DRIVER PROFILE 20 YEARS IN THE TRADE – AND STILL LOVING IT
As International Woman’s Day was on 8 March, we thought we would feature a par- ticularly enterprising and hard-working woman in this month’s Driver Profile. Most people who become involved in the taxi and private hire industry fall into two dis- tinct categories: they either hate the job and last less than a week, or they absolutely love the work and spend the best part of their working career behind the wheel.
Our driver profilee this month falls solidly into the second group. Meet Carole Greenwood, who hails from Lytham St Annes on the north west coast. Carole celebrated a rather special anniversary this January: 20 years’ service as a taxi driver in the St Annes area.
She takes up her story: “I was a struggling sin- gle parent with two children, then aged 11 and 13. I was working as a delivery driver for the local paper, the Gazette, on the vans – lifting a ton or more of newspapers every day.
“I wasn’t earning enough to pay the mort- gage and keep two children. A friend had a taxi and suggested that I rent it and do some driving in the evening. I loved it straight away.
“So I got my first badge in January 1998, with Fylde Borough Council. I also worked in the taxi office as a call handler for two years; the company was Whitesides, the largest and oldest established taxi compa- ny in St Annes.
WHAT LEISURE TIME…?
“I also simultaneously worked as a lifeguard and swimming teacher at the local pool. In 1999 I joined Lancashire Constabulary as a
Carole Greenwood
special constable, with a view to taking up a new career. However, that proved to be somewhat unsafe, as I would arrest some- one at night and take them to court in my taxi a week later!
“During the sixteen and a half great years that I worked on nights as a hackney driver, I had allsorts: ‘Follow that car/taxi!’ ‘Can we spy on my boyfriend?’ ‘Get me to hospital quick – I’m in labour/broke my arm/my friend’s been drugged and isn’t breathing.’
“I’ve been punched twice – once in the face. I’ve had several runners, I’ve had sick, wee and poo on the seats. I’ve worked every Christmas, New Year, Mother’s Day, Easter… always seven days a week.
“In 2014 whilst swimming, I rescued a small child who had drowned in a local pool. Although I resuscitated her, unfortunately she later died. It happened at the Dalmeny Hotel in St Annes. That was devastating.
“In 2014 I started my own airport transfer company, and with my friend Steve, we built
up the business, working round the clock, seven days a week. (
www.wildberrytravel.co.uk). We now have four drivers and many loyal customers - and good reviews.”
Note to PHTM readers: You just have to check out the Wildberry website: not only for their brilliant reviews, but also the most spectacular photo gallery!! They undertake around 2,000 jobs a year, mostly to the air- ports but also Preston station and beyond. They’ll go anywhere in the country for a fixed price; they don’t do local around-town work, mainly airport transfers.
Carole continues: “My children were latchkey kids for years; I made their tea then went to work. However we all got by. My children are now parents themselves. I look after a grandchild as well, in between running our airport business.
“I wanted to show that no matter how low you can be, or poor, or desperate, you can work hard, make sacrifices, and achieve suc- cess in the end. You can do it by being a good, kind and thoughtful person. I started as a single mum struggling to pay the mort- gage, and am now comfortable. It just goes to show what you can achieve with hard work.
“Not many women serve 20 years in this mad job. I still love it.”
As we’ve said before, most people do love the job – even if they came into the trade by accident of circumstance, as is often the case.
Happy Anniversary, Carole – no doubt you’ll carry on for a long time to come.
32
APRIL 2018
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