Call Sign July 2016

Call Sign July 2016

Page 3

from the editor’s desk

Karhoo

For the past five years on or around the

In February I wrote about a new Taxi/PH compar-

January issue, I have gone into print on this

ison site that contacted Call Sign for its view on

page almost begging for our trade organisa-

their app; my first question was whether they real-

tions to speak to TfL and reject any fare

ly expected taxis to be happy to share a platform

increase because we were in the midst of the

with minicabs? The answer surprised me when

longest recession we have ever suffered.

they said that both Dial-a-Cab and ComCab had

While a number of drivers went into print to

signed up alongside Addison Lee. It turned out

agree, many more said that we should always

that they were wrong about DaC but that

get a yearly fare increase even though our

ComCab had indeed signed to go onto Karhoo,

work levels were dropping like stones. Even

as had Addy Lee and other minicab companies. In

the leader of a large trade organisation came

fact, Nick Monteith, owner of PH company

out and said that we must not allow our

Mornington Cars, said that Karhoo was a life-

meters to stagnate and that it was important

saver for the classic, licensed minicab driver.

that we should get an increase every year.

Several months on and Karhoo has been

It won’t really affect me but it will affect

launched and nowadays I no longer have the

younger drivers and I always wanted and hoped

problem with PH (other than Uber) that I once

that when the time came to put my feet up, that I

had - that probably stemming from our joint mis-

would leave a trade that has seen me live a reason-

announcing that Volkswagen have pumped $300

trust of Uber and Transport for London, who

ably good life in at least as good a condition as it

million into their app, with VW saying that the

have done so much to promote the Californian

was when I joined it in May 1971. But it seems cer-

ride-hailing market represents the greatest market

start-up regardless of it being to the detriment of

tain that won’t happen and some of that is our

potential in on-demand mobility, while creating

this trade. However, there is still the one problem

own fault, because accepting a yearly fare increase

the technological platform for developing tomor-

that I mentioned back in February when revealing

during such a long recession was sheer madness

row's mobility business models... which also

Karhoo’s existence - how can black cabs compete

and is what has priced us out of the market. It’s a

sounds a bit like driverless cars!

on a price comparison site with minicabs? How

shame that James Caan wasn’t standing for Mayor!

I recently had a letter from a semi-retired Dial-

many passengers will select a taxi from Cabot

a-Cab driver who had heard about the Toyota /

Square to Heathrow when minicab prices will

Celebrating job losses

Uber deal and told me that was the straw that

start at around £36? I think we all know the

Not a topic I usually write about other than that it

broke the camel’s back. He said he was now

answer to that. In-town work will still be slightly

involves Transport for London. Technology has

thinking of giving it all up in entirety. But he

more expensive, but some passengers may possi-

cost our trade money because while satnavs are a

hadn’t heard of the VW deal because it had not yet

bly consider the extra to be worth it in order to

long way from being perfect, they are good

made the papers. When I told him, he suddenly

get a driver who knows where they are going

enough to make a large number of former taxi

changed - not because it was going to necessarily

without the help of a satnav - which means

users jump into minicabs. Let’s forget Uber’s

alter things because we are still up against an evil

he/she also looks where they are going rather

price-cutting for a minute because that is a totally

creation that cares little about anything other than

than gazing at their phone or tiny satnav device.

different aspect.

itself. But this driver suddenly felt that we were

My problem is a feeling of concern that

No, my problem involves the dismissal of

no longer alone and that even though Gett is the

after constantly seeing black cab fares always

around 800 underground station staff via the clo-

opposition to DaC and in common with all taxi

showing up dearer, many may stop compar-

sure of around 290 ticket offices. I consider

companies is said to be losing money, a huge

ing and just look straight at minicab prices.

myself to be a realist and I understand that there

multi-national company in VW thinks that taxis

Either way, we lose. But there is one good part

are some things in life that even if we don’t like

have a future. It isn’t a huge amount to grab onto

- Uber cannot go on Karhoo and the people

them, they will happen. But that is different from

because in all probability it’s the system rather

behind the site do actually describe it as a way

actually celebrating the loss of people’s jobs and

than those on it that they really want... but it’s at

to take back work from Uber.

the consequences of that.

least a start. But it begs the question... just who or

Am I against Karhoo? Not really... but that is

Recently at Piccadilly’s RAF Club, the TfL off-

what is next???

probably more to do with me being worn down

shoot team of Fit for the Future Stations via

May also saw the announcement of London

after 45 years of fighting against minicabs. Even

Mike Bracken, who is the head of its so-called

minicab company Addison Lee crossing the

Mountview/Gett - they of the “we only work

Delivery Team, made a speech to around fifty TfL

with black cabs” - are on it. So it’s really just price;

divide and being granted the TAXI licence for

managers citing the dedication and commitment

the idea of a comparison site is obviously to com-

picking up at Luton Airport! The local drivers are

of his team and congratulated everyone for their

pare and if we offer reduced prices to compete

apparently incensed, but that won’t change any-

achievement - the achievement of putting hun-

with PH, then there is the matter of the 10%

thing. All I know is that it happened in May so I

dreds of their workers out of a job. Then they cel-

Karhoo charge. Who will pay that? Will it come off

missed that too!!!

ebrated with an exclusive three course meal with

the driver’s already reduced price or will DaC pay

unlimited amounts of plonk.

The Pledge

it and lose on every single job covered? That does-

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash - as you

Sky News’ discussion programme, The Pledge,

n’t sound like a way to earn money.

would expect, but on this occasion with my sup-

recently had a section on Licensed Taxis v Uber

But let’s not write it off because if it does turn

port - called it obscene that nearly 50 senior TfL

where successful businessman and former

out to work in our favour, I’m sure DaC would

managers should treat themselves to a slap-up

consider really signing up rather than being told

Dragon, James Caan, put forward his belief that

beano in order to celebrate the axing of 800 safety-

that they had - when they hadn’t!!!

TfL was unfair to black cabs and how much Boris

critical jobs and the smashing up of London's tube

Johnson had let us down - nope, there was no

ticket offices. He also wanted to know whether the

June is busting out all over...

mention of our official “taxis” title because as the

taxpayer was funding “this disgusting spectacle.”

Call Sign has always closed down for June so

whole panel said, London’s black cabs are

And how did the information become public?

invariably the world of taxis explodes into life dur-

known around the world for being unique. Taxis

Well TfL gloated about it in a bulletin they put

ing May - and we’re not around to report on any

are world-wide; black cabs are a London phenom-

out, which astonishingly also went to those losing

of it!

enon. Mr Caan also said we would be dead within

their jobs!

This time it was Toyota, they of the 10 million

five years as Uber takes over.

Mr Cash said that his members were furious

recalled cars that were said to have been in dan-

His belief was that within the Congestion

about the cuts but that the evening soiree was an

ger of catching fire. They have now pumped an

Charge zone, only black cabs should be allowed

additional kick in the teeth. Imagine minicabs

undisclosed amount into Uber, they of the dri-

to work... but in return, our prices should be

being given access to bus lanes and TfL celebrat-

vers that keep smashing up their Toyota Prius’

reduced. I’m sure Mr Caan knows how difficult it

ing the fact... and we would get a minute feeling

thanks to a need to watch their satnavs rather

would be to go back and the subject is far too seri-

about how those underground workers must feel.

than the road! The match-up sounds logical as the

ous for me to blow my own trumpet. But I have

ultimate aim is said to be driverless cars!

to say this because I find the whole situation so

Alan Fisher

Then we heard Gett CEO Shahar Waiser

distressing.

callsignmag@aol.com

Call Sign July 2016

Page 4

Reflections of the Chairman

Volante. I have been told that the launch

Letter to Members

of Volante Aided Despatch (VAD) is immi-

You should all have received a letter from

nent, but that if you have not been

me advising you of a Special General

upgraded by launch time, then you will

Meeting to be held on 11th July at 6pm.

not be able to sign on to the system.

Of course, you do have the facility to vote

So please, if this scenario applies to you,

by post as long as the Electoral Reform

then go to Roman Way as soon as possible

Services (ERS) receives your vote by 6th

to be upgraded and have the new logo fitted.

July. But please remember that if you do

not attend or vote by post, you will incur

Selling the Building

a £50 fine.

It seems quite extraordinary to me that I

When we received the questionnaire back

have now been approached by four Agents

from Members, it was totally overwhelming

who wish to handle the sale of our

that you wished to demutualise, with a total

Building, Dial-a-Cab House. It really did

99% of Members voting in favour of

leave me with a feeling of total astonish-

demutualisation.

ment as to how these Agents learned of our

Consequently, with that many Members

situation before any of them had even been

in favour, it was fairly obvious that the

worth doing it at this point in time.

approached!

demutualisation process would succeed;

To be honest, the rule change regarding

I have not entered into a dialogue with

but the process will still require two meet-

the 10 year rule seemed very popular and

any of them at the moment because it is still

ings to be successful.

the verdict regarding instigating a rule

early days and you, the Members, have not

With that in mind, we have decided to give

change on demutualisation was over-

even voted on the demutualisation process.

Members the opportunity of bringing in a

whelming, so I am not expecting a large

So regarding the building, nothing has

Rule that would allow Proxy Voting for those

turnout on 11th July. With that expectation

been or will be decided yet until we have

wishing to use it.

and due to the fact there seems to be an

had the vote on demutualisation, then we

apparent urgency on behalf of some

will either proceed or the status quo will

Proxy Voting

Members, I have decided to book the local

prevail.

I have been advised that the two meet-

school because it was available and the cost

ings would have required at least 50% of

is a tenth of what we normally pay at the

Holiday time!

the total membership to attend with 75%

HAC. And, of course, we would have to

Well, after the last 12 months and what with

of those present voting for change and

book the HAC well in advance with the

all the above, we all probably need a holiday!

then 50% at the second meeting. Postal

obvious delay that would incur.

So with the schools now closed or on the

voting is void in a demutualisation

There isn’t any ulterior motive in hav-

verge of closing for their 6 weeks or so, the

process; consequently, we have decided

ing the local school on a Monday evening

holiday season will soon be in full flight. So

to give you the opportunity of changing

instead of the HAC on a Sunday after-

in hoping that you all have a great time, can

the rules to allow Proxy Voting.

noon; it is just a matter of availability and

I also remind you to bear in mind the two

What Proxy Voting actually means is that

convenience.

dates above:

you do not have to attend either meeting to

demutualise, but you can award your vote to

New website

The Special General Meeting which will

someone else to vote on your behalf. The

Many of you will have noticed that Dial-a-

be held on 11th July at 6pm or voting by

reason we decided to adopt this stance is

Cab now has a new Website, which coin-

post, but only as long as the Electoral

because the response to the questionnaire

cides with the launch of our new logo.

Reform Services (ERS) receives your vote

was so conclusive, that we decided to make

However, I can’t help but notice that there

by 6th July. As it’s holiday time, I won’t

the process as easy and convenient as we

are still some of you who have not yet

mention the £50 if you do neither!

could for you.

changed to our new logo.

Brian Rice

No doubt there will be some that will

I also assume that if you have the old

believe there is some sort of secret agenda,

logo, that you have not yet upgraded

Chairman

but all we are trying to do is make life easier

your terminal with the latest version of

Dial-a-Cab

for you.

Renting and retaining

DaC membership

PAUL’S TAXI SPECIALISTS LTD

I have also included the rule change to give

you the opportunity to allow someone that

has been a Member for 10 years to retain

their membership should they relinquish the

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

ownership of their taxi and rent another

with our equipment in it. I have included

Tel: 01708 553037

this because it would appear the majority of

Members were in favour of allowing

FREE AIR FILTER WITH EVERY SERVICE

WE ALSO HAVE CABS FOR RENT

Membership to continue, should drivers be

forced to sell their taxi and have to rent -

TX1 servicing from £48

TX1s, TX2s, TX4s and Vitos

much of that being down to the previous

TX2 servicing from £70

Rentals from £165 per week

Mayor’s fifteen year rule.

TX4 servicing from £90

It was also apparent that you wished

to reduce the size of the Board of

All Work Undertaken

Management, but instead of instigating

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

a rule change now, we decided to

All TX1, TX2, TX4

reduce the size of the Board to a

Chairman plus 3 Board Members in the

Starters - Batteries - Alternators - All with 2 year Warranty

demutualisation process; the difference

in time regarding a rule change and

Fax: 01708 551443

Web: www.PaulsTaxiSpecialists.co.uk

demutualisation will probably only be

measured in weeks, so it seemed hardly

Call Sign July 2016

Page 5

Ever since Call Sign began reporting on

Got a 15 year old cab and interested in converting it to LPG to get

gas cab conversions that will give your 15

an extra 5 years? Come to DaC House on Wednesday July 20

year old TX2 an extra 5 years and even

road tested one, drivers have been calling

between 11 and 4 to find out more and even take a test drive...

to find out more details. Well now you can

ask the company behind the scheme

when representatives from Autogas Ltd

are at the Dial-a-Cab car park on

LPG CONVERSIONS

Wednesday July 20th between the hours

of 11 and 4pm to demonstrate a convert-

The Ed road

ed TX2 and TX4 gas cab and answer any

questions you may have.

testing an LPG converted taxi

LPG converted cabs will get that extra five

years and that even with the cost of conversion

working out at around £9,800 (including VAT),

is still much cheaper than buying another cab

test to convince TfL that a London conversion

or renting.

is sound and a launch date of around

The Dial-a-Cab Credit Union had con-

October is hoped for.

firmed to Call Sign that they would give

The vehicles existing gearbox is used and an

loans to any member requiring one in

adaptor plate is manufactured to marry the

order to convert their taxis. DACCU gave

gearbox up to the new engine. As the new

the monthly cost of members borrowing

engine has been tuned to match the power

£10,000 as £264 over 48 months, £333

and torque output of the original diesel

over 36 months, £470 over 24 months or

engine, this means no additional strain is put

£890 if you can afford to repay it over 12

on the existing gearbox.

months. Put those costs against buying or

It would be appreciated if you could let

any shudders or vibrations and will probably

5 years renting and they come out as being

sound even quieter than your car! After con-

Call Sign know at callsignmag@aol.com if

very favourable. In fact, the 4 year deal will

you intend coming to give an idea of how

version to LPG, the taxis will meet the EU

cost you around £60 a month - you’d have

Euro 6 standard and gain fuel savings of up to

many will be attending and whether we

a job renting one for two days let alone

20 percent! The conversion is available for

need to allocate individual times.

one month! DACCU will be at the DAC car

both the TX2 and TX4 should drivers with

Put the date in your diary; it’s Wednesday

park on July 20th for anyone interested.

newer cabs want to convert away from diesel.

July 20th...

The conversion consists of replacing your

It has been successfully passed as a

Alan Fisher

diesel engine with a brand new Opel one that

licensed taxi in Birmingham and 80 have

Call Sign Online

will give you the same torque as a TX4 without

been successfully converted. It is now out on

DaCs Jim helps the Boleyn to close!

Jim Rainbird (T25) has been on Dial-a-Cab since 1994, but for far longer than that he has been a supporter of West Ham United and like

all Hammers fans, was drawn even more than usual to the 10 May match against Manchester United because that was to be the last-ever

football match to be held at the ground they had occupied since 1 September 1904 when the team defeated Millwall.

West Ham had been in existence since 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and

in those first 9 years had already moved twice until they arrived at Green

Street in east London. Now 112 years later, they have left their home to

move to a new one at the former London Olympics stadium at Stratford.

After that last game, which they won 3 - 2, there were celebra-

tions featuring former members of the team together with a history

of events since the first-ever game. Cheers filled the Boleyn ground

as several taxis came out of the tunnel and drove round the pitch;

each cab containing former players... and leading the way was

DaC’s Jim Rainbird! The celebrations were screened live around the

world by Sky.

