Although we have received a great response to our appeal for drivers, we still welcome more drivers to join us on our forthcoming Taxi ‘Safari Outing to Woburn Safari Park on TUESDAY 19TH MAY 2009. Please come and help us to give 300 ’special needs’ and disadvantaged children a wonderful day out. In case you have any doubts, we welcome all drivers with liveried taxis, coloured taxis and those that have adverts on. This applies to all our outings. As well as giving a great deal of pleasure to so many children, we promise you will have a brilliant and fun-packed day out yourself.

WITHOUT YOU THERE ARE NO OUTINGS SO PLEASE CONTACT OUR DRIVERS’ LIAISON: Susan Angel on 07958 280 881 OR ENTER YOUR DETAILS ON THE VOLUNTEER PAGE OF OUR WEBSITE AT www.ltfuc.org.uk

We look forward to you joining us for a fun day out

On 12th March 2009, The Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers held their Spring Court Dinner. Joined by Masters and their Clerks from many different City Livery Companies, the evening was a great success. The guest speaker was Paul Clark MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport. Just before the champagne reception began, new Freemen were admitted to the WCHCD. The Master, Andrew Overton and his Court of Assistants welcomed Spencer Davis, Alan Garner, Mario Alain Goinden and Edward John Relph. It is always gratifying to welcome new Freemen into the Company. Once these new members had had their photographs taken with the Master to mark the occasion, the reception began and soon The Saddlers Hall was filled with Liverymen, Freemen and their guests. It is always a good opportunity to catch up with friends and colleagues both old and new at these receptions and this was no exception.

The Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers is held in high regard throughout the City and Masters of other livery Companies attending this dinner brought a great diversity to the proceedings. It is always interesting to meet these Masters and this time visiting Masters included those from the Tax Advisers, The Firefighters, The Carmen and The Saddlers. For many one of the more prominent events in the annual diary of WCHCD is the annual Magical Taxi Tour to Disneyland Paris and many of the Livery Companies are pleased to help sponsor this event and make it possible. Andrew Overton said in his speech: “I take the opportunity to thank those Livery Companies who support our now famous annual trip to Disney. This year will be our 16th trip and to date we have taken over 3000 terminally and chronically sick children to Disneyland Paris.”

Paul Clark spoke of his admiration for London ’s taxi trade and the work it does. He referred to the less mobile passengers and how they have come to rely on the trade. He also told diners about the consultation that is being carried out at the moment to look into the provision of taxi services across the country. Not every town and city in the UK has the same requirements for taxis as London and so the government is consulting with the taxi trade, the private hire trade and its users to look at good solutions to meet passengers’ needs. Master Andrew Overton thanked Paul Clark for attending the dinner and said: “I thank you for joining us and for giving us an insight into Government thinking on the present economic situation and the way you see transport policy developing.”

Anyone wishing to learn more about the Company can contact The Clerk, Mary Whitworth, on 01494 765922.

On 7th December 2008 the cab trade lost one of its nicest drivers and a true gent. John Haselton, known by all as Sabu, who was aged 79 sadly passed away.  Sabu had held a clean Cab Licence for 45 years and was one of the old Pont Street faces; you could almost say a ‘fixture’!  In his years of driving a cab there wasn’t a shelter in London he didn’t use.  He loved telling and listening to the stories of shelter life, the wind- up and atmosphere.  When someone was off sick he was always first to start a ‘list’ for them and you would hear his famous war cry “Don’t forget, we got a chick fell out of the nest”. Which meant you had to put your hand in your pocket before leaving !! Sabu and Betty were often seen on the War Disabled and Children’s outings and he particularly loved the Christmas party held for the children at the Grosvenor House by the London Taxidrivers’ Fund for Underprivileged Children.  Sabu was a good friend of the late great Jack Taylor and they are both probably exchanging stories at this very moment! His family requested that instead of flowers, a collection should be made and given to the London Taxidrivers’ Fund for Underprivileged children and a sum of £380.60 was subsequently raised and given to the LTFUC by Sabu’s son David Haselton, who is also a licensed taxi driver.   We thank him most sincerely and we are sure that Sabu would have greatly approved of this kind gesture. The Hon. President, Hon. Chairman and committee of the LTFUC, along with all in the cab trade, send sincere condolences to David and all the family. 

Raymond Levy  (Press Officer – LTFUC)

The Albany Taxi Charity were planning on hosting their Annual Dinner and Dance in February 2009, but due to the current economic climate the committee have decided to postpone the event until Spring/Summer 2009.

The Chairman and Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support in 2008. It is greatly appreciated and hope you will continue to support our charity in 2009.  Best wishes to you all for 2009 from all the Albany Committee Members.