

Jim is often involved in filming for cinema and TV and was

recently working on a feature film that because of a non-disclo-

sure agreement, he is unable to say which one it was. The actual

filming only took around two hours, but the rigging took over

five! There were four cameras and three microphones installed

into Jim’s taxi by a rigging crew of six guys in the car park at

Brewer Street.

He then picked up the stars of the film and was closely followed

by their protection team in a second vehicle, with a third vehicle

fitted with remote video screens and carrying the director and

crew on board.

Jim told Call Sign: “I think the guys at Roman Way would

have a fit if they had to install this much gear! Thankfully, it

only took the film crew an hour to de-rig and put everything

back exactly as it had been before. Then it was back to real-

ity and booking into W1SE!”

Wires galore for Jim's filming job

London Taxi Company and Brexit...

IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO US!

he London Taxi

to three years. By then we will know exactly what the reg-

Company and owners

ulatory framework is and the customs and duties frame-

Geely have announced

work. We can then make a decision.”

plans to ramp up pro-

duction by the end of the

decade and to sell taxis and

vans to other major European

cities after also adding that

Carl-Peter

Britain’s decision to leave the

Forster: No

European Union would not

decision until

affect its current investment

at least 2017

Exclusive Taxi Insurance Scheme

plans.

Chairman Carl-Peter Forster said

dedicated to DAC members only

that the LTC aimed to produce around 10,000 taxis and

light commercial vehicles a year by around 2020, up

from 1,171 in 2015.

✓ 5% Discount for members

He added: “We are currently presenting the taxi to

✓ Additional discount for existing protected Bonus policies

major European cities. We've been to Oslo, Amsterdam,

✓ Public Liability

Paris, Barcelona and Berlin recently and based on this

✓ Breakdown Cover

same platform, we will offer our light commercial vehicle

✓ Much more available

with a horizon between 2019 and 2021.”

Now in its new site, LTC said last March that they

Call below for quotations

would invest £250 million in the new site and in October,

they said it would add another £50 million pounds to the

project.

Hillier Buchan Ltd, 18, Bourne Road, Bexley, Kent. DA5 1LU

Although Mr Forster also said future investments

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority - Firms Ref No: 304318

Company Registration No: 4319231

would depend on the new relationship Britain forges

with the EU, he said that decisions would not need to be

Tel: 01322 553313

made until at least 2018.

“We don't have to make a decision over the next two

Fax: 01322 523315

Call Sign August 2016

Page 19

From Garry White

they will be hurting now along with their fami-

one was aware would happen until turning on

lies and country men and women. I know that,

their terminals and seeing a message telling

like me, you will all be thinking and praying for

them to book-off and then re-sign in on to VAD.

the French people in these very sad times.

DaC’s IT department decided that the time was

right for the pilot scheme. It was only for a day,

PH regulations

but in that short time I became used to the new

New private hire regulations have come into

functions and found them easy to work with

effect and it’s strange how PH drivers and oper-

and I’m now looking forward to it going live

ators do not like working within regulations

for real.

and have now written to Licensed Private

Hire Association Chairman Steve Wright ask-

The gold standard

Hello Ladies & Gents

ing him to contact TFL/PH to suspend the reg-

Trying to think about something positive to

Nice and Bastille Day

ulations because they are finding them too

write about our trade with all the turmoil going

I'm writing this article on the morning after the

hard to comply with!

on at the moment is challenging. However, you

terrorist attack in Nice, France, on Bastille

As we all know, if the PH trade have to meet

the drivers are what has given us our Gold

Day. This was truly shocking to watch on TV

all insurance and correct booking require-

Standard tag over the years and when talking

news coverage or listening on the radio as it

ments, it hits their business model and makes

to Knowledge boys and girls, the examiners at

was happening with customers getting in and

them far more unattractive to the occasional

Transport for London are still making sure that

out of the taxi, while trying to explain to them

worker who doesn't know his Marble Arch

before they receive their Bills, they are fully

in my own words what was happening without

from his Elephant and Castle!

equipped for challenges of what this job

causing too much alarm.

entails.

The French taxi drivers have supported us in

VAD test

The advice I would give to new taxi drivers,

our problems with disruptive technology and VAD was piloted last month - something no

if asked, is to respect what you have learned,

dress appropriately for work and join a union

or trade organisation, because these are the

Simon Scott is one of the new generation of taxi drivers whose life is

people that work on our behalf with TFL/PH.

captured as a blog. The continuing story of his time as a butterboy is…

Plying for hire

Defining ‘plying for hire’ is something that we

need to get recognised in law; disruptive tech-

nology companies have blurred this by the way

A Blogger’s Tale

they operate, with TfL unwilling or being pre-

vented from stopping E-hailing, something

1992

which is rightfully ours by completing the KoL

The recession of the early nineties was biblical; the trade went

at great personal expense to ourselves.

from boom to bust almost overnight. At the time of writing, the

Hope you all have a great summer...

Bank of England interest rate is set at 0.5%. On the 16th

September 1992, the BoE interest rate was raised from 10 percent

Garry White

to 12 percent and later that same day, it was raised yet again to

15 percent! Some licensed taxi drivers were already up to their

DaC Board Member

eyes in debt when it struck and many lost cabs or homes, with

some losing both.

Shady punters in the dark!

Immaculate White

It was in that economic climate that I felt I had to take some drastic measures; so I decided to

work nights instead of days. I'll never forget the first dark shift I worked. I set out with an air of

Cab Available for

optimism, after all, how bad could it be?

It was two men that flagged me down in Hackney Road, I decided to pull past everyone to

establish just how much they’d had to drink and so I ground to a halt around two car lengths

Weddings

passed them. One of them slowly shuffled up to the nearside window and said: “Back up,

don't turn around and angle that rear mirror up.”

I felt the urge to accelerate away, but needs must and those needs were the money! As I

pulled level with them, a third one appeared and he didn’t look well at all. A voice just told me

to go to A and E and to make it fast! With that, they helped him into the taxi and he slumped

onto the back seat. Meanwhile, ‘Mr Charisma’ blocked my view and scowled at me every time I

looked over my shoulder to check for traffic. I had a habit of leaving the radio on, but switched

it off on this occasion as I was desperate to find out what was going on. They were mumbling

and muttering to each other and even shouted at me to hurry up.