As a staunch Hammers fan, a former Master at the WCHCD

and well-known London taxi driver to several agencies for vari-

ous jobs such as being in a Bollywood movie, appearing in a

Japanese quiz show when not speaking a word of the lan-

guage, appearing with Kermit the Frog and even chasing

Prince Harry as a challenge, Jim Rainbird was an obvious

choice to lead the parade.

Jim told Call Sign: “Not only was driving round the

ground an amazing feeling, but I had one of my boy-

hood heroes in the back of the taxi. Martin Peters was there along with his

daughter. In 2016 it was revealed that he was suffering with Alzheimer’s, but before I drove him onto the

pitch, I shook his hand and thanked him for some great times at the Boleyn Ground whilst I was growing up.

“Then something magical happened that will stay with me for the rest of my days. Part of the ceremony involved Frank

Sinatra’s My Way playing over the speakers while some old footage was being shown on screens around the ground. Suddenly

Martin started singing and was word perfect! I joined in with him - a DaC driver singing a duet with a World Cup winner in my

taxi! I had to stop when the emotion got the better of me and the tears came. Just an unforgettable moment!”

In March 1970, Martin Peters was involved in one of the most amazing transfers of its day when West Ham sold him to Tottenham

Hotspur for a then record fee of £200,000, which included £50,000 as part-exchange for Jimmy Greaves who moved the opposite way from

Spurs to the Hammers! Martin was later sold to Norwich and then Sheffield United, whom he briefly went on to manage. He later went on

to work as part of the hospitality teams at both White Hart Lane and Upton Park. In 2006 he was deservedly inducted into English football’s

Hall of Fame.

But for Jim Rainbird, 10 May 2016 will be a day he will never forget...

Call Sign July 2016

Page 6

Jery’s

World

“TfL must be right; Uber’s app leaves the rules behind. Push a button and their cars become bikes!”

Geely raise $400 million for electric TX5

As new Mayor, Sadiq Khan, announced plans to clamp down

on London’s toxic air, London Taxi Company owners

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group made their own announce-

ment - they had raised $400 million needed to electrify its

fleet of iconic taxis via a green bond sale. The proceeds will

finance development of their new 6-seater range-extended

electric TX5.

The group’s chief financial officer, Frank Li said: “This is a

landmark for us, not only in the sense of the funds raised,

but also the purpose. We're going to do a clean taxi, not

only for the UK market, but it is going to be a global prod-

uct that we can definitely grow to help reduce emissions

and provide a cleaner environment for everybody.”

A growing number of investors are said to be looking to put

The range extended electric TX5

money into green bonds for funding projects that promise to

accelerate the shift away from polluting energy and transport

fuels to renewable and clean technology and Geely’s green bond has been oversubscribed by eight times!

Geely is the first global auto company to offer a green bond, according to Barclays Plc, which was a joint coordinator of the issue with

Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Societe Generale SA.

From Geely’s new Coventry factory, they will soon begin working on the TX5 prototype. The new range-extended cab will be able

to cover between 150 and 200 miles before needing a recharge - more than enough for most drivers and one top-up covering even

the long distance Dial-a-Cab drivers. The technology is similar to the electric Metrocab. Both cabs will have to be available by

January 1 2018 when all new taxis licensed in London will have to be zero-emission capable.

The LTC factory will be able to produce 36,000 electric cabs per year and is said to be already in discussions with other European

cities looking to turn their fleets green.

Call Sign July 2016

Page 7

At the end of April, Dial-a-Cab

Chairman Brian Rice sent out a

The future of your Society

letter on behalf of himself and

Bank, be distributed to Members. But that

the Board of Management asking

would mean demutualising and winding up

drivers for their views on which

the Society.

Three options were given on topic 3:

direction they felt the Society

3.1 To remain as we are, although the Society

should move towards. It followed

is now running at a loss on an annual basis and

a promise at this year’s AGM

cash reserves will probably not exceed three

when Brian confirmed that he

years.

Remain as we are: 1 percent

would write to every driver, but

the launch of a new VAD dis-

3.2 To demutualise the Society, move to less

expensive premises (either purchased or

patching system delayed things.

rented) and distribute any surplus to

The questions that drivers were asked to

Members after retaining working capital from

vote on were not official as in the usual type of

our cash reserves, but the Society would con-

DaC postal ballot, but to give the BoM an idea

tinue to trade.

of the way drivers were thinking. Answering

Demutualise and move after distributing

was not compulsory, but for those drivers that

surplus: 40 percent

did respond - a majority - the votes had to be

returned within two weeks...

3.3 The Society could demutualise and be

These are the options given and the per-

wound up and following the sale (or merger)

Some of the returned votes

centage of votes as cast...

of our circuit, if it could be achieved on accept-

the number of elected Board Members should

able terms, the cash from the sale of all our

1. If a Member has completed 10 years of ser-

be reduced to either a Chairman and two elect-

assets together with the remaining cash bal-

vice as an Owner Driver with the Society and

ed Board Members or a Chairman and three

ances could be distributed to Members.

then for whatever reason has to dispose of

elected Board Members.

Demutualise and wind up or merge:

his/her taxi and rent another vehicle with DaC

Size of the BoM:

59 percent

equipment installed, then he/she could retain

Remain the same: 19 percent

their Membership of the Society.

An SGM has been called for July 11th to consid-

Chairman + 2 Board Members: 47 percent

Retain membership after 10 years:

er and vote on the two following propositions:

Chairman + 3 Board Members: 34 percent

82 percent in favour.

1. To introduce proxy voting

3. Dial-a-Cab House is a very valuable asset

2. It was felt by the majority of the

to the Society and some members present at

2. To allow members that have completed 10

Membership attending the AGM that the cur-

the AGM were of the opinion that asset should

years of service to retain their membership in

rent Board of Management was too large and

be realised and together with our cash at the

certain circumstances...

Call Sign July 2016

Page 8

Once upon a time, it was called graffiti and deemed to be a nui-

sance. Not anymore...

Airbrushing a

London taxi driver!

One of the best exponents of

day I met the artist with her paints and materials

Airbrushing is Londoner Carleen De Sözer,

neatly strapped to her hand trolley. Carleen De

who has been supplying art in various for-

Sözer was charming and very interesting. She

mats on walls and canvas for many years.

told me she had come back to finish off the dri-

Her talents include graphic design and tat-

vers shirt before going on to her next assign-

tooing, in addition to designing CD covers,

ment in Brick Lane. The cab driver in the

t-shirts and teaching young people in her

Airbrushing is a KPM employee and Carleen

art. But it was her airbrushing outside a

plans to include a second member of the East

London taxi garage that caught the atten-

London garage - an employee that has been

tion of Call Sign’s Simon Scott (O40)...

with the company for 30 years.

Carleen's taxi driver

“I pulled into a parking bay in Hemming

I came away thinking about the cheer Carleen

Street one Monday morning, getting as close

is helping to spread around this otherwise grey

Graffiti can cost councils £millions in cleaning

as I could to the brilliant depiction of a

and industrial part of Bethnal Green. I felt glad

up, but go to some parts of Bethnal Green and

London Cabby on the wall next to the

that I had met her.”

not only will you see walls covered in what is

entrance of KPM, a cab garage that has been in

now better known as Airbrushing, but it is

these parts for at least as long as I have!

Carleen De Sözer is at

apparently encouraged and often paid for!

Although I was already late, I just had to

www.carleendesozer.com.

Nowadays it also brings in tourists - many of

stop and stare at the image that jumped

them art students - to look and marvel at some

out of brick and paint with a joy that just

Simon Scott

of the incredible creations on the walls in and

left me smiling.

Call Sign Online

around Cheshire Street.

I had a long wait at the garage and later that

Taxi

Taking the pee for

insurance

Doc Martin???

for DaC

If we mentioned the Cornish village of Port Wenn,

many would immediately think of the hit ITV series

drivers

about Doc Martin, brilliantly played by Martin

Clunes. But in reality, Port Wenn is the beautiful

Cornish fishing village of Port Isaac, miles from

anywhere and because of the hilly terrain, the

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

elderly need a cab just to get around the village.

in Bexley have negotiated exclusive rates

So a reliable taxi service is vital.

for DaC members. We believe our rates are

“We have always been both reliable and rea-

competitive in today’s market for experi-

sonable,” said the owner of Port Isaac Shuttle

enced licensed Black Cab drivers.

At Hillier Buchan, we understand every driver’s

Service, Louise Houston. “We’ve been using

circumstances are different; therefore our policies

our name for the past three years until the local

can be tailored for the individual driver. We offer

council put a stop to it and forced us to change

a 5% discount for DaC members, with additional

the name to Port Isaac Shuttle.”

discounts for existing protected Bonus policies.

Just like Dial-a-Cab is often abbreviated to DaC

Hillier Buchan was established in 2002 by

and the former Radio Taxis Group answered to

David Hillier and myself with in excess of 50

years experience as high level Brokers working in

RTG, the taxi Port Isaac Shuttle Service began

the City of London for major broking houses. We

advertising themselves as PISS. However, following a

have established a reputation for professionalism

complaint, the council stepped in and forced the firm to change their name.

and service in our chosen fields.

“We never meant to offend anyone,” said Louise, “our service runs really well and is

We have extensive London Market contacts;

appreciated by traders because we bring trade into the village. The ad was just a piece

consequently we are able to offer our clients a

of Cornish humour. I am grateful that the villagers have started a petition for us to

quality of security from companies that are all

available in the world’s pre-eminent insurance

keep the name.”

market. As a result, our clients achieve quality of

A Cornwall Council spokesperson said that the council had not asked the Port Isaac

security and service upon which we pride our-

Shuttle Service to change its name, but just to remove the advertising on the side of

selves and a competitiveness of premium that

the vehicle that emphasises an offensive acronym. They added: “Their current advertis-

our clients find particularly attractive in today's

climate.

ing breaches the council's Hackney Carriage vehicle licence conditions, which state

Our philosophy is to build long-term relation-

that advertisements, livery, stickers, markings, slogans or information on, or in, the

ships using balanced service teams providing

Hackney Carriage must not contain anything of a religious, political or ethnic nature;

continuity and expertise. Compare our prices

advertise alcohol or tobacco; be pornographic or offend good taste; promote anything

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

Call Sign on page 15.

illegal or obscure vehicle windows.”

Phil Buchan,

Thank gawd we’re just Dial-a-Cab...!!!

Hillier Buchan, 01322 553313

Call Sign July 2016

Page 9

Dial-a-Cab Board member, Mike Son, has

been awarded the BEM in the Queen’s

Mike Son BEM in Queens

birthday honours list for his work as a

committee member of The London Taxi

Drivers Fund for Underprivileged Children

Birthday Honours List

and charitable services to children. Call

Sign caught up with Mike after the

Mike meets the LTFUC

announcement and asked how he had

patron Camilla, Duchess of

heard of the honour...

Cornwall, last Christmas

“Several weeks before the announcement, I

received a letter in a brown envelope that

resembled a tax bill rather than anything else.

and kindness when meeting

I just opened it without looking to see

extremely ill children from the

whether the envelope had any identification

LTFUC at Clarence House dur-

on it. The letter inside looked genuine,

ing the Christmas periods. It is

informing me that I would be getting a BEM at

for every member of the hard-

the Queen’s next investiture. I assumed it was

working LTFUC committee and

a scam of some kind because I believed that

all our wives and partners

the British Empire Medal had been with-

including my own wife Maxine.

drawn some years earlier. But I took a chance

They often work as hard as we

and phoned the number in the letter, half

do! Then it’s for our wonderful

expecting someone to say that I had to give

drivers without whom there

them my bank details as security!

would be no outings for the

But I soon realised that it was genuine.

children. It is also for the trade

The person at the other end of the line con-

even worse when a few days before the date,

press who publish all our press releases and

firmed that the BEM had in fact been with-

the Cabinet office phoned to say that the

who often accompany us to take photos. Then

drawn but was brought back in 2012 for

details of all the awards would be going to the

it’s for DaC’s Call Sign magazine that for

the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The voice

press and that my details would be passed

many years sponsored the upstairs buffet at

continued that I had been nominated by a

over to my local newspaper, The Evening

the Grosvenor House Mad Hatters party.

number of people but they were not

Echo, as well. That got me worried even more

I sincerely hope that the award helps the

allowed to actually say who. I was also told

because I didn’t want other committee mem-

charity get even more donations from those

that I couldn’t say anything until Saturday

bers finding out via newspaper stories. But I

that read about it so that we can do even more

11th June when the announcements were

needn’t have worried, they were all delighted

in helping such deserving children.”

made official.

for me (they didn’t mention Sir Rod Stewart)!

The LTFUC committee’s honourary Life

I was really chuffed, but at the same time felt

In fact, within 24 hours of the announcement

President Bill Tyzack has a BEM, Alan

rather guilty because there are other guys on

I was being interviewed by BBC Essex.

Cohen has an MBE and Gerry Dunn also

the LTFUC committee who have been on there

Unfortunately we only get the one medal,

has an MBE. Mike makes four of the LTFUC

as long, or even longer, than I and who’ve

but so far as I am concerned, it is for everyone

committee to receive an award and every

done every bit as much as I have - and even

including our Patron, Her Royal Highness

one of them is so richly deserved.

more - to help ‘special needs’ children. I felt

the Duchess of Cornwall for her generosity

Our congratulations go to Mike Son...

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Call Sign July 2016

Page 10

MARTIN ROSE

Many drivers on Dial-a-Cab were shocked recently when the sud-

den death was announced of Martin Rose (F69). Martin’s long-

time friend, former DaC driver Sam Stuart who moved to Spain

many years ago, has written a piece about his friend...

“I have known Martin for over 40 years and before we moved to Spain, my wife Celia and

I were very close to him and his wife Fran. But we still kept in close touch. They have three

children, two boys in Simon and Michael and a girl, Gemma and have always been a very

close knit family.

Martin and I did the Knowledge together. We did most of it during the evenings and

often that continued through till the early hours of the morning. But we both had to also

work and we fitted things in whenever we could.

In those days it wasn’t unusual for Knowledge students to work as minicab drivers -

which we did - and that gave us the opportunity to check up on runs and points that we

may not have been sure about. As a result, we both passed out in just over 12 months.

Martin didn’t suffer fools gladly and if he had something to say, he would just say it.

But for all that, if you needed help in any way, he would always be the first to offer it.

We used to meet up in Piccadilly during the early hours of the morning when we first

passed out and in the days when you could park almost anywhere. He always had stories

about his fares, some funny and some not, but always something and always interest-

ing.

He was a big man both as a person as well as in stature. He was also a friend and I

will miss him greatly...”

Sam Stuart, Torrevieja, Spain

Is Uber finished in France?

oon after the good news for

Italy and parts of Sweden. The app

Uber of a $3.5 billion invest-

itself pulled out of three German cities

ment from Saudi Arabia,

last year, claiming that the regulations

some rather bad news fol-

imposed on them made its business

lowed when a French court convicted

“untenable.” Meanwhile a German

the app and two of its executives guilty

court recently rejected an Uber appeal

of starting an illegal car-booking ser-

against a judgment from last year that

vice. This was said to be the first crimi-

imposed a Germany-wide ban on its

nal ruling to target Uber managers of

UberPop service.

the car-hailing app that has disrupted

Transport for London appears to

taxi business worldwide.

be out on its own in its view of Uber...

It was Thursday 9th June when the

Dennis Latchett

Parisien taxi drivers demonstrate against

Parisien court ruled that Uber was guilty

Call Sign Online Uber

of “misleading commercial practices” and

“complicity in the illegal exercise of the

taxi profession.” That led to a fine for the

company of €800,000. The heads of

Can you afford not to get a copy!!!

Uber both in Western Europe and France

were ordered to pay €30,000 and

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

€20,000 respectively in addition to the

this book is all you need to know about moving

company fine. However the court stopped

short of imposing prison sentences or bar-

traffic and parking regulations in one easy to

ring either from running companies in

read guide!

