Former PM Hit with Familiar Accusations of Undue Influence

The newspaper of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association

COVER STORY: EX-PM LOBBYING SCANDAL Page 3 STEVE KENTON DISCUSSES SAFER STREETS PAGES 16-17 EMMA LUNN TALKS NATIONAL

PRICE HIKE DAY PAGE 23 www.ltda.co.uk 6th April 2021#489

DOUBLE DODGY DAVE? Former PM hit with familiar accusations of undue influence

www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA 2

www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA Contents & News

Inside... 06:04:21

3 | News

5 | Steve McNamara

6 | Paul Brennan

8 | Anthony Street

11 | Lloyd Baldwin TAXI DRIVER VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR

12 | Letters & Lotto Winner COVID-19 RESEARCH STUDY Scientists working on a ground-breaking COVID-19 15 | Rob Lordan research study are urgently calling for more taxi drivers who caught the virus to volunteer to sign up and 16 | Steve Kenton help. The unique GenOMICC COVID-19 study, led by Genomics England and the University of Edinburgh 18 | Al Fresco analyses the genes of people who have had the virus to discover why some experienced mild or no symptoms, FORMER PM IN LOBBYING SCANDAL 20 | Joe the TXE yet others became extremely ill and needed hospital Former Prime Minister, David Cameron, has treatment. The research study is open to anyone who once again been engulfed by accusations of 23 | Emma Lunn tested positive for COVID, but only experienced mild inappropriate lobbying on behalf of a private or no symptoms and didn’t require hospital treatment. company. The accusations relate to Mr Cameron’s 24 | Chris Ackrill Volunteers can register online and arrange for a blood work for financial services firm, Greensill Capital sample to be taken by a nurse at their home or book an and his relationship with its founder, Lex Greensill. 27 | Puzzler appointment at a local collection centre. Early results Concerns first came to light after the Financial from the study are already being used to develop Times and Sunday Times revealed that Mr 29 | Exclusive: Taxi Charity treatments in the fight against COVID-19. You can find Cameron had lobbied the Chancellor, Rishi out more at https://covid.genomicc.org/ Sunak on Greensill’s behalf at the start of the 30 | Musher Meg pandemic, in an effort to secure the troubled Puzzler answers company access to a government-backed COVID loans scheme. After being investigated by the lobbying watchdog which he actually set up himself as 3 LTDA PM, Cameron has been cleared of wrongdoing. Taxi House 133 Great Suffolk Street, The Labour Party however, has now asked SE1 2PP T: 020 7286 1046 | www.ltda.co.uk the Committee on Standards in Public Life to @TheLTDA investigate broader allegations around access given Editor to Lex Greensill, who was an adviser to Number Katie Combes E: [email protected] 10 during the Lib Dem / Conservative Coalition Commissioning Editor UBER APPOINTED TO RUN Government. Labour have also raised questions Nick Hartop about Mr Cameron’s work since leaving office as E: [email protected] HAMMERSMITH BRIDGE FERRY TfL has appointed Uber Boat to run the Hammersmith an adviser for Greensill, with a considerable stake Produced by Century One Publishing Ltd Bridge Ferry service. The ferry will run alongside the in the company’s financial future and whether this Alban Row,27-31 Verulam Road closed Hammersmith Bridge, transporting up to 800 crossed ethical boundaries. St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 4DG. T: 01727 893 894, F: 01727 893 895 cyclists and pedestrians across the river at a time, This all comes as no surprise to those of us in E: [email protected] the taxi trade, who remember Cameron’s close www.centuryone.uk between 6am and 10pm daily. This follows rumours that Lime (part of Uber) has been selected as one of relationship with Uber’s former PR chief Rachel Advertising Sales Executive Jack Green T: 01727 739 196 the providers for the London e-Scooter trial, despite Whetstone and Cameron and Osborne’s lobbying E: [email protected] the company’s poor track record on issues including campaign to protect Uber from regulatory Creative Director workers’ rights and safety and its difficult relationship changes proposed by TfL and then Mayor of Peter Davies with the transport regulator. This leaves us wondering London, Boris Johnson, revealed by the Daily Designer & Advert Coordinator Caitlyn Hobbs what contract Uber and its affiliates will win next? Mail in 2017.

Printed by Manson Group, St Albans TFL EMPLOYEE INVOLVED Published on behalf of the LTDA by IN PHV LICENCE SCAM A Transport for London worker and her brother who helped mini cab drivers cheat their way to a private hire licence are Alban Row, 27-31 Verulam Road, facing jail. The pair were found Hertfordshire, AL3 4DG guilty of conspiracy to defraud, for charging prospective PHV

All rights reserved. No part drivers between £300 and £500 of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a for inside information on the retrieval system or transmitted by any means electronic, private hire vehicle licence mechanical or by photocopy- ing without prior permission (PHVL) test, after they had failed of the publishers. The views and opinions expressed in the exam on their own. Evidence this publication may not necessarily be those of the publishers. Please note that the last day for was found that they had helped inclusion of Classified lineage advertisements is five working days prior to publication. No liability is accepted by the publisher should advertisements at least 22 minicab drivers to not appear in the requested issue(s). While the publisher will take every care to ensure accuracy, no liability can be accepted for loss or damage pass the PHVL test between resulting from errors. February 2017 and May 2018.

@TheLTDA www.ltda.co.uk Did you drive a London Black Cab between 2012 and 2018? If so, you could have a legal claim against Uber worth up to £25,000

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www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA General Secretary | Steve McNamara The Fight Goes On

“It is important to remember that the Mayor and TfL haven’t won anything here, they are just being allowed to appeal.”

month, many members are getting the same. Steve’s comment in touch wondering whether there I have also written to the Treasury is any other support available and again on the SEISS, to explain the wanting to know more about the serious problems caused by the grants some local councils have delays to the fourth grant. I have fter what felt like been offering. As some of you asked that they do everything they months of waiting, will be aware, late last year and can to speed up the process for the last week, we received earlier this year, councils were fourth and fith grants to get self- the very frustrating given discretionary funding from employed drivers the support they newsA that the Court of Appeal government to support businesses need as soon as possible. had granted TfL and the Mayor hit hardest by the pandemic and permission to appeal the associated restrictions. Some There’s an election High Court’s judgement that councils, but not all, have made I have been keeping an eye on the the Streetspace Plan and A10 this funding available to taxi London Mayoral race, but apart Bishopsgate Corridor are illegal. drivers, through their discretionary from lots of relatively unknown The Judge’s decision is grant or Additional Restrictions candidates (either running as extremely surprising given how Grant schemes. independents or representing overwhelmingly in our favour the Most of these schemes are now newly established political parties) High Court ruled, but it is clear “We will fight closed as the initial funding had all rallying for the cab trade’s from Lord Justice Warby’s Order to be spent by the end of March, support, there has been little that he believes the Judgement was them on the bus- but we understand that there else happening. I have attended so significant and has implications only corridors, we may be other rounds to come. We a couple of virtual hustings for so many other cases, that he will fight them on will update members as we know events, but they have been pretty wasn’t prepared to just let it stand. more, but in the meantime it’s best uninspiring – including an Age the banned turns, to check with your local council UK event, to which half the main What’s next for the case? and we will fight and if you are having difficulty candidates didn’t even bother to It is important to remember that them on the road understanding their website or turn up. 5 the Mayor and TfL haven’t won completing an application then With rumours that even the anything here, they are just being closures.” call the LTDA and we can help. Conservative Party itself is pulling allowed to appeal. It will now Unfortunately, not every council support from Tory candidate, Shaun be down to them to make their is providing these grants for Bailey and recent polling from case, which they didn’t do very drivers. It very much depends Opinium / Evening Standard giving well last time. Plus, we still have a them on the road closures. on where you live and whether Sadiq Khan a 25-point lead, it all strong case of our own. The Judge No doubt this will spur on you meet the local criteria, so the feels pretty inevitable, like Sadiq will has asked that proceedings are some councils’ efforts to restrict whole process has been difficult just stroll back into City Hall and expedited in view of the important our access, particularly those like to navigate. Some areas are also most people won’t even realise there issues at hand, but they said that Camden, who have never been only providing support for those has been an election. If the recent last time, and it still took months to willing to compromise. However, who haven’t received the SEISS polling has it right (and you never actually make it to court. many other Boroughs have already grants, despite the fact that in know these days) Sadiq would gain Since I heard the Judge's order, seen sense. These councils have many cases, these are not enough 53 per cent of the primary vote and I have had Winston Churchill’s recognised the important role taxis to cover driver's business costs. win the election on the first round, voice playing in my head. I want play and factored us into their plans We continue to lobby London which has never been done before. to assure you that we will continue by removing barriers, switching to Councils, the Department for There is always the chance that to fight TfL and the Mayor’s efforts ANPR, and creating exemptions for Business, Energy and Industrial one of these other candidates from to overturn this important verdict taxis. I don’t think this will change, Strategy, Department for outside mainstream politics could and any other damaging schemes, whatever happens with the appeal. Transport, and individual councils surprise us all, but first it feels like with everything we’ve got. We to make discretionary grants the voters will need to venture out will fight them on the bus-only Financial support available to all our members and of their working from home bubbles corridors, we will fight them on With the self-employment furlough we have been working with the and realise there’s an election the banned turns, and we will fight payments delayed for another TPH team at TfL to help them do going on. n LTDA

Police complaint A few weeks ago, I complained to the Police about the behaviour of one of their most senior officers on social media, who not only wrongly labelled a PHV as a taxi, but then mocked drivers and members of the public, who rightly tried to point out his mistake. I have now received a reply from the ironically named, Directorate of Professionalism. From this, it seems that police officers have free rein to say and do as they like on social media, with no repercussions. They did offer me a phone call with the officer in question to resolve the matter directly, but I’ll give that a miss thanks.

