driver is so decrepit he can barely sit straight
in the seat. How many more jobs is the trade
going to refuse to take as did those few drivers
Watch out Guv’nor
, Q H H G H G D W 7 K H / D Q J K D P + R W H O " 6 X S S R V L Q J
you went to the dry cleaners with your suit and a
O D G \ � V G U H V V D Q G W K H S H U V R Q E H K L Q G W K H F R X Q W H U
here’s that Cockney
G H F L G H V W K D W G D \ W K H \ Z H U H Q � W G R L Q J V X L W V < R X
Z R X O G W D N H \ R X U E X V L Q H V V H O V H Z K H U H : H O O W K D W � V
Z K D W S H R S O H Z K R Z D Q W W D [ L V D U H G R L Q J D Q G W K D W � V
Rebel again!
the reason why John Griffen could be correct in
what he says and maybe he will take over the
: K D W D S O R Q N H U recession over for them then? Most of you will trade and then we can sit and blame each other,
The other day I had a mysterious but equally N Q R Z W K D W W K H U H K D Y H E H H Q W L P H V Z K H Q , K D Y H Q � W Z K L F K Z H � U H E O R R G \ J R R G D W $ F R P S U H K H Q V L Y H
boring person phoning my mobile number. I
had the patience for some cab drivers and quite
course might have to be implemented to the
answered the call and a voice at the other end
I U D Q N O \ I H H O W K H \ V K R X O G Q � W E H G R L Q J W K H M R E W K H \
trade showing them what the customer wants
said. “Is that the magazine?” I replied. “Magazine!
apparently worked hard on the knowledge to do.
D Q G L I K H R U V K H F D Q � W J L Y H L W W K H Q W K H \ V K R X O G J R
Who is this?” He then tried to sound like a failed
I started to look for nice clean black taxis to go
back to what they used to do before cab driving
gangster. “Never mind who I am.” 6 R , Q H Y H U
from the square, clock down, and pick up the
and the whole trade would be better off for it.
minded him and hung up. Now for those of you
guests for the journey to the RAC Club. I have
There you have it, the recession is over and the
and obviously the failed gangster, I am not a
come to the conclusion that not only is there
old gits coming out for a pittance and sodding
magazine. A magazine is something you read,
D G D \ G U L Y H U D Q G D Q L J K W G U L Y H U E X W D 6 D W X U G D \
up the trade have won the day.
not talk to. If you meant to talk to the editor then
D Q G D 6 X Q G D \ G U L Y H U D Q G , F D Q D V V X U H \ R X W K H \
I suggest you open up the magazine you were
are a totally different person from each other.
7 U D G H U H S V D Q G U D Q N V
referring to and read, or get someone to read it
$ O O W K H F D E V H [ F H S W W Z R Z H U H W R W D O O \ � O W K \ D Q G
Now that the ranks have been taken over by
W R \ R X D Q G � Q G R X W Z K H U H W K H P D J D ] L Q H F R P H V
when you consider that it last rained on the
a private company, it would appear they are
from and speak to the editor. Oh, the wanna
Tuesday before I wondered why they had not
Z R U N L Q J Y H U \ Z H O O 7 K H & U D Q E R X U Q 6 W U H H W U D Q N
be gangster on the other end forgot to withhold
E H H Q Z D V K H G $ W W K L V V W D J H E H J J D U V F R X O G Q � W
was busy with drivers going in all directions and
his phone number so when I tried to ring it back
E H F K R R V H U V 6 X S H U V L G H V Z H U H D Q X L V D Q F H E X W
not a particular destination that happens to be
the gangster never answered, funny that. Why
I took the chance and hoped my clients would
next door to where the driver lives. Give it time
would someone think he could hold an intelligent
be okay with my limited choice. The drivers I
and I think it will pan out better for the trade
conversation with anyone let alone me with the
used from the street were adequate for the job
S U R Y L G L Q J Z H G R Q � W D E X V H W K H U D Q N V E \ S D U N L Q J
opening words: “never mind who I am.” Maybe
D Q G W K H � Y H , K D G R Q K D Q G Z H U H H [ F H O O H Q W D Q G
on them and sodding off for the duration. I want
K H G L G Q � W N Q R Z Z K R K H Z D V D Q G Z D Q W H G W R D F W
I would consider them for any job I had in the
all of you who have had membership with a taxi
out his sinister gangster voice after watching a
future and with a bit of luck I can pay them a
trade organisation to look carefully on what they
- D P H V & D J Q H \ R U $ O & D S R Q H P R Y L H ' L G Q � W Z R U N
little more next time.
