FIRMS AND DRIVERS STEP UP - NORTH EAST DRIVERS HELP VULNERABLE IN LOCKDOWN
Through the corona- virus crisis taxi drivers are the un- sung heroes who have been helping to keep the wheels in motion. According to Chron- iclelive, North East taxi drivers have been pulling out all the stops to help local communities during lockdown. Putting their own safety on the line as they continue to make a living, they have been doing acts of kindness that have brought tears to people’s eyes. Dubbed the ‘knights of the road’, they have been acting as a lifeline to NHS
staff and the elderly. From getting vital hospital staff to work, taking the vul- nerable to the shops or just being a shoulder to cry on - they have been working their magic behind the scenes. L A Taxis driver Dar- ren Coleman, from Gateshead, was one of the first to offer his time to giving free taxi rides to pensioners. The taxi company he works for picks up the cost of the passenger and gives its drivers a fixed rate pay- ment. Since the lockdown Darren’s earnings have dramatically
Darren Coleman
reduced and he’s taken on a part-time job to supplement his income. Peter Cavagin, a taxi driver for 40 years, said: “Old people are the most vulner- able and many of them don’t have family,” said Peter, 60, from Newcastle. “Our role in the
001 TAXIS, OXFORD, DELIVER PIZZAS GALORE TO NHS STAFF
An Oxford-based taxi company has teamed up with a takeaway restaurant to deliver boxes of freshly-made pizza to NHS staff. According to the Oxford Mail, 001 Taxis helped Expriz- za & Desi Grill to provide lunch for 120 NHS workers at Warneford Hospital on Bank holiday Monday 4 May. The company has launched its Food for Key Workers campaign aiming to show appreciation to those who are serving the Oxford community during the pandemic. General manager,
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community goes beyond being a taxi driver. We can’t shy away from our jobs as people need our services.” Norman Finlay works the back shift and night shift for Dean Taxis. “Because of the shifts I do I’m tak- ing a lot of key workers to work,”
said Norman, 47, from Chester-le- Street. We’re taking people to work at care homes, taking people to hospital. I’ve had two jobs to London where I took two separate parcels for a design of a part of a ventilator. I felt as though I was doing my bit to help out.” Fellow Dean Taxi cabbie Jack Doran said: “I took an elderly lady home from hospital where she had just left her husband after he had died from coro- navirus.” Jack, 31, of Wallsend, added: “She had said her last goodbye and
she needed some- one to talk to. It was about 3 o’clock in the morning when I dropped her off at her house and we sat outside talking. She needed some- one to talk to and I was there to console her. We are a shoul- der to cry on during the pandemic.” Steven Pippin, man- ager at Deans Taxis, said: “The drivers have been unsung heroes and we’ve had countless ins- tances of drivers going far beyond the call of duty. We’re so proud of them and how they have adapted so quickly during this time.”.
SHREWSBURY CABBIE PRAISED FOR FERRYING PATIENTS
Directors of 001 Taxis: Javaid Akhtar, Mukhatar Ul Haq and Amir Khan (right)
Amir Khan, said: “Today’s delivery was extra special. It’s hard to imagine just what our amaz- ing NHS staff are going through right now. It’s an honour
and privilege to demonstrate our appreciation.” The company is planning to continue with its campaign every Monday throughout May .
A Shropshire taxi driver has been praised as “the very embodiment of pos- itivity” for giving patients a lift to a coronavirus assess- ment centre. The Shropshire Star reports that Simon Bendall has been providing transport to the centre at Shrewsbury Town’s stadium since the service began. Simon provides all patients with PPE to wear for the dura- tion of the journey, following strict guidelines. Steve Davenport, cabinet member for Highways and Trans- port, said: “Simon
put himself forward to help provide this service and kindly adapted his vehicle to meet all infection control
require-
ments at extremely short notice. This ensured this vital service could be put in place and start to assist those in the community with no
means or access to transport, who could now be col- lected and taken for the appropriate as- sessments. “Simon remains the very embodiment of positivity and is always helping and reassuring patients with advice where he possibly can.
JUNE 2020
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