@TheLTDA www.ltda.co.uk Chairman | Paul Brennan Bouncing Back “This time it feels like there is much more of an awakening happening in London, and the signs of our city coming back to life are much more widespread.” The Mayor of London, Sadiq Top rank Khan, said: “Central London’s mix of shops, restaurants, nightlife, museums and galleries is one of the city’s unique selling points, robably one of the most and attracts millions of tourists common questions I am every year. But COVID has had being asked by people a devastating impact on central both within and outside London’s economy, with retail, Pthe trade right now is, do I believe hospitality, culture and night-time the cab trade will bounce back? industries bearing the brunt. My answer is always and without “…London’s brand is an amazing any hesitation, absolutely. Not global asset for the UK, and the only do I believe we will bounce income it generates is vital to the back, but we will be bigger and whole country’s economy. That’s stronger than before. why everything possible needs My confidence in saying that to be done to support the city’s comes from the hundreds of cab turned a corner. The fact that we recovery from the pandemic. But drivers I have spoken with in the “Not only do I are now in Spring is also very apt. ultimately with tourist spending past couple of months, who cannot As London starts to “bloom” once down by over £10 billion last year wait to get back behind the wheel, believe we will more, I am hoping we are truly, as a result of the COVID pandemic, and who will do so with a new bounce back, but finally on the road to recovery. our economic recovery as a city and appreciation for the job. And yes, a country will require the biggest that is despite the many obstacles we will be bigger Getting recovery right tourism campaign that our city and that have previously been placed in and stronger than One concern I do have is that the country has ever seen, alongside our path, and indeed the new ones before.” same politicians – those whose the restoration of tax-free shopping that some boroughs continue to put leadership during the pandemic for international visitors. Ministers 6 in front of us. has been marked by delays, mixed can’t take for granted that once messages, and dithering – are the restrictions are lifted things will Life returning ones who will now be leading our simply return to normal.” This past year has seen vast swathes very different feel to it compared recovery. A case in point is the Whilst I agree with the points he of Central London’s once bustling to the others. In previous post- fact the Mayor of London recently makes above, it’s a pity that when streets more closely resembling lockdown periods, there was only stated that he will be spending £6 he talks about London’s ‘unique the Square Mile at the weekend, or a small upturn in traffic volumes, million on encouraging tourists back selling points’, and ‘brand’ being even the apocalyptic scenes from a brave few venturing back on to to London. On the face of it, that’s an amazing global asset for the UK, the film 28 Days Later, which saw a public transport and people were good news for us. Unfortunately, that he neglected to mention the lonely character walk the deserted slow to return to the streets. This the plan and report on how that world’s greatest taxi service. Ask streets of Westminster, Whitehall, time it feels like there is much more £6 million is to be spent is littered any tourist what image comes to and the West End. of an awakening happening in with the usual references to ‘it has mind when thinking of London, We are now witnessing the UK London, and the signs of our city to be a green’ recovery, and the I bet any money you like, the coming out of its third lockdown. coming back to life are much more implications of that dreaded phrase London Black cab will be high up Without question this time has a widespread. It feels like we have for us, worry me. on their list. n LTDA

Finding LPG fuel Location Provider Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Postcode In our trade’s efforts to become ever greener, a number of our colleagues Hopfield BP 747-759 Old Kent Road London Greater London SE15 1NZ who didn’t like the idea, or probably Herds Garage Esso 404 Staines Road West Ashford Middlesex TW15 1RZ more likely, couldn’t justify the cost of a new TXE, decided to have their cabs Victoria Esso 387 Edgware Road Cricklewood Greater London NW2 6LH converted to LPG. This conversion of Shinfield Shell 211 Shinfield Road Reading Berkshire RG2 8HA some TX4s, saw them go from a Euro IV or V standard to what is technically Cowley BP 54-56 Oxford Road Cowley Oxfordshire OX4 2DT a Euro VI standard, although the reality is that they are much cleaner than the Hexagon BP 340 Woolwich Road Charlton South London S E7 7AL average Euro VI. Unfortunately, with five Hatton Cross BP Great South West Road Hounslow Middlesex TW14 0PR plus years of life still left in their cabs, these drivers are now struggling to find Linford Wood BP Saxon Street Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire MK14 6PB a filling station that has the required Forest Hill BP 163-165 Stanstead Road Forest Hill London SE23 1HP fuel. I’ve asked LTDA rep Susan Sullivan to source as many locations as she can. Howe Green BP A10 Baldock Road Buntingford Hertfordshire SG9 9EG Here is her initial list of sites in or close Victoria Road BP Victoria Road Ruislip Middlesex HA4 0SA to London. She has teamed up with our colleagues at the UCG to develop the list Southgate BP 99 Chaseside Southgate London N14 5BU further, which I will update in the pages Southall ESSO Uxbridge Road Southall Middlesex UB1 3DD of Taxi periodically.

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@TheLTDA www.ltda.co.uk Executive | Anthony Street Questions With No Easy Answers

“In normal times, I always like to give an exact answer, as I know how frustrating it can be when you don’t get one.”

Streets ahead “Unfortunately, right now I would need a crystal ball to be able peaking to drivers recently, many have been to answer some of asking my views on all these questions.” the uncertainties and Sunknowns that we currently face in the trade. In normal times, I always like to give an exact answer, as I know how frustrating it can be when you don’t get one. Unfortunately, right now I would need a crystal ball to be able to answer some of these questions properly. So, instead I try to give drivers all the facts available, and offer my own opinion on what might happen based on my experience. Here are some of the questions I am being asked a lot right now and my answers in case you are more viable option and suit the way the time, I know some are waiting HJS decided that driving the wondering the same. Of course, you work, especially with five years to see if more EV taxis come to the taxi from Germany to London all the answers below are my still to run on the cab’s plate under market with greater range, before was not feasible during the 8 personal views and opinions. I the current age limit rule. investing in one. pandemic. This has delayed can only use the information Don’t forget there is still a good As of March 2021, the number things, but the process should get I have to hand and give you my possibility that TfL will approve of licensed London taxi drivers back on track once restrictions best guess. What I can tell you the Euro VI conversion and that was 20,833 and the number of ease. Meanwhile, TfL has also for certain, is that as soon as the would give an extra three years to licensed vehicles was only 13,309, requested some further technical LTDA knows anything specific on the life of a taxi on the current 12- (3,960 of which are ZEC taxis). So information from HJS to enable a any of these points, we will update year age limit rule. In my opinion, yes, in my opinion, there will be full assessment of the proposed our members. the age limit should never have more demand to rent a cab and design changes to the emissions been reduced in the first place likely a shortage, when the work reduction system. We should and in the current difficult climate hopefully picks up in the coming hopefully have an answer in the due to the pandemic, it should months. Let’s hope the garages coming months. most definitely be revisited. If the will help drivers by continuing conversion is approved, the LTDA to offer reduced hire charges. Q: Will work levels return to some will be lobbying TfL, the Mayor Many drivers have been paying kind of normality? and government officials hard for a reduced rate since garages Many drivers have asked me a grant for those drivers who are realised that they would only be if it is worth them returning to willing to have the retrofit system covering their costs during the work. The last two weeks have installed, similar to those provided pandemic. This suited the driver, actually been the worst I have through the delicensing scheme but also the garage, which could known for work levels, and and by the Office for Zero Emission avoid paying extra insurance costs the Easter holidays won’t have Vehicles, when purchasing a TXE. and finding somewhere to store helped either. Strangely enough, This would allow drivers to save the cabs. at the same time, I have been money in the short term, so that told tube, bus and rail services they can ultimately also afford to Q: When will we know about the have been much busier. To me, make the transition to an electric Euro V to VI conversion? this indicates more drivers are taxi. In my view, this is an obvious With many drivers still hanging on coming back to work, so there are and sensible solution. waiting for an answer on whether less fares to go around. TfL will approve the Euro V diesel The road map the PM has set Q: Will there be a shortage of cabs to Euro V1 conversion, out for the country in April, May, Q: Is it worthwhile buying a cabs to rent this year? we’ve asked contacts in TfL for and June will hopefully see an second-hand cab or leasing a During the last couple of years, an update. We know that late last increase in work, especially for new LEVC electric cab or should 4143 drivers have decided the year discussions did take place night drivers. I personally feel that I wait and find out whether TFL best way forward for them was between TfL and HJS about some the day work will be a slow burner, will approve the Euro V to VI to decommission their taxis, and modifications to the system and with people returning to work conversion? who could blame them for taking design changes proposed by HJS. gradually and a small percentage I have been asked if I would buy a the £10,000 or so on offer, if they During the meeting dates for still working from home a few late 2014 TX4 Euro V. Well, this all were thinking of retiring or leaving emissions testing were discussed days a week, but I believe this depends on how you work. Maybe the trade. Others may simply be and it was planned to take place will gradually fade out, and you work part time, say two to three choosing to rent a cab, as with at the Millbrook testing centre eventually, we will be back where days a week, then this may be a battery technology improving all in late 2020. However, ultimately we were. n LTDA