France.

Last year, following anger from French

taxi drivers, the UberPop service that uses

The Motorists Guide to Moving

non-professional drivers using their own

cars, was suspended following demands

Traffic And Parking Regulations

by President François Hollande’s gov-

Hard copies £8. Electronic versions to

ernment to stop the service and that led

to the above case.

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

Uber said it would appeal against the

via Driver Services with payment deducted

verdict claiming they had already stopped

from your DaC account.

UberPop “but that the judgment did not

impact on their service in France.”

Uber was banned in Spain for one year

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

while UberPop was banned in Germany,

Call Sign July 2016

Page 12

New Call Sign Website

all Sign has been online since the late

Hovering over the icon you will see the year and a

1990s and amazingly, its website has con-

message on each one to click on here to view the

tinued year after year with very little main-

monthly magazines. Click on whichever year you

tenance needed. However, it has finally been

want and then hover over each copy to find the

brought back to earth by no less than Microsoft

month you want. Hover over the message to ‘click

who told us that our website was so old that with-

here to see full magazine’ to see the issue but in

in five weeks it would no longer work after being

a small version. Click the PDF sign to see the full

put temporarily onto their last Windows Server

issue but in a large easy-to-read format.

2008.

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

In that time we needed to either redesign

you want to go straight to the year you want and

Call Sign or lose the ‘search’ capability. So

finally to the ‘Search Call Sign’ button if looking

thanks to our website master and mainte-

simple with the menu easily seen at the top. It will

for something specific by just putting a relevant

nance guru, Vince Chin, Call Sign now has

open on the ‘Home’ screen where you can read

word into the search box.

that new website.

the latest issue by hovering over it and clicking the

I hope you like the new look...

The addresses are the same (www.dac-call-

PDF sign.

sign.co.uk or .com) but everything else has been

You can also click on the ‘Archive’ screen; there

Alan Fisher

brought up-to-date. After logging on, the choice is

you will see a copy of Call Sign from every year.

callsignmag@aol.com

Hunted Down!

“I was stationary at a set of traffic lights in

role on the TV!”

Call Sign could see how proud

Wigmore Street, my mind miles away, when

Steve was at the events... before he

suddenly the cab passenger door flung open,

added a telling remark...

“Unfortunately, try as I might, I

two people jumped in, crouched down on the

just can’t recall the programme

floor and shouted ‘drive, drive, go, go, go!’ in a

name!”

Alan Green

very excited manner,” Steve Palmer (K30)

Call Sign Online

announced to Call Sign when we met recently.

Steve thought he had picked

“I was a bit spooked in those first few seconds, but the lights

up a bank robber!

changed in my favour and I instinctively pulled away. But how

could I not be suspicious - not to mention wary - of just who it

was that huddled on the floor of the cab, and why they did not

want to be seen!”

Steve continued his story to our fascinated reporter. “I pulled round

into Marylebone Lane, stopped the cab and turned around to face them

- my initial thought being that they may have just robbed a bank and that

I had just helped them escape! I demanded they tell me what was going

on because at that moment, I didn’t much like what was happening to

me. However, the sight that greeted me as I faced them astonished me

even more because the woman was soaking wet from her hair to her

shoes, while the man with her looked like he just seen a ghost!”

Steve continued and said that at first all the mysterious duo did was to

continue shouting back at Steve, telling him to drive on. But the Dial-a-

Cab driver stayed put, telling them their behaviour was completely out of

EVERY SATURDAY AT WEST THURROCK BOXING &

order and that his cab would not move anywhere unless they could

FITNESS GYMNASIUM

come up with a plausible answer for their - so far, anyway - extreme

excitability, not to mention the back of his cab becoming soaking wet.

10am - 11.15am & 11.30am - 12.45pm

“They finally admitted they were participants on a TV programme in

which they were given daily tasks to complete and then had to phone

£7.00 per class

into the TV station each evening as to their whereabouts before being

Minimum age of 16

given the following days tasks. In the meantime, other contestants had

to predict what the couple might be doing, where they might be and

Suitable for all skill levels, from beginners to

more importantly, to ‘catch’ them before they could escape the hunters!

accomplished boxers

On this occasion,” Steve continued, “the couple had been in a hair-

dressing salon when they thought they had been discovered and had

Female ONLY classes subject to demand

rushed out of the shop just as the woman was having her hair washed,

and that was why she was soaking wet!”

Steve dropped them in Tottenham Court Road, where they felt they

had escaped the clutches of the hunters and continued his days’ work,

musing on the variety of people London’s taxi drivers meet during the

course of a day.

“Suddenly I came back to the present when a fleet message

appeared on the terminal. It asked whether any driver had recently

set down a woman with wet hair in TCR. It didn’t take much work-

ing out to realise who the driver was - I still had the puddle in the

back of the cab!

“So I rang the control centre for further details and later met up with the

producers of the show, was interviewed at length and appeared in a cameo

Call Sign July 2016

Page 13

DaC Sales Report

With Keith Cain

e have been focusing more on offering fixed rate journey prices in an effort to gen-

erate more business from a market that is still highly motivated by reduced costs.

Many years ago, we offered fixed rate journeys that took into consideration run-ins,

some waiting time and if we were fortunate, some - if not all - of a gratuity. Now

it’s the complete opposite and we have to offer either a mileage rate for longer trips or a price

that’s very similar to what car companies are offering.

Clients have expressed the view that if only we could supply a black cab at the same rates as

the car firms, they would be delighted to offer us their business. I have been analysing reams of

data with this in mind so that we can offer our drivers the opportunity to accept these types of

trips if it suits at a particular time.

With the new dispatch system now only weeks away from being fully operational, the

inclusion of the economy button for these trips will be a way forward. Seeing some of

the prices charged was a shock and I have no doubt that when we start offering them

to you, you will feel the same. I have asked the questions over and over again about

how drivers can do the work for such a low price, especially when they do not even

receive the full price of the journey. But they do and there are lots of trips we can offer - if you are happy to do them.

Many of you will have experienced some longer trips being priced well below the meter and the waiting time being added on at a

‘price per minute’ ratio rather than the fare reverting to the meter as it used to be. We have also decided to offer trips to and from

airports at the same system of fixed price. The controllers and contact centre staff will be monitoring these journeys to reduce the

amount of waiting time to a minimum and making the airport a much slicker operation. This is the method of working that all the

car firms offer and other circuits are following suit.

All I want to do is offer these trips to you and you decide if you want to do them. Initially, all the economy trips will

come from account clients who would normally pass these trips to a car vendor. Only the ASAP trips will be offered to

you and those you do not wish to cover will then be passed on. Those account clients who are only serviced by us will

not be offered low price ASAP trips, but will be offered low price longer trips and airport rides.

The pre-booked rides will not be included in the early stages, purely because we have to maintain service levels. I see no point in

accepting a pre-booked low fare trip only to find drivers do not want to do it. That will just antagonise and encourage clients to go

to car companies that do guarantee a service at these costs.

There will undoubtedly be a huge balancing act needed here for us; firstly to be able to offer drivers this work and secondly, to

maintain a service. If our drivers are prepared to help, then things could start to look up...

Keith Cain

DaC Head of Sales

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

1990

The first taxi I

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

owned was an

FX4; it was dark

green and I had

been warned by

A Blogger’s Tale

everyone that it

was going to be

a particularly graphic problem that an unfor-

keeping one eye on the ladies in the back to

an unlucky cab.

tunate listener had phoned in about; I can

ensure they couldn’t hear.

No one knew

remember feeling very frustrated that I could-

Well, driving in London requires full atten-

quite why, but

n’t hear it properly! I had my fingers on the

tion and so I had to abandon the radio as I

London cabbies have never been short of an

dial twiddling away trying to improve the

approached Ludgate Circus and of course,

opinion or two!

that was the exact moment that the signal

reception when two elderly ladies put their

It smelt of fresh polish and that black paint

suddenly improved and Anna Raeburn’s

hands up near the Bank Junction, they

garages used to apply to everything they

voice boomed out back into my cab and

climbed in and off we went.

could find beneath the body! It had a very

before I could get to the dial, she had said:

They happily chatted away in the back and

basic turny knob radio under the top light

“It’s your fault she’s pregnant, you should

my mind returned to that interesting prob-

and above my head; the speaker was in a plas-

have kept your penis in your pants.”

lem Anna was dealing with. I turned up the

tic housing underneath the radio. There were

Well, I didn’t know whether to look in the

volume slowly and carefully and angled my

back or not! The two ladies had stopped talk-

no pre-set stations and so when I wanted to

head so that my left ear was as close to the

ing and as I sheepishly peeped at the rear

listen to something else, I had to turn the dial

speaker as possible without attracting the

view mirror, I saw them both looking at me! I

until I heard something familiar.

attention of the ladies in the back. Reception

began mumbling my apologies and tried to

My favourite programme was a late

was awful but I could roughly follow what the

explain the reception difficulties, but they

night agony aunt phone-in show hosted

poor man’s problem was. It seemed he had

were definitely not amused and were not

by Anna Raeburn and a resident doctor.

got his girlfriend pregnant and then dumped

buying my apology either. I decided the best

She didn’t mess about with niceties and

her for another girl. She and her family had

thing was to stop talking and to get them to

got straight to the point with an almost

confronted him and now his life seemed to

their destination without any further embar-

rude approach towards her phone-in fod-

depend upon Anna’s advice! Well this was

rassment...

der, but it made great night-time radio.

exactly what she loved; she tore into the man

To be continued…

However, the reception in the City was

with gusto and was telling him exactly what

always appalling. The signal used to come

she thought of him... when the reception

Simon Scott (O40)

and go randomly as I turned corners and

died! I was beside myself; I twiddled the dial

crossed bridges. One night I was listening to

and fiddled with the volume - all the time

Call Sign Online

Call Sign July 2016

Page 14

Mayor Khan: City Hall

Call Sign’s Marc Turner had a busy month; he was at City Hall to

Wednesday 25th May and City Hall at 10am;

watch Mayor Sadiq Khan’s first Question Time and followed it up with

it was the inaugural Question Time for our

a meeting at the House of Lords with taxi supporter, Lord Glassman..

new history making Mayor, Sadiq Khan; so

I decided to attend and give him the once-

over for Call Sign readers.

The previous evening, I’d heard that around

MARC TIME!

100 cabbies were rumoured to turn up.

Disappointingly, just ten of us made it. Sharing

the elevator up to the public gallery overlook-

Lord Glassman:

ing the Chamber, a young lady appeared enam-

House of Lords

oured with my multiple trade lanyards. In a

It was around two

rather sultry tone, she asked if I was going to

weeks

later

behave myself this time! I told her that I always

Wednesday 8th June -

behaved myself and that if she was referring to

when thanks to an

the Question Time of September 16th when

invite from the United

Boris insulted our trade by referring to us as

Cabbies Group that I

luddites; it was he - previous Mayor Boris

was able join a contin-

Johnson - that was out of order! She turned

gent of members and

out to be head of media for City Hall!

meet Lord Maurice

Sadiq Khan entered the Chamber to polite

Glassman aka Barron

applause from members of the London

Glassman of Stoke

Assembly. He courteously acquainted himself

Newington. About thir-

with them all. The Assembly was chaired by

Sadiq Khan is

ty of us met him and chewed over the fat of

Tony Arbour, the man who rudely put the

well-informed

how we had got into the mess we had found

question of “Who are these people” aimed at

about

our

ourselves in. But we intend to turn it around!

we London Taxi drivers last September, setting

industry;

Lord Glassman was ably assisted by a

the remark into infamy - before then having the

discovered

sprightly 75 year old Barry Epstein, who is

constabulary eject us!

that last July

on the Call Sign mailing list through his con-

Sadiq Khan was far more polished and

when I heard

nection to the Dial-a-Cab Credit Union. He

engaging than the previous clownish incum-

him speak at

spoke highly of Editor Alan Fisher - well

bent. I could not help noticing how he held his

Unite House.

someone has to! He referred to him as a

posture for the whole two and a half hour ses-

As far as we’re

newshound ferret!

sion, whereas Boris, no doubt exhausted from

concerned,

Lord Glassman has a great affection for

his cycling ride in, was always slouching. If first

the new Mayor certainly has a massive job

the cab trade and would like to assist our

impressions are anything to go by, he appears

on his hands, but whereas Boris Johnson

cause. He listened patiently and took copi-

more genuine and earnest compared to what

wouldn't listen and consequently gave the

ous notes. We all had a chance to say our

we had been used to. When he announced the

interloping disruptors the keys to the cas-

piece and he appears well informed regard-

appointment of Val Shawcross as Deputy

tle, Sadiq on the other hand appears more

ing the injustices served upon us by those

Mayor for Transport, all eyes were on we ten

compassionate and considerate.

in authority and power.

Taxi drivers as we unashamedly and zealously

I don't believe for a second that we’ll have it

The tide is slowly turning with the help of

applauded our approval.

all our own way during Mayor Khan’s tenure,

friends like Lord Glassman...

There were no Taxi matters on the agen-

but I do think he will try to redress the balance

da, yet I didn’t feel I’d wasted my time in

by reigning the tech company in, while stabilis-

going to City Hall. I'd had another look at

ing and promoting the London Taxi trade... fin-

Marc Turner (R97)

the man who could give our trade a lifeline.

gers crossed!

Call Sign Online

Taxi Driver of the Year Golf

The Taxi Driver of the Year Charity Fund would like to thank everyone that

helped to sponsor their first golf competition which took place on 8th June

2016 at the Hendon Golf Club.

The sun was shining on our 40 golfers, all trying to win a car worth £10,000 with a

hole in one and the many other prizes. The day began with breakfast and at 11am

the first golfers teed off, walking round this great 18 hole golf course under the blaz-

ing sun. But not one of them moaned when rain suddenly bucketed down and they

just carried on in the true style that golfers do!

By 5.30 everyone had showered and was ready to sit down. The Chairman wel-

comed and thanked them for coming out and to enjoy their well-earned buffet din-

ner.

Everyone had a great time and looked forward to next year’s golf compe-

tition. We are proud to have named the overall winner’s trophy after our

late Vice President, Doug Sherry MBE

Thank you all once again for your support...

The prize winners were announced and trophies presented:

The overall winner was Jack Muslin who won the Doug Sherry Memorial Trophy

The winning team was H Bomb, second was The Old Men, with the LTDA in third place.

Remember the dinner dance this year is on Saturday 26 November 2016. Please book early so you are not disappointed.

Russell Poluck MBE (T55)

Hon Chairman LTOYCF

Call Sign July 2016

Page 15

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

Brethren of the Whip

Just four days after Muir’s experience, diamond merchant Meyer

Taxicab bandits

Goldberg of Hatton Garden was walking past a taxi in Victoria Park

The arrival of the taxicab in London

Road when he was suddenly attacked by four men and robbed of

allowed the public faster travel across the

£1000 worth of diamonds. The men jumped into the taxi, which

metropolis, speeds much greater than a

immediately began to drive off. Goldberg still had some fight left in

horse cab were easily maintained on

him, jumped onto the running board and began attacking the driver,

open roads. So it was not long before

Henry Stanley. Goldberg punched Stanley, who punched Goldberg

taxis - with or without the co-operation of

back. As the taxi sped up, Goldberg grabbed hold of the meter cable

the driver - were being used as getaway

which broke. The four men eventually jumped out and Stanley, seeing

cars! They became known as “taxicab

a policeman, pulled over to get his “mad passenger” arrested.

bandits.”

Goldberg’s English was not very good, but when he was able to

On August 24th 1911, a Mr Hopton left his

relate what happened Stanley found himself under arrest. He gave a

home in Colvestone Crescent, Dalston and was immediately set

convincing story; he was told to wait for the men, which he did, and

upon by two men. They attacked him, robbing him of the £3000

as they entered the taxi he was attacked by Goldberg. Henry Stanley

worth of diamonds he was carrying. The two men then ran along the

was released.

road to a waiting taxi where the driver was apparently tinkering with

The police however looked further into his background and found

his engine. As the two men approached, he put the bonnet down and

that he liked to gamble and that he was deep in debt; he owed a

drove off with them at speed.

money lender £5 and was £25 behind in the instalments for his taxi.

