my utterly selfish lifestyle, I manage to make it through to my next annual
medical I’m definitely going for the easy option. “No doc I don’t smoke, that’s
a disgusting habit. I’ve been teetotal for almost a year and I’ve joined the
bloody Salvation Army!!”
Books Number Five and Six
Please bear with me a minute while I plug my next two books. If you are a
working cabbie, take my word for it, even though it’s said that ‘self praise is
no recommendation’, I’m sure you’ll enjoy them. The Black Cab Story hits
the shops in late September and it’s a fascinating insight into the history of
Hackney Coaches – going way back to Oliver Cromwell in 1654. He was
basically our founding father after he presented an Ordinance to Parliament
for, ‘Ye Betterment Of Ye Hackney Coachmen In London’. The rules laid
down in that Ordinance are practically the very same rules we abide by after
more than 350 years. Only ex Mayor Ken felt fit to change one of those
ancient rules when he doubled the legal distance a cab-driver must go, from
six miles to twelve. I can’t argue with ex Mayor Ken on this issue, because
that particular law was laid down in 1642 during the English Civil War when
London’s defences were built approximately six miles from the centre of the
capital and it was considered dangerous for cabbies to go past the defences.
Mind you, even now it can be a bit iffy going ‘sarf’ of the river! The book
is a continuation of the popular ‘Sutton Short Stories Series’, following on
from the very successful, ‘The Concord Story’ and, ‘The Red Arrow’s Story’,
both selling some 15,000 copies in two years! It’s only got 10,000 words but
contains almost 100 illustrations of all the many different cabs used down
through the ages. My thanks to everyone who loaned me all these wonderful
picture and, after a very long wait, I will return them soon! Next spring sees
the publication of ‘Heathrow Cabbie’, yet another fascinating mix of not
only the long history of the Heathrow site – which dates back to before the
Roman era, but the very beginning of London cabbies being allowed to ply
for hire at the airport following an Act of Parliament in the late fifties. For
sure the Heathrow cabbies will love it, as will all those who have ever used
this massive complex. I am still on the cadge for any old Heathrow pics!
My heartfelt thanks to our editor David Millward, for allowing me to plug my
books and for his enduring support – he deserves to succeed!
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