K D Y H D F K L H Y H G I R U W K H W U D G H R Y H U W K H O D V W � Y H
Z L W K P H W K R X J K E X G G \ % R E 7 K H % X L O G H U L V P R U H
\ H D U V , V L W P R Q H \ G R Z Q W K H G U D L Q " , I W K H \ F D Q � W
frightening. I did wonder how he got my number
Of course, you will always get a few that spoil
turn up and support a demonstration do they
though, and I thought why not get a friend to trace
it for the rest of the trade and I noticed that
deserve your hard earned cash to twiddle their
K L V Q D P H D Q G Q X P E H U L Q W K H 6 Q D U H V E U R R N D U H D , W
the awkward gits mucking me about were
W K X P E V R Q W K H L U S H W S U R M H F W V L Q V Z D Q N \ R I � F H V "
Z D V Q � W K D U G \ R X N Q R Z � E O H H G L Q S O D Q W S R W
R I D F H U W D L Q D J H D Q G L Q P \ R S L Q L R Q V K R X O G Q � W
be driving a cab at all. They knew I was a
Resign and join an organisation that does
something for your cash.
& D Q Z H S X O O W K H W U D G H W R J H W K H U "
cab driver because I was wearing my badge
when I approached them to do the job; about
John Griffen of Addison Loo said in an interview
I R X U G U L Y H U V J D Y H H [ F X V H V O L N H , G R Q � W I D Q F \
7 2 & 8 D Q G W K H & D U U L D J H 2 I � F H U V
Z L W K W K H ( Y H Q L Q J 6 W D Q G D U G W K D W X Q O H V V W K H
L W $ Q R W K H U V D L G W K H W U D I � F � V E D G L Q W R Z Q D Q G
: K H Q D U H 7 2 & 8 D Q G W K H & D U U L D J H 2 I � F H U V R Q
London licensed taxi trade got their act together
, � P � Q L V K L Q J L Q W H Q P L Q X W H V D Q G J R L Q J Q R U W K , W
the ground going to pay a couple of visits to
L W Z R X O G E H W K H H Q G D V Z H N Q R Z L W , I Z H G L G Q � W
G L G Q � W E R W K H U W K H P W K D W W K H \ Z H U H Q L F N L Q J M R E V
our nice little people who park on working taxi
sort ourselves out then he would take over.
off the back of the rank by stopping or did it
ranks? Instead of plotting up at train stations
+ H � V K D O I U L J K W D Q G K D O I Z U R Q J W K H O L F H Q V H G
actually occur to the driver going home in ten
Z K \ Q R W W D N H D F D E U L G H " , � O O W D N H \ R X I R U I U H H
trade unless we sort a raft of things out will be
minutes that he was already in town and he lied
W R W K H U D Q N V L Q % H U N H O H \ 6 T X D U H D Q G % H U N H O H \
G H D G D Q G E X U L H G Z L W K L Q D \ H D U + H � V F R U U H F W
D E R X W W K H W U D I � F D V L W Z D V O L J K W E H F D X V H R I W K H
6 W U H H W $ O E H P D U O H 6 W U H H W D Q G % U \ D Q V W R Q 6 W U H H W
there. Taking over the trade at the moment by
& X S ) L Q D O $ O V R Z K D W Z R X O G K D Y H K D S S H Q H G L I
where we appear to have the biggest piss
$ G G L V R Q / R R , � P D I U D L G L V Z L V K I X O W K L Q N L Q J + H
V R P H R Q H Z D V J R L Q J � L Q W R � W R Z Q Z R X O G K H K D Y H
takers of the trade parking and leaving cabs
certainly has the backing and money to take
broomed it to the driver behind. I think he would
V R P H W L P H V D V L Q W K H F D V H R I W K H % U \ D Q V W R Q
over minicab and coach companies. He has
have. John Griffen is right we have to get our
6 W U H H W I H H G H U U D Q N V I R U K R X U V R Q H Q G 7 K H V H
P R U H F O R X W D W W K H & D U U L D J H 2 I � F H W K D Q D Q \ R I
act together. Look at the car washes around
F R P S O H W H D U V H K R O H V F R X O G Q � W F D U H O H V V D E R X W
the taxi trade organisations, bogus or otherwise
W R Z Q D Q G \ R X � O O Q R W L F H P R V W R I $ G G L V R Q / R R � V
working taxi drivers and if they are not shopping
but taking over the London taxi trade with his
� H H W J H W W L Q J Z D V K H G R U G R ] H Q V R I R W K H U P L Q L F D E V
then they are weaselling in the luggage area
G U L Y H U V Z K R F R X O G Q � W � Q G their way out of a
having the full in and out treatment ready
of the Cumberland Hotel trying to nick a job
F X O G H V D F " , W K L Q N Q R W 6 R Z K D W G R \ R X W K L Q N
I R U W K H L U G D \ � V Z R U N 8 V X D O O \ Q R W R Q H / R Q G R Q
from the hard working taxi drivers waiting on
is the root problem of the London taxi trade?