Eventually we got to the hospital and I got the same careful advice as before, but with the addi-

tional advice about grassing people up and watching my back etc. They almost lifted him out of

the cab and shuffled off towards A and E. I turned around to check the back of the cab and could-

n’t miss the pool of blood across the back seat that had begun dripping onto the floor. I glanced

back at them… they had forgotten to pay me!

Recession or not, there was no dilemma in my mind about chasing them for the fare, I just

drove away as fast as I could and went to see Doug Sherry to get the cab cleaned up. The job

had cost me money, but I learnt a good lesson. Trust your initial instincts… they are usually

Female driver

right!

10% reduction for Dial-a-Cab drivers

To be continued…

Contact Debbie (W18) on

Simon Scott (O40)

Call Sign Online

07956 317040

Call Sign August 2016

Page 20

ony Cabral is not a cab driver, yet

Call Sign’s Marc Turner meets a non-cab driver who cares passionately

he goes well beyond the call of

about this trade...

duty as regards standing up for

the London Taxi trade.

Tony hails from Madeira, coming to

MEET TONY CABRAL

London as a young man and hoping for a

new start. He entered the catering industry

where his affinity with 'London’s finest' blos-

Tony doesn't just

somed. He worked in and eventually man-

serve the cab

aged the Piccolo eatery in Hertford Street

trade, he cares

W1. He grafted many a long hour and always

about it as well...

appreciated the bonhomie and banter of his

cabbie customers.

collections for trade

After fifteen years, Tony came to the con-

charities for nigh on

clusion that as a grafter, he'd be better off

24 years. He told me

working for himself rather than tirelessly for

that he is proud to

others. So nine years ago Tony took on a new

have met/befriended

challenge, becoming proprietor of the Astral

and been a service to

Café in Regency Place SW1. But where Tony

so many cab drivers

differs from others that serve our trade is that

over the years.

he is passionate enough to down his apron

So if you find your-

and pick up a placard to join trade demos, as

self in the locality of

we legitimately protest against the unjust

the Astral Cafe, look

inside, you'll be greet-

treatment we have received from TfL and

Government.

ed warmly...

The Astral Café in

Tony has attended UCG demos, while of

assaults in the last year, including 32 rapes

late Dads Defending Daughters has also

that involved Uber drivers (Are we missing

Regency Place is open from 6am to

10:30pm, Monday to Saturday

been a cause close to his heart. Tony is the

something - July Call Sign).

father of two daughters and was horrified to

Seventy percent of Tony’s custom comes

Marc Turner

learn of a recent Daily Mirror Freedom of

from cab drivers; he has shared our trade’s

Call Sign Online

Information revelation of

154 PH sexual trials and tribulations as well as organising

A spin-off of Oxford University’s Mobile Robotics Group, UK Tech firm Oxbotica launches...

Driverless vehicles software!

We talk about it, but it always appeared to

Rolls-Royce revealed its vision for

be so futuristic that it probably wouldn’t really

the next generation of luxury vehi-

affect us as taxi drivers - that was until late

cles with the Vision Next 100. This

July when Oxford-based technology company

RR is stylish but also futuristic.

Oxbotica launched its new Selenium mobile

However, the two-seater was miss-

autonomy software solution with a purpose

ing something - a steering wheel or

built concept vehicle at the Culham Science

in fact, any controls whatsoever! It

Centre. In English, that spells out driverless

actually lacks any obvious control

software!

mechanism for a manual control,

Selenium can work in pedestrianised environ-

but obviously anticipates a driverless

ments, as well as roads and motorways and is

car-filled future. And if RR is experi-

not reliant on GPS to operate it - meaning it

menting, then it’s gonna happen.

can easily transition between indoor and out-

The only question is when...

door settings, over ground or underground.

The system has been developed to be vehicle

agnostic - meaning it can be applied to cars,

Michael Toomey A Google driverless car being tested. Now RR are following

self-driving pods (eg for campuses and air-

Call Sign Online suit while Oxbotica has developed a software program

ports) and warehouse truck fleets.

The software was developed by

Oxbotica’s team of leading UK scientists,

mathematicians and engineers and is able

to provide any vehicle it is applied to with

an awareness of where it is, what sur-

rounds it and, with that knowledge in

hand, how it should move to complete a

task.

The system uses patented algorithms that

give vehicles a next generation level of intelli-

gence to autonomously perform a range of

mobility tasks, including motion control, brak-

ing, calibration, navigation, static and dynamic

obstacle detection. Selenium is set to be

deployed at a series of autonomy trials.

Will the system be able to work in a taxi

one day? It may not be today, but tomor-

row’s today is yesterday...

Google are still testing, but at around the

same time as the Oxbotica announcement,

Call Sign August 2016

Page 21

“Yes, I was deeply disappointed,

but my wife was even more so,”

Bob Lashmar (B21J) sighed to

I nearly lost them all!

Call Sign’s reporter.

done in the digital age, whereas in the old

“My wife and I had taken two major inter-

days of film it was far less common to ‘lose’

national holidays in recent years to cele-

pictures unless the back of the camera was

brate firstly, our 45th wedding anniversary

accidently opened and then an entire roll of

by way of a cruise around the Baltics visiting

film would be lost due to unexpected expo-

many countries in the area, and then the fol-

sure! Sometimes you just can’t win!

lowing year another ‘trip of a lifetime’ to

Alan Green said: “In the age of digital

mark our joint birthdays with a cruise

cameras and other electronic devices, it

around the Med, including Spain and

pays to take many images so that if one or

Gibraltar.”

two are accidently deleted, there is a good

But Bob and his wife went on the two hol-

chance the bulk of the images will remain. It

idays, so what could have gone wrong? A

is also good practice to take several memory

rather sheepish look appeared on the Dial-

cards with you on major expeditions such as

holidays or significant events like weddings

and family gatherings, so that if a memory

card does fail for whatever reason, you can

IS THIS

swap it quickly and continue to shoot

images. Also, always use a memory card of

slightly larger capacity than you think you

THE TX10?

might need, because you will almost cer-

tainly end up taking many more images

Bob's disaster with digital photography

than you thought you would! Oh yes, and

MAYBE NOT!

always take spare batteries of the correct

type for your camera / device to avoid failure

As we prepare for electric

a-Cab driver’s face when he explained...

that could stop you taking any images at all!