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www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA Executive S.O. | Lloyd Baldwin It’s Not Been an Easy Year for Anyone “At the end of the day, your health should be the top priority, and nothing should stop you getting the help you need.” about how important the cab On point trade was and how he saw us as an integral part of London, blah, blah, blah. Well, I could not have been e can all agree it more wrong. We all know how has been a horrible Boris’ attitude changed towards us year. Since the once in City Hall. pandemic hit, I have In the current race, there hadW conversations with members, are at least six candidates I who quite understandably have have heard promising to do struggled mentally, whilst trying anything and everything for the to cope with all the ups and trade. Conservative Candidate, downs, worries about surviving Shaun Bailey would offer us financially day-to-day and tax free loans for ZEC cabs. concerns about their futures. Actor Laurence Fox and his Where the cab trade is new Reclaim Party, along with concerned, I always try to be Independents Peter Rose and positive. I am confident that the Farah London, UKIP’s Dr Peter job will return to normal and so I Gammons and The Heritage try to allay member’s fears, which Party’s David Kurten are all are often heightened by things they prioritising getting London back have heard from others or seen to work and cabbies back on the posted by an unhelpful person on road, with policies like ending social media, spouting that the the Streetspace schemes and “job’s finished”. Some tell me that ensuring taxis go where buses go. they have stopped looking at social They all emphasise how important media, as it makes them feel worse. we are, how they will oversee the it is unlikely that we will need Big Brother contestant and a resurgence of the cab trade and 11 Get help if you need it to take licensing action.” It also bloke with a dustbin on his head, so on. Don’t get me wrong, it’s Some of the situations that includes a long list of independent and of course, all the more well- nice to hear all of this, but with members have described to me organisations you can call and known candidates from the major bookies currently putting Sadiq’s and the toll all of this has taken seek help from – even just have a political parties… odds of winning at 1/33, it seems has been very worrying. I am confidential chat with. I am taking calls from members highly unlikely any of these always here for our members and One piece of advice that I can asking me what my preference less well-known, independent will happily have a chat, but there offer is that, if you do speak to your is and who I will be voting for. candidates could beat him. Of have been times where I have felt GP, make sure they understand the I explain that back when Boris course, you can never say never, completely out of my depth. On job you do and that we drive to the took on Ken Livingston, I went but this election my answer is a few occasions, I have suggested group two driving regulations. This out of my way to tell everybody that for me, there isn’t yet a clear they speak with a professional or means that if they are prescribing that got in the cab (who would choice. Plus, regardless of who immediately contact their GP. any medication, if possible, it must listen) to vote for Boris. At the wins, we will have to wait until they What I often hear from these not affect your ability to drive. I am time, I had naively listened to, and are in office to see if they remain cabbies, who are clearly in need told that there are often alternative unfortunately believed his noise true to their word. n LTDA of support, is that they have medications they can offer. considered seeking it, but they are At the end of the day, your health worried that the GP would note should be the top priority, and Camden ZEC taxi PCNs it on their medical records, and nothing should stop you getting they think this could cause them the help you need. I recently received three calls from TXE drivers, who have had problems come renewal time. PCNs issued to them for entering roads covered by the Camden A while ago, our then Chairman, (Neighbourhoods of the Future) Experimental Traffic Order. Richard Massett and Executive, These restrictions are in place Monday to Friday between 8 and Anthony Street attended a meeting 9am and between 3 and 4.15pm on: at Transport for London, where n Nutley Terrace, west of its junction with Fitzjohn’s Avenue they discussed various topics n Netherhall Gardens, at its junction with Fitzjohn’s Avenue including mental health. TfL n Frognal, north of its junction with Hampstead Gate realise that cabbies need to be n Frognal, south of its junction with Arkwright Road able to get help, without worrying over the consequences. They also The signage at these locations clearly states recognise that drivers are not that electric vehicles are permitted and the order coming forward because of these specifically references ZEC taxis. Now, obviously fears. They were very clear that that should include a TXE, so something is going they were not looking to penalise Mayoral Election very wrong! Maybe, just maybe, it is a genuine anyone for seeking help. There On the 6th May, London’s residents error and Camden will write back saying sorry is a page on the TfL website on will vote for our next Mayor. The for troubling you. Either way, I’m afraid these mental health, which emphasises list of candidates is long and PCNs will now have to be appealed. As usual, I that “in the vast majority of varied. Notable entries include an am more than happy to assist any member who cases, if medical help is sought actor, a drill rapper, a candidate needs help with doing so. and treatment is undertaken, described as a 'vigilante', a former

@TheLTDA www.ltda.co.uk Taxi | Letters

TAXI and LTDA Member Mail

Subject: License renewal delay Subject: Help with legal issues Subject: Wonderful Taxi Driver Hi there, Dear Sir, Dear Taxi Editor, Just a quick message to say thanks again to Paul Like dozens of other taxi drivers, I was recently Last Thursday, laden with shopping, I took a short Brennan for all his help this week. arrested by a particularly keen individual officer cab trip from High Street Kensington to Avonmore My husband Paul has just received his license in for using my phone whilst stationary on the rank Road W14. the post this morning. We are so relieved after our at Kings Cross. After listening to some cab shelter I had a cheerful friendly Turkish, I believe, cab driver, months of chasing, phoning and writing emails to advice that I should plead guilty, I fortunately perhaps called Adzeem. We chatted and laughed on the TfL, you have achieved a miracle in just one day! decided to also give the LTDA a call for their opinion. short journey. The best part of an hour later, I realised I We can’t thank you enough. At a time when I was introduced to John Luckhurst who was had left my phone in his cab. I called him and although there are lots of terrible things going on in the immediately familiar with the office in question and he was the other side of Chiswick, he immediately world, this shouldn’t seem important, but these the charge (which was actually not using my phone brought it back to me. Additionally, he had tried to find little things gain momentum when you can’t get an but the rather vague ‘not being in control of the me via my phone - but I had not saved my name to it. answer from anyone. vehicle’). John offered to contest it on my behalf. He was so friendly and helpful - I’m a complete Take care of yourselves, hope the Black Taxi Drivers When the video evidence and summary of events Luddite and he even helped me with some iPhone are back out there soon. I mean that in the best were produced, John compiled an impressive queries I had. I believe he said he was in IT before possible way. Paul isn’t a stay-at -home type of person 26-point response which the CPS saw and then becoming a cab driver. He went above and beyond and and finds it hard to fills his days after 40 years of being a decided to drop the charge. I can not thank John and I even had to absolutely insist to force a tip upon him. Taxi Driver. I’m sure he’s one of many who are looking the legal team at the LTDA enough for all their hard I am so grateful. My life is in my iphone. If I lost it, forward to London opening up soon. work and professionalism and would advise any of I couldn’t afford to have bought a new one. I have no Thanks again for all your help. Hope you continue my fellow cabbies, particularly now in this new city laptop - or even address book! to stay safe and well. We wanted to buy Paul a bottle of of camera, timed signs and speed restrictions, to I cannot express my gratitude highly enough for this his favourite tipple as a thank you, but as agreed we will join the LTDA and enjoy their excellent advice wonderful driver. I hope he reads this - or a colleague donate to Cancer Research instead once the charity and protection. may know who he is. shops open, we make regular donations to this charity. Your sincerely, What a star. Best wishes, A thankful member Best wishes, Leah Anderson (Paul Anderson’s wife) (member asked us not to use his name). Marie-Therese

12 You’ve probably heard of the LTDA Lottery. What you probably don’t know is that since it started in 1986, there have been over 360 winners. That’s over £1,800,000 million paid out in prize money. LOTTO WINNER! Congratulations Mr John Richardson! Our latest winner is John Richardson, who has been a cab driver for 12 years. He recently re-joined the LTDA after taking a break, as he decided it was an important time to be part of an organisation and to have the LTDA in his corner, with the added bonus of the in-house legal protection, in case he ever needs it. His paperwork had just been processed and he won the first month he was entered into the lottery! John didn’t work the cab during the first lockdown from March to late June, as he is asthmatic and didn’t want to risk his health. Plus, with so few fares around, it wasn’t worth it. He has been working since then, but it’s not been easy. John said upon receiving his cheque for five grand, “I’m absolutely over the moon, it was my birthday a couple days ago, so this is a nice present to receive. As soon as lockdown finishes, I’ll be taking the family out for a nice meal.”

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www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA Columnist | Robert Lordan London’s Animal Runs 'Jim' “London cabbies are familiar with Manor House, but did you know that an escaped elephant once rampaged through there?”

