CHARITY CORNER


£1,700 RAISED AT NIGHT FOR SOUTHPORT CABBIES


A charity tribute night in honour of two Southport taxi drivers who died earlier this year has raised £1,755 for the British Heart Foundation (BHF). As previously reported in PHTM, the event was dedicated to George Halsall and Alex Crane, who both worked for Yellow Tops, and died within a week of each other. The event was organ- ised by Mark Gregson and Anne English who was Mr Crane’s part- ner.


The cheque was pre- sented to the British Heart Foundation on November 12, which would have been Mr Halsall’s birthday. Mr Halsall, 46, left behind his wife Debbie


ABERGAVENNY DRIVERS DRESS TO IMPRESS FOR CHARITY


(l-r) Debbie Halsall; Yellow Tops owner John Whiteside; Ken Fretwell, BHF; Anne English; Alex’s sister and dad, Tracy and David.


and two children. She told the Southport Visiter: "My husband died from a heart attack, although he had not been diag- nosed with any type of condition. This is about awareness too; people need to go and see their GP.”


Mr Crane, 43, left


behind four children. His funeral service was held at Southport crematorium and the town’s taxi drivers held a minute’s silence. Instead of flo- ral tributes, Mr Crane’s family asked for dona- tions to go to the British Heart Founda- tion.


SHEFFIELD FIRM CELEBRATES CHARITY TOTAL WITH FUN NIGHT AT CASINO


A taxi firm has given a big boost to good causes in Sheffield after raising £3,000 with a charity golf day. Mercury Taxis held the match at Dore and Tot- ley Golf Club, col- lecting cash for St Luke’s Hospice, Shef- field Children’s Hos- pital and Whirlow Hall Farm.


More than 150 golfers took part, and the


fundraising total was announced during a dinner at Napoleon’s Casino on Ecclesall Road.


General manager Der- mot Griffiths told the Sheffield Star: “We are delighted many local businesses and cus- tomers of ours, plus over 15 teams of our drivers, competed. “The golf club offered us outstanding hospi-


tality, with bacon butties to start the day, a round of golf, and networking over a meal afterwards. Mer- cury even sponsored a beer and sandwich at the ninth hole to keep everyone going.” Dermot added: “The support of the busi- ness community and our drivers has been tremendous.”


Richard Gore, Caroline Moore, Dermot Griffiths, Siobhan Newton, Peter Holmes and Martin-Miles Moore


PAGE 28


Mercury’s marketing manager, Peter Holmes, said: “This tremendous total was helped by a charity auction of sporting memorabilia, kindly donated by sporting personalities from around the region. “We had signed foot- ball, shirts, boxing gloves, snooker and darts from the many contacts we have made over the years. “I think we have car- ried most of these celebrities as passen- gers at some point!”


Big-hearted taxi drivers in Abergavenny, in a variety of comic outfits, turned their attention to raising money for Chil- dren in Need. The cabbies rattled their collection boxes, and also gave up their tips to make sure that the money kept building up. Shoppers crowded to support the cabbies, with Stewart Kelynack dressed as Spiderman, Anthony Jones as Bat- man, Mark Poskitt as a baby, Shane Lewis as SpongeBob Square Pants, and Gareth Smith as Superman. In another part of town, well-disguised Gerald Burgham, manager of Gregg’s, and Mia Pryce were raking in


Cabbies Stewart, Gareth and Tony with Amelia, aged 4.


Photo courtesy of the South Wales Argus


the money for the char- ity, for which the shop


had raised around £3,000.


ARMY RESERVE SALUTES GLASGOW TAXIS FOR SUPPORT


Glasgow Taxis Ltd has received a special commendation from 6th Battalion of the Army Reserve after being presented a handcrafted clock in recognition of its sup- port for Reservists and ex-servicemen and women.


In a relationship span- ning multiple decades, Glasgow Taxis Ltd has been an avid support- er of the armed forces, both full time and reservists, and has been actively involved in initiatives such as Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers (SaBRE), providing work experi- ence opportunities to Reservists and those returning from duty. SaBRE is a Ministry of Defence campaign tasked with promoting a positive relationship between members of the Army Reserve and their employers. It works impartially on behalf of both military and civilian communi-


ties and was created to help employers, particularly small busi- nesses, understand the role and skills of Reservists and increase their support for Reserve Forces employees.


The handcrafted wooden clock, which incorporates the Army’s slogan ‘Be the Best’, was designed and sculpted by a for- mer soldier and was presented to Glasgow Taxis Ltd by Lt Colonel Sandy Fitzpatrick of 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland. Stephen Flynn, vice- chairman of Glasgow Taxis Ltd, said: “We are humbled to receive such a gesture from and are delight- ed to be involved with one of the country’s most important organ- isations.


“The people of Glas- gow and Scotland are hugely indebted to the work of the Armed Forces and we will


continue to provide their personnel with as much support as we can through initiatives like SaBRE and any other means.”


Lt Colonel Sandy Fitz- patrick of 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said: “Glas- gow Taxis have championed the very idea of community engagement with the Regular and Reserve Army. They have made an outstanding contri- bution over the last few years; I am there- fore honoured to be presenting them this engraved clock in recognition of our appreciation. The Reserve Army and in particular our battalion the 6th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland have really benefitted from Glas- gow Taxis, not only from our employer and Reserve relationship but also through advertising on the side of their taxis. ”


PHTM JANUARY 2014


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