“Well, I guess I wasn’t really concentrating

taxis, this is the launch of

“Most digital devices offer the opportuni-

fully on what I was doing, but somehow I

solar-powered vehicles!

pressed the wrong button on my digital

ty to delete one image at a time rather than

several images in one go, giving the user a

camera and accidentally deleted very many

chance to stop and think before actually

unrepeatable images from our journeys!

pressing the ‘delete’ button, so you do get

Although I did take a small number of pic-

the ‘are you sure?’ moment to check before

tures on my phone - so there was at least

committing your images to dust.”

something to remind us of our global

Alan Green ended by saying that users

adventures - it wasn’t really much consola-

should always read the manual and added

tion,” Bob said!

that he very rarely deletes images ‘in cam-

So with the peak holiday month of August

era’ and preferred to check them all on his

rapidly approaching, editor Alan Fisher

PC first before deciding which images to dis-

turned to resident Call Sign snapper Alan

card. Then he burns the remaining images

Green for some pointers and even he con-

onto a CD...

fided that it had happened to him on one

occasion! However, he’d saved the day by

How will a top-hatted gent get in!!!

some quick thinking and taking many ‘safety

Alan Green

shots’! But he admitted that it was easily

Call Sign Online

t the Hanergy Chinese base

in Beijing, they are currently

working on a car that

harnesses power purely from the sun.

Dial-a-Cab Credit Union

These solar powered vehicles do not

need a plug-in recharging point but

Ever needed money quickly but were anxious about

can operate with just 6 hours of

variable bank interest rates?

sunlight, which will get the car up to

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

80 kilometres a day.

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

On July 2, Hanergy revealed four

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

purely solar-powered vehicles where

at your address also qualifies for membership!

the thin-film GaAs double-junction

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

solar cells on the cars’ surfaces convert

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

PV power to electricity.

up to 3 times your total savings…

Will they supply the taxi market?

Well the vehicle seems somewhat low

The cost?

to cover the rule about gentlemen

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

wearing top hats fitting in; and much

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

as we hate to say it... six hours

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

sunshine in a month might even be

Call us on 020 7729 8171 or 020 7749 0585

pushing it!!!

Members of the Financial Ombudsman Service

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

Michael Toomey

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

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

Call Sign Online

Registration number 213263

Call Sign August 2016

Page 22

Bike lanes are literally killing us!

Call Sign, along with most of the taxi trade, has long claimed that

ing staff in City companies to cycle, walk or run to work!

London’s bike Superhighways were undoubtedly the worst idea to have

Everything except to dismantle cycling superhighways and accept that

come from TfL under the auspices of former Mayor, Boris Johnson. We,

London is a major capital city that needs motor vehicles to get around.

on the other hand, are still suffering with the bike lanes as we watch more

And while we all ‘hum and ha... people are dying.

and more passengers get out and walk.

Now our belief has been turned into fact with recent

data provided via sensors from the King's College-led

London Air Quality Network at 30 sites around London,

showing that the worst clouds of toxic particles, which

have been linked to the early deaths of thousands of Lon-

doners, are found in the Square Mile.

How often have you been stuck in Farringdon Street

struggling to get to Blackfriars Bridge looking around you at

a main road that has been destroyed

so as to give a huge amount of the

road to cyclists? Well, the sensors

showed that one stretch of

Farringdon Street had higher levels

of fine particulates (PM2.5) than

even the northern approach to

Blackwall Tunnel - and anyone

living southeast will tell you what

that’s like every morning. But the

part of

roadway between

Smithfield and Fleet Street has

been deemed the worst in London,

except that it isn’t just mornings, it’s

pretty much at any time!

PM2.5s, which are found in diesel

fumes, easily inhaled and absorbed

by the human body - have been linked to lung cancer and car-

diovascular and respiratory diseases. An estimated 9,500

Londoners are killed each year by long-term exposure to fine

particulates and nitrogen dioxide.

Dial-a-Cab Chairman, Brian Rice, told Call Sign: “I often

go that way when going back to Waterloo in the evening

and the traffic hold-ups - both north and southbound -

caused by bike lanes are absolutely appalling. The worst

part is that they are man-made and show no thought

whatsoever for motorists. Sitting in the jams daily, it

doesn’t surprise me about the levels of poor air quality.

Of course, you could try Waterloo Bridge as many try to

do - except that the number of buses using Aldwych

Lower Thames Street at lunchtime towards Tower Hill with its usual

makes that one of London’s worst bottle-necks in the

hold-up, while the cycle lane is almost empty with just a single bike

City! The report’s findings do not surprise me in the

and a jogger in view!

slightest and even now I just cannot understand why a

inset. Farringdon Street VHT for yet another bike lane

section of road users that pay nothing are

given so much priority over motorists who

pay a small fortune in fuel and taxes.”

The report, which went to the City of London

Can you afford not to get a copy!!!

Corporation's audit and risk committee, said:

“The City experiences some of the highest

Produced by Dial-a-Cabs PCN expert, John Vigus,

levels of air pollution in the country. The

this book is all you need to know about moving

main source is diesel vehicles, particularly

buses, taxis and vans with a contribution

traffic and parking regulations in one easy to

from boilers, other combustion plants and

read guide!

also construction activity.”

Although the report added that not all the

City’s pollution actually originates within its

The Motorists Guide to Moving

boundaries, we have no doubt whatsoever that

the extra pollution is there because of traffic

Traffic And Parking Regulations

caused by the cycle superhighways - witness

eastbound along Lower and Upper Thames

Hard copies £8. Electronic versions to

Street right up until midnight and sometimes

Dial-a-Cab drivers are £5 per copy. Orders

even later - yet the City Corporation blame

via Driver Services with payment deducted

everyone and everything else except the bike

lanes claiming that they are battling pollution

from your DaC account.

by banning idling engines, introducing a

20mph zone, creating a City Air app and agree-

ing with Addison Lee to go 'electric only' in key

Can you really afford not to get a copy!!!

areas in the Square Mile - not to mention ask-

Call Sign August 2016

Page 24

Mark Rayner took part in the UCI Tour of Cambridgeshire and in

doing so qualified for the World Amateur Cycling Championship -

not bad for a 58 year old taxi driver!

MAKING HIS MARK!

