London taxi drivers forgo fares for Veterans day trip

[maureenho]

London taxi drivers forgo fares and gear up to take hundreds of veterans to the seaside

Ramzy Alwakeel

Published: 13 June 2015

Generous London cabbies will give up a day's fares to take hundreds of veterans to the seaside.

A convoy of black cabs will take 228 veterans and their carers from across the capital to Worthing on the south coast for a day of entertainment and - hopefully - sunshine.

In total, 114 taxi drivers are giving up Tuesday to take part in the Taxi Charity's annual outing - which has run each year since 1947.

The veterans, some of them Chelsea Pensioners, will be treated to a hero’s lunch on Worthing Pier before enjoying wartime-style harmonies from throwback vocal group the Polka Dot Dolls.

Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns and Lady Suzie Johns - both Taxi Charity patrons - will be joined on the outing by guest of honour Dr Julian Lewis, MP for New Forest East.

Veteran Bill Parr, who served with the Black Watch in Korea, said: "We love coming on these outings with the cabbies.

"They're a wonderful bunch who look after us so well and treat us like royalty. Nothing is too much trouble for them and the friendships between us last way past the outings."

Driver Graham Pike added: "It's great being with the veterans and supporting the charity. There's such a great spirit of friendship and the old boys and girls are just great fun to be with. It takes the stress out of driving a cab around all day."
The charity said cabbies were given a £30 cheque towards the cost of diesel for the trip each year - but most choose not to cash them.

Trips are funded by donations, many of them given to veterans themselves, who give up their free time to shake collection buckets across London.

Committee vice president Dick Goodwin said: "Our charity offers support, friendship and outings to veterans from all conflicts and services. The veterans can be as involved as they wish and are able.

"One of our main priorities is to let the veterans know we are there for them should they live alone and need our help."

Last month 80 drivers from the charity honoured Second World War veterans with a trip to Arnhem in memory of its 1945 liberation.

The charity asks that people visit its website for more information, or if they are interested in supporting its work.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/l ... 17703.html

[annie]

))))3

[wendy]

this gladdens the heart.

[Rosalind]

That is great fl09