Rob’s history tips

hilst on the Knowledge, I became fascinated by the hidden storiesW associated with London’s countless streets and points. I’ve been passionate about the city’s history ever since – and have discovered that sharing these tales with the public often results in a nice tip! We’ll begin at the Tower of London, which is famously home to seven ravens; the current names of which are Jubilee, Harris, Gripp, Rocky, Erin, Poppy David Wynne’s statue of Guy and Merlina. It’s said that if Raven at the Tower of London in Crystal Palace Park these ravens were to fly away, the Kingdom would collapse – a myth How would you get from According to the report, Jim ‘SophistiCat’ furniture shop on apparently started by Charles the park to the Boy with pretty much then took the route the King’s Road, until he grew II. The Tower was also home to from Manor House to Gibson too big and scary for the public London’s earliest zoo – the Tower the Dolphin statue near Square! After making off towards to bear. When that happened, of London Menagerie, which was Albert Bridge? This too is by Blackstock Road, he ‘trotted via they arranged for him to be taken established in the 13th Century, David Wynne; the boy swimming Highbury Vale, into Newington- back to Kenya. Christian never 15 primarily as a home for exotic with the dolphin was modelled turning’ and then into Highbury forgot Ace and John though – as animals which had been given as on his own son, Roland who New Park. a very famous clip, in which he royal gifts. tragically took his own life at the recognises and hugs the pair after age of 35. It goes without saying We know that route more many years – shows. Run it from the Tower that all London cabbies are than well enough, so of London to Regent’s familiar with Manor House, but instead run it from Manor What route would you Park where, in April 1828, the did you know that an escaped House to Tobacco Dock. take from the King’s Road Menagerie was moved to, thus elephant once rampaged through In this former shopping mall to St James’s Park? A wide establishing London Zoo. Over there? The incident occurred turned conference centre stands array of birds live here, the most the years, London Zoo has been in September 1893 when the a statue of Jamrach’s Tiger, which famous of which are the graceful home to many famous residents, elephant in question – who was is a reference to another incident – and somewhat imposing – one of who was Guy the Gorilla, named Jim – was taking part in which a wild beast escaped. pelicans. The St James’s pelicans who became something of a in a nearby circus. His keeper In this case, as the title suggests, can trace their lineage back to celebrity until his death in 1978, decided to take Jim for a walk it was a huge Bengal tiger, which 1664 when several of the species appearing on television shows one morning but, once broke out of Jamrach’s Animal were gifted by the Russian and even having a song written at Manor House, the Emporium – an exotic Ambassador. You may have about him. Guy was so called elephant broke pet store which was noticed that the Mint Wing of St because he arrived in London free and ‘dashed once located on Mary’s Hospital on South Wharf on Guy Fawkes Night, 1947. Back at a rapid pace The Highway(then Road looks somewhat older then of course he was just a baby into Finsbury known as Ratclfife compared to its neighbouring and was seen clutching a hot Park where Highway) during buildings? That’s because this water bottle. In 1961, a statue he knocked the 19th Century. was once in fact a huge three- of Guy the Gorilla was unveiled down a fence In this terrifying story horse stable complex, built in Crystal Palace Park by the and charged incident, the tiger by the Great Western Railway sculptor, David Wynne. the bandstand. managed to scoop for their horses who worked at a small boy up in its Paddington. Horses, who were jaws – but fortunately kept here well into the 20th the child never came to any Century, accessed the upper harm and Jamrach managed to stables via long, sloping ramps subdue the creature. which can still be seen today. Another famous London big cat was Christian the Lion, who What route would you was purchased as a cub by two take from there to the young Aussies named Ace and Horse Hospital on the John from Harrods in 1969 – back Colonnade? Now an arts then, the store had an exotic space this was once indeed a pets department and yes, you horse hospital; built in 1797 to could indeed buy a lion! Ace specifically treat London cab Christian the lion and John kept Christian in their horses. n TAXI

@TheLTDA www.ltda.co.uk Columnist | Steve Kenton Father, Husband, Cabbie & Human Being “…this young woman was simply walking home – and this could have been anybody’s daughter, including my own.”

Discussing the social construct shoulders with grim apathy and behaviour towards women A man in black of masculinity and femininity buried their heads in the sand. needs to change. It needs to would take more than a couple be recognised that although of hundred pages, so rather than Visibility, opportunity it is a very small minority of enter that foray, I decided to & fear men who inflict violence upon ell, it has certainly find out more about some of the Other issues highlighted included women, it is almost always men been a sobering issues which women face or fear street lighting and road design. that perform that heinous act. time of late, notably by taking to social media. I spoke This is something that many of This is where we as men need due to the tragic to a multitude of women, of a us cabbies can relate to. Anybody to take a look at ourselves, we deathW of Sarah Everard hitting diverse age range, on a number who has travelled around the shouldn’t expect women to home like a wrecking ball to the of community websites and it Outer Circle by Regent's Park change their behaviour just side of a building. The nature of became apparent that the same or been down many of the in case they may encounter a Sarah’s death has not just sparked responses were re-occurring… side-streets in London, will potentially violent man, it’s up to an overwhelming outpouring acknowledge the fact that some men to change their behaviour. of emotion, but furious debate Ghost neighbourhoods of the visibility for pedestrians For me, there really is nothing about safety on London’s streets, A major issue emanating from is quite frankly woeful, which more cowardly than a man primarily women’s safety. After the numerous discussions impacts on both opportunities to who is abusive, threatening or listening to Sadiq Khan, talking was the creation of (so-called) commit crime and in turn, rightly violent to a woman but sadly, to LBC’s, Shelagh Fogarty, about ghost neighbourhoods due to or wrongly, fear of being a victim incidences seem to have become Sarah’s disappearance and death, the installation of low traffic of crime. In terms of road and almost commonplace – perhaps I found myself agreeing with the neighbourhood schemes (LTNs). pedestrian walkway design being exacerbated by the difficulties Mayor when he admitted that This was a bit of a surprise to me another highlighted factor, one women can face in reporting London’s streets are not safe for due to the fact that I had never look at London Bridge will show such incidents. But just making women to walk. given LTNs much consideration you that it is physically impossible it easier for women to report in relation to crime, much less to escape or avoid a potential incidents or calling out men who Husband & father of women’s safety, but the general assailant because of the barrier perform such acts as cowards 16 two daughters consensus of opinion was that traversing the bridge, there are no is not nearly enough. We also Now I must be honest and state women can feel extremely unsafe breaks to cross and escape. must bear in mind that sexism that I am struggling in relation to or uneasy when they are not and misogyny are also abhorrent doing any form of commentary around other members of the The criminal justice traits which must be squashed. on this heinous crime without public, even those merely driving rhetoric… To truly try and eradicate the letting emotion get the better of through any given area in a car. Of course, you will always have majority of male on female me. I did not want to write this One of the seemingly unintended the usual arguments being violence, we have to educate article from a man’s perspective, consequences of LTNs is that mentioned, a more visible children from a very young age but from the perspective of because of the lack of public police presence, more police that there are certain behaviours a husband and father of two access, the fear of crime becomes stations and better access to which are not acceptable. From daughters in their mid-20s. This more acute – even if there is no the emergency services, this, an adult perspective whilst has stunned me, not just because obviously visible immediate of course is standard fayre, in the short-term we could this was a young woman with her basis for that fear. It was also although one of the more curious say we need a zero-tolerance whole life in front of her and not made apparent that when police comments, one which possibly approach, with stiff sentences simply because of the profession do attend crimes within some piqued my interest the most, was and re-education packages, the of the individual who has been LTNs, they are often unable to the suggestion that convicted longer-term solution is a shift charged with Sarah’s murder – pursue individuals due to the sex offenders and those who in our entire cultural approach but because this young woman carriageway obstructions. have committed violence against – which can take a generation was simply walking home – and One woman who lives inside women face GPS tagging for a or more. Though it has to start this could have been anybody’s an LTN described how her period of time, possibly even somewhere… daughter, including my own. special educational needs (SEN) for life. This obviously opens up son was assaulted two weeks ago, a ‘human rights’ can of worms What can our trade do? Being safe, not just whilst out riding his bike. She as well as the notion that such Looking for possible solutions feeling safe stated that it wasn’t the first time a tag ‘labels’ offenders as such or ways to assist the public, I have listened intently over the he has had trouble since the LTN and makes it arguably more especially women, will always be last few of weeks, almost every was installed. Another individual difficult for them to change a minefield for the taxi industry, presenter and commentator described how an attack in their behaviours, seeing their after all, the last thing that the on every talk radio station is another LTN at Highbury Fields identity solely as an offender cab trade wants is to be accused discussing both the case and saw a lady punched to the and being permanently labelled/ of taking advantage of a tragic women’s safety on the streets ground and her dog stolen – tagged as such… And would situation, so what can we as a in general. What is becoming again there was nobody about to such an approach even work as a male dominated industry do acutely apparent is that despite assist her or possibly deter her deterrent to these individuals? to assist? In the past, the taxi women coming forward and attacker. Whilst these are just two industry has been described saying that they do not feel safe, anecdotal incidents, the women I The big questions as ‘the fourth emergency the authorities have not been spoke with however alleged that As stated at the opening of this service’, taxi drivers have been listening hard enough – for councils and proponents of LTNs piece, I am first and foremost the eyes and ears of London decades. Ultimately women need across London, when warned of the father of two daughters for generations, assisting the to not just feel safe to walk the the potential issues which may and a husband – and a cab authorities where necessary. streets of London, they need to arise due to the lack of public driver and writer second. As However, anybody who has be safe. access, seemingly shrugged their such, I firmly believe that male tried to dial 999 to report an

www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA “…without wishing to sound like a cabbie trying to capitalise on tragedy and fear or provide a solution that in an ideal world wouldn’t be even contemplated – maybe there’s an opportunity for an app to provide priority taxi services for lone female passengers – even if it was just at night?” emergency will know that you can be on hold for what seems like an eternity. One of the ways that the industry could assist in dealing with a number of issues, including potential crimes against women might be for the industry to be given a fast-track text number or channel/digital platform to the emergency services, so as to by-pass the usual 999 protocols, meaning emergencies could be reported quickly and efficiently? Training could also include a re-launch of the 2004 Transport for London initiative in tackling domestic violence, which provided advice to London’s taxi drivers on what they should and should not do if hired by a woman who they suspected of fleeing a violent domestic situation. A checklist card was made available at the time providing details of the National Domestic Violence Helpline. 17 With Government statistics showing that 77% of all murders involving a woman occur within the home environment, the TfL campaign could be a useful tool in the fight to reduce violence against women. Lastly, and without wishing to sound like a cabbie trying to capitalise on tragedy and fear or provide a solution that in an ideal world wouldn’t be even contemplated – maybe there’s an opportunity for an app to provide priority taxi services for lone female passengers – even if it was just at night? I want to be part of the solution Ultimately, the taxi industry can only be a small cog in the enormous wheel of change, which requires a change in attitudes, behaviours and perceptions. This of course will not happen overnight, or even in a generation. So, in the interim, we, not only as an industry, but as fathers, husbands, mothers and wives, have to reflect on what we can do to be part of the solution. It’s sad to say, but the appallingly tragic case of this young woman’s death could end up becoming the United Kingdom's #metoo moment. n TAXI

