PRIDE OF OUR TRADE
It is always a pleasure to say some- thing nice about somebody, rather than all the moaning and complaining we hear in th’news every day… so we present you with a page of feel-good praise of trade members from various quarters. Of particular interest is the licence holder from Sandwell, Edmund Grandison, who has been awarded as the country’s Best Reservist for his long and notable activities with the Royal Navy. Well done, everyone!!
PRAISE FOR KIRKBY CABBIE FROM N010
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has written a per- sonal letter of congratulations to Keith Shelly, a driver with Kirk- by-based Radcliffe Taxis, for achieving run- ner-up spot in this year’s GoSkills awards held at Wembley Stadium. Keith had been entered in The Achiever of the Year category after
completing both his BTEC and NVQ 2 quali- fication in taxi driving. The Liverpool Echo reports that the PM’s letter also emphasised the commitment of employers in providing training and develop- ment opportunities for their staff and raising the profile of the pas- senger transport sector.
ROYAL NAVY RESERVIST’S AWARD PRIDE A Black Country taxi driver who also serves with the Royal Navy as a part-time sailor has spoken of his pride at being named the country’s Best Reservist.
today.”
Able Seaman Edmund Grandison, who works as a cabbie in Sandwell, was reward- ed for his efforts over an action packed 11 years serving with the Royal Navy. Ahead of being presented with the award, he was picked up from his hotel in London by rac- ing driver Jenson Button, who had swapped his Formula One car for a black cab in his honour.
He was then driven through the city to Prince Charles’ London home, Clarence House, where he was
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Able Seaman Edmund Grandison, named as Best Reservist
presented with the award and enjoyed a cup of tea with the future king.
He said: “It was amaz- ing, but really strange. What do you say to the future king of England? “It was just me and him and we chatted for about half an hour, talk- ing about the youth of
Able Seaman Grandi- son, a father of two, has served in the Gulf, Somalia, the Falklands and Gibraltar and every time he has been called up he has had to give up his earnings and dish out his work to fellow black cab drivers. When he finishes his tour of duty he is back in his cab at the rank at Sandwell and Dudley train station in Brom- ford Lane, Oldbury. “I give a lot up for it,” he said. “I think that’s why they’ve noticed me.” The 42-year-old, from Acocks Green in Birm- ingham, is one of a Force Protection Team aboard the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Wave Knight that has foiled pirate attacks on two merchant vessels off
the coast of Somalia. During his most recent service at the begin- ning of the year he was part of a crew that fought off a number of pirate attacks. And in April RFA Wave Knight helped secure the release of 13 Yemeni fishermen who had been held hostage for a week and thwart- ed attempts by pirates to take over two tankers in the Gulf.
He has been in the Royal Navy Reserve since 1998 and is based at Birmingham’s land-locked but active HMS Forward near Birmingham City foot- ball ground.
Mr Grandison said: “It really is an honour. I am accepting it on behalf of all the reservists out there. They all deserve it.”
ST HELENS CABBIE’S FIRST ROYLE TITLE
A taxi driver who hit the headlines when he had a brick repeat- edly smashed in his face in a terrifying late-night robbery has published his first book of poetry.
Private hire driver Phil Royle, 59, was left suf- fering horrific facial injuries after a man and a woman viciously attacked him on Argyle Street, Cowley Hill, when he asked for a fare back in October 2004.
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But the retired police- man, who had to have part of his ear “glued” back on after the fren- zied attack, bravely continued to work as a taxi driver and subse- quently saw the brutal duo jailed for six and a half years combined. Now working for A to B cabs on Baldwin Street, Mr Royle self- published his first book of poetry just in time for Christmas, entitled Poetry in Motion. Phil told the St Helens
Photo courtesy of Lancashire Publications Phillip Royle with his book Poetry in Motion
Reporter: “I’ve written poetry in my spare time for the last 25 years but only started taking it really seriously about 18 months ago.
“When people started telling me how much they liked my poems I became much more focused and started compiling this book.” Poetry in Motion con- tains more than 180 poems, ranging from the humourous to the romantic and political. Phil from St Helens, a
cabbie for the last eight years, initially printed off 1,000 copies of the book and has already taken 200 advance orders. He added: “The response so far has been fantastic and I’d like to say a special thank you to everyone who has supported me in this project. Poetry in Motion, priced £11.95 is on sale now , copies of the book can be ordered by phone, on 07899 991338.
PHTM FEBRUARY 2010
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