licensed taxi is in the queue for a wash.
the ranks outside. Come on TOCU/ Carriage
, � O O W H O O \ R X V R P H W K L Q J W K D W K D S S H Q H G W R P H R Q 2 I � F H U V S D \ W K H P D Y L V L W D Q G Q L F N D I H Z W K H Q
6 D W X U G D \
th
May 2009. I managed to secure a
So what has the London trade got going
maybe if you hit them in the pocket we can get
job supplying thirty black in colour London type
I R U L W V H O I "
work back into the cabs who really want it.
taxis to take guests to a function from a hotel
It would appear nothing except drivers who
in the centre of London. It was a really nice
are lazy, arrogant and oblivious to customer
& D Q \ R X U H P H P E H U W K H V R Q J E \ 6 W H Y L H : R Q G H U
V X Q Q \ G D \ D Q G , K D G � Y H W D [ L V R Q K D Q G U H D G \
and disabled needs, such as telling wheelchair
D Q G L Q R Q H O L Q H K H V L Q J V � O D W H O \ , � Y H E H H Q
to start the job. They were all clean; the drivers
X V H U V W K H \ G R Q � W K D Y H U D P S V Z K L F K E \ W K H
looking in the mirror.” You know how it goes. I
were dressed properly and would be paid well
way is an offence under the (DDA) Disability
K D Y H W R W H O O \ R X L W L V Q � W W U X H E H F D X V H K H � V D F W X D O O \
for their efforts. All I had to do was get another
Discrimination Act 1995. Drivers who are dirty
E O L Q G % X W \ R X N Q R Z E O L Q G K H P L J K W E H E X W V W X S L G
twenty or so cabs from the street. All had to be
and dressed inappropriately, intransigent,
K H � V Q R W , V D \ W K L V E H F D X V H Z K H Q \ R X O R R N L Q W K H
black and of the traditional taxi shape. In other
P L V H U D E O H X Q K H O S I X O V X U O \ F K H D W L Q J S U R O L � F
mirror what do you see staring back? Do you
words, no Mercedes, Metro Cabs or minicabs.
broomers (a London cab driver who passes see your future? Did you notice your job sliding
The job was from The Langham Hotel to The
the job back to the cab behind) even in this down the shitter? Did you really know private
RAC Club in Pall Mall. Easy peasy? Not quite. U H F H V V L R Q D Q G E H O O L J H U H Q W Z R U O G � R Z H V P H hire were creeping up your back alley? No you
D O L Y L Q J � F K D U D F W H U V E H F D X V H , � Y H J R W W K H O R R N H G E X W O L N H 6 W H Y L H : R Q G H U \ R X V D Z Q R W K L Q J
I had my wife paying the drivers cash at the knowledge and how wonderful I am. Do you + H � V J R W D Q H [ F X V H \ R X K D Y H Q � W
5 $ & & O X E D Q G , Z H Q W W R W K H U D Q N D W - R K Q / H Z L V � V want to sit in a cab where the partition window
L Q & D Y H Q G L V K 6 T X D U H W R blag the cabs off the L V V R � O W K \ " , G H I \ D Q \ R Q H W R V H H W K U R X J K W R W K H Remember: they are not the solution - they are
street. I tried to telephone all the taxi radio front windscreen. How can we expect our fares the problem. Get rid now.
circuits but they all must have been watching to pay top money to travel to the airport in a
W K H & X S ) L Q D O D V Q R Q H E R W K H U H G W R D Q V Z H U F D E W K D W K D V Q � W V H H Q V R D S D Q G Z D W H U D Q G W K H & R S \ U L J K W % H U Q L H 0 D \
50
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