@TheLTDA www.ltda.co.uk Columnist | Al Fresco Peeling Back the Lockdown Layers In a chronicle written from a place that many of us may be right now, Al talks ‘loss’ and ‘polarisation’ as he mentally prepares to return to work in a ‘post-COVID-19’ London.

the other morning, two mechanics Cabbie chronicles from the garage I rent my cab from, turned up (they’d previously called to say they were going to do so) outside our front door, and the ver the years, I’ve white cab which I’d been carefully managed to carve out, a cherishing for the past few months much-appreciated niche in the hope of getting back into it in the taxi trade press, when the ‘all clear’ was sounded, Oas a writer of (mostly) humorous was driven off to suffer the fate of articles, but after being under London’s burgeoning, superfluous siege to the coronavirus for over fleet. According to a report in the a year, my humour is wearing a cab trade press, taxi drivers have bit thin. Newspaper reports and currently invested approximately TV headlines have reduced my one hundred million pounds on the fingernails to cuticular stumps: new electric taxi and there are now thank goodness my arthritic state over 2,000 LEVC vehicles plying for allows me to bend over far enough trade on London’s roads. to tie my shoelaces, but not far enough to nibble on my toes. Intransigence Seriously, though, the loss of my One of the things I’m really looking brother-in-law, Michael to covid forward to doing when I get back recently, really took the wind on the road, is driving, unfettered, out of my sails. He was, so we all along Bishopsgate and Gracechurch thought, immortal. Street to London Bridge. However, it looks as though the City and TfL 18 Character & charisma are set on a course of intransigence. A good-looking guy, he’d been a By ignoring the High Court’s ruling ‘top notch’ ladies-hairdresser – in that Bishopsgate has been unlawfully the style of Warren Beatty in the closed, and blatantly failing to quash film ‘Shampoo,’ with a character any restrictions they had imposed and charisma to match. He’d again? And ‘whilst our backs were against London’s taxis via the A10 acquired a genuinely permanent turned’ speed limits and other Streetspace scheme. I’d like to be a tan, models on either arm, and a “I’m an old geezer restrictions have been introduced. ‘fly on the wall’ when our General little black book replete with ‘A’ and I’m looking Secretary, drops one of his powerfully list clients. ‘Hedonism’ was his Polarised effective ‘lines’ to the Mayor and haven, but he didn’t figure out forward to going I feel I’ll be missing out on a whole TfL, insisting that they accept the when to stop. Lockdown, self- back to driving a range of cabbing ‘usuals’ as ‘new’ letter of the law and let us through, as isolation, quarantine, may have cab; but what can I cab Apps, or should I say ‘old’ Senior High Court Judge, Mrs Justice been anathema to his socialising cab Apps, are being re-structured Lang ordered. And wasn’t it TfL lifestyle, but it was a proven life expect?” and upgraded to reflect the themselves who asserted… that taxis saver – if it had been put into public’s desire for ‘electric-only’ ‘fulfil demands that cannot be met practice. It wasn’t! And one taxis. Some streets are also now by the bus, train or tube.’ So, what are ‘outing’ too many, invaded his dedicated to electric cabs – albeit they waiting for? vulnerability and took him from only at specific times. So, unless at us. His lifestyle and mine couldn’t in the knowledge that the taxi the age of 78, I invest in an electric Down but not out have been further apart, but his trade had London in the palm of sherbet, my ‘business as usual’ Whilst I’m not sure what the death well and truly shook me. its hand. is going to be limited to the very Mayor and TfL are waiting for – I periphery of the trade’s ‘raison know what I am… Vaccine dose Lifecycles Return to work d’étre’. I’m being penalised for number two should be available Excuse me if I borrow the taxi apprehensions my seniority. Is that classified as for booking any time soon! industry for a couple of paragraphs That old, deliberately jokey ‘ageism’? But that’s just the tip of I’m hopeful to be able to afford and liken Michael’s life to the cycle proverb, ‘the world is our lobster,’ the taxi trade iceberg. to rent another cab and I’ve put a of the cab trade. On good days, may have applied to London’s request in. I’ve got a health furlough the cab trade and its operators cab trade in the past, but what’s it Superfluous from TfL until Feb 2022 which gives are cheerful, convivial, vibrant, gonna be like once the pandemic With so many cabs having been me time to get my medical tests friendly and just a wee bit flash. restrictions have been lifted and taken off the road by The Mayor of sorted (that proved impossible to On our day, outlandishly cavalier it’s ‘business as usual’, whatever London’s cull of twelve-year-old get done during the pandemic) in our skills, luxuriating in our that means, post coronavirus. I’m droshkies, for someone like myself, and ‘by hook or by crook’ I’ll be out integral part of London’s history an old geezer and I’m looking who rents a cab at the lowest end there again in a droshky soon. Who and its gruff ‘je ne sais quoi’ – and forward to going back to driving a of the hire chain, I’ll be lucky, if at knows, maybe with a little more rather like my brother-in-law, cab; but what can I expect? For a all, to rent a cab at an economically mojo and having some words with Michael – smilingly raffish. Two start, dozens of roads in the centre viable price – as hundreds of an injection of humour. For those centuries ago, he’d have been of London have been closed or perfectly good, workable cabs, are older cabbies out there, who can labelled a ‘dandy’ and similarly in made one way. Am I going to have left gently rusting in suburban fields empathise with this article – be 2019, we were supremely confident to face the Knowledge all over and on old warehouse sites. Only kind to yourselves… n TAXI

www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA Meet the LTDA legal team

Driving a taxi for many hours of the day in one of the world’s most congested cities is a challenging task. Cabbies often fall victim to complaints and false accusations from police, passengers and other road users (especially cyclists and PHV drivers). When these events arise it’s comforting for LTDA members to know that they have the immediate support of the best John Luckhurst Charlotte Collet specialist in-house legal team in Senior Partner Solicitor Advocate the business. The success rate of the LTDA Legal Team is second to none. In fact, according to Criminal Justice Statistics, LTDA members defended by our team are FOUR times more likely than the national average to be acquitted of allegations made against them.

Tom Poulson I joined the LTDA when I first got my badge and it turned out to be the best thing I ever did. Due to an unfortunate Farouk Merdjane set of circumstances I ended up getting I was involved in an accident whilst driving my my licence revoked by TfL. I turned cab in Shepherd’s Bush. I wasn’t too worried to John Luckhurst, one of the LTDA’s about it because I was confident that it wasn’t legal eagles, for assistance. John went my fault and the insurance would sort it out. to great lengths to prepare a detailed A short while later I received a summons for appeal against TfL’s decision and briefed driving without due care and attention. I had 19 a brilliant barrister to represent me in no witnesses to help me, but the other driver court. The appeal was successful and had produced “independent” witnesses out of saved my livelihood. LTDA subscriptions thin air! I quickly contacted the LTDA’s legal are only four quid a week, which is less department and they immediately visited than a pint, and three pounds can be the scene of the incident and arranged for claimed against tax. I can’t believe that professional photographs to be recorded. I every cabbie in town is not a member. later appeared before magistrates at Lavender Hill Court, where the LTDA barrister tied the witnesses up in knots and demonstrated they could not have seen what they said they had. “FOUR times more likely than the Thank you, LTDA legal department; you gave NATIONAL average to get an acquittal” me an excellent service.

Ken Jackson Paul The LTDA’s solicitors Baxter and support team, I was filled could not have been with confidence more helpful when I the very first first informed them time I contacted that an allegation the LTDA’s had been made legal team and against me. The as it turned LTDA was quick to out, I certainly check all the CCTV wasn’t cameras in the area disappointed. and arrange for They did a plans of the location great job in to be drawn up. sorting out my Witness statements problem with were also obtained TfL. They’ve and Mr Demidecki got to be the was successful in best in the getting the Crown business! Prosecution Service to drop the case against me. Thanks LTDA - an all-round “LTDA subscriptions cost brilliant service! less than four quid a week”

@TheLTDA www.ltda.co.uk Column | Joe the TXE Service with a Smile “The cab trade has come firmly into the 21st Century, first with the ZEC taxi and now with the servicing.”

that it was in for an MOT, a Electric dreams small service and the roof check. Yep, two and a half hours they confirmed. I was then directed t’s no secret to any readers into a nice waiting room to sit of this column that I love my (socially distanced) from another TXE. I have had almost zero half a dozen cabbies, drinking free problems with it and the few tea and coffee and watching old I‘glitches’ I have had were sorted episodes of Minder on the TV. Just rapidly, so my visits to LEVC over two hours later I was called dealers have been almost non- through to a clean, modern and existent. This was far from the case fantastically equipped workshop. with every other cab I have ever I signed a few bits, paid and owned. In fact with one TX4, I was called Ascotts in Rotherhithe, only with lots of cabs and the new vans went back outside to find the convinced I was going to the staff to be told they were doing all TXE for sale. Inside it is big, clean and cab ready and waiting. There Christmas party at Brewery Road, servicing at a new site in Dartford, unlike anything this trade has ever is no comparison between this I spent so much time up there, I so I booked to go there. seen. It just looks so professional. experience and any other garage was practically one of the team. I had a slight problem finding it, Two receptionists greeted me in or railway arch I have stood in over A few weeks ago, I received a probably more me than anything tandem with “Good morning how the past few decades. I actually letter telling me the cab needed else, as it’s only a few minutes can we help?” I almost ran out felt like a valued customer and not a safety check on the panoramic from the A2, M25 and the Dartford thinking I had come into a posh car an annoyance or interruption to roof and I needed to book it in to crossing, making it very convenient dealership by mistake! their day! The cab trade has come be inspected. As it transpired, I was for cabbies who live South East They ran through why I was firmly into the 21st Century, first due an MOT anyway and not far out into Kent and East into there, and told me the cab would with the ZEC taxi and now with the away from a service, so I thought I Essex. Pulling up outside it’s very be ready in two and half hours. servicing. I cannot recommend would get all three done in one go. I impressive. There is a big car park I was confused and so repeated it enough! n TAXI 20

www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA 21

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www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA Columnist | Emma Lunn National Price Hike Day If you think the cost of everything seems to go up every April, don’t worry – it’s not your imagination.