The medal that signified Mark has

qualified for the World Championships

ark Rayner (V57) has

been on Dial-a-Cab for

over

20 years and

Mark on the Tour of Cambridgeshire ride

appeared in Call Sign sev-

Cambridge ride that his finishing time of

for the day and do it against some of the

eral times over the years for his

3 hours 56 seconds for the

85 mile

world’s best cyclists.

cycling exploits

- mainly involving

course meant that he has qualified for

Mark trains regularly on his bike

charity rides. This June, Mark entered

the

cycling’s

Amateur

World

around the Wickford area and occasional-

the Union Cycliste Internationale

Championships in his age group!

ly pops down to the Surrey Downs either

Tour of Cambridge bike ride after

The UCI Tour of Cambridgeshire is dif-

to train or compete. But the World

being asked to help complete a team

ferent to any other mass participation

Championships are another matter alto-

to raise sponsorship money for a can-

UK event because it caters for anyone -

gether.

cer charity.

whether they are Olympic standard rac-

“I very much doubt that I’ll be there

Mark was happy to help and even at 58

ers or just the guy next door who wants

this year,” Mark told Call Sign. “The

feels fit and always ready to cycle. But in

to test himself on the Cambridgeshire

problem is that it’s being held in

fact, so well did he do on the UCI

countryside where the roads are closed

Australia and that’s one hell of a journey.

But if I can qualify for next years’ World

Championships, then I’ll certainly give

that one a go as France is somewhat

THE SALIERI RESTAURANT

more accessible!”

376 Strand, WC2

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

restaurant where you can partake of the finest food and wine

And as a thank-you for helping our clients come

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

offer you a genuine 25% discount on your bill

We are certain that you will be delighted

Please bring along your badge or Bill as ID

Salieri Restaurant

376 Strand, WC2

Reservations: 020 7836 1318

Call Sign August 2016

Page 25

ith the peak holiday periods of

August and September fast

approaching, there comes a

Defused taxis!

timely reminder to Call Sign

from our Roman Way techie team to hopefully

save you grief on your return to these shores,

when re-starting your cab after a week or two

on the Costa Lotta... or wherever.

“Naturally, with their human batteries

recharged, drivers are keen to get back to work

and possibly without much thought simply

jump into the cab, switch on the ignition and

hit the starter motor,” Depot manager Dana

Thananjeyan said. “But if the cab battery is

weak, perhaps a year or two old, or an electri-

cal device has been accidently left on, the bat-

tery will be drained and have insufficient

power to kick the starter motor sufficiently

quickly to bring the engine into life.

“Diesel engines take a lot of power to

turn over, especially when cold or left for

a long period of time and anything else

electrical is denied power while the

starter motor demands everything a bat-

TX fuse (in cab) and the Vito fuse (on carpet) should be disconnected before a

tery can offer to the detriment of every-

jump start

thing else” Dana added.

fuse from its holder before leaving the cab

issues and with the passage of time drivers do

“So a ‘jump start’ from a third party is usu-

idle for any length of time in order to prevent

not recall just how long a battery has been in

ally the only option and that’s when we hear

damage to the Dial-a-Cab equipment, while

service. So we also suggest gently scratching

that the cabs’ MDT is not working,” he said

also making life easier for the driver.

the date of fitting onto the battery casing as a

with a sort of half smile.

“On the TX models, we fit the in-line

reminder of how long a battery has been in

“The chances are that the main ‘in-line’

fuse close to the battery in the engine bay,

service. Of course, always keep the battery

fuse that we fit to protect the delicate data

while on the MB Vito the fuse is located

terminals and connections clean to prolong

system electronics has blown due to the

close to the MDT on the side panel of the

service life,” Dana said as he returned back to

power surge of the third party battery and

central console for easy access,” Dana

his real job of being in charge at Roman Way..

drivers then pay us a visit to sort out the

advised.

problem,” he continued.

Alan Green

“Drivers regularly attend here with power

“So my advice is to physically remove the

Call Sign Online

St Fiacre of Breuil

Patron Saint of Taxi Drivers

at Breuil where his sanctity was soon attested by the numerous

This month (August 18th) sees the 1346th

cures wrought at his tomb. His shrine there is still a resort for pil-

anniversary of the death of the Patron

grims with bodily ailments.

Saint of Taxi Drivers, St Fiacre of Breuil.

The French cab derives its name from him and he has since been

Born in Ireland at the end of the sixth

known as the Patron Saint of Taxi Drivers (and gardeners). His feast is

century, he died in August 670. Ordained

kept on the 30th of August.

as a priest, he retired to a hermitage on

Thanks to The Catholic Encyclopaedia for the info...

the banks of the Nore in what is now

County Kilkenny. Disciples flocked to

him believing he could achieve miracles,

but his only wish was for the solitude to

pray and in 628 he went to Meaux in

France where St Faro held episcopal

sway. Faro gave him a site at Brogillum

(Breuil) surrounded by forests. Here

Fiacre built an oratory in honour of the

Virgin Mary, a hospice in which he

received strangers and a cell in which he

himself lived apart. He lived a life of

prayer, fast, vigil and the manual labour

of his garden.

Disciples gathered around him and

soon formed a monastery where his fame

for miracles was widespread. He was said

to have cured all manner of diseases by

laying on his hands; blindness, polypus

and fevers are mentioned and especially

tumours or fistulas.

His remains were interred in the church

Call Sign August 2016

Page 26

DaC driver

v Satnav!

into my cab at Cannon Street asking for

into Shaftesbury Avenue, lining me up

Burlington Gardens in W1 while holding his

with Wardour Street, Noel Street and

mobile phone in my direction, I suspected

through Great Marlborough Street. I

he’d been checking the destination location

turned left onto Regent Street, right into

and sure enough he then said ‘this WAZE app

Conduit Street, left into Savile Row for

says 32 minutes via Embankment!’

Burlington Gardens and there we were!”

“So that’s when I decided to do my own

Tony grinned proudly as he told us what

Tony beat the passenger's satnav!

thing and began planning the route in my

we assumed he would - they had cut the

mind pretty quickly and almost as a chal-

Satnav’s prediction by around 8 minutes!

“There used to be a Knowledge

lenge, I told the passenger that I could get

“The passenger was delighted and I simply

School that used the motto: East

him there quicker!”

smiled, thinking that while technology does

to West, Embankment’s best.

With the passenger nodding in agreement,

have its place - and yes it can be useful - there

off they went.

is no substitute for experience and for me, it

But, of course that was before

“I knew the traffic would be bad going

was all in a days’ work!” With that, Tony drove

the former Mayor’s cycle super-

his way, so I suggested using Ludgate Hill

away to look for his next challenge as a

highways,” Tony Fairey (C44)

into Old Bailey, along High Holborn, Saint

licensed London taxi driver...

told Call Sign.