On September 7th 1911, a taxi driver was hired in Wimbledon by

He had mouthed off to a friend that he was due money “for a nice job

three men and told to go to nearby Hill Road and wait for them. They

involving diamond merchants.” When the police looked into his diary,

got out and walked back to a jewellers shop where they threw a brick

they found on November 17th, three days after the robbery, the fol-

through the window and snatched a £450 diamond necklace, a ring

lowing entry: “Rec £100.” Some people make it easy for the police!

and a brooch! They then ran back to the taxi but as a large crowd sud-

Despite this, Stanley pleaded not guilty at his trial at the Old

denly descended on them, the taxi could not drive away. Two of the

Bailey, which occurred the same time as the funeral of Fred Hitch,

men tried to fight off the crowd but were attacked.

the taxi driver VC. The evidence was damning, he was found guilty

In court, the driver said he could only just identify the men as his

and sentenced to 18 month’s hard labour...

passengers, such were their injuries caused by the mob. One of the

men escaped, probably with the necklace which was never recovered.

Sean Farrell

On October 14th 1912, Adolphus Muir was hired by three men who

Call Sign Online

got into his taxi in Spring Street, Paddington. He drove them to

Aberdeen Place and was paid off. One of the men then said they would

need a taxi shortly to take them to the West End and Muir agreed to wait

for them. Shortly after, all three came running back to the taxi, two

jumped into the back whilst a third climbed into the luggage space and

pointing a gun at Muir told him to “drive like hell.” He was told to drive

to a pawnshop in Oxford Street where they pawned two diamond

rings, their booty from the jewellers they had just robbed in Edgware

Road! From there he was told to drive to Finsbury Circus.

“If you give me your address, I will send you £5,” said the gunman.

Exclusive Taxi Insurance Scheme

Muir, a large man of “Herculean build” declined to give them that

information and instead he was paid 3s 6d (18p), which was more

dedicated to DAC members only

than what was on the meter.

After a brief respite on a nearby rank, Muir drove all the way

to Scotland Yard before reporting his adventure. Eventually the

three men were caught and received sentences ranging from 22

months to three years.

✓ 5% Discount for members

✓ Additional discount for existing protected Bonus policies

✓ Public Liability

Val Shawcross moves up!

✓ Breakdown Cover

Val Shawcross has stepped down from the London

Assembly after 16 years. She has always been a friend of

✓ Much more available

this trade, often speaking up for us in grilling former

Mayor Boris Johnson when he was wrong! Having said

that, she was never afraid to criticise us if she felt we

Call below for quotations

deserved it! She has now moved across to become the Deputy Mayor for Transport and will

be supporting her new boss, Mayor Sadiq Khan.

In a recent correspondence she said that the new Mayor was committed to stabilis-

ing and promoting the black cab trade, adding that there would be a substantive

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

change of direction and that a package of measures was soon to be developed that

Mayor Khan would be looking at.

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

She finished by saying that black cabs were an essential part of London’s transport network

Company Registration No: 4319231

and that the special status we have should be recognised and secured in policy, which is why

the Mayor’s new transport strategy would include an explicit commitment in protecting and

maintaining our trade.

Tel: 01322 553313

In welcoming the new Mayor’s administration, we also welcome Val Shawcross as

Deputy Mayor for Transport and sincerely hope that this is the beginning of much

more cordial relations than we ever had with Boris - other than at election time!

Fax: 01322 523315

Call Sign July 2016

Page 16

DaC drivers all received a letter headed The Future of your Society.

This is one response. It comes from Philip Benjamin (K20) who

joined ODRTS in 1975 - 41 years ago...

MY VIEW OF

THE FUTURE

didn't really need the Chairman’s letter

company or personal account at rates that

Headquarters from Slough to the area in

of the 26th April to inform me that the

no one else can compete with, is far too

2017, employing some five thousand staff. A

current level of trading is unsustainable.

attractive to dismiss.

new residential development of some four

The weekly payment into my bank

Who would have thought that three of the

hundred units, ranging from £700K for a stu-

account tells me everything. My view is that

most successful innovations of modern times

dio to £2.5 million for a three bed appart-

those who believe business will eventually

- the SatNav, Smartphone and Credit Card -

ment is currently under construction nearby

pick up are living in la-la land.

could be our best friend and worst enemy.

and is selling Off Plan. With a cash strapped

For TfL, supported by Central

Brian mentioned in his letter the option of

Council happy to give planning permission

Government, Uber is a Cash Cow to be

selling off Dial-a-Cab House and renting or

for residential developments, the £20K esti-

milked for all it is worth. For Government, an

purchasing elsewhere. A prime site on the

mated for each of us if the property is sold

open ended employment market for the

edge of Silicon Roundabout is surely a gold-

could look like pocket money if a project can

unskilled on a national basis would seem a

en opportunity for any developer.

be realised. Agreed, we may not be develop-

perfect solution to massage unemployment

He also stated at the last AGM that Dial-a-

ers, nor were the aforementioned, but there

figures. And one must take into account

Cab is not in the development business. I’m

are people out there who would be more

that Albania and Serbia will be joining the

sure Alan Sugar said the same thing fifty

than happy to engage with us to produce a

EEC

shortly.

years ago when he was selling car aerials

model of what can be achieved. Or, of course,

Once Uber’s executive arm gets its claws into

from the back of his van. Amsprop Estates

we can just plod along for three years, use up

the lucrative commercial and corporate mar-

has now made him into a Billionaire.

all our reserves and then make a desperate

ket and now that BAA has allocated them a

Many will remember our old customer

decision. I know the Board will never let that

feeder park at Heathrow, it could well be

Godfrey Bradman, a chartered accountant

happen, so surely the time to act is now and

goodnight Vienna!

who purchased a rundown tea trading PLC

we can still go off and rent elsewhere.

The concept and principle of their ser-

called Rosehaugh and used it as a vehicle to

I do not wish to be the pessimist, but I

vice is brilliant, although the point of

develop Broadgate in partnership with

believe things can only get worse and that is

delivery is of course amateurish. But as a

Stanhope Properties. The difference

without mentioning what the Road Planners

global giant with substantial backing,

between them and us is that they didn't have

are doing to our City...

they will no doubt get it right. A One Stop

a property to start with. There are many more

Shop on any street corner of any town or

similar to these two.

Philip Benjamin K20

city anywhere in the world, whether a

Amazon is scheduled to move its UK

Call Sign Online

ay saw the London Taxidrivers’ Fund for Underprivileged Children’s latest out-

ing where 100 taxi drivers, including several from Dial-a-Cab, gave up a day’s work

to drive 200 special needs children on this year’s LTFUC Woburn Taxi Safari. The

children were collected from Woodfield, JCOSS and Northway schools and treat-

ed to a fun-packed day filled with non-stop fun and laughter.

After a Woburn lunch, the children went on a road safari, marveling at the lions, tigers, bears,

rhinos, giraffes, elephants, monkeys, zebras and bison, but it was the monkeys that stole the

show as they jumped onto the taxis much to the children’s delight - although the drivers looked

rather worried!

The rest of the afternoon was spent on the great Foot Safari, where children got closer to the

smaller animals, the Swan pedal boats, the Great Woburn Railway, the Avery and the

Mammoth Play Ark.

At 4pm, everyone returned to the restaurant for tea while Hon Chair, Sim

Yiannikaris, was presented with a cheque for £3,000 from Inland Homes in part spon-

sorship of the outing. Ink Recruitment donated £2,000, which went towards the dri-

vers’ fuel.

The Fund expressed their sincere thanks to both companies in addition to the Management

and Staff at Woburn, His Grace The Duke of Bedford for his hospitality, ITV Anglia for their

coverage, Met Police for ensuring they got on the motorway safely, Bedfordshire

Constabulary for getting them on and off the motorway, Hertfordshire Constabulary for

keeping an eye on the outing while on the motorway, Brent Borough Police, Kavanah Motor

Group, Welsh Harp Safer Neighbourhood Team, Ears Radio for providing the two way radios,

Red Cross, Costco for supplying the water, Sainsbury’s (Sue, Shirley and Trudy) for the tea,

coffee, biscuits and cake and for helping with the children.

Last, but not least the Fund send thanks go to the wonderful drivers for giving up a day’s

work in these difficult times to ensure the children had an amazing and unforgettable day,

because without those drivers the outings would not be possible. They also thanked the

helpers and anyone else who contributed towards the day. The children had a brilliant time

and the smiles on their faces said it all.

Their next outing is the legendary trip to Southend-on-Sea on 13th July.

Call Sign July 2016

Page 17

OPERATIONS AND COMPLIANCE

Hello Ladies & Gents,

only book into one of these ranks at any

one time.

As you read this article, many will

As Keith Cain has mentioned in his Sales

be looking forward to a summer

article on page 13, some journeys are ultra-

break and a hard-earned rest. So

competitive but VAD will allow us to offer an

economy trip - via an intelligent fixed pricing

enjoy it because you have earned

programme - to our members in the first

it and hopefully it will be a time

instance, before it then hits a car. You will not

to recharge your batteries!

be forced to accept these trips, but my thinking

is that while some trips may not always suit

every member, others may see the benefit.

VAD dispatch

Turning on your ‘Economy Button’ will give

We are very near the final roll-out of the new

you access to these types of trips; if the button

dispatch system (VAD) and with the added

is off these specific journeys will not be offered

flexibility that this will now offer, there are a

to you. We may in the future be able to intro-

number of new ideas that we can implement

duce a system in which each member can

over the coming weeks. As I’ve previously

As some of you already in the car park at

choose particular criteria on a day-to-day basis,

mentioned, this system offers trips to a com-

which the present system cannot do.

Heathrow, especially those of you that have

bination of taxis that are nearest to an actual

waited for a lengthy period, may not wish

The most annoying scenario is being

pickup, but also takes into account the ones

offered a trip and because of a signal prob-

to be offered these fixed price trips, they

that have been available for the longest peri-

will be dispatched to a virtual rank: LHFP.

lem, you cannot accept or reject and

od.

inevitable happens... through no fault of your

These particular trips will not automatical-

Judging by your comments, it seems that

ly go to Members in the feeder park but the

own you are booked off! The big plus on VAD

most of you now agree with our fixed-price

is that you will still be in the global or virtual

fixed rate trip will appear in the bids imme-

policy and with competition so fierce, it will

diately after working its way through all

queue position, which I am sure you will

see an increase in trips to airports as well as

agree, is a much better solution.

cabs booked into the LHFP rank - if there

longer journeys. In the current climate, I do

are any - but you must be able to reach the

Almost all of you have now been upgraded

believe that the policy is working and with

to the latest version and when we go live, any

airport terminals within fifteen minutes

your support will continue to do so, while

before booking-in (LHFP). All other non-

earlier version will not allow you to sign onto

hopefully seeing our share grow. The ratio of

the new system. The IT department are aiming

fixed price account trips will be dispatched

trips to Heathrow is far higher than trips

to the feeder park (LHR) in the normal way

for an early to mid-July roll out, so there’s still

back and we will soon be offering these

time to pop in to Roman Way if you are not on

and again you must be within the qualify-

return journeys to clients - albeit at fixed

ing zones within the Perimeter Road or you

the latest software (version 10).

rates - in an effort to cut down on your wait-

Enjoy the summer break...

will be unable to book into LHR. Like the

ing time in the feeder park. All the fixed rate

current system, you cannot soon to clear

trips will be rejectable without penalty and

when you are on the way to Heathrow and

Allan Evans

will operate in the same way as the inward

it is important to remember that you can

journeys.

DaC Operations /

Compliance Manager

The RHS Hampton Court Flower Show takes

place from 5 - 10 July and this year for the

first time, the RHS is also hosting a Family

Saturday. There will be all sorts of new activ-

ities for children with events taking on a

Rocket Science theme inspired by the RHS

Campaign for School Gardening and its part-

nership with the UK Space Agency to discover

whether space travel has an impact on the

growth of seeds.

Pupils will also be able to take part in a

Scarecrow Competition with creations inspired by space. Children aged 16 and under are free

of charge to the show on any day.

Other highlights will include an enormous tropical Butterfly Dome filled with thousands of

exotic butterflies from Indonesia and South America; live demonstrations from chefs and gar-

deners including Alys Fowler and James Wong; a 6,750 square metre Floral Marquee and

Plant Village bursting with more floral exhibitors and specialist nurseries than ever before; a

Festival of Roses marquee inspired by Beatrix Potter's garden at Hill Top House; new City

Gardens showing just how much urban dwellers can achieve and themed gardens celebrating

the 300th anniversary of 18th century landscape architect Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown.

The Festival of Roses will offer glorious and captivating displays, whilst around the

showground there will be inspiring talks and demonstrations by celebrity gardeners,

Female driver

as well as fabulous shopping opportunities.

10% reduction for Dial-a-Cab drivers

The Ticket Hotline is on 0844 338 0338. For information about wheelchair access, wheel-

Contact Debbie (W18) on

chair hire or parking call 0844 581 0787. Otherwise call the Ticket Factory on 0844 338 7502

where lines are open from 8am to 10pm, seven days a week.

07956 317040

Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company's access charge.

Call Sign July 2016

Page 18

t’s not everyone who can say Lionel

Another true story from Geoff Levene...

Bart persuaded them to upgrade their

phone. To be honest, I’ve tended to lag

behind in what Harold Wilson called

PHONE PROBLEMS... AND LIONEL BART!

the white heat of technology. And it all goes

back a long way...

suddenly the automatic ignition clicks on

My uncle, like many people, had a TV in

and the vehicle moves off. Meanwhile you

time for the Coronation in 1953. I have a dim

sleep on. Somewhere nearby a man

memory of watching the Stanley Matthews

touches the Dial-a-Cab app on his mobile,

Cup Final a month earlier; however the

the cab does a u-turn and heads towards

Coronation is a bit clearer. But in our house

him. He gets in and keys in a postcode on

we didn't get a set until around 1958 or so.

a pad in the back. Off goes the cab, while

Then at last I could see the things my school-

you sleep on. At the destination, the pas-

mates talked about - Huckleberry Hound,

senger touches CLJ and the cab makes its

Zoo Time, Wrestling...and the adverts! You’ll

way to the next pick-up. And still you

wonder where the yellow went when you

sleep on...

brush your teeth with Pepsodent - Murray

But what of Lionel Bart, you ask? The

Mints, Murray Mints, too good to hurry mints

good lady wife wanted to see a tribute

- and of course, Omo adds brightness!

evening - not because she was a huge fan, but

I first saw colour TV in March 1970 at the

because soap star Jessie Wallis (aka Kat

home of Señor Steve Shaller (ex-F34J) -

Slater from Eastenders) is a favourite of

that’s the home he had over here then and

hers. So one stormy Sunday evening we

not his current abode over there. One thing I

about 6 years ago. People used to ask if I had

drove down to the Festival Hall. I knew

did embrace as soon as I heard of it was video.

an email address, but this has now changed to

there wasn’t much on-street parking but

Imagine, you could record a programme - and

asking what my email address is! And when I

there is a carpark at Upper Ground where

in the early days that’s all you could do...

admitted to the snooty sales manager of the

you paid about £8 to a man in a booth. Now

record one programme and watch it later or

company we bought our flat from that I didn't

it was pay-by-phone and to register for the

watch your favourite film whenever you want-

have a computer, she looked at me as if I had

new service is rather labour intensive so I

ed. Over the years we had a series of VHS

just landed from the Planet Zarg.

decided to do it in the restaurant we’d

video recorders and even fully paid-up

“You don't have a computer,” she sneered! I

booked; but our table was right at the back

technophobe, the good lady wife, learnt how

knew then it was time to meet my son in

to programme them. But there was one mem-

and there was no signal. So while waiting for

Tottenham Court Road. But I am glad I took

ber of our group who became a figure of fun

our starters, I went outside to do the busi-

the plunge, although there are times when

and ridicule. Why? He bought Betamax and

ness. I should mention that a few years earli-

I've been tempted to hurl the thing from the

Ray Waxman has never been allowed to for-

er I’d been recommended to get my Sony

balcony of our flat! By and large it’s been

get it! We kept our video as long as we could

Xperia. Bad move! I think it was probably

quite useful. There are always offers and I've

but then of course we had to change to DVD,

what you might call a ‘Friday’ phone. It was

probably recouped the cost of the computer

which is where we are today. Although I’ve got

just awful and on this occasion, it was worse

just from money saved on meals and nights

BT TV, I don't have Sky. The wife would like

than ever. To cut a long story short, whatever

out! I'm still a novice, but I’ve learned to find

it, but when I explain how much football I’d

I tried to input, something else came up.

my way around it not to mention the innu-

be watching, she doesn't seem quite so keen!

