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DRIVER PROFILE
A colleague recently called our attention to a big write-up in the Manchester Evening News about a black cab driver called John Consterdine, who conducts specially themed guided tours round Manchester with the focus on Man Unit- ed, Old Trafford grounds, The Cliff, and many other locations related to this rather well known football team. What a cool idea, we thought, and got a copy of the paper. Then the penny dropped: no wonder John’s name was familiar. A few months back we profiled Les Reid, another prominent Manchester licence holder, with whose brother Ian (company proprietor of MR Blackcab) John Consterdine participates in all sorts of charity events. So John had to be our next victim... er, driver profilee. Where do you start? How about at the beginning:
BUSY? ENTERPRISING?? THIS GUY NEVER STOPS! John Consterdine
Pictures courtesy of Manchester Evening News
John was born in Manchester, raised in Crumpsall, is 51 years old, mar- ried with three children. We’ll let John do some (most) of the talking: “I started on private hire in 1983... I remember a certain Bryan Roland start- ing at the firm I worked at; ask him about his yellow Lada... “I had a long break from driving, doing other jobs and gaining valuable experience in other fields. In 1998 I decided to change to become a hack- ney carriage driver. I’ve always had a keen interest in Manchester and its history, and in 2008 I was lucky enough to get onto a Manchester Tour Guiding course run by Visit Manchester. “The course was very, very intensive covering all aspects of the city: his- tory, architecture, sport, music, culture, the effects of the Industrial Revolution – and of course its people. Manchester holds a unique place in world history, being the home to many firsts. And the future can also be seen in this forward looking city with the transformation of East Manches- ter. The pioneering work continues at the University, the huge development at which is Media City.
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT
“Being the only fully qualified taxi driver and tour guide, I have a unique position within the city and have done many tours for visiting tourists and TV shows, such as Flog It, Scottish Television, Coronation Street tours. I have also been a regular guest on BBC Radio Manchester since 2009. “In 2012 a colleague (MR Blackcab) and I were having a chat as cab driv- ers do, and I was telling him about the sporting events I was partaking in: the Great Manchester Run (10K), Cycle (26 miles) and Swim (1 mile). We (he) decided I was going to do it for charity, and we chose Lancasterian School in West Didsbury as the beneficiary. I was the only person in Man- chester to complete all three events, and was lucky that the press picked up on it and I was filmed for TV for all three events. “We raised £1,250 for the school, and presenting them with the cheque was a humbling and emotional experience. (Please see website men- tioned here for details.) “So In 2013 we decided to put our charity on a more official basis, and Manchester Taxi Aid was launched with the aims of raising funds for local charities and trying to coax cab drivers out of their cabs and enter some of the Manchester events I myself have taken part in: the Manchester Marathon (26mi), cycle ride (52mi) Manchester to Blackpool ride (62mi) and swim (1mile) “This being the first year, we have been amazed at the response, and a special thanks must go to Mark and Jayne Devanney, both cab drivers, for their support and fund raising efforts. We have a few more events to go and any drivers are welcome to join us. Any donations go to
uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MRandTT - and don’t forget the gift aid. “2013 has also seen another change in direction for me: I have become a part time tutor at the Manchester College teaching the ‘Taxi Knowledge’ to
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prospective taxi drivers. I wish they’d had it when I started. My boss Julie McColgan has pio- neered this, and the work she has done and is doing is raising standards and giving drivers the opportunity to study for professional qualifications.”
C’MON U REDS Old Trafford
Well, what about these Man United themed taxi tours of John’s? With his encyclopaedic knowledge of Manchester’s roads and history, John has been taking these tours now for a number of months, educating passengers from far flung places such as Hong Kong and Malaysia in the rich history of the most famous club in the world. The tour takes in such locations as Northampton Road in Newton Heath, the graves of Louis Rocca and Sir Matt Busby; the former digs of Duncan Edwards and Tommy Taylor; the league plaque at Piccadilly at the Royal Buildings, which today is home to Primark and Burger King but which hosted officials from clubs across the country who founded the Football League on April 17, 1888; The Cliff Training Ground and Carrington Train- ing Ground; The Lads Club; connections with George Best including his Boutique at Bridge Street and what was his club Slack Alice at Bootle Street... and of course Old Trafford itself. Amazing. As John points out to MEN’s Mike Keegan on his recent tour, there is a reminder of humbler times in the shape of a tiny red plaque on Sir Matt Busby Way, in honour of James W. Gibson, chairman from 1931 to 1951. With the club on its knees and in real danger of going out of business, Gib- son, a wealthy Salfordian, invested the funds it needed to survive, paying long overdue wages and buy a Christmas turkey for each of its players. Later he would redevelop the crumbling stadium after those merciless German raids, and perhaps even more importantly launch that dedication to developing young talent that stands the club in such good stead all these years later. As John’s latest passenger attests, this is a trip that is full of surprises not just for daytrippers but for cynical sports hacks who thought they knew all there is to know about Manchester United. Think again!
For more information, or to book a tour, visit
www.manchestertaxitours.com or email
john@manchestertaxitours.com So what’s it to be first? One of John’s tours, or a donation to his latest charity? Your choice... and whichever direction you decide to go, you’ll not regret it. John never stops, and everyone benefits.
PHTM AUGUST 2013
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