Money matters TV licence You need a TV licence if you watch or record TV programmes on live TV, stream programmes on services such as ITV Hub, All 4 or Amazon Prime Video, or download or watch BBC programmes on ubbed ‘National Price Hike Day’, 1st April is the day many iPlayer. This applies to devices such as laptops and tablets too – not companies and organisations hike their prices. Many of these just television sets. prices rises are linked to inflation – but others are simple The TV licence fee will rise from £157.50 to £159 from April. profiteering. Here’s what’s changing this year… Anyone who is blind or severely sight impaired gets a 50% discount, D meaning that from 1st April their TV licence will cost £79.50, up from £78.75 a year.

Vehicle excise duty The government is upping vehicle excise duty (VED) rates or ‘road tax’ for cars, vans and motorcycles in line with inflation from 1st April. VED will remain at £0 for electric cars and will stay the same for the least polluting vehicles. But for petrol and diesel cars, the tax will rise to £155 a year. If you have a new ‘premium’ car costing over £40,000, VED will rise Council tax to £335 a year for the first five years of Most households will see their council tax bills rise from April, with two ownership. thirds of local authorities set to increase rates by the maximum amount 23 of 5%. Some people will be paying annual council tax bills of more than £2,000 for the first time from April. How much your bill will rise depends on where you live and which council tax band your home falls into – you can check rates on your local council’s website.

Mobile phone and broadband tariffs Most mobile phone networks put their prices up in line with inflation – this price rise might apply even if you are still in contract. O2, Three and Vodafone NHS prescriptions mobile customers will all see Unless you’re exempt because you are claiming certain benefits their bills go up from April. or suffer from certain conditions, you have to pay for NHS The same applies for prescriptions. broadband providers. BT and From April, the NHS prescription charge in England (the rules Sky are both imposing inflation- are different in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) will increase linked price hikes – they are from £9.15 to £9.35 per item. writing to customers to explain Pre-payment certificates (PPC) can reduce the price of how the price rises affect their prescriptions – but the cost of these is rising too. The cost of a three- particular contract. Virgin month PPC will go up from £29.65 to £30.25, while a 12-month PPC Media has already put up its will go up from £105.90 to £108.10. prices from 1st March.

The good news However, it’s not all bad news. Some benefits also go up from April. The state pension will rise by 2.5%, bringing it to a maximum of £179.60 a week for people claiming the ‘new’ state pension. Low wage workers will get a 2.2% increase, with the National Living Wage rising to £8.91 an hour. Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will go up from £95.85 to £96.35 a week. The rate of pay for maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental pay is also increasing from £151.20 to £151.97 a week from next month. The amount you can earn before having to pay income tax – the ‘personal allowance’ – is rising from £12,500 to £12,570 on 6th April. The starting point for 40% taxpayers will jump from £50,000 to £50,271.

@TheLTDA www.ltda.co.uk Columnist | Chris Ackrill

When Things Go Wrong

“…show me a driver who doesn’t make mistakes, and I’ll show you a pork pie merchant.” Accents & errors… On the road I never had any official complaints against me, but show me a driver who doesn’t make mistakes, and I’ll show you a pork pie merchant. One art of my role as a evening, I set off for Mornington Knowledge Examiner Crescent, only for my lady to tell me was to investigate she wanted Warrington Crescent complaints against as we entered Camden Town. Even Ptaxi drivers made by the public. worse was when a man asked for Examiners would give their expert New Kent Road, then fell asleep. At opinion on ‘devious routes’, then Elephant and Castle, I woke him up send the paperwork upstairs for and asked exactly where he wanted. consideration. Typical for TfL we To my horror he said he wanted New never heard the final outcome after King’s Road. Arrgh! we’d added our two penn’orth, but Eventually, I learned to listen it was clear that in many instances carefully to my passengers. I also drivers had made honest mistakes. learned to attune myself to different In some cases, drivers had clearly accents. There’s a particular way acted badly; commonly reacting an Arabic-speaker will pronounce Tutankhamun exhibition, which to a different pump. To my horror to a customer questioning the Edgware Road, or how a French was on at the British Museum. I realised I’d been pumping petrol route taken. Some complaints person asks for St Giles Hotel. An The next one sounds like a into a diesel engine. That cost a lot were vexatious, made by the type elderly Chinese lady asked me for comedy set piece, but I’m sure of time and money to put right. of person who likes to complain. “Lipool Row”. Thankfully she added similar things have actually Saving the best to last, and a I’d say around 50% of complaints “Islington”, which helped identify happened. A driver traps a nice story related to me by my examiner were open to interpretation with no Liverpool Road as her destination. fare to Heathrow, but he’s low colleague, Jonathan Harvey. It’s at 24 charge to answer. An American couple asked me on fuel. With the passenger’s least third hand and I’ve no idea to take them to “Reubens”. From permission he stops for diesel on how true it is. The story goes like Haymarket I ran a nice route up the drive out. He quickly fills up, this… An American couple check- through Marylebone and picked then resumes the journey. On out of a Central London hotel and the correct road for a right turn into arrival at Heathrow, the cab is full make for the cab rank. The hotel Baker Street (before it was two- of luggage, but no passenger! The linkman tells the driver to head way). I was inwardly congratulating passenger didn’t tell the driver for Harwich where the couple are myself for delivering my customers when he went to use the toilet booked on a cruise. With pound swiftly to London’s celebrated facilities back in Hammersmith. signs spinning in his eyes, and kosher restaurant when the man The driver saw the luggage piled up without confirming the destination asked where the hotel was. The in the back through his rear-view with the couple, the driver sets penny dropped, as did my face: Oh, mirror but neglected to check that off for the Essex coast. On arrival the Rubens Hotel… his passenger was present when he at Harwich the driver asked the drove off. couple what quay they needed. The Passenger awareness quay didn’t exist at Harwich. It was More than once in my long Keep calm at Southampton. cab-driving career I’ve missed Most of my mistakes have been the turning for a Heathrow caused by getting flustered. Ackrill’s advice… hotel and have ended up lost in Sometimes though, I’ve made I have two pieces of advice to offer. Buckinghamshire. Twice I’ve ended mistakes through general One is to always repeat back the up in the car park at Westfield ‘wallyness’. When I was living in destination before driving off. Shepherd’s Bush, and once at Northampton, I used to stop every The second is always admit your Com’mutton’cation Heathrow too (I can’t remember morning at the same fuel station. mistakes, even if you just miss a Ultimately, most complaints come which terminal – I’m sure they One day my usual pump was out of road and add 100 yards on the from a lack of communication. keep changing them). I dropped service, so I spun the cab around journey. Many customers don’t This is understandable when off my last customer of the day at expect such honesty, and they’ll you’re straining to hear a person’s Victoria Coach Station on Elizabeth invariably reward you for it. n TAXI voice above the rumble of a Street. My man paid me off and I noisy diesel engine, with the heard the door close. As I pulled soundtrack of London going on away, thinking of home, an old outside. I don’t know what the lady’s voice in the back asked me modern electric cabs are like, but for the Hilton Olympia. It’s a good a late 1980s FX4 was very noisy. job she said something, as my next There was no intercom, and by scheduled stop was the northern law you could only open the suburbs of Northampton. sliding partition four and a half Some mistakes are enshrined in EASY RUN HARD RUN inches. Many drivers removed the folklore. Like the driver who took wooden restraining block to open a man six miles out to Tooting Hemmingford Arms – Mudchute Station – Lea the partition fully. It was the only Common. In an American accent, Queen’s Larder Valley Riding Centre way you could hear someone. he’d asked the driver for the

www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA ‘The Professionals’ – What sets those with ‘The Knowledge’ apart from the rest?