Giles High Street, left into New Compton

Dennis Latchett

“So when an American business man got

Street sliding down Saint Giles Passage

Call Sign Online

Minicab clocking putting passengers at risk...

New research and investigations from automotive experts HPI and consumer group Licensed Transport Uncovered.com (LTU) has

revealed that private hire, minicab and chauffeur customers are at risk due to an epidemic of clocking, with hundreds of millions of

miles being removed from odometers across the UK every year.

HPI and LTU have teamed up to warn of the dangers that clocked private hire, minicab and chauffeur-driven vehicles pose to the public who may

be unwittingly putting themselves at serious risk every time they use one. The illegal practice of clocking revealed by an LTU investigation, takes

place when drivers look to cut corners by saving on maintenance costs and deliberately defraud second-hand car buyers, when the vehicle is sold

on. HPI, the UK’s leading authority on vehicle checking services, estimates that used car buyers have a one in 20 chance of purchasing a vehicle with

a mileage discrepancy, with the practice costing motorists £800 million every year according to OFT figures. An LTU investigation found hundreds of

PH, minicab and chauffeur-driven vehicles in the north west of England operating with clocked mileage. Post private hire usage, some vehicles went

to dealers and were offered for sale at inflated prices.

The investigation found that one driver removed 114,000 miles from his Toyota. A Mercedes-Benz with 180,000 miles off the clock

was on sale for £20,250 when it was really only worth £11,150 with its true mileage reading. In the worst case found as part of the

investigation, a staggering 460,000 miles had been removed from the odometer of one private hire vehicle.

Chris Hargreaves, of LTU, says: “Clocking within the private hire, minicab and chauffeur industry has reached epidemic proportions and some-

thing needs to be done to prevent this unscrupulous practice before a real tragedy happens. The 330 clocked cars we found had about 80 million

miles removed, but that was just in the north west of England. UK-wide it’s safe to say that hundreds of millions of miles must have been wiped out

thanks to clocking. It’s truly shocking to discover that reputable leasing companies are giving out lease agreements to the industry based on as little

as 10,000 miles per year - 27.3 miles per day!”

HPI and LTU believe that as pounds and pence increasingly take precedence over public safety a major clampdown is urgently required.

Barry Shorto, head of industry relations at Cap HPI, said: “Our valuation data conclusively shows the potential cost to dealers and motorists of

the clocking problem. With clockers able to add thousands of pounds onto the value of a car, unsuspecting buyers stand to lose out, as do dealers.

That’s why we advise retailers and consumers alike to conduct a vehicle history check to spot a mileage discrepancy before they buy. It can be almost

impossible to tell a clocked vehicle just by looking at it, which makes a vehicle history check an even more vital form of protection for buyers.

“A clocked vehicle could be hiding serious levels of wear and tear, especially if it has been previously used as a high mileage pri-

vate hire vehicle for a couple of years, meaning the additional cost of unexpected repairs or even a potentially serious safety threat

to driver, passengers and other road users. An HPI Check can help protect consumers from buying a vehicle with something to hide,

saving them cash and keeping them safe.”

The HPI Check includes a mileage check against the National Mileage Register as standard, now with over 200 million mileage readings. HPI also

confirms whether a vehicle is currently recorded as stolen with the police, has outstanding finance against it or has been written off, making it the

best way for consumers to protect themselves from fraudsters looking to make a fast profit.

Barry Shorto added: “Not only should dealers make conducting mileage investigations an integral part of their business process, to protect their

reputation and their customers they need actively to promote the fact to their customers that these checks have been done. Our data confirms that

consumers are seeking peace of mind against clocking, yet some dealers are choosing to overlook this. Proof of a mileage check should be a key

part of a dealer’s sales strategy, promoting the quality of their stock, as well as highlighting the dangers of clocking for their customers.”

As part of its investigations, HPI found that whilst almost one in three (29%) of used car buyers are believed by dealers still to be unaware of the

risks of clocking, more than one in five customers now ask dealers, directly, for proof that they have validated a vehicle’s mileage. However, despite

growing consumer awareness of the dangers of clocking, only ten per cent of dealers surveyed said they actively declare that they have conducted a

mileage check on a vehicle, vitally weakening their sales proposition.

Over 52 percent of dealers said that consumers who enter their showrooms do know about clocking, but the level of concern varies significantly

while 92 per cent of dealers consider clocking a ‘terrible’ blight on the industry and a major risk to its reputation.

Call Sign August 2016

Page 27

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

Hadley Wood Golf

Course

Looking back at my golf course reviews over the

past year in Call Sign, I realised that most were

from south of the river so I will redress the balance

this month with the wonderful Hadley Wood GC.

Dr Mackenzie, the course designer of Augusta

and Cypress Point etc, created a very good and

enjoyable test of golfing skills. All Mackenzie

courses are rather good and Hadley Wood cer-

tainly doesn't disappoint. We played it on their

Twilight deal - which is exceptional value and

extremely well worth doing.

The course itself is immaculately kept, with

bunkering just recently having been refurbished

to the original design. The course is not overly

Hadley Wood GC

long and has some very large greens, which may

make you think scoring will be easy; but believe

me when I say it isn’t! The greens are exceedingly

16th. Elevated tee shot across a valley to falling

finer way to spend an evening in the height of

fast and undulating. Ten feet below the hole is far

right to left fairway, leaving a precise shot in, with

summer and for an exceptional price...

better than ten feet above it!

a touch of draw to a green guarded by bunkers

Happy golfing

The signature hole is probably the par 3 10th.

front left and back right! It is a clever and interest-

Simon Wallis (M11)

It is 185 yards across water and very picturesque;

ing hole that tests your shot-making abilities.

Call Sign Online

but my favourite hole has to be the short par 4

Play it on the Twilight deal, I can't think of a

not a cartoon!

In Jery Craig, Call Sign has the best

cartoonist in the trade and page 6

wouldn’t be the same without

him. But real life can occasionally

be just as funny as a cartoon and

here are three examples of real life

cartoons that only cab drivers

would understand...!

Taxi driver to passenger: “Upper and Lower

Thames Street are always solid with traffic…

which is why we used Eastcheap instead...!!!”

The last time anyone gave me Wild Beans

to eat, they made me far too much!”

Keith Reading

Professional Toastmaster

Master of Ceremonies

Tele: 01279 465 938

Mobile: 07774 860 374

Email: kgr.2@virgin.net

Minicab 1 to minicab 2: “It must be your fault because my

10% discount for DaC drivers and staff

satnav told me to go straight on!