After 15 minutes of struggling, I went back to

merable facts I’ve discovered and arguments

My older brother has been involved in com-

settled. Who was in that film? What song was

have my meal. Then I went back, picked up

puters since the early sixties when they filled

that lyric from? Who scored that goal? It goes

the car and parked elsewhere - which was

an entire room. My son had one of those

on and on. And when I’ve finished this piece,

closer than before.

Sinclair machines around thirty years ago

one click transmits it to our esteemed Editor -

As for the show, it was terrible! The only

when he was ten, but I resisted the urge until

who has only been on email since 1987!

good thing coming out of it was that I

So what of the future? My friend Richard

changed to a Samsung Galaxy the next

reckons Uber will have driverless cars on the

day. So thanks Lionel, I couldn’t have

road in five years. I’m not sure about that

done it without you...!

timeline but I feel there are opportunities for

us here. Just imagine...

Geoff Levene (W32)

It’s

6am. The cab sits on your drive;

Call Sign Online

The London Taxidrivers’ Fund for Underprivileged

Children receives many appeals throughout the year

and on one recent occasion we were delighted to help

PACE (Play, Adventure and Community

Enrichment) purchase sports equipment to the value

of £500, which will be used and enjoyed by hundreds

of ‘special needs’ children across their three centres.

We were also delighted to welcome children from PACE to our annual Christmas

Mad Hatter's Tea Party, which we were told they all thoroughly enjoyed.

Raymond Levy

LTFUC Press Officer

Call Sign July 2016

Page 19

Ray Buckland at VC ceremony

The last issue of Call Sign con-

tained an article about the uncle

of long-time Dial-a-Cab driver

Ray Buckland (P66) tracing back

Ray’s great, great, great grand-

father, James Champion, who

had fought in the 1857 Indian

Mutiny with the Kings Irish

Hussars, following which he

won the Victoria Cross for val-

our in the face of the enemy. He

had also traced James back to

the Charge of the Light Brigade!

Ray, together with his mum, sister and

several other descendants of James

Champion’s family, witnessed an emotion-

al ceremony on 20th April and said it had

been one of the most moving events he

had ever witnessed. But in May, Ray attend-

ed a ceremony at Hammersmith Old

Cemetery where James’ grave that had

drawn and all three were in ceremo-

the lament as he walked away from

previously been marked with just a cross

nial dress with spurs on their boots to

the stone. The hairs on the back of

was re-laid with a fully inscribed stone and

celebrate James alignment with the

my neck must have been sticking up

his Victoria Cross was presented.

Cavalry.

and I had this feeling of enormous

Ray told Call Sign:

“There were

There were current serving soldiers

pride realising that the ceremony was

three soldiers behind James’ stone

also present who had served in Iraq

in aid of my relative.”

with the one in the middle holding

and Afghanistan with two female

Ray added his thanks to The Sun

the VC and several other medals. The

buglers playing the Last Post and a

newspaper for their help in getting

two on either side of him had sabres

lone Irish Hussars piper who played

James stone re-laid...

Kings X Taxi Club

donation to LTFUC

Kings Cross Taxi Club on

Camley Street has gener-

ously donated £1,000 to

the London Taxidrivers’

Fund for

Underprivileged

Children. The picture

shows Gavin Tresidder

of the KXTC presenting

the cheque to LTFUC

committee member

Gerry Dunn MBE.

Gavin said: “Both myself

and the dedicated team

here at the KXTC are

delighted to make this

contribution to such a

worthwhile cause. We

have taken the decision to make an

annual donation to the LTFUC to help with their fundraising in

the future. We look forward to serving hot home-made meals

with a warm welcome to all drivers 24 hours a day.”

The Hon President, Hon Chairman and Committee of the LTFUC

are very grateful to the Kings Cross Taxi Club for their kind

donation and support...

Raymond Levy

LTFUC Press Officer

Call Sign July 2016

Page 20

“It suddenly went dark inside my

Vito,” Wayne Leedham (O27) told

Vitos:

Call Sign, “not much fun on a

dark and dismal night,” he added!

“I checked the owner’s handbook for further

When the lights go out...

information but eventually had to resolve the

issue by getting it sorted with a cab electrician.

Blocks of fuses are

There are blocks of fuses dotted about in vari-

sited above and

ous places on the Vito, so it’s a bit of a maze

below the Vito bat-

locating the correct fuses speedily,” he sighed.

tery with others in

“The problem was traced to the fuse that

the engine bay

supplies power to the interior lighting system

and once that was replaced, things came back

MAM Auto Electricians

to normal and I was able to see again at the

can be contacted on:

flick of a switch because I was beginning to run

020 7607 3915 or

low on my box of matches,” he said seeing the

07831 222046

funny side of the situation now, but clearly

Unit 9 Mitre Bridge

relieved that the matter had been resolved!

Industrial Park, Mitre

Then there was another “light” problem for

Way, London W10 6AU

a second Vito owner on Dial-a-Cab - Michael

(access from Scrubs

Parkins (A62). Mike lost his Vito roof sign illu-

Lane)

mination.

off and need to be drilled out! I frequently

Alan Green

“Finding passengers when your ‘For Hire’

replace them with plastic screws, which makes

sign is working is tough enough, but without it

life easier all-round...”

Call Sign Online

there is no possibility of finding anyone! Then

there’s the time it took before I even realised it

wasn’t working!”

PHIL (THE LOZ) HEWSON

So without wishing to make ‘light’ of the

subject - sorry, Call Sign was still in jovial mood

I would like to pay tribute to the man that many knew simply as

after its month off - Call Sign spoke to Michael

The Loz - Phil Hewson - who died on Tuesday 26 April 2016.

Andreou at MAM Auto Electricians who gener-

I first met Loz nearly 30 years ago when I went for a cholesterol test at

the LTDA gym. I had a shock after hearing that the reading was too high,

ously gave his time and expertise to inform our

as was my blood pressure and to make things worse, I was also over-

readers of the complexities of tracing MB Vito

weight. All that and just a month short of my 39th birthday! So I joined

fuses, and the trials and dexterity necessary to

the LTDA gym - one of the best days work I ever did.

change the Vito ‘For Hire’ sign bulb.

Loz put me on a diet, gave me a training schedule and in around

He told us: “The fuse blocks are scattered

12 weeks my body fat dropped from 27 percent to 25 percent and

around the cab in various places - under the

then within just a few months, down to the 21 percent that is said

hood in the engine bay and under the central

to be ideal for a man.

Loz was there all the way with me as I lost 25lb, my blood pressure

console in the drivers’ cabin are favourite

dropped to a more normal rate of 120/80 and the best boost of all - I

places and the locations change with different

could now get into my 32inch waist trousers - albeit by then they were

models!”

rather old fashioned and I needed to get some new ones! Phil then put

“As for changing the ‘for hire’ bulb, which

me into the class known as The 'A' Team (12.30 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and where I met a lot

in fact it is not, you’ll need access equip-

of other cab drivers, many of whom I am still friends with now.

ment because the hire sign light is actually

Loz also organised many charity events and was always there for anyone who needed help, never having

a fluorescent strip tube around 15 inches

a bad word about anybody. But he did love practical jokes and often during classes - ours in particular - he

would punctuate them with jokes! It was great and I really looked forward to going!

long and when I said access equipment, I

One funny story Loz related to us occurred while he was rushing to help another cab driver who was

was referring to ladders or scaffolding like

being assaulted after hearing a message coming out on his ComCab radio terminal. The fight was at the

you Dial-a-Cab drivers have at Roman Way.

top of Bury Street St James’s and as he approached he could see that it was mayhem. He jumped out of

That’s because you have to reach the roof

his cab and carried out his belief that you should always go for the biggest person, get in a good thump

sign light from the outside and not the

and the crowd would spread! They certainly did - the punch was so good that the person lost three teeth.

inside of the cab as in the TX taxis.

The only problem was that the person he thumped was the other cab driver! At first he wanted Loz nicked,

The reason is that the light can only be

but after time it was all smoothed over.

Loz was an ex-army PTI, an ex-professional boxer, a Black Belt in Karate, a master of Tai Chi and also of

replaced by removing the external Hire Sign

Indian martial art, Leviacol.

cover to gain entry to the tube. Replacing the

Around 20 years ago, Loz was diagnosed with bowel cancer and the treatment was successful;

light itself is relatively simple, but removing the

the day after his operation, he was standing up in the ward, attached to a drip and doing the Tai

10 star-style screws that secure the roof sign

Chi form. But over the past few years, the cancer sadly returned and Phil died on 26 April. He

cover can be a devil of a job. The originals are

will be sadly missed by all his family and the thousands of friends he must have made.

usually metal and can rust over time due to

Rest in Peace Loz, a lovely man, a unique person and a great friend...

weather exposure; invariably they often break

Brian Marcantonio (Ex-R73)

COMPLAINTS MEETING RESULT

Results of a complaints meeting that took place at DaC House on Tuesday 26 April 2016...

Name / call sign

Description

Verdict

Anthony Hizer (E63)

An article was published in Taxi Globe

2. 4 weeks suspension

on 16 March 2016 regarding a driver

3. Expelled

getting passengers to download the

Hailo app for a financial gain.

This action is in direct competition with

Upheld at an Appeals

Dial-a-Cab and the driver was actively

Hearing by the BoM

promoting another company.

on 13 May 2016.

Rules 2, 3

Call Sign July 2016

Page 21

After his deserved award in the Queen’s Birthday honours list,

Mike Son returns to earth...

Battling the tide...

The offer of fixed rates for various trips,

So that alone makes it absolutely

especially to and from the airport, has inter-

imperative that every single trip is cov-

ested customers and a number are starting to

ered... and quickly. Perhaps surprisingly

book these journeys. But trying to offer other

to some, that doesn’t always seem to hap-

cost-effective journeys that will appeal to

pen, especially during the morning.

users seems too often to be falling on deaf

When you read messages from dispatchers

ears, undoubtedly due to the ridiculously low

virtually begging drivers to cover trips, you

Problems...

rates that Uber charges. Nonetheless, we are

would assume that the licensed taxi trade was

It’s been a couple of months since my last

continuing the fight.

awash with work rather than facing the battle

article and work for drivers has certainly

Using different sales strategies - including

of swimming against the tide. Please, the next

decreased and seems to be continuing in

collating system data of past clients and re-

time you are offered a trip and are not on

a downwards spiral, however even though

introducing the Dial-a-Cab Services - is creat-

your way home, please push ‘accept’.

it sometimes feels that we are swimming

ing some interest, however, obtaining correct

What we need more than anything to put

against the tide, I can assure all members

and up-to-date contact details is proving to

against the price problem, is for the reputa-

that the Sales team are making every

be time consuming.

tion of Dial-a-Cab being ultra-reliable and the

effort to turn things around.

But even after promoting all the services

only way we can do that is by drivers pushing

we can provide, it still comes down to the

that ‘accept’ button as soon as you get an

fact that customers consider taxis in gener-

offer.

al as being too expensive. Nevertheless, in

order to attract new customers and give

Mike Son

them the opportunity to compare our ser-

DaC Sales Dept

vice and costs with their existing suppliers,

Gary Bedford

we are offering a 3-month probationary

(T39) has been on

period with no administration charge, no

Dial-a-Cab since

Call Sign

run-ins and no gratuities. So it would be

2000 - fourteen

very helpful if drivers give out our Dial-a-

July 2016

years after he

Cab business cards to non-Dial-a-Cab pas-

Editor: Alan Fisher

passed the

Knowledge. Now

sengers - ie street hails.

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

Tel: 0207 251 0581 Fax: 0207 553 7293

he wants to pass

on a different

Email: callsignmag@aol.com

Demutualisation and

Website: www.22-callsign.co.uk

type of knowledge, because

Printers: Premier Print Group

coverage

for the past 40 years, Gary has been involved

E6 6 LP

with boxing as a fighter, trainer and also a

We are very much aware of member’s

Design: Aldan Publications

referee for independent semi-professional

thoughts on demutualising the Society, how-

Tel: 07958 300 428

boxing circuit, the IBA. Now, from a new IBA

ever this will take time. Although the building

gym in West Thurrock, Gary is passing on

Email: debbiefresco@googlemail.com

will be financially valuable after - and if -

Views and opinion expressed in Call Sign must

some of his vast boxing knowledge via fit-

demutualisation is completed and a buyer is

not be assumed to represent those of the Editor or

ness classes every Saturday.

sourced, the value of the company (Dial-a-

Board.No part of Call Sign may be reproduced

He told Call Sign: “I love the sport and

either manually or electronically without the express

couldn’t let an opportunity go to pass on my

Cab) could still decrease.

permission of the Editor.

knowledge and train others interested in get-

ting fit through boxing. As for the IBA, I have

great respect for the organisation because it

allows the average person to fulfil their

Dial-a-Cab Credit Union

dream and box in front of a crowd.”

Gary has been training fighters ever since

his amateur career of 25 bouts came to an

Ever needed money quickly but were anxious about

end and says he loves training people and

variable bank interest rates?

has also coached kids all the way up to being

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

notable IBA fighters. But when Call Sign

asked him who the classes were aimed at,

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

Gary simply said anybody!

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

“The beauty of boxing is that anyone can

at your address also qualifies for membership!

do it. If you have never put a glove on before

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

in your life, it really doesn’t matter. These

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

classes are aimed at beginners, right through

to accomplished boxers. My aim is to give

up to 3 times your total savings…

people from all walks of life the chance to

The cost?

get fit whilst working at their own pace and

ability in a fun and friendly environment.”

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

The classes are at West Thurrock

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

Boxing & Fitness Gymnasium in Grays.

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

He holds two classes every Saturday, the

first starting at 10am through to

Call us on 020 7729 8171 or 020 7749 0585

11.15am; the second from 11.30am till

12.45pm. Each session costs £7 and any-

Members of the Financial Ombudsman Service

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

one over 16 is welcome.

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

For more information, contact Gary on

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

07811 965 176 and see the ad on page 12.

Registration number 213263

Call Sign July 2016

Page 22

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

IT IS NOW!

Bob Woodford looks at London’s long lost sporting venues

he cricket season is now in full

The Australian Pub

swing and it was England’s pace

in Milner Street is

and swing that did the Sri

on the site of the

Lankan team recently in the

old Middlesex CCC

first Test Match series of the summer.

Inset: An original

The visitors are in a re-building process

Hans Town street

at present and will be a soft touch for

bollard from 1819

most of the cricket playing nations

now at Cadogan

until their youngsters improve by gain-

Place

ing much needed valuable experience

against the top sides.

