THE PRESIDENT
- HARRY JOEL MBE
In Broadwick Street, London W1. on the morning
of 5th October 1924, Henry Nathaniel JOEL was born to his proud
parents, Hetty and Nathan. Henry's mother was a former
Roller-skating Champion and had a penchant for names and Henry, very
soon became known as "Harry".
Harry's parents were Publicans and ran
the Blue Post Public House for a number of years before taking over
at The Birdcage in Columbia Road, London E2. Growing up as the son
of hard working parents meant that Harry was called upon to help in
the Pub and Dad, Nathan insisted that Harry knew the business from
the bottom to the top so Harry started as 'cellar boy' at the age 9
years old.
Harry recalls that his father insisted
that the cellar was 'spotlessly tidy' and that all the bottles on
the serving shelves were polished and stacked with the labels facing
exactly towards the bar. Although Harry was not allowed in the
Bar during opening hours he knew that the local Police liked to come
into the parlour for a 'quite drink' and was, at a very young age
intrigued by these men who served the Public.
Harry's school days are fondly
remembered, enjoying all aspects of school life Harry became
particularly adept at sports and was a very keen athlete, swimmer
and cyclist. All this sporting activity was put to test in later
years as we shall see. Living not far from York Hall, Harry was
taken to most of the big Boxing Events and Saw some of the great
fighters such as The TURPIN Brothers, Tommy FARR and Jack
PETERSON. Harry enjoyed the school holidays to the Kent Coast and
looked across the channel to France, unaware of what was looming
there.
At the outbreak of WW2, Harry felt he
had to do something to help his country. He was too young to join
the armed forces and during what was called the "phoney war", hated
running to the air raid shelter at the sound of the sirens. Later
the cellar of the Birdcage became an air raid shelter for locals but
this, still rankled with Harry. He was young and fit and he knew he
could help somewhere.
The Local Volunteer Defence Group was
setup, latterly known as the Home Guard and Harry jumped at the
chance of joining. He became a Bicycle Messenger working from HQ at
Clapton and in full uniform he performed his duties diligently,
carrying vital information from one area to another at full pelt on
his cycle. At times, when the full ferocity of the 'Blitz' rained
down on London, Harry was out amongst it. He knew exactly what was
at stake and his beloved parents, although extremely worried, could
not stop him from doing his job and serving his country.
He had one or two close encounters of
the fatal kind when enemy bombs blew up in his locality and, on one
morning when returning home from night duty, he saw what he thought
was an enemy paratrooper caught in a tree but on closer inspection
it was found to be an unexploded land mine that had been dropped
during a raid that night. It was later defused and taken away by a
bomb disposal team who no doubt, quaffed plenty of free ale,
courtesy of The Birdcage and Harry's Dad.
One morning during 1943 Harry's mum
came into his bed room carrying a buff coloured envelope. At 19
years of age Harry had been called up to join the Royal Navy and was
very soon in basic training in North Wales. After this he was posted
to Chatham and then on to Gillingham Royal Naval Hospital as Medical
Berth Attendant. After a short while at Gillingham he was given
orders to join his ship, a newly commissioned Corvette HMS DITTANY,
and Harry sailed by troopship to Nova Scotia. During the journey
across the Atlantic and disregarding the U Boat menace Harry became
deeply involved in his work as the troop ship was carrying seriously
injured troops away for care and convalescence.
Joining his
ship in Nova Scotia Harry discovered that he was in charge of a two
berth sick bay and that HMS DITTANY was to sail back across the
Atlantic to Gibraltar and go on U Boat Detection and Destroying
duties. Harry's ship was responsible for sinking at least one enemy
submarine and after picking up enemy survivors, those who required
it, were put into his charge for treatment. Harry recalls that the
enemy were terrified at first, but after a while became most
thankful. Harry was then posted to the Royal Naval Hospital at
Trincamalee, Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Here wounded and seriously injured
troops were brought from the vicious fighting in the Far East.
Thankfully, WW2 was drawing to a close but Harry stayed in Ceylon
until he was posted back to Chatham and finally Demobbed in
1946.
Harry then joined the Merchant Navy as
a Medical Officer serving with the Anglo Saxon Petroleum Company
journeying again, across the Atlantic, but this time on 'calmer
waters'.
In 1948 Harry met Frances, the
lady who was to become his wife; marrying in 1951 they remained
blissfully happy. Harry recalls his dear wife and says that behind
every successful man is the love and support of a truly wonderful
woman.
In 1950 Harry rejoined his parents at
The Birdcage but he was of an independent nature and after a few
years decided to become a Licensed London Taxi Driver and so in 1955
Harry passed out as Cabdriver. Harry loved the Job and never refused
to take a fare as he always believed that the small jobs could bring
about a big job and he worked that way throughout his
career.
Harry had known about the LTBAFWD (see history page)
even before he became a cabbie as his dad was great friends with
Stan Davies the first Hononary Chairman. Harry asked Stan if he
could help. This offer was, of course, taken up and very soon Harry
was involved in the thick of the organisation.
Harry knew that the LTBAFWD needed the
support of the Cab Trade and to achieve this he felt it should
become "the most respected". Harry set about organising ways of
achieving exposure and good publicity for the LTBAFWD to a largely
unbeknown world by highlighting the plight of our War Disabled
Veterans and demonstrating to a grateful public how their help and
support for these hero's could make life that much more comfortable
and enjoyable.
Harry's tireless work was noted by many
Cabdrivers who volunteered in droves to help, and very soon a
waiting list had to be implemented. Time and time again the
effort put in by Harry to raise awareness encouraged others and he
was elected to the office of Honorary Chairman of the LTBAFWD
serving in this position for 40 consecutive years.
His
guidance to the committee was exemplary, with Royalty, Stars of
Stage and Screen all being allied and ready to help where and when
they could.
Harry was also on the Board of
Governors of the Royal Star and Garter Home in Richmond, Surrey and
with all his hard work not going unnoticed he was awarded an MBE
in 1981. He carried the mantel of Hononary Chairman until
being made Life Long President in 1996. Retiring from cab driving in
2000, Harry is still to this day guiding the LTBAFWD to
achieve the aims and wishes so commendably initiated by those London
Taxi Drivers who wanted to put their effort into making the lives
of War Disabled Men and Women that much more enjoyable.
When asked about his ceaseless work for
the LTBAFWD Harry immediately referred to his dear late wife
Frances, and his Daughter Lee and his Grandchildren Alex, Ben and
Natalie and said, "They are my life, but as long as there is
conflict and war around this world, there is a need for
Organisations such as the LTBAFWD and the work we
do".
Harry is quick to remind others
that those who serve on the Committee of the LTBAFWD and Volunteer
Taxi Drivers, work hard to maintain the high standard set
them. It is well of us all to remember the hard work and high
standard set by our President, Mr Harry Joel
MBE.
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