Minicab 2 to minicab 1: “No, it must be your fault. My satnav

Fellow of the Guild of

told me to pull out!”

Policemen to both: “Er, I think you’re supposed to watch the

Professional Toastmasters

road and not your satnavs!”

Call Sign August 2016

Page 28

“Yes, it’s been a long time coming back to the

start,” Charles Levy (R61) told Call Sign’s

youngish reporter.

“I first applied to join when the ODRTS

offices were in Pentonville Road, but was

Full Circle!

turned down because I hadn’t yet actually

started on the Knowledge of London so

couldn’t drive a cab! I was very keen to

become a part of the brotherhood; my

cousin, Charlie Rubin - who died in 2009 -

was already a driver on the circuit in those

days. He would later become the Control

Room Manager at Shirland Road and he told

me to stick at it and encouraged me all along

the way until I did finally did get my All

London ‘Green Badge. I immediately joined

Lords as it became known because of the

local telephone exchange prefix.”

Charles, remembering everything, contin-

ued his story: “I worked nights and trained

Charles Levy has come full circle

Charles cousin Charlie Rubin

up on radio procedure with the night dis-

passenger £46 to go from Liverpool Street

patcher Johnny Thwaites. He was quite a

‘come back’ to old friends,” Charles

station to Swindon in Wiltshire. But it turned

character, I can tell you! In those far-off times,

enthused, clearly recalling the camaraderie

out to be Swinton in North Yorkshire and the

the fare meter would change to a higher tariff

that is the hall-mark of ODRTS / Dial-a-Cab

punter steadfastly refused to pay more than the

between midnight and 6am, so on the stroke

of today.

quoted figure! Those were the days when we

of 12 o’clock Johnny would call out: ‘Tally-Ho

“Over the years I’ve been to many places, as

used voice radio, so somewhere along the way

gents, Tally-Ho!’ That was his midnight call

you would expect after a lifetime of working a

the passengers destination must have been

and drivers would know they were on over-

taxi on the streets. However, there are two par-

misheard. Nowadays, with digital signals and

time and to put the ‘extras’ on the clock.

ticular journeys that stand out in my mind. On

trip details on the terminal screen, it minimises

“I’m coming up to 50 years in this trade

one occasion I went to Cardiff. Having set the

mistakes and makes life much easier.

and during that time I’ve done every aspect

passenger down at some early hour of the

“So here I am, having come full circle.

of the job from driving to radio dispatcher,

morning and being very tired, I thought it too

When I started out all those years ago I sat

Knowledge Instructor and anything else that

dangerous for me to continue home directly,

and listened to voices dispatching trip

has been thrown at me. I even worked a cab

so I stopped at a car park on the A4 and offered

offers, and now, here I am re-training in the

in Southend for a year, but had an uneasy

the attendant 10 shillings (50p) to wake me up

digital age! To put it mildly, changes within

experience when a passenger pulled a knife

after four hours sleep. Refreshed, I continued

our taxi industry have been momentous

on me and so I have every reason to be very

on to home. I take life a little easier nowadays,”

during those intervening years...!”

grateful for that bullet-proof division

Charles told us with a wide grin.

between the passengers and myself as fitted

“The other journey turned out a little more

Jamie Corum

to the London taxi. But after many years with

complicated due to the fact that the dispatcher

another radio taxi company, I feel I have

on my previous radio circuit had quoted the

Call Sign Online

A personal message to the Editor of Call Sign

What do you mean by even me?

Dear Mr Fisher

It has been brought to my attention that in a recent edition Call

Sign, something you laughingly refer to as a magazine, you

stated that: “Anyone would make a better Mayor than Boris -

even Bonzo the gorilla...”

Well thanks a lot! It is really very hurtful that you find the idea of a

gorilla being Mayor of London so amusing. Contrary to what you

seem to think, my colleagues and I are capable of far more than just

swinging through trees, eating fruit and leaves. And to be honest,

I'm fed up with that diet anyway. If you lot - who claim to be our

cousins - can eat steak and chips, why can't I? And if David

Attenborough turns up just once more, I swear I’ll do time! Anyway,

back to Boris...

Have I ever been seen with my hair all over the place? No. Would

I walk around with my shirt hanging out of my trousers? Never. Ride

a bike without wearing a helmet? Of course not.

Yes, I will admit that I have fathered children by different moth-

ers, even without a bike to get around at the moment, but then so

has the blonde-haired one. And now that he’s in charge of Foreign

Affairs you can probably expect a few more. And I've got another

gripe; when people complain about Uber the cab trade tends to say

that if you pay peanuts then you get monkeys. Since when has that

been a bad thing? Mr Fisher, I demand you apologise for your

remarks and promise not to repeat them. Otherwise I will cancel my

account and you will be hearing from my lawyers - Ape Mann & Co.

Yours sincerely

Bonzo (trained by Geoff Levene W32)

PS As distinct from BoJo

Call Sign August 2016

Page 29

Gas cabs come to DaC...

Jaweid Iqbal called the converted cab

brilliant

The converted LPG cab returns to DaC House after another test run

Richard Gough is the lucky person who

road tests it regularly

uly 20 was one of the hottest day of

the year with temperatures up at

around 33C (almost 92F), but that was

Ian Macdonald (C64) thought it was excellent

the day Call Sign had organised its

Open Day for drivers to come to DaC House

and ask questions to the four experts we had

on hand about the possibility of converting

their older cabs to Liquefied Petroleum Gas

(LPG) and to take a test drive on a converted

TX2.

With work beginning to pick up, there was

always the possibility that drivers would just go

to work instead to try and claw back some of

the money they had missed over the quiet

times. But not a bit of it with an estimated 120

drivers coming along between 11 and 4pm.

Some just came to take a look at the three LPG

cabs lined up with their bonnets and boots

open, others just wanted to ask questions

while a large number took up the offer of test

driving the gas cab and Richard Gough, the

Drivers could wander round to all 3

fuel saving. It also gives a life span of 20 years

proprietor of Rent a Taxi in Epson and the

LPG cabs, ask questions and go on a

rather than the current 15. It will give drivers

person currently road testing the cab, took out

test drive

with older cabs a completely new experience

three drivers at a time to keep queues short!

of driving taxis...”