One top side England will not find so soft

is, of course, the Australians when the two

Humphrey Hall

old enemies next lock horns in the 2017

Mansions)

and

Ashes series beginning in Brisbane. So, talk-

eventually

the

ing about Australian cricket, I wonder how

Queen's Club in

many Dial-a-Cab drivers have ever driven

Baron's Court.

past it and wondered how The Australian

Hans Town had

pub in Milner Street, Chelsea got its name.

been started by archi-

And talking of cricket, I wonder how many

tect

Henry

Call Sign readers are aware of the existence

Holland and you can

of other county cricket grounds in

check out a remain-

London other than Lords and The

ing street bollard

Oval?

at Cadogan Place

We can now put those last 2 sen-

inside the gardens

tences together - because Milner

opposite the Carlton

Street was once the home of the

Tower Hotel. So

Middlesex County Cricket Club

the opener was a 3-day

where could you have imagined an English

and the Australian pub was

County Championship

batsmen doing his best to prevent an Aussie

named so because in 1878, the

match vs Yorkshire on

tourist bowler trying to knock his block off,

touring Australians played two

23rd to 25th May 1872.

never mind his wicket?

matches on the old lost ground.

You could be forgiven for

The pitch would have been slap bang in

The Princes

Cricket

imagining fans from the

the centre of Lennox Gardens and the

Ground in Chelsea was the

north buying a drink in a

oval shape of the surrounding roads on

creation of the brothers

Chelsea pub and then

either side rather give the game away

George and John Prince,

shouting “How Much!!!”

really - think about that next time you are

both prominent members of

The Aussies arrived in

short cutting through it!

the Princes Club that was

1878, playing 2 matches on

For the record, cricket was much more of a

the ground: Gentlemen of

formed in 1853 as a socially

gentleman's game back in the day - but you

exclusive gentlemen's multi-sports club

England vs Australia XI and

can still imagine taking your place around the

Players XI vs Australia XI - the last first class

- initially for rackets and tennis.

boundary ropes sporting a refreshing pint of

The exclusivity of the club catered for

match ever played at Prince’s.

ale. Howzat!

It was the increasing acquisitions of

those that were of the phrase coined “the

Be lucky

land to continue the building of Hans

upper ten,” or “the upper ten thousand” as

Town development that led to the club

named by American writer Nathaniel Parker

Bob Woodford

selling up and moving on to

Willis when describing the higher class of

today's Scotch Corner site (formerly

Call Sign Online

society in major cities. George and John were

both keen on expanding the club’s facilities

and in 1871 laid out a cricket field where

Lennox Gardens is now. Croquet was also

SID GOLD STONE SETTING

added to the list of sports the well-to-do of

SW3 could enjoy!

The consecration to the memorial stone of long-time Dial-a-

Cab driver Sid Gold (ex-E20) will take place on July 17th at

The boundaries of the site of this long-

Rainham Jewish Cemetery, 416 Upminster Road North,

lost sporting heritage are marked by

Rainham, Essex RM13 9SB. The service commences at 2.45pm.

Milner Street, Lennox Gardens Mews,

Sid joined the Society in 1965 and left 43 years later at the age of

Pont Street and Clabon Mews with the

86, much to the sadness of the girls in the call centre! Political cor-

inaugural match at Prince's taking place

rectness wasn’t something that Sid ever coveted and he would get

on 3rd June 1871. It was a gentle tussle -

away with saying the most outrageous things to them, but they

the Household Brigade vs the Lords and

loved him! Drivers held a great respect for him after hearing how

Commons! You can't really imagine the

he had fought off three muggers at the age of 82!

As his daughter Roberta said at Sid’s funeral: “We’re not here to mourn, but to celebrate a life…

public queueing around the streets of

”

Knightsbridge and Chelsea hoping for a

All Sid’s friends from DaC are invited to the consecration regardless of which religion

glimpse of this humdinger!

and also back to the house in Brentwood afterwards for refreshments. Just remember

Middlesex CCC played home matches here

that men need a covering for their heads during the cemetery service...

between 1872 and 1876 and records reveal

Call Sign July 2016

Page 23

he London taxi trade has been around

Call Sign poses a question to TfL’s senior hierarchy and asks them a

in excess of 350 years and is acknowl-

simple question...

edged as the best service of its kind

anywhere in the world, whether that is

ARE WE MISSING SOMETHING???

via plying for hire, phoning or using an app.

Radio manufacturing rivals, Marconi and

have involved taxi and minicab drivers, chauf-

Pye, had run early experiments with two-way

feurs and pedicab riders. The police don’t dif-

radio in vehicles but Marconi was first into the

ferentiate between them, but we suspect that

taxi business and used the services of a Stratford

our trade would have quickly heard had any of

cabbie, Alf Smith in 1948 when putting a basic

the attacks been by licensed taxi drivers. Hell, it

receiving / sending radio set into his cab. The

would have been on the front page of the

signals were awful, but the experiment of being

Evening Standard and quite probably on TV

able to pass ‘dummy’ jobs to Alf was deemed a

news channels. Meanwhile the West Yorkshire

success.

force reported four serious sex assaults and

Pye came back with a bang in 1950 when they

eight incidents involving violence against pas-

took the fleet owner of York Way Motors, Lew

sengers in Uber cars.

Levy and his son Wally to New York to see how

The Sun also took up the cudgels in a May

cabs there had adapted to radio. They were

19th article with its headline: 32 Uber driver sex

same DBS check as licensed taxi drivers and in

impressed and on returning to London put the

raps in one year! It began by saying that Uber dri-

a Freedom of Information request Call Sign

wheels into motion that saw the capital’s first

vers were accused of rape or sex attacks nearly

sent to TfL, they confirmed that “both taxi and

radio circuit, York Way Radio Cabs, hitting the

three times a month in London. It went on to

private hire drivers licensed by TfL undertake

streets. But it wasn’t for owner-drivers.

write of Uber’s world-wide record and the “string

the same enhanced DBS check and the charac-

Soon after, two more radio circuits were

of sex assault claims” across the United States

ter requirements to obtain a taxi or PHV licence

formed; Metropolitan Radio Taxis - which

before telling its readers that Uber was banned in

are the same.”

came and then went almost as quickly - while

the Indian capital city, New Delhi after an Uber

We have now followed that up with a further

the second circuit, The Radio Owner Drivers

driver raped his passenger.

FOI request asking about the DBS status of

Association (RODA), seemed to be an answer

those coming to this country within the past

London has had 154 various allegations of

to the prayers of owner drivers. But RODA hit

three years as refugees and with no paperwork,

which 32 were sex attacks by Uber drivers with

financial trouble and closed when Pye took

how they get jobs with Uber - and we know

in all probability a large majority of the other

their aerial equipment back from the office at

they do because we have interviewed two of

122 also linked to Uber - we say majority

Townsend Yard, Highgate.

them - but like all of Uber’s drivers, including

because we know that one pedicab driver

After RODA closed, some drivers wanted to

the one whose story we published after our

faced sex charges.

still continue with radio, but not necessarily

Gary Cox spoke to him at St Pancras, all are

So again we ask TfL if we are missing

with the fledgling ODRTS who were by now in

scared of losing their job and won’t give their

something? How many rapes, sex attacks

business under Bonnie Martyn.

names.

and/or cases of violence will Transport for

Another driver, Joe Stern, called a meeting at

But that doesn’t really matter, because it isn’t

London allow before they actually show

the

‘Rifle Range’ in Harewood Avenue,

just the taxi/minicab sides that are moaning.

some testicular fortitude and tell Uber that

Marylebone and it was decided to set up an

Facts are beginning to emerge showing exactly

we do not want them in London - or any-

opposing circuit to ODRTS and call it Radio

the type of company that TfL have licensed

where else in this country for that fact. New

Taxis (Southern) Ltd. That led to an all-out bat-

because we suspect that if DaC gained a record

Delhi expelled them for one rape because

tle between ODRTS and RT - one that turned

such as the one Uber now has, this Society

that is one too many. TfL are sitting on 32

dirty at times. But now, all the main circuits and

would have been closed down.

cases, yet Uber are still here and expand-

indeed the trade as a whole, is struggling for sur-

So let’s look at those figures and again

ing in number by the day. So we must also

vival and are joined as one in blaming the

ask TfL if we are missing something.

Transport for London licensing regime.

ask if there is a purpose to TfL?

According to the Daily Mirror, a Freedom of

London’s minicabs - aka private hire - have

We sent this article prior to publication to

Information request from 14 police forces saw

been around for the past 50 or so years and

TfL’s Leon Daniels, Garrett Emerson and

the Met Police admit that over the past 12

while our natural antagonism over those 50

Helen Chapman. We also sent courtesy

months, there have been no less than

years has bred an inbuilt dislike of them, many

copies to the Transport Committee’s

females making claims of rape or sex attacks by

from our side of the divide will admit that firms

Caroline Pidgeon and new Deputy Mayor for

Uber drivers in London. In fact our police force

such as Addison Lee and Brunel provide a

Transport, Val Shawcross.

had recorded 154 allegations that were said to

good service for their clients. And whilst there

The TfL response is below.

was a time when we would have blamed them

for our loss of trade, the PH firms are also strug-

Are we missing something? TfL reply…

gling with the number of minicab firms ceasing

In response, TfL's Director responsible for Taxi and Private Hire, Peter Blake, told

to trade hitting record numbers.

Call Sign:

Which leaves us with two names - Uber

and TFL? We all know that Uber are losing

“Passenger safety is our primary concern and we do all we can, along with the

money, but with sponsors apparently queu-

police and other stakeholders to make our services as safe as possible. We are in the

ing up to jump on their bandwagon regard-

process of implementing a number of changes to private hire regulations that are

less of bad publicity surrounding the cab

focused on further improving public safety. These changes will include ensuring that

company that Uber says isn’t a cab compa-

candidates for private hire driver licenses meet more stringent requirements and that

ny, money seems irrelevant and the

hire and reward insurance is in place for the duration of the vehicle’s licence.

undoubted aim is to take over the world’s

Enhanced action against touting and other illegal and potentially dangerous activities

taxi service. Recent rumours even suggest

is also a top priority and work is underway to improve both the quantity and quality

they are looking to run bus companies too.

of on-street enforcement.

And TfL? Well they’re supposedly running

All taxi and private hire drivers undergo an enhanced DBS criminal records check

the show...

before they are granted a licence and these checks are repeated every 3 years. We

So that takes us back to where we came in

take any report of sexual offences extremely seriously, revoking or suspending licenses

and our question to TfL as to whether we are

whenever necessary and pushing for the strongest possible penalties in the

missing something. The trade’s joint licensing

authority are said to be issuing up to 700 new

Courts. The police notify us straight way when a taxi or private hire driver is charged

licenses each week. As the number of

with a criminal offence and any driver who poses a risk to public safety will have their

Knowledge candidates is dropping and will

licence suspended immediately. We will also be speaking to Uber to confirm that it is

probably collapse entirely if things carry on as

ensuring passengers are made adequately aware that they are ride sharing with

they are, we have to assume that the 700 figure

strangers when they book UberPool.”

consists almost entirely of private hire.

According to Uber, all of their drivers face the

Call Sign July 2016

Page 24

Call Sign congratulates Dennis Heavin on his new grandson, because it’s now...

After over 40 years at Dial-a-Cab,

how could we say no to Dennis

Heavin (A01) - even though he is

a West Ham supporter!

“I just wondered if you could say a big

hello

our

beautiful

baby

Grandson, William (Billy Our Kid) Louie

Heavin, who arrived on Sunday 5th June at

Harlow Hospital weighing 10lbs 11ozs.

We are all so very happy for Mum Hayley

and Dad Nic and wish all three a very healthy,

happy and prosperous life as we have all

been waiting so long for our first Grandchild.

Lots of love, hugs and kisses to our newest

Hammers supporter.”

Regards Carol and Dennis Heavin

Congratulations to Dennis and the

whole family from everyone at Call Sign

Welcome to William Louie Heavin!

and Dial-a-Cab...

Professor David Begg is a former chairman of HMG’s Commission for Integrated Transport and has

an outstanding pedigree in transport related matters. And in a new report he says:

BUSES ARE CHOKING THE CITY!

Thanks to previous London Mayor, Boris

bus use anywhere in the UK and urged

Johnson, London’s taxis have been given the

new Mayor, Sadiq Khan, to prioritise

blame for London’s toxic fumes and made to pay

the problem.

with a 15 year life span on our vehicles. This has

Responding for TfL, chief operating

resulted in thousands of taxis being forced off the

officer for surface transport, Garrett

road and in the case of older drivers who were

Emmerson, said: “We’re doing

not in a position to buy a replacement, to actually

everything possible to mitigate con-

put them out of work.

gestion, including deploying a team

Very few taxi drivers would argue that our vehi-

of new on-street officers to clear

cles are not the cleanest around, however they are

obstructions and move unlawful-

also far from being the worst and for many years

ly stopped vehicles.”

taxi organisations have argued that we are being

Call Sign would like to

picked upon and that in reality it is London’s buses

make a few helpful sugges-

that cause the most problems - partly by emis-

tions to Mr Emmerson. Firstly,

sions, but also by the fact that there are far too

cut down the number of

many of them. So often, queues of the big red

buses entering central

monsters can be seen one behind the other with

London as more and more of

just a few passenger s between them all.

them contain just a handful

Professor Begg's report tells us what

Now we have support in a new report

of passengers and secondly,

from no less a person than Professor David

we've always known - buses cause

relocate bus stops to spots where it is

Begg, former chairman of the Government’s

possible to pass them while they pick up their

most traffic hold-ups!

Commission for Integrated Transport.

few people and not just before obelisks in the

ask Mayor Khan to remove the unfair 15 year

According to the report, some bus routes were

road such as in Fleet Street, so that it becomes

limit from taxis...

now operating close to walking speed whilst at the

impossible to pass them. A third suggestion is to

Jamie Corum, Call Sign Online

same time putting more toxic fumes into the atmos-

phere. The report named the number 11 from

Fulham Town Hall to Liverpool Street as the worst

with a peak hour average of just 4mph and blamed

the appalling gridlock for the poor efficiency record

buses now have - down 30 percent since 2000!

Professor Begg said: “Stop-start conditions

caused by congestion are a key factor and lower

operating speeds are bad for pollution.

Congestion dramatically increases carbon dioxide

emissions from vehicles. Under heavily congested

conditions tailpipe emissions can be increased by

a factor of three or four times.”

Commissioned by the Greener Journeys

campaign group, the report also blamed

Uber cars and an expansion in the number of

delivery vans from online retailers such as

Amazon for the deterioration in congestion.

Professor Begg called for all minicabs, includ-

ing Uber and other car services, to have to

pay the £11.50 daily congestion charge.

The Professor also said that the slow speeds had

led to London facing one of the fastest declines in

Call Sign July 2016

Page 25

The London Taxi Company (LTC)

As they head towards the company’s new electric taxi launch...

has announced changes to

strengthen its senior manage-

LTC STRENGTHENS ITS

ment team ahead of the launch

of its all new electric taxi in 2017.

Having successfully lead the company

MANAGEMENT TEAM

out of administration in 2013 and secured

a £300m investment from parent compa-

2017 will see

ny Geely, Peter Johansen is stepping

the LTC electric

back from daily management duties to

TX5. Inset:

focus on his new role as President of the

Chris Gubby

London Taxi Company.

Chris Gubbey joined LTC in May and

changes

will

will assume full management responsibili-

strengthen

the

ties as CEO of LTC from 1st July 2016.

company at a time

Chris brings with him decades of automo-

when it is deliver-

tive experience gained from

ing a

£300m

senior management positions

investment pro-

he has held at Vauxhall (UK)

gramme

that

where he was Manufacturing

includes the cre-

Director, as well as senior lead-

ation of a brand

ership roles at General

new research,

Motors in China, Germany

development and

and Russia. Chris has also held

production facili-

roles at Ford, Toyota and

Ansty,

ment in order to maintain

GKN. Most recently, Chris has

the high profile the company

Coventry, which will be complete in

been the CEO of Brilliance

2016. The development is the first new car

has built up under his leader-

Auto Group in China.

ship since

2013. Peter

plant to be built in the UK for over a decade

Peter Johansen’s new

and will focus entirely on the development

remains a company Director.

role will allow him to focus on senior

Both Chris and Peter will report to the

and production of battery electric commer-

level advocacy and business develop-

LTC Chairman, Carl-Peter Forster. The cial vehicles.

