DRIVER PROFILE
MEET TONI CONLON: A REBEL WITH LOADS OF CAUSES!!
We got a call recently in the Association office, which started off quite the same as about 98 per cent of most of the calls we receive: “I wonder if you can help me... we’re having a bit of difficulty with our licensing authority...” This particular individ- ual sounded quite bubbly and bouncy, and we’ve ended up being regular ex- changers of emails and phone calls. Her name is Toni Conlon, and she drives a pri- vate hire vehicle in Tunbridge Wells. She not only got her local association to affiliate to the NPHA, but also volunteered to be our driver profilee for this edition.
What a hoot! Single - “and I like it that way.” Children - “None, never for a moment have I had the desire for a child.” Age - “None of anyone’s business... a young- ster!”
As with large numbers of folk in our trade, Toni got involved in this crazy industry
almost by osmosis, really... She worked in the financial sector for a good many years, specifically in invest- ments and pensions. She was a team man- ager of 12 at an award-winning call centre for one of the big boys in that field, which was subse- quently bought out by another company and 3,500 people were made redundant. Some months later, having set up a couple of local call centres rather than commut- ing to London or Brighton, Toni decided she needed to move on work-wise. Her father and stepmother had both been taxi drivers for over 30 years, so it was sug- gested that Toni give taxiing a go. “It was the last thing I wanted to do, but short of other options I agreed to give it a try for six months.
“That was five years ago. I now have three hackneys which I rent out, and I drive a PHV, a Citroen Xsara Picas- so, which I adore.
CONTRACT WORK WINS OUT
“When I first started, I worked for the largest PHV firm in the area, to learn the ropes. At the same time I applied to the County Council for school and social services work, and have gradually in- creased my contract work to the point where I do nothing else. I only work Mon- day-Friday; I have become a limited com- pany and am VAT registered, which has worked in my favour.
I
have five drivers to whom I contract out school work.
“I know it may be wrong to say so these days, but I do have an advantage in being female. There are only two other lady drivers in the area, and we are in great demand. “Working from the rank had little appeal for me, as I like rou- tine. I like to get up in the morning and have a fair idea of what the day holds in store. So council work is ideal; added to that, the money is guaran- teed and I can budget and plan knowing pretty well what is due in over the school year.
“I fail miserably with the ‘cleared out boot policy’, as I am a vol- unteer driver for the local wildlife hospital, so my boot has a col- lection of collapsible cages and carriers. I collect sick and injured wildlife from around the local area and take it to the ani- mal hospital for treatment. Occasion- ally I am given the rare privilege of returning a bird or animal to where it was found for release. I can’t begin to express the feeling of elation on these occasions.”
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PET HATES AND LOVES
Pet hates: Smelly people. Why won’t people wash?! Roadworks: Kent is notorious for the amount of road clo- sures and temporary traffic lights.
Two
years ago it got so bad that the workmen on one particular stretch had to have security because motorists were lobbing eggs and tomatoes at them. The 40-mile an hour brigade. It doesn’t matter to them what the speed limit, they do 40: 40 in a 60,40 in a 50, 40 in a 40 and 40 in a 30.
Injustice and unfair- ness, thus my desire to form the TW drivers’ association, to help protect the drivers and make sure they know their rights.
Animal cruelty: there are no words to express my utter dis- gust and hatred of anyone who is deliber- ately, or otherwise, cruel to any creature. If I ruled the world... Loves: my two cats, who hate each other so it’s a bit like living in a war zone.
My motorbike: CBR 400RR. We’ve been all over the place togeth- er: France, Spain, Austria, Germany,
Switzerland. I don’t ride as much as in the past but still enjoy a good blast out on a Sunday morning to get rid of the week’s stresses. Would love a Fireblade or even a CBR 600 but as I am only 5'1", short of hav- ing leg extensions I have no chance. My motorbike mates: We are a group of five, and spend as much time together as pos- sible, enjoying our bikes and mutual sense of humour and simply enjoying each other’s company.
FUN AND GAMES
“Now then, what about my experiences with customers?
How
about being called to the local Sainsbury’s where the security man bundled a very aggressive man under the influence of drink and probably drugs into my car, shut the door and walked away. I spent the next 25 minutes driving around from area to area while the passen- ger tried to score drugs from various addresses.
“All the while he was telling me he had a knife in his pocket and would use it if I didn’t comply.
At each address he made me
toot the horn to get the attention of the house- holder so that he didn’t have to get out of the car.
Eventually
someone said they had what he needed and as he got out of the car, I slammed my foot to the floor and shot off.
“I made a formal com- plaint to the manager of Sainsbury’s. I told them that if they have a problem in their store the proper course of action is to call in the police, not pass their problem on to an unsuspecting taxi driver, whether they be male or female. “To end on a lighter note, I recently had a good chuckle at one of my school kids. He got into the car to go home from school and, with a very con- fused look on his face, told me that he would- n’t be at school the following day as the teachers were having the day off to study bugs.
“On questioning him further, it turned out that it was an ‘inset’ day.”
This’ll give readers an indication of the nature of the conver- sations we now enjoy with Toni on a regular basis. Long may it continue!
PHTM OCTOBER 2010
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