Taxi catches up with LTDA member and chair of Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, Ian Parsons... Q. How long have you been a London Taxi driver, and did you enjoy doing the Knowledge? A. I got my (green) badge in September 1989. The Knowledge was, of course, a huge undertaking, but having lived and worked in London for most of my life, it wasn’t quite as daunting as it was for some. What helped tremendously was going to Knowledge school early on. I spent about eighteen months

London Cabbie, Joseph Theodore, 82, from Muswell Hill, began volunteering for the Taxi Charity in 1958 when he took two veterans in his cab on the charity’s annual trip to Worthing. Almost every year since then he has joined the convoy of London cabbies who take veterans from all conflicts for a day at the seaside. Joseph Theodore, London cabbie and charity volunteer, said: “I was 21 when I started volunteering for the Taxi Charity. The veterans I took to Worthing that first

The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans has been supporting veterans since 1948 and during the COVID-19 pandemic has called on London’s black cabbies and charity supporters to go the extra mile to ensure that veterans have someone to chat with or to do their shopping. Last week, the Chairman of the Taxi Charity, Ian Parsons, did some shopping for WWII veteran Harry Rawlins, who lives in Edgware. Harry, an Arnhem veteran, was in the 8th Armoured Brigade, 30 Corps and was part o

The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans has asked London Cabbies if they can help veterans by collecting essential shopping or by keeping in touch regularly by phone. A card was delivered to all the veterans that the charity works with, asking them to ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’. The card from The Taxi Charity reads: Dear Veteran, We are not making light of the current situation. Far from it! We are still here and don’t want you to suffer in silence. Should you need any help, or

On 5 March the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans escorted over 100 veterans to the North Cheam Sports and Social Club for lunch. The veterans were invited by Taxi Charity supporter and friend, Tony Millard, the Manager of the North Cheam Sports and Social Club, for one final veterans’ lunch before the club closes later this year. Ian Parsons, Chairman, The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, said, “Tony Millard is the most generous publican I have ever known. Every year sinc

The wonderful people at the Russell Square cab shelter are laying on a free Christmas lunch for homeless and lonely war veterans and are appealing for donations and support from the cab trade. Personally, I feel like loneliness is a blight on our modern society. Far too many older people are isolated and don’t have anybody to talk to, which must be exacerbated at Christmas time, when family and friends become the focus. This makes the sort of service provided by Kate and Jude

Our London black cab drivers boxing night was featured in the 31 October issue of Taxi, the official membership magazine for the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA). Click here to view enlarged PDF. #BoxingNight #LTDA #LicensedTaxiDriversAssociation