SAD NEWS
FAMILY OF MANCHESTER DRIVER WHO DIED IN NEW YEAR CRASH PAY TRIBUTE TO MAN WHO WAS ‘EVERYONE’S FRIEND’
The family of a taxi driver who died fol- lowing a crash on New Year’s Day has paid tribute to the granddad who was ‘everyone’s friend’. The Manchester Eve- ning News reports that Saleem Pacha, from Manchester, died in hospital fol- lowing the collision on Yew Tree Avenue, in Fallowfield, Manchester. The smash, involv- ing a white Skoda Octavia being driv- en by Saleem and a black Mercedes C43 AMG, took place at around 3.30am on January 1. Four other men were also injured in the collision. Police said three of those men suffered seri- ous injuries, while the fourth is in a critical condition. Saleem, 59, was a taxi driver for Good- wins Olympic and also volunteered for charity Men’s Shed, which aims to tackle loneliness in older men. He was a father and had several grand- children. A statement re- leased by his family said: “He is going to be missed by his family and his grandkids, and the community as a whole. He loved and mixed with every- one, he was every- one’s friend. “We are really thankful for all of the people who cared after him. “He was involved with Men in Sheds,
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seriously injuring four others. Kelvin Todd, 34, is accused of causing the death of Saleem Pacha by dangerous driving on January 1, 2020.
Saleem Pacha
he went every day and loved it - for the last few years that was a big thing in his life.”
Friends and col- leagues have also been paying tribute to Saleem by post- ing messages on social media. Bernard Leach, a trustee from South Manchester Men in Sheds, said: “Saleem was an important and much loved member of South Manchester Men in Sheds. He was often at our bike repair workshop on the Merseybank estate where he was a driv- ing force in making the project success- ful. He could be found fixing bikes and giving his time and expertise freely. “He was honest, kind and with a wonderful sense of humour. He will be missed badly and fondly remembered by us all.” Meanwhile, a man has appeared in court charged with causing the death of the taxi driver and
He also faces four charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He appeared at Manchester Magis- trates’ Court on the morning of Monday 6 January and no pleas were entered. Mr Todd - whose address is unknown - was remanded into custody. He will next appear at Manch- ester Crown Court on February 3. Private hire drivers from across Manch- ester have raised more than £1,000 for Saleem’s funeral. Over 70 drivers have since contributed to a fundraiser, that was set up on Face- book in aid of Mr Pacha’s funeral, which took place on 7th January, and to support his family. Since closing the fund on Monday 13 January, the drivers had raised £1100. Mr Pacha’s eldest son told aAh! Maga- zine, “The efforts of everyone fundrais- ing has been great and just helps the family a little. We had so many drivers come around to the house to pay their respects too, which was nice to see that my dad had people who cared for him.” Mr Pacha’s family also said on a post addressed to the
drivers on social media, “Thank you very much every- body for your generosity and kind- ness. It has been a difficult time, and this will surely help take a bit of pain away.” PHTM spoke with Rafi Mohammed, the owner of Goodwins Olympic. Rafi told
us: “What can you say that is good enough about Saleem? He was a wonderful person… a true family man. He gave us 20 years’ service, mostly on nights. And then for that senseless at- tack to happen… Great loss.”
Rafi said that the local mosque had
organised a fund to assist Saleem’s fami- ly, and that a special service of prayers was conducted for Saleem on Thursday 16th January. All of us here at PHTM and the NPHTA offer our condolences to Saleem’s
family,
friends and col- leagues.
FAIRWELL TO SMITHY – A SAD LOSS TO THE INDUSTRY
The staff at PHTM and the NPHTA wish to pay tribute to Peter Smith, propri- etor for many years of N&J Pitt Taxime- ter Services of Old Basford, Notting- ham. Peter’s son Jason informed us that Peter passed away on 30 December 2019 after a long battle with cancer. Jason told us: “Dad got involved doing taximeters with his brother-in-law George back in the seven- ties; that’s how he got into this game. At the time George worked for Bell Punch taximeters; when this company ceased trading he started on his own at the back of a shop on Beach Avenue in Sherwood Rise, Nottingham, to continue servicing meters. “This is where Dad used to help out part-time at the back of the shop
Peter Smith, left, with Craig Charles at the PHTM Expo 2013
with fixing taxime- ters and tariff changes. “Then in the eighties they moved premis- es to Church Street, Old Basford where the company con- tinues to the present day. Dad took over the business there in the nineties, and worked until he no longer was well enough to continue. “Dad had a passion for taximeters; it was his life. He even collected old taxi- meters, which are on display for cus-
tomers to see. “Dad always en- joyed the PHTM Exhibitions; he never missed a show until recently, and we always looked forward to hearing his stories about the Expos.
“He will be sadly missed.” We echo those sen- timents, as it’s been a pleasure to know Peter and work with him for many years. We extend our con- dolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
FEBRUARY 2020
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