hat does it mean to be a professional in 2020? When does an provide an AA graded Knowledge rating of a route selection in line with traffic occupation or a job become professionalised? What makes conditions, whilst ensuring a disabled passenger arrives at the entrance to those with ‘The Knowledge’ different from other “… suppliers their hotel which has suitable wheelchair access and porter assistance. of transportation services…?” WA brief background search produces suggestions as to what the Those who possess ‘The Knowledge’ and have responded to the strength make-up of a ‘professional activity’ might involve. Modern definitions of the calling to the highest standards of the profession don’t just know the include notions of ‘accountability; integrity; competency; knowledge optimum route within an ever-changing landscape, they know its history and qualifications’ - deprive a Knowledge Boy or Girl of a 4G network too. If the formation of a professional identity is also about ‘providing a and these skills would still exist, though some other ‘suppliers of specialised service to society,’ those professionals with the ability to share transportation services’ might well struggle! that learning with their passengers are actually, inter-generational custodians of present-day and historical London knowledge. Black cab drivers are Some of the key ingredients of ‘professionalism’ involve: trusted ‘old school influencers’ in relation to the sites, attractions, facilities, services and cultural traditions of the capital – including being ambassadors ‘The deployment of formal certified learning’ of a historic trade, which is known as the best taxi service in the world. Can other ‘suppliers of transportation services’ really claim to be engaged in doing this? Possibly, though that might depend on the depth and All this, whilst transporting passengers in the most direct and safest quality of learning involved in order to be accredited. In what world can manner, in accordance with codes, ethics and the standards of a those that pass ‘The Knowledge’ be compared to the learning involved to professional community of operators. obtain other road-based transportation service operator licenses? Those with ‘The Knowledge’ have often picked up and are moving before ‘A professional owns the power, skills and freedom to problem solve.’ a passenger has informed them of their destination – professionals are not It’s pretty certain that an individual having the means to purchase and sat around backing up traffic, typing postcodes into gadgets, in the hope a blindly follow a mobile device with a sat-nav app doesn’t meet this device can professionalise their practice and make them what they are not. 25 threshold. ‘Knowledge Boys & Girls’ have in-built ‘chips and processors’ When people are lost - a professional finds them and gets them where that deploy real knowledge, in real time. Out on the roads, real they need to go. When they are too tired to go on - a professional takes the professionalism isn’t dependent on the battery life of a mobile device reins and when they are late for what’s important to them, professional or if that device knows that the football kicked off late or is going to road craft and knowledge get them to their destination safely and quickly. penalties - which will impact on both journey time and route choice. So how are those with ‘The Knowledge’ valued and whose responsibility should it be to promote the identities and activities of such professionals, in ‘A professional possesses the ability to make decisions in the best turn separating them from other “suppliers of transportation services…?” interests of others.’ You are professionals. We know it. We know that this level of responsibility is based on the use of specific, localised, operational expertise - rather than hoping a digital device can Let’s ensure everybody else knows it and values it too.

n The LTDA are here to represent, protect and ensure recognition of the professional practice, identity and standards of our members.

@TheLTDA www.ltda.co.uk TheT www.ltda.co.uk 5 May 2020 TAXI 27 APPLICATION FORM

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www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA LTDA Application Form Oct18.indd 1 09/10/2018 10:23 Brain twister | Puzzler page So you know every street and every run between two points in London? Let’s now see how your knowledge stands up to these brain twisters... Crossword Sudoku Have a go at this medium level Sudoku puzzle. Fill the grid so that every row, 1234 56 7 every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1-9 just once. 8

910 94 4 925 11 12 83 13

14 15 16 1853 17 56 19 18 19 20 21 8967 22

23 24 58 324 1 25 26 75 ACROSS 27 1 Device for gauging energy consumption (3,5) 5 Visit (4) Letterbox 9 Measures of land equivalent to 4840 square yards Complete the grid so that A KI each (5) four words read across 10 ___ Twenties, Jazz Age (7) and a different four words read downwards Complete the grid so that four words read across and a 11 Camper’s shelter (4) R E using only the letters in E 12 Attractive personal allure (8) the given word. di erent four words read downwards using only the letters 14 Regardless (6) 15 Repeat from memory (6) T E N in the given word. 18 Pause from playing (4,4) S 20 Pre‑owned (4) 23 Emotional bond (7) MATERIAL A S L 24 Fish with a large net (5) A N 25 Army position (4) 26 Pleasing equality of balance (8) Set DOWN PEDESTAL 1 Huge person (5) square 2 Gristly (7) Place each of the digits 3 Alleviate (4) 1 to 9 in the grid to make 4 Coarse, bawdy (6) the sums work. We’ve 6 Pseudonym (5) started you with two numbers. 7 Passenger’s suitcases (7) 8 Rollers cover (7) 13 Wild pig with large tusks (7) 14 Beau (7) 16 Processed to allow quick preparation (7) 17 Risqué (6) All answers to 19 Mature (5) puzzler on p30 21 Linger, loiter (5) 22 Component of a list (4) All puzzles © Puzzler Media Ltd - www.puzzler.com

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www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA Exclusive | Taxi Charity Photography and Me by Dick Goodwin “The most important part of photography is to experiment and have fun. We all find the levels we are happy at and if something doesn’t work out – delete and start again.” in 1994, I wanted to go over to avoid flash indoors if there are to Normandy, be part of the other options available. commemorations and photograph When you start to talk to these the veterans – especially the men and women about their lives, Royal Artillery men. It was during where they were born and where this trip that I started to make they grew up, what job were they the initial connections with doing when they were called up, veterans that have lasted for you find they love to open up and many years. Major Peter Watson chat away. Did they volunteer MC of the Black Watch and or lie about their age at the PFC Bill Galbraith of the 101st Recruiting Office and how much Airborne who had travelled over did their mum scream when they from California to attend the told her they’d joined up? This ceremonies where amongst the information builds a picture of the first veterans to allow me to start person you are photographing, this new chapter in my life. helps them relax and hopefully These elderly men and women leads to you capturing some great are great personalities with their images. The most important part characters and life stories revealed of photography is to experiment in their wonderful, expressive faces. and have fun. We all find the Whilst we all loved film, both levels we are happy at and if black and white and colour something doesn’t work out – aving always been transparencies, as technology delete and start again. interested in military progresses digital cameras afford During a trip to Normandy history and being you so much flexibility when for the 60th anniversary in 2004 brought up on black it comes to taking the images. a chance meeting with a friend Hand white WWII films in the sixties, Sensors and software are superb at led me to stumble upon the Taxi later when I became interested in managing the changing light and a Charity and I was asked by the 29 photography it seemed only right motor-drive gives you the optional then chairman if I would take to start to capture the real men and number of frames instantly should photographs at their events for women I’d seen portrayed in these you need them. them. Two years later, I was invited films. Whilst working in Central This method is useful if I’m onto the committee as a Vice London in the nineties there were present when a veteran is being President. This has enabled me always military and veteran events introduced to a member of the Royal to have the best possible access taking place and I began to see the Family. There is the initial moment to so many remarkable veterans wealth of material available for me of shyness and respect and then the for the last seventeen years and to to photograph. jokes and banter appear. It is great to practice my photography in some As my dad was in 7th Field be able to take the best image from wonderful locations and venues. Regiment RA, one of the first a dozen or so you have shot without The quality of my models has been artillery units to land on SWORD having to worry about running out superb, and I would like to thank Beach on D-Day, when the of film. Guessing what might happen them all for allowing me into their commemorations for the 50th next and trying to keep one step lives and to capture their images. anniversary were announced ahead is all part of the game. I do try Dick Goodwin LBIPP, LRPS. n TAXI

Equipment place during the formalities. n Depending on the camera program selected which are usually a My kit generally comprises of a couple of camera bodies which, as choice of: ‘Manual – Aperture priority – Shutter priority or Program’, I you get to know them, you find handle the light, the bright spots always aim for a shutter speed of 1/500th to get a really sharp image and the shadows differently. Any additional effects can also be but will let this drop if on Aperture priority and it is a case of chancing added during post-production using the manufacturer’s software it or missing the shot. For inside portraits I will go minimum of one once the images are downloaded on to your screen, although there step higher than the focal length of the lens I’m using so if using a are many cameras now that let you do this on the camera itself. 105mm lens I will use a shutter speed of at least 1/125th or higher n For indoor portraits I prefer to use prime lenses and have a range depending on the light available. in all of the portrait fixed focal lengths, which are traditionally 50mm, n Preferring fast lenses, I will use as wider aperture as possible and 85mm and 105mm. The early versions of these lenses, which are down to f.2.8 or even f.2 if I can get away with it. At these apertures optically excellent, can often be purchased relatively cheaply now from the focusing is critical but the effect of blurring the background can the larger camera stores and online outlets. A prime lens, depending create a wonderful image by isolating your subject in sharp focus, on the model, will often have a wider maximum aperture than a zoom useful if the background might not be up to much or too distracting! lens, which is also an advantage in low light situations. The old saying is ‘Select your background before choosing your n A zoom lens, preferably in the 80-200mm range is an absolute must foreground’. Usually though, the further away you are from the subject however for photography at events and ceremonies both inside and it is advisable to increase the aperture to f.5.6 or higher in case you end out. At these events your position in relation to the natural light can up with an out of focus shot altogether. also be critical and a telephoto zoom gives you the ability to move n Since memory cards have increased in capacity and decreased in around and photograph the event from a number of different positions price over the years, I always shoot in RAW as this gives huge scope to as it progresses but don’t upset the organisers by darting all over the work with the image, which later can be converted to .jpeg.