LTBAWD take old soldiers to Worthing

Midsummer’s Day (June 21st) saw the London Taxi Benevolent

Never too old to enjoy an ice-cream!

Association for War Disabled with 100 licensed taxi drivers,

including a number from Dial-a-Cab, take around 200 brave war

veterans for a day on the south coast seaside and their regular

yearly haunt of The Pavilion on Worthing Pier. A large crowd of

onlookers had cheered as the long parade of taxis travelled along

the sea front.

Now in its 68th year, this trip is always enjoyed by veterans -

many who have been going for years! LTBAWD secretary, Paul

Davis, said: “We have been going since 1948 with drivers hoping

to give something back to the veterans. There is a long tradition of

former soldiers becoming cab drivers, so they are happy to keep

this tradition going.”

Former Special Air Service Sergeant Phil Campion, who made

The London Taxi Benevolent Association for War Disabled has been

a speech during lunch, said before they all sat down: “This is

organising trips to Worthing on the South Coast since 1947. The chari-

something close to my heart and we have to get behind these

ty counts among its patrons Dame Vera Lynn and Joanna Lumley

people and support them. But I don’t want to go in there and tell

who have both been guests of honour at previous Worthing trips.

them war stories, because they have seen and heard it all!”

To donate to the charity, visit their website at:

The Mayor of Worthing Council, Councillor Sean McDonald

http://www.taxicharity.org/. For updates on the charity, follow

added: “It is a time-honoured tradition for the residents of

on Twitter @TaxiCharity, Facebook and Instagram.

Worthing to welcome these brave men and women every year to

our town. We are delighted that they enjoy Worthing so much

that they continue to visit us every year.”

Keith Reading

The 100 cab drivers began picking up the vets and carers

from their homes across London, including the Royal Hospital,

Professional Toastmaster

Chelsea from 6.30am. And as usual, every single soldier was

Master of Ceremonies

ready on time!

The taxis made a pit-stop at South Holmwood Village near

Tele: 01279 465 938

Dorking, where veterans were welcomed by the villagers and sup-

Mobile: 07774 860 374

plied with sandwiches and drinks for the day ahead. The convoy

Email: kgr.2@virgin.net

then drove into Worthing and arrived in time for a lunch of

sausages and mash, a day of entertainment and to renew old

10% discount for DaC drivers and staff

friendships.

Many of the drivers taking part - all of whom donated the day

Fellow of the Guild of

free of any charge - said the same thing; taking the veterans was

Professional Toastmasters

a privilege and certainly not a chore.

Call Sign July 2016

Page 26

UberPool matches up passengers going in the same direction, allowing

them to share the same vehicle and according to Uber, save 25% of

the usual fare. TfL have allowed it, but when Maaxi did it with taxis,

TfL said no! Jim Thomas investigated for Taxi Leaks and Call Sign…

How can TfL allow

A few months ago, Taxi Leaks asked on the

UberPool to continue???

TfLTPH Twitter account if they could give a

link to the legislation allowing Uber to oper-

ate its new ride-sharing UberPool service,

which is attached to their smartphone app. In

typical TfL style, I received no reply but one

was finally given to another driver - although

not as comprehensive as we would have liked.

It read: @:Jam55king: The Transport Act

1985 permits ride sharing in London.

Unfortunately, what they failed to point out

was that there are certain conditions that have

to be adhered to for Private Hire to undertake

shared rides with individual payments. The

wording states:

Advance booking of taxis and hire cars at

separate fares.

(1) Where the conditions mentioned in sub-

section (2) below are met, a licensed taxi or

licensed car may be used for the carriage of

passengers for hire or reward at separate fares

without thereby:

(a) becoming a public service vehicle for the

Minicabs illegally ranking at Old Billingsgate - apparently with TfL's blessing...

purpose of the 1981 Act or any related enact-

ment, or...

Daniels educating Uber’s CEO on how to cir-

knowing full well they did not comply with all

(b) ceasing (otherwise than by virtue of any

cumvent the legislation, telling her she

the requirements necessary at that time.

proviso made under section 13 of this Act) to

shouldn’t be putting this information out on

a) Uber has never taken a pre-booking.

be subject to the taxi code or (as the case may

Twitter

- a bit like when Admiral Lord

b) Initially, Uber never had a landline

be) the hire car code.

Nelson put a patch over his good eye and

for bookings, a requirement under the

Taken from the Transport Act

1985

spoke the immortal words: “I see no ships!”

PHV act 1998. TfL, however, continue to

online where the conditions state quite

The email from Mr Daniels was addressed

lie about the situation by repeatedly

clearly:

to Uber’s, Jo Bertram, dated 10 May last year

putting out incorrect tweets.

(2) The conditions are that:

with the subject heading: Tweet about pre-

(a) All the passengers carried on the occa-

booking. It read:

Questions that need

sion in question booked their journeys in

“Jo, I am getting a ton of tweets, insult-

advance; and...

ing as usual, about this message from

to be answered...

(b) Each of them consented, when book-

your customer service to a client. If you

Why are our trade organisations allowing this

ing his journey, to sharing the use of the vehi-

are monitoring it then you’ll know the

behaviour to go unchallenged? Why are they

cle on that occasion with others on the basis

words “no pre-booking” are being exploit-

not protecting the working practises of dri-

that a separate fare would be payable by each

ed. I wonder if you agree that it might be

vers from whom they take money in the form

passenger for his own journey on that occa-

helpful to use different terminology?

of subscriptions?

sion.

Since pre-booking is the rationale behind

In 2012, our representative orgs sat back

The TfLTPH Twitter account completely

PHVs it really is unwise to deny you do it

and did nothing about a PH company that

ignores this and has posted a tweet refer-

in this way. I accept that the phrase used

was illegally issued with 12 licence variations

ring to the fact that UberPool only use

is the one by the customer but is now

(satellite office licences) - the same week they

licensed private hire vehicles and require

being used to complain that we are allow-

were licensed as an operator - without first

the specific consent of each customer

ing something we shouldn’t.

waiting the required 12 months from initial

involved.

I am not really very impressed having

licensing as an operator.

We tweeted TfL and they confirmed that all

to try and explain long-term pre-booking

This same company is now allowed by

PH journeys in London must be pre-booked -

vs short-term pre-booking.”

TfL to turn up at certain venues around

including Uber. “We don’t allow PH vehicles to

Uber have stated on numerous occasions

the City of London, set up private hire

be instantly hailed, only taxis.”

that they don’t do pre-bookings and in the

ranks and be fed work by openly touting

We repeated the statement that each cus-

recent UberPool case where a young lady was

clipboard men. TfL and their compliance

tomer needs to be “pre-booked” and give their

assaulted by two male passengers, it tran-

teams always turn a blind eye to this par-

consent; we received this reply from TfL/TPH...

spired that no one in the vehicle had ordered

ticular operator, as it would seem do our

“UberPool services use licensed private hire

an UberPool journey. It is alleged that this has

representative orgs.

vehicles and require the specific consent of

become common practise now as the journey

They can't even say they didn't know about

each customer involved.”

on the whole is more expensive and the com-

this issue, because Taxi Leaks has informed them

Yet this is what Uber tell their passengers...

pany draws a larger commission from the dri-

on many occasions. Unless our trade organisa-

Uber UK Support: @capes_jay: Hey Jay,

ver than on single pick-up journeys.

tions get off their backsides and start taking TfL

so sorry for any delay here. No pre-book-

Once again we see Uber contravening regula-

to task, then the whole future of Licensed Taxis

ing but we recommend opening the app 20

tions that should see their licence revoked, yet

in London is in danger of dying out.

mins before travel to check availability.

TfL turn a blind eye and bend over backwards to

Jim Thomas

Then we had TfL Managing Director Leon

justify the fact that they licensed Uber in 2012,

Taxi Leaks and Call Sign Online

Call Sign July 2016

Page 27

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 month’s Flashback goes back 15 years to a May 2001 Call Sign article by Steve Shaller

With private hire licensing now

have generally been loath to get physically

imminent, Steve Shaller peers into

involved with those who threaten our livelihood.

the future and asks if in 2002…

Some trade organisations and associations,

founded with a remit to represent the taxi trade,

THE END IS NIGH?

are quick to apportion the blame onto us for the

It may have been 30 years ago, but I still

minicab problem; their defence being that it is

remember the advice freely given to me by

the direct result of we cab drivers refusal of hir-

cabbies shouting through their windows as

ings.

I drove my Honda 50 ‘pop pop’ through

These are the very representatives who have

the Knowledge traffic: “Don't waste your

let the trade down. They, in fact, represent

time, the game’s finished!” I ignored the

themselves and their egos. Their positions in

advice from those prophets of doom and

these organisations are ones of privilege, but prefer to use that privilege as a career move.

I'm glad I did, because over the years and

It is certainly better than pushing a cab, isn't it? Over the years there have been many bat-

by putting in the hours, I’ve earned a living.

tles won over the enemy, but I fear the actual war may be lost. Now our generals are con-

During this time, I’ve naturally had mixed

sidering liaising and working with our one-time foes - an if you can't beat them, join them

fortunes - some highs and some lows. The

attitude.

lows invariably being engines and gearbox-

And why? Because there’s money to be made from the licensing of minicabs by some

es blowing up, whereas the highs? Well my

radio circuits. Private licensed cars will financially benefit the radio circuits (but not the

wife reads Call Sign! But now for the first

members in the long term). Turkeys do vote for Christmas, especially if the stuffing is PLC -

time, I’m a worried man. I fear for the

Parsley, Lemon and Chestnut.

future of our trade and I fear for those

With TX1 sales well down and Metrocab in receivership, can you see yourself driving an

about to enter it. Although not naturally

MPV with a Private Hire license? After all, to pay £1500 more for the privilege of plying for

pessimistic, I have observed events past and

hire in the streets doesn't sound like a financially viable proposition to me.

present that have, and will, affect this

I apologise for making an analogy with WW2, but it took many years before we embar-

trade. There appears to be no indications

rassed our old German enemies to become allies. What will your attitude be towards our

of a healthy future; in fact there are posi-

new equally respected ‘compatriots’? Will you point them in the right direction when

tive signs of it being a bleak one. We all

they’re lost? Will you drink tea with them or stop to help them when they break down?

have our own crystal balls, but at this

Why not? After all, we’re all licensed now.

moment we can only surmise and specu-

Birds of a feather? Perhaps your crystal ball tells a different story. Pessimist, realist or

late what the future will hold for London’s

maybe just another prophet of doom? I'll let you decide…

licensed taxi trade.

Steve Shaller (R75)

Of my years driving a taxi, 23 of the 30

have been driving during the night where

the wholesale touting by minicabs is un-

nerving. Those of you who work days no

doubt see scabs at hotels, but what hap-

THE SALIERI RESTAURANT

pens at night is akin to pure fiction. I'm not

sure what I find more infuriating; touts

376 Strand, WC2

who blatantly steal work from under the

noses of the police or the idiots who get

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

into their death boxes.

In London - and only in London - will

restaurant where you can partake of the finest food and wine

you see this phenomenon. People from

And as a thank-you for helping our clients come

third world countries with pitiful com-

mands of the English language, many that

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

have no work permits and some even with

offer you a genuine 25% discount on your bill

criminal records, blatantly and illegally ply-

ing for hire. Could you imagine our Parisian

or Roman counterparts putting up with this

We are certain that you will be delighted

nonsense? There would be a blood bath.

And why is it that police do so very little

about the problem other than the odd

raid…?

With serious crimes such as murder and

rape on the increase, I do not expect tout-

ing to be at the top of the police's priority.

Is it because of a lack of resources that the

Please bring along your badge or Bill as ID

police take little or no interest in this crime

or because they do not wish to appear

Salieri Restaurant

racist by constantly harassing or arresting

376 Strand, WC2

touts who in the main are either African or

Afro-Caribbean? You figure that one out.

Reservations: 020 7836 1318

As responsible licensed taxi drivers, we

Call Sign July 2016

Page 28

“Yes, there was indeed only me so to speak,

but I was not actually alone,” Steve

Lederman (B54) told an increasingly con-

And then there

fused Call Sign reporter.

“When I took my MB Vito to the local NSL

testing station for its annual re-licencing pro-

cedure, my taxi was the only one there. All

was only me...!

the other vehicles waiting - of which there

were a number - were cars awaiting their PHV

licence. In fact the service I received was

ber pertaining to that particular taxi and on

quite excellent because I was in and out

special paper with the TfL security hologram

inside of fifteen minutes, the TfL plates

embedded we can print out the identifier

already affixed to the cab and I was back on

right here on our secure printer. We then

the road ready to go to work,” Steve

encapsulate the two identifiers, the small one

enthused. “Pretty good stuff,” he added with

that screws into the carriage door and the

a grin.

bigger one that attaches to the rear of the

We could have wondered why taxis were so

taxi, fit both identifiers to the taxi and the

outnumbered, but didn’t want to upset our-

owner/driver is then ready to go back to work

selves heading into the summer break!

on the streets of London!”

Amazingly, the following day, an eagle eyed

NSL’s Luke Allen then added: “The details

Call Sign snapper caught the TfL licence

of the taxi are updated onto the TfL database

number 00001 on a cab while out and about

as soon as the cab is ‘passed’ so that the

on the road! This in turn provoked a discus-

licence is recorded within seconds and so, for

sion around the coffee machine in the Call

example, the taxi is safe to use bus lanes and

Sign office as to how the licence numbering

the driver is able to return to work with the

system works and it was Daniel at NSL’s

minimum of delay.”

Staples Corner site who gave us a clear

Thanks to Daniel and Luke at NSL for their

description of the method used to generate

help. But we still wonder why there were so

Steve was in and out in no time...

those numbers, making them unique to each

many cars? Perhaps TfL can tell us???

individual cab.

ments, we enter the taxi details onto the TfL

“Once the taxi has been inspected by our

central computer database. That then gener-

Alan Green

testers and has complied with all the require- ates the sequentially unique, individual num-

Call Sign Online

Uber: Taxi driver huts when you want a wee!

e’ve heard it all now! In a recent memorandum to their partner/slaves, Uber were attempting to tell drivers

where they could go if desperate for a wee and included the obvious ones of McDonald’s, shopping centres,

railway stations and public toilets in parks before adding the following:

“Cabbies handful of ‘green huts’ (only 13 left in London) are rest spots for cabbies that could have toilet facil-

ities or pubs with parking, are all ideal for a quick pit stop.”

Er no, they didn’t mention about leaving their Prius’ on the rank, putting their head around the door and saying hi in

their chosen language! But no doubt LTPH can sort that out!

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Call Sign July 2016

Page 29

Fifty year old Barnet resident,

Minicab driver’s punishment for sex assault on female passenger

Sothisundaram Soorriyakumaran,

who drives a minicab for a living,

was given a suspended sentence at

SUSPENDED SENTENCE!

Woolwich Crown Court on June 14

for a sex assault on a 28-year-old

female passenger.

Following an investigation by the

Metropolitan Police Roads and

Transport Policing Command,

Soorriyakumaran was given 15

months imprisonment, that was

then suspended for two years! He

was also given 100 hours unpaid

voluntary work along with a 60-

day rehabilitation order and placed

on the sex offenders’ programme

for 100 days.

Soorriyakumaran was also fitted with an

electronic tag with a curfew between 7am -

Will minicab passengers as well as judges ever learn???