Jaweid Iqbal’s (D65) comments were typi-

With Roger Kensit (W31) there to represent

would expect because some LPG vehicles do

cal throughout the day. He told Call Sign: “It

the DaC Credit Union and give any interested

tend to be overly fierce, but this seems well

was brilliant and I’d love to drive one perma-

drivers an idea of how much repayments

matched so far as torque goes. It just has a love-

nently! I drive a TX1 and bearing in mind that

would be if drivers used DACCU to pay for the

ly feel to it and accelerates as though it was a

this conversion was only a TX2, the difference

conversion (a four year deal to borrow the

petrol engine. It think it’s considerably better

between the two is astronomical. This one is so

£9,800 would cost around £65 a week - con-

than my cab!”

quiet, sounding similar to a car. I just hope this

siderable cheaper than renting), the day was

Richard Gough told Call Sign: “I run a taxi

passes before my TX1 passes into history...”

more than useful and helped some drivers

garage in Epsom and have been road testing

Board Member, Joe Brazil, also took a turn

realise that there might still be life in their cabs

this TX2 LPG cab for some time and I’m hoping

and was similar to Jaweid in his praise saying

after 15 years...

to be able to market them once passed by TfL.

that it was more akin to a car engine and felt

I’m used to driving TX4s and this converted

similar to the TX4 but quieter.

TX2 is just so much better. It’s light to drive

Alan Fisher

“It wasn’t as fierce at pulling away as you

and extremely economical with around a 20%

Call Sign Online

Call Sign August 2016

Page 30

Mailshot

Either write to Call Sign at

Dial-a-Cab House

or email us at

callsignmag@aol.com

Credit cards

arrested, escaped from a Winnipeg jail

Is Mayor Khan better

Hi Alan

with the connivance of his lawyer and a jail

So it’s

10 weeks since the credit card

than Boris?

guard, was eventually re-arrested and ulti-

charge of £8.40 per week was added and I

Hi Alan

mately hanged. The driver knew

have done a few quick sums on my credit

Sadiq Khan has been in charge of London

Krafchenko and there was suspicion of his

card takings. In those 10 weeks I have

for several months now. Do you know if he

involvement, but he was never charged.

taken £630.70 and in those 10 weeks I have

has mentioned taxis in any positive way yet as

In other news, I tracked down the owner

been charged £84 - or just about 13.5%.

against just doing a Boris; ie calling us won-

of an FX3 in Stonewall, Manitoba but

Verifone currently charge 3.95% per trans-

derful and then doing absolutely nothing to

haven't yet been in touch with her. She

action, which would have come to

help us other than to stab us in the back,

apparently owns a gift store in Stonewall

£24.90. So it has cost me £60.90, or £6 per

killing the trade with his cycling

but doesn't seem to have an email

week, to have the credit card facility - which

Superhighways?

address so I have written a note to her via

still does not always get a signal. I have lost

Alex Constantinou (N05)

some friends who live there. I also found

2 fares totalling £12.80 because of that, but

I asked the Mayor’s office and this is what

an ad for a second FX3 (judging by the

which I did not add to my figures. A com-

Sadiq Khan told us: “Black cabs are such

license plate) that was offered for sale in

ment would be appreciated...

an essential part of London’s transport

1978 at about the same time as the

Simon Johnson (A32)

network and the wider economy, their

Stonewall lady bought her FX3. Hopefully

Allan Evans replies: I have read your let-

special status needs to be formally recog-

she knows something about that one too.

ter Simon, but I still believe that after

nised and secured in policy. This is why

Best wishes to all at Dial-a-Cab

October we will see a larger increase in

my new Transport Strategy, which is cur-

Norman Beattie

card transactions, so I would therefore

rently being developed, will include an

Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

assume that your card trips and tak-

explicit commitment to protecting and

Norman is Call Sign’s man-in-Canada

ings will follow suit. TfL did factor in

maintaining the taxi trade, which will

when it comes to the history of taxis

the extra 20p on every flag fall in the

help address the concerns raised by your

...Ed

recent fare increase and although you

writer.”

compared your costs to Verifone (charg-

In return, I believe we need to go out of

ing 3.95%), it is interesting to note that

Goodbye with

our way in order to stay in his good books

we are now seeing a reasonably high

...Ed

memories

number of these fares in excess of £100

every day, trips to and from Heathrow

Dear Alan

as an example, which would incur quite

I can top Patsy McCarthy’s membership

Taxis and bank robbers!

a lot more than the

£1 presently

Hi Alan

by almost five years (July Mailshot) but my

charged. So in the scheme of things, the

eyes and body - not to mention roadworks

Just read the July Call Sign Online and I

present charges that the Board agreed

particularly enjoyed the article on PISS (Doc

- have forced me to call it a day! But I leave

on compare pretty favourably to the

with some great memories!

Martin episodes have been broadcast here

others out there in the market place.

on North Dakota PBS and I bought my wife

Who remembers our account with the

BBC going to Brentford, Ealing,

five series of it as a birthday present). PISS is

my new favourite taxi company name, even

Denham, Hayes, Alexandra Palace and

Selling DaC

the TV Centre. And then there were our

better than Spittle Taxi (which is fictitious

Hi Alan

accounts with Mr Millichipe (who lived in

anyway)!

So the majority of members have decided

Hampstead Garden Suburb), Robin Day,

I always enjoy Sean Farrell's Brethren of

to call it a day and dissolve Dial-a-Cab. As a

Paul Ross and Terry Thomas. Many other

the Whip articles. The latest one on taxicab

31 year veteran, I do feel sad but I think the

bandits adds more evidence of the impact of

stars of TV, cinema and sport hailed my taxi

writing has been on the wall for some time.

the automobile on crime with respect to both

off the street; stars such as Shirley Bassey,

All I will say is that I think we need to ini-

the victimisation of drivers and the use of

Ed Sullivan, Sidney Poitier, Colin

tialise this process with the upmost expedi-

taxis for criminal purposes. As far as I can

Cowdrey and of course George Best who

ency, not only to cash in on the property

determine, crime in horse cab days involved

was always going to or from his Chelsea

prices in Silicon Valley, but also of the

mainly luggage robberies and the transport

home in Oakley Street.

uncertainty over Brexit. I would respectful-

of stolen goods. Drivers were rarely

Then there were some great stalwarts of

ly urge our Board to proceed with all due

attacked. Kellow Chesney's Victorian

his Society such as Jack Taylor, Dennis

diligence.