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“I would suggest, printing a yer and going door to door has to be worth a punt? Sitting in front of daytime TV and worrying won’t solve it.” NEW NORMAL LOOKING JOE THE TXE MORE LOCAL FOR JOE EER DREAS within a few streets. I then had the fl yer minicab offi ce out of business, to the point town, I am doing more hours but its all done professionally and 5000 printed for where they asked me to work for them local and I am popping home for lunch less than £200 and I ventured further and fulfi lling small business contracts. By the between jobs, charging the cab and ockdown blues seem to be getting further afi eld advertising across my little time they asked, I didn’t need them - a spending a lot of time hanging around to everyone and since my last bit of suburbia. The fi rst two Columnistbites were few weeks | Musher earlier and I might Meg have had a waiting. It never rains but it pours is Lcolumn I have had lots of drivers two regular City and return jobs, one of dilemma on my hands! the saying and whilst some afternoons asking, via the editor, how I managed which I still do, and then I started getting Customers love the cab, everyone I have nothing, other days I have 4 jobs to secure the work, and now school runs doctor, hospital and supermarket runs appreciates the clean credentials and at the same time and I now have two that I have. and eventually a contract with my local comments on how I am always jumping local TXE owning cabbies helping me medical centre. out, cleaning the cab and helping with cover these occasions. Adversity to Routine fetching and carrying, with gloves, Pre Covid, the one thing that I never Popping Home for Lunch hand gel and a mask. Moneywise, I Three Roads to Success wanted was a regular job, I know some I have single handed almost put the local am now earning almostJab what I was in I putHappy! this small success down to three cabbies have always strived to get regular things: my idea and efforts to try jobs and pre book airport rides etc, but and source local work, my TXE and for my style of irregular hours and days it accepting lower fares (but more of them), never appealed. The attraction to me of “Save yourself three minutes, my dearall – paidjust on mystick contactless it in!reader.” cabbing was being able to come and go It does not look like London will vaccinated in Westminster Abbey. life history and educational CV, that I have been brainwashed as I pleased, switch my hours about and A woman of words Nice, I thought. But not nicereturn to anythingor be like thinking… normal for when a are you by Bill Gates. Oh, and that the have the odd lay-in on a workday. according to her. She plannedlong time, I wouldgetting suggest, to the depending point, love? vaccine was made from horse How times have changed - and so have to stay home and write a longon where you live, that printing the fl yer dung and how did I like that? I. When it fi rst happened, I had a simple letter to Boris Johnson instead.and going doorMicrochips to door has to be & worth more dung Then she whispered that a fl yer drawn up, with a picture of my TXE r Meg and I had our In her letter she was goinga punt?to SittingThe in front point, of daytimeaccording TV to this woman in Illinois had developed and a few bullet points, fi xed fares, safe jabs three weeks accuse Boris of thinking sheand mustworrying won’tgenius solve lady, it. isIf thatnothing the vaccine Werewolf characteristics after travel, air conditioned, fully partitioned, ago. We arrived at be stupid. She was going toelse, set the hoursexists of walking to microchip I put in on her my and give her first jab… sanitised after every trip etc. I then Lewisham Hospital him straight on that; and leaflinform et campaign the got UK me government a bit fi tter, has(make that started putting them through doors Mand joined a vaccination queue him she was very clever indeed.to be worth a try?international◆ governments) (But I’m alright that was even jollier than the one This fare told me she had come access to her bank accounts, noooow) to get into the Bruce Springsteen top of her class in algebra three Nectar Points and Tesco This did make me pause terms running in her first year Clubcard information. And that for thought and glance in A selection of our numerous Published by LTDAConcert in Wembley Stadium a few LTDA Distribution Points Taxi House 11 Wood years eld back. Road, The lady who jabbed at secondary school. And she is not all. The gospel according my mirror. Was my chin London W9 2BA me started to read a list of possiblePUZZLER has a BTEC withANSWERS a distinction in to my fare is that the coronavirus hairier than before the jab, I ◆ A1 Taxis, Melody Lane, Highbury, N5 side effects and I told her, Save“ Cake Icing. She was even going to vaccine is going to render her wondered… could she be on ◆ Abacus Accounts, Southbrook Road, T: 020 7286 1046 | www.ltda.co.uk yourself three minutes, my dear – chuck in there that infertile. Gal to gal to something? Long red nails Lee, SE12 @TheLTDA ◆ Astral Café, Regency Place, SW1 just stick it in!” My main sideSUDOKU effect she has SET SQUARE I remarked that it and one long eyebrow, instead ◆ Bubbles Car Wash, E2 Managing Editorwas euphoria – seeing family and attended was Mother Nature of two, are common werewolf ◆ C & S Taxis, Dunbridge Street, E2 friends and getting back to work53 all 64the 79821 that had made her, characteristics. My heart ◆ Cabsurance, Seven Kings Nick Hartop came a step closer. Yahooo! university of and I, not able to started to beat faster… until I ◆ Camber eld Taxi Services E: [email protected] 178652394 ◆ Computer Cab, Mitre Way, W12 life now for have more babies. remembered I’ve not had my ◆ Coney Allen, Dunbridge Street, E1 Produced by A Lady of Letters… 2498five 31plus decades657 and She snapped eyebrows threaded for a year ◆ CP Beehive Service Station, Not everyone is feeling the joy of BLUSH – that she had ‘lived back because of lockdown and I gave Beehive Lane, Gants Hill Century One Publishing Ltd 352984176 ◆ Cricklewood Carriers, Cricklewood Alban Row,27-31the Verulam jab, though. Road I had a woman and loved a lot’. I’m thinking myself a shoddy manicure with ◆ Dial A Cab, City Road, N1 in the back of my cab last week79 13Boris,65 or more482 likely one of red nail varnish last weekend. St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 4DG. ◆ Edgware Station Rank who told me she had recently68 41his secretaries,27539 would either I’m not a werewolf and I am ◆ Euston Station Rank T: 01727 893 894, F: 01727 893 895 been invited to go along and get be fascinated by her potted vaccinated. n TAXI ◆ G & L Taxis, Crayford Road, N7 E: [email protected] 463798215 ◆ Globe Transmissions, 30 Cudworth Street, E1 www.centuryonepublishing.uk 915243768 ◆ The Ham, Brentford A selection of our numerous827516943 ◆ Heathrow Airport Canteen Advertising Sales LT ExecutiveDA Distribution Points ◆ Hexagon Garage, Lukin Street, E1 Jack Green T: 01727 739 196 ◆ Jet Garage, Clipstone Street, W1 u A1 Taxis, Melody Lane, Highbury, N5 PUZZLER ANSWERS E: [email protected] ◆ Knowledge Centre, Caledonian Road u Abacus Accounts, SouthbrookCROSSWORD Road, LETTERBOX ◆ KPM, Hemming Street, E1 Lee, SE12 GASMETERCALL ◆ London City Airport Canteen Designer & Advertu Astral Coordinator Café, Regency Place, SW1T HOUGHT FULLY ◆ LP Motors, Dunbridge Street, E2 ITAAHLU Caitlyn Hobbs u Bubbles Car Wash, E2 AVAYNAD ◆ Martin Cordell, E3 and Stanmore u C & S Taxis, Dunbridge Street, E2 ACRES ROARING ◆ SMELL PLUNGER Paddington Station Rank u Cabsurance, Seven Kings NIET IAG ◆ Putney Bridge Taxis, The Arches, Creative Directoru Camberfield Taxi Services TREIS E A All rights reserved. No part Putney Bridge Station, SW6 Peter Davies u Computer of this Cab, publication Mitre may Way, W12ENVYAS SASSIN TENT CHAR ISMA ◆ Richmond Road Taxi Centre, E8 u be reproduced, stored in a Coney Allen,retrieval systemDunbridge or transmitted Street, E1 ATTBPC ◆ Safewise Supermarket, Harrow u CP Beehiveby any Service means electronic, Station, GWYN G ◆ South Bank Service Station, mechanical or by photocopy- SELDOM BLE ACH Printed by Beehive ingLane, without priorGants permission Hill A N O N ANYWAY REC ITE Great Su olk Street, SE1 u Cricklewood of the publishers. Carriers, The views Cricklewood EUPSEG ◆ Manson Group, St Albans and opinions expressed in this TAXI HOUSE, W9 u Dial A Cab,publication City may Road, not necessar- N1 ETERN ITY SHED DRSTN ◆ Taxi & Private Hire, Blackfriars Rd, SE1 u ily be those of the publishers. Edgware Please Station note that the Rank last day TOEPECrosswordA M ARKTIME USED ◆ Temple Place Shelter u Euston Stationfor inclusion ofRank Classifi ed S D ◆ lineage advertisements is Turbo Accessories, Three Colts Lane, E2 u G & L Taxis,fi ve workingCrayford days prior to Road, N7HAM STEROFTEN IIHU ITA ◆ Ubiquitous Ltd, E1 u Globe Transmissions,publication. No liability is EOCEETC ◆ accepted by the publisher RAPPORTTRAWL Waterloo Station Cudworthshould Street, advertisements E1 not ap- ATTHEOUTSIDE ◆ Wimbledon Station Rank pear in the requested issue(s). u The Ham,While Brentford the publisher will take D S EEGTENL ◆ WizAnn Knowledge School, u Heathrow every Airport care to ensure accuracy,Canteen no liability can be accepted RANK SYMMETRY Watts Grove, E3 u Hexagon for Garage, loss or damage Lukinresulting Street, E1 Copyright Puzzler Media Ltd - www.puzzler.com u Jet Garage,from Clipstoneerrors. Street, W1 u Knowledge Centre, Caledonian Road u KPM, Hemming Street, E1 u London City Airport Canteen SUDOKU Letterbox Set square u LP Motors, Dunbridge Street, E2 u Martin Cordell, Thomas Road, E14 u Paddington Station Rank 632159784 u Putney Bridge Taxis, The Arches, 871346925 Putney Bridge Station, SW6 A u Richmond Road Taxi Centre, E8 549728361 u Safewise Supermarket, Harrow u South Bank Service Station, 917285436 Great Suffolk Street, SE1 256473198 A R A u TAXI HOUSE, Great Suffolk Street, SE1 u Taxi & Private Hire, Blackfriars Rd, SE1 483961572 u Temple Place Shelter 195832647 u Turbo Accessories, Three Colts Lane, E2 R u Ubiquitous Ltd, E1 324617859 u Waterloo Station 768594213 u Wimbledon Station Rank A u WizAnn Knowledge School, Watts Grove, E3

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