Once again, The Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers (WCHCD) were delighted to be able to take part in the annual Pancake Races run in the Guildhall Yard, by kind permission of the Chief Commoner. Organised by the Worshipful Company of Poulters in association with The Cook & The Butler, the event is traditionally held on Shrove Tuesday, which is the traditional feast day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter, is customarily a time of fasting. Shrove Tuesday became Pancake Day because milk butter and eggs were often the foods given up for Lent.

Back in 2004, the Poulters began the City’s inter-livery pancake race. Then those taking part were Livery companies in some way associated with the making of pancakes. Now other Livery companies have joined the event, which sees the Livery Company Masters and their team’s race along the Guildhall Yard with a pancake in a pan. Each runner has to flip the pancake at least once without dropping it on the floor! Themed hats are worn making it even trickier to run. Unfortunately this year the Master of WCHCD, Andrew Overton was injured during a pre-race practice session and so Geoff Richards, a Past Master and taxi driver, agreed to run on Andrew’s behalf. Taxi drivers who are Freemen and Liverymen of the WCHCD racing included Carlos Oliveira, running in the “Mad Hatters” race; both he and Geoff were second in their respective semi finals. Ric Alford was running in the Liveryman’s race and Brenda Bartlett was in the Ladies Race. Each team has four competitors who compete for the Trophy – frying pans are awarded to the winner of each class final. The Gunmakers Company start each heat with the Clockmakers being responsible for the timing. The Fruiterers provide lemons for the pancakes whilst the Glovers provide the white gloves that are worn by each runner. Sadly WCHCD did not win in their heats this year, but are soon to start training for next years race.

Londoners and visitors to the capital may have seen a taxi carrying a livery for the Words of Peace project. This livery was given as a competition prize and was won by a man called Frank Fallows. Back in November 2008, as crowds stood still around the Cenotaph in Whitehall in remembrance of the many lives sacrificed in wars and conflicts, one man made a unique commitment to promoting peace. Frank, a successful businessman who runs a travel company in Wakefield, had won the prize of advertising space on a London taxi, which was awarded by the World Travel Market at London’s Excel venue.  He decided to donate it to the global Words of Peace project. This is an award-winning TV series shown daily around the world and presents a unique and inspiring perspective on the quest for personal peace. Broadcast free to air across Europe, the series features highlights of talks given by Prem Rawat the international speaker on peace.

Frank told TaxiCab News what inspired him make this unique donation: “My wife and I have been inspired by the words of peace spoken by Prem Rawat for many years now. We run a successful travel business, yet we know that what makes our lives fulfilled is the hope generated by his words and our personal experience of peace. I wanted to give something back and let other people know about Prem Rawat’s message of hope.”