Underworld has a few cab anecdotes in it;

Samuels, Manny Conway and Dave

Alan Sullivan (F20)

also see Cab Hold-up Affair on the

Kupler. And who remembers Ray Roberts

Hi Alan; the voting also suggested the

www.taxi-library.org site. The use of cabs in

and Peter Fennymore. They would all

possibility of merging, so your use of

bank robberies has become a standard tac-

have been saddened to read that in reply to

the word ‘dissolve’ could be somewhat

tic. I googled ‘bank robbery’ and ‘taxi’ and

Patsy McCarthy’s letter, Board member

premature. But it isn’t just by accident

got 261,000 hits! In practically all cases, the

Garry White wrote that he could have

that DaC is worth such a lot of money,

driver is an innocent victim and frequently

gone to another circuit to make it worth-

so I think we should trust those who got

unaware as well. We had an early case in

while. Garry, ODRTS, Lords and Dial-a-

such a good price for selling Brunswick

Manitoba in 1913. A bank robber named

Cab has been our whole working lives;

House, which then allowed us to pay

Krafchenko hired a ‘livery car’ to take him to

nothing else mattered. Perhaps that is

cash for DaC House and which in itself

and from a robbery in Plum Coulee,

something you may not yet understand.

is now worth around £18million. See

Brian Rice’s column on page 4 for an

MB. The unfortunate bank manager chased

Finally, may I wish the Board, drivers and

update ...Ed

after Krafchenko and was shot dead in the

staff the best of luck for the future...

street. Krafchenko was hunted down and

Gerry Webber (Ex-E11)

Call Sign August 2016

Page 31

Mailshot

Thanks for the letter Gerry and I’m sure

some apps are preinstalled and some that

everyone connected to DaC including

you don't need. These are called bloatware.

Call Sign wishes you a very long and

Well, to my horror on the Homepage of this

happy retirement. After 50 years (Gerry

new Smartphone was the Uber app staring at

began at Pentonville Road in 1962), you

me. Thinking about it, Google own the

have undoubtedly earned it! But I think

Android system, they also own Uber. So they

you have misunderstood Garry’s reply

have decided to preinstall that app on their

to Patsy. He didn’t say he should have

mobile phones. From a business point of

gone elsewhere, what he said was that

view, it’s a smart move; but for the licensed

taxi trade and the radio circuits, it’s another

Shalom

his 50 years was a great achievement

nail in the coffin.

Hi Alan

and that it must have been worthwhile

I'm a forty five year member of DaC and

I never miss an issue of Call Sign Online

or he would have gone elsewhere.

have never known things to be so bad as they

but of late I have been rather shocked at

That’s not really the same thing.

are at the moment. The apps have won the

talk of Dial-a-Cab selling the business, with

My personal thanks for all the inter-

war. We are just a tourist attraction...

the proceeds - which sound substantial -

esting letters you have sent to the mag-

Pat Keefe (G01)

being shared among the drivers. The share-

azine, Gerry, and the best of luck for the

The problem was always about finance.

out is fine because those that have stayed

future ...Ed

Of all the radio circuits, DaC have been by

with DaC through good and bad times

far the best managed over the past two

deserve to take something out of the busi-

Another nail in the

decades and even now, with things not

ness, but things seem to have taken a turn

going well, we still have several £million

in that direction very quickly. What went

coffin???

in the bank. But even when we had any-

wrong, because after all these years ODRTS

I’ve just come back from a week away with

thing up to approaching £10million, for

and our days at Pentonville Road are still in

my cousin and her husband. While away

the licensed taxi trade it was a fortune

my blood. Shalom...

they bought a new Samsung J3

but out there in the world of Google,

Jack Solomon (Ex-B96)

Smartphone; no big deal there, I hear you

Virgin and co, even £80million is a drop

Eilat, Israel

say. As this was the first Smartphone they

Hi Jack, I think the answer can be put

in the ocean and we were always going to

had used and knowing I'm a Samsung user,

be up against it one day. But hey Pat,

into one word - competition. The com-

they asked me to set it up for them with

petition is everywhere; then you have

they’ve thrown everything at us and

ringtones, contacts - all the usual stuff you

we’re still here. And tourist attractions?

Uber whose drivers are knocking them-

would expect.

Yes, but only because we’re the best and

selves out for a pittance! But hey Jack,

Now onto the Apps; you may know that that is something to be proud of ...Ed

we’re still here! And Shalom to you ...Ed

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 Flashback goes back to 1989 and something the trade had never seen before...

From Call Sign, July 1989…

A matter of DaC mechanics!

Dial-a-Cab driver Alan Fisher (F07) made a phone call to Redbridge Technical College at the tail end of 1988 regarding their advertised mechanics

course. He asked whether there were any for licensed taxi drivers as there were many of them in the surrounding Redbridge area. The answer was no,

but that he should try Barking Tech…

So Alan arranged a meeting with the head of Barking Tech and asked why they couldn’t run a taxi driver mechanics course? The answer was that

no one had ever asked before! So Alan asked and was told that if he could get 10 drivers interested, then the college would find a teacher and set up

a course! Alan had the message put out on the radio and 20 drivers put their names down for what was to be called the Dial-a-Cab Mechanics

Course. The term would culminate with a City and Guilds diploma for successful candidates under the stewardship of teacher Mike Martin.

However, word about the course got out and a delegation from Computer Cab approached Alan asking if they too could go onto the course. So

he dropped the DaC prefix and the course became known as the taxi driver’s mechanics course. With news of the added drivers reaching the rest of

the taxi trade, it began running with four classes each week at Barking Tech.

At the recent 1988 DaC AGM, Alan met up again with Mary Leaming (C44)

who was not only the first woman to go on the course, but was also the first per-

son to pass it and gain a City and Guilds 3830 and the Valeting 4001 exam

accreditation. Mary told Call Sign:

“I remember thinking that Alan’s idea was brilliant and put my name down as

soon as I heard about it. I had always tinkered with our car, so I wasn’t totally green

as to what the various parts did, but I found the theory part of the taxi course to be

much easier than the practical side. When actually working on the cab, there always

seemed to be something in the way of whichever part you were trying to get to!

But I must say I enjoyed doing it and was so grateful that someone had thought of

the idea. And yes, I was proud of gaining my City and Guilds diploma.”

And does Mary still do all her own mechanics?

“No, I take it to the garage!”

Mary Leaming was first to get a City and Guilds

And Alan? Well as the founder member, he was also the first to give it up. Why?

accreditation on the mechanics course

“I didn’t like getting oil on my hands!”

The only real downside we heard was that they made a lousy cup of tea!!!

J.P.Duval

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