7pm for 60 days. He has also been given a sex-

ual harm prevention order which prevents him

Soorriyakumaran agreed and pulled up in the

appeared before Woolwich Crown Court

from driving or operating as a private hire vehi-

Old Kent Road. The passenger went from

where he pleaded not guilty. However, the

cle driver and fined £3,500 court costs. He also

the back of the car, moved to the front along-

evidence against him was overwhelming and

has to pay £1,000 compensation to his victim.

side the driver and began playing her music.

he was found guilty of the offence.

The RTPC’s Cab Enforcement Unit began

Soorriyakumaran then leaned over and

Detective Superintendent Adnan

their investigation after Soorriyakumaran was

began to touch the passenger before remov-

Qureshi of the Met’s RTP Command said:

said to have sexually touched his 28-year-old

ing his hand and continuing to drive. It left

“This was an excellent result and I urge

passenger late on July

31 2015. He had

the woman in shock.

anyone who experiences any kind of assault

picked her up from a pub in Pimlico and later

When they reached Surrey Canal Road,

or unwanted sexual behaviour to report it to

on in the journey she asked if she could sit in

Soorriyakumaran stopped the minicab and

the police immediately. If you commit an

the front seat so she could play her own

leaned into the passenger. She shouted at

offence on London’s transport network, we

music through the vehicle’s stereo system.

him and told him to stop. He said he was

will pursue and arrest you. We will get those

sorry and that he must have misunder-

responsible.”

stood her signal. Nevertheless, after asking

TfL’s director of enforcement and on-street

the passenger if she was ok, he asked if he

operations, Steve Burton, added: “We take

could have her phone number. She agreed,

any report of sexual offence extremely seri-

she said, just to get the driver away from

ously and push for the strongest penalties for

her and then gave him a false number.

any driver caught.”

Soorriyakumaran dropped her on the cor-

Call Sign says: This magazine blames

ner of the street where she lived; she then

neither DS Qureshi nor Steve Burton for

ran home and called the police.

the ridiculously soft sentence placed on

The Cab Enforcement section ran the

this disgusting minicab driver, but we

investigation and arrested Soorriyakumaran

would ask what a suspended sentence

in Barnet last year.

for a sex assault does for any female pas-

He was charged with sexual assault and senger thinking of using a minicab???

Your old TX1 Taxi is wanted

✓ Quick viewing and decision

✓ Cash waiting!

✓ Top price paid for really clean

examples

Please ring Graham on

or e-mail on

oldlondontaxis@yahoo.co.uk

Call Sign July 2016

Page 30

Either write to Call Sign at Dial-

have conflicting views on the issue. Geoff

doesn’t believe street card trips will

a-Cab House

increase, whilst both John and Graham

or email us at

have a differing view. I don't doubt for one

callsignmag@aol.com

moment that Graham processed all his past

transactions through DaC, but I stand by

Credit card charges

my statement this was not the case with all

authorities have ignored the interests of taxi

Hi Alan

Members. It’s funny that when Members

drivers; however they have been instrumen-

I am angry after reading the Chairman’s com-

make comparisons, they always add the

tal in looking after the interests of hundreds

ments re credit card charges. Does Brian

VAT; of course I understand that you have

of thousands of would be passengers, and at

really think that Dial-a-Cab are doing drivers

to pay it and it is a cost to you, but it goes

the same time created employment for thou-

a favour by only charging a lowly £1 plus vat

to the Exchequer and not to DaC - we are

sands of drivers. Since we live in a democra-

per day, even if we don’t do any. For the first

just the tax collectors.

cy, would you expect a candidate to offer a

four weeks I did 8 street card jobs for a total

Regarding the Credit Card (CC) charges,

manifesto that appeals to a few taxi drivers or

of £112.40, for which I was charged 4 x £8.40

you must bear in mind that you have been

to many thousand private hire drivers and

= £33.60. That is outrageous bearing in

awarded 20p on every single trip you com-

even more passengers? Taxi drivers have

mind the excessive subs we already pay. The

plete in an attempt for you to recover any

many advantages, especially from being self-

only reason credit card transactions are up

charges you have to pay regarding the pro-

employed. Working for a large impersonal

on DaC is because you have forced drivers to

cessing of Credit Cards. I wouldn’t mind

organisation is no fun and I suggest you stop

put through the system, which is what you

betting that in the vast majority of cases

moaning so much and put your own house

intended. In my opinion, the prediction that

those 20p's will more than cover any CC

street card jobs will rise is wildly optimistic.

in order first.

charges

incurred

the

In my experience the public were not aware

Hugh Burr

Member. Incidentally, talking of excessive

there were charges. The only fair way is to

London W7

subscriptions, I have just had a look back

charge transactions individually, as any other

You are partly right Hugh, Transport for

and in 2002 - some 14 years ago - our subs

account job ie 7.5 percent plus vat. In case

London have certainly looked after the

were £123.50 per month and of course that

you forgot, we already pay £12 per week for

interest of over 100,000 PH drivers. Why?

does include VAT...

renting the equipment.

Well official figures show that in 2014 TfL

Geoff Goddard (R10)

took in £5,249,000 for PH licensing.

Within 12 months, that figure had gone

Another view...

Hello Alan

Dear Editor

up to £6,505,000! To save you getting out

I'm sorry but I think the Chairman has got it

Although I am a private hire car driver, your

your calculator and then needing to read

wrong re the increase in credit card jobs. The

magazine Call Sign often comes my way. It

the instructions, Hugh, that is an increase

simple truth is that faced with the choice of

of £1,256,000. And as TfL apparently say

appears to cater just for taxi drivers and a lim-

they can’t stop ‘passing’ PH drivers, the

an excessive 10% charge (even more on

ited sub section of that group. Naturally your

figure will probably shoot up even fur-

small fares, eg an £8 fare with £2 fee equates

views will be prejudiced to favour any policies

ther while helping to justify that authori-

to an embarrassing 25% handling fee) or

that helps its members; may I dare to offer a

ty’s existence and the huge salaries of

stopping for cash, the customer would

different perspective?

Messrs Leon Daniels, Garrett Emmerson

always choose the latter. Now there is no

Our drivers have clearly filled a gap in the

and co. Not forgetting the Toyota Prius’

penalty they simply choose to pay by card,

market by providing a service that is popular,

and Tom-toms now sold and bodywork

which effectively works out cheaper taking

affordable to many people and remarkably

repair garages needed for minicab dri-

into account the wait at a cashpoint. There

easy to use. We usually get to a passenger who

vers more intent on following their sat-

was no sinister ulterior motive by members

calls us much quicker than any radio taxi cir-

navs rather than watching where they are

to use alternative methods as it would actu-

cuit is able to do. Our technology is advanced

going.

ally work out more expensive for them to

and easy for customers and drivers to use, with

Cruising? Well that happens to be the

process.

payment so painless it encourages passengers

purpose of real taxis; it allows passengers

To use this as a reason to review charges in

to use us even when they would not naturally

to hail one wherever they are - some-

future is wrong, and would impose further

have thought of spending extra on a shopping

thing I doubt you will ever find out

running costs that none of us can afford to

outing or social visit; a bit like Amazon where

about. But so long as you can continue to

suffer.

easy payment prompts further usage, and no

block up the set-down area outside St

John King (E75)

bill till the end of the month.

Pancras while YOU hang up, then all will

We have completed the topographical and

be well with your world. And by the way

Hi Alan

criminal record checks as required by the

Hugh, do you have any comment re MPS

After reading Brian Rice say that members

authorities. I certainly have the necessary

statistics showing a total of 1,427 PH dri-

must have been clearing cards through a

insurance for my work, indeed I have to work

vers having been charged with a crime

third party as since 2nd April, credit card

since 2011, of which 521 were for violent

usage has increased so much on DaC now

very hard given that my rate per mile is so

or sexual offences? No? Well how about

that changes have been made regarding the

much lower than that received by your drivers.

the 126 “taxi or private hire” drivers who

previous surcharges etc, I would like to say

There have been complaints about congestion

were charged with violent or sexual

that I have only ever processed cards though

and calls to limit our numbers, but have you

offences (which can include assault,

DaC, but I must also add that I seem to be

thought that from our perspective the conges-

grievous bodily harm, indecent exposure

doing a lot more card transactions now that

tion is caused by taxis cruising the Soho,

and rape) in 2015... of which none were

passengers are not reading the old signage in

Mayfair and Covent Garden areas looking for

taxis! Nice hearing from you Hugh...

my cab that credit cards were subject to a

passengers? We spend less empty time and so

don’t bother coming back ...Ed

10% handling charge. Basically, now that pas-

make more efficient use of road space. We also

sengers can pay by card at no extra cost,

see that some congestion is caused by unat-

many more are.

tended taxis parked for hours on ranks such as

TfL out of touch!

Graham Negus (Y73)

St Martin's Lane, King's Road and Aldwych

Alan

Brian Rice replies: Geoff, John and

to name just a few. In addition, we see obstruc-

How out of touch is Transport for London?

Graham, I’ll attempt to answer all three

tion caused by taxis waiting in unauthorised

In October, Tower Bridge will fully shut for

with one reply. Reading all three

places such as Praed Street holding up

three months, yet according to our licensing

Members letters, you will note that they

numerous buses. It is often claimed that the

authority’s traffic reports, this will just have a

Call Sign July 2016

Page 31

minimal impact! There is a small matter of

tioned this in May’s Mailshot. Our IT

21,500 vehicles a day that use Tower Bridge

department have been in dialogue with

so you have to wonder where else they will

Ingenico (the manufacturers of the pay-

go to cause this minimal impact???

ment terminal, providing secure electronic

Jon Robinson (E88)

payments) for many months. The software

Oh ye of little faith! They’ll use

for Pre-Authorisation is ready to go at our

Hammersmith of course! ...Ed

end, it has been for quite a while but we

have to undertake a rather detailed accred-

pening once we have demutualised

itation with Barclaycard before any final

because the profitable parts of Dial-a-Cab

The future of Dial-a-

implementation. In an ideal world, there

will be cherry-picked and lead to the

would never be network problems, but in

Cab???

demise of the Society that you say you

reality this is not the case, so I also men-

Dear Alan

love! It will be a sad day when we no

tioned that as a backup in case of signal

By the time members receive this edition of

longer see DaC on the side of London

problems, it is advisable to carry the man-

Call Sign, the results of the survey regarding

taxis.

ual receipts.

the future of Dial-a Cab should be

You’re quite right; the Members didn't

known. Our society has a long and

choose to elect me as Chairman and

respectable history, and it would be sad to

opted to stay on the same path. I must

After 50 years...

throw in the towel. However, the rationale

add I treat all members the same - new

Alan

for keeping Dial-a-Cab going is based more

and old - and that’s how it should be in

After almost 50 years on Dial-a-Cab, I cannot

on emotion than sound business logic. The

remember being so angry and insulted as

my opinion.

few private accounts we have left are mainly

I don't think we adopted the fixed-

when I read the article written by Board mem-

those of more elderly customers, whilst

ber Garry White in the May Call Sign in

price, no gratuity, no run-in business

younger people are moving in their droves

which he stated that the senior members of

model quick enough; perhaps that was so

to a prompt car service which has an easy-to-

our Society, such as myself and other long-serv-

as not to upset long-serving members

use credit card facility. This means that our

ing members, were only interested in gaining

like you? We should have been leaders in

account base as well as street work will con-

money for our retirement.

a driver app and of taking credit cards for

tinue to decline. I realise that all taxis will be

We have built this Society from virtually

the trade to create another revenue

taking credit cards by the end of this year, but

nothing. In the distant past we ran long dis-

stream for the Society, rather than just

other cities have had this facility for many

tances to cover work in order for our Society to

being the provider of taxis for a corporate

years and it may be too late for us to catch

flourish. I covered night dispatching shifts

market. Hailo and Gett saw a gap in the

up. Indeed our credit card facility is time-

when needed, I was a training officer on the

market and now they are going after the

consuming compared to the competition

computer dispatch system, I was night fleet

corporate sector; we could have done

and already relatively old-fashioned. I take

operator at the beginning of data dispatch and

that in reverse, however that's in the past

no pleasure in saying it, but surely it would

have been a marshal. After 50 years, the Society

now so as a Board we need to carry out

be in the interests of staff and shareholders

is like family to me. How dare Garry White say

the Member’s wishes as per opinions

to sell now and dissolve the business while

that I am not interested in the Society and

sought in the recent letter...

property prices are high. Any feelings of loy-

“...don't want to pass the Society onto the next

alty are not reciprocated by many of the cus-

generation of cab drivers.” I would like to

New Mayor

tomers and public whom we have served

know what he intends passing on to the young

Sadiq Khan said on LBC before the election

well for years. The oft-repeated line that

drivers as the Society is now running at a loss

that he would crack down on Uber, cap their

London taxis are traditional and iconic is

and possibly may not even be able to continue

numbers and tighten up the regulations. He

true but counts for little when it comes to

beyond another two years in any event. Yes, by

attracting new customers.

all means we have benefited through the years

will not let this trade die like red telephone

Our Chairman and Board members have

of blood, sweat and tears, which is the reason

boxes. Zak Goldsmith and David Cameron

worked hard for many years, but I have

we senior members voted to demutualise,

tried to smear him as an extremist Muslim;

heard nothing new in the last eighteen

move to less expensive premises, be bold and

he plainly isn’t and really seems like a gen-

months as to how we can achieve a recov-

“progress into the app generation.” By doing

uine bloke. Let’s hope he is as good as his

ery. Of course we all wish that this were not

so, what we senior members leave drivers is

word anyway because he will need to be. Just

the case, but wishes alone will not bring

the finance for them to perhaps upgrade their

look it this list of questionable Uber issues

about any change or pay the staff wages or

taxis in addition to having some money behind

on the Teflon coated ride app. There are alle-

our fuel bills.

them.

gations of sexual abuse, driver employee

Laurence Kelvin (W88)

Long-time drivers such as Jimmy Edwards,

rights court challenges, predatory lending

Well, now we know the result, we await

Gerry Webber and many others also wanted it

practices allowing drivers with poor credit

developments ...Ed

to be made known that, like me, they also felt

record to buy new Toyota Prius’ leasehold

incensed and betrayed by Garry’s article. So it

with an extortionate interest rate and they

Credit Card trips

was no surprise to me that he was unsuccessful

are now backed by a Saudi Arabian sovereign

Dear Alan

in his bid for Chairmanship of our Society if

wealth fund of $3.5 billion - this for a car

Because of the way the credit card system is

this is his arrogant opinion of its loyal, long-

company from a country with a host of

set up, if you pick up a credit card job and

serving members.

human rights issues, including not allowing

they pay by touching the PED screen via

Patsy McCarthy (C01)

women to drive! Is there no way of stopping

Contactless and then leave the cab, it is fea-

Garry White responds: Hi Patsy, it was a

this soul-devouring juggernaut? TfL seem

sible that - as happened to me - the card

thought-provoking article so it was nice to

content to let Uber come on stream, worsen-

could be void and you have lost the fare

see you and the two named members want

ing congestion. Is this now pay-back time to

because when you try to clear it, you can’t

to respond, that's what being part of a

London’s world famous iconic black cab that

because it has been denied. The pass has

Society allows you to do. 50 years working

has had such a fractious relationship with

now gone and you have lost the money on

with Dial-a-Cab is a great achievement and

their regulator for so many years?

the clock. The obvious answer would be for

I guess it's been worthwhile or you would

David Heath (ex-W27)

us to be able to confirm the validity of the

have gone to try another circuit. You say

Brighton, East Sussex

card prior to the journey by swiping it.

you would like to see DaC demutualise,

After Boris, even Bonzo the gorilla would

Ivor Belkin (C97)

move to different premises and still carry

be an improvement! So Sadiq Khan has a

Allan Evans responds: Hello Ivor, I men-

on trading! However, I can't see that hap-

good base to start from ...Ed

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