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)
