Veterans form friendship through the Taxi Charity, TAXI
- taxicharity
- Feb 18
- 4 min read
Veterans Chris Langford, 40, and Vic Needham-Crofton, 91, met through the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans. They have developed a wonderfully supportive relationship.
When Vic moved from his home in Greenford to Eastbourne to be closer to his family after the death of his wife, he found a new neighbour and friend in Chris. Chris Langford told TAXI the story of their unique friendship and how it came about.
Chris: I served with the 1st Battalion Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment between 2004-2012. I was initially with a Rifle company for the first couple of years with B Company 6 Platoon where they soon had me on a Warrior Gunner Cadre and then as we were preparing for the regiment’s return to Iraq, I was moved to 4 Platoon where they put me through a Warrior Driver Cadre so that I was fully prepared for any role I might be needed for.
After Iraq, I was moved to the Battalions Specialist Y Company, where I joined Recce and Sniper Platoon and was in Afghanistan in 2008/ 2009 when our platoon was attached to Royal Marines 42 Commando as their Armoured Recce Platoon. We saw lots of heavy fighting and took part in Operation Red Dagger which centred on four Taliban strongholds near the town of Nad-e-Ali in Helmand Province.
After Afghanistan, I had my second exercise in Batus Canada. Unfortunately I was involved in a road traffic collision on the training ground, compressing my spine, and having to be evacuated to hospital. After long rehab and still living in Germany, my parents both became ill with cancer which saw me travelling home most weekends. Battling my own physical and mental demands, I fell out of love with the Army and ended up leaving in 2012.
Once my father passed away in 2013, I found my next calling when I became a funeral director, sharing empathy with bereaved people I felt I could relate to and maybe help. This has seemed to be the perfect transition for me.
After leaving the military, I didn’t feel much attachment or belonging but was still always proud of my service. I have always been very quiet and humble about my military experience as to the average civilian my experiences and stories I always felt would sound too far fetched.
In 2023, I was introduced to the wonderful Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, where it is so brilliant to meet people from different generations that can relate to each other. I have had the chance to go on amazing trips where we can appreciate, commemorate and celebrate servicemen and women and moments in history.
I first properly met Vic during the charity’s 80th anniversary D-Day trip to Normandy in 2024. We seemed to hit it off straight away and since becoming close friends with Vic, he has himself moved to Eastbourne (my home town), to be closer to his family, after the sad passing of his wife.
Since then, if I may use a quote from the Tom Hanks movie, Forrest Gump, we have been ‘like peas and carrots’, attending more fabulous trips with the charity to the Netherlands and we travelled to the charity’s Christmas lunch in London together, managing to fit in a super breakfast before catching our train. In our own time, we also see and talk to each other regularly and we have been out for breakfast, fish and chips, and visited the pub and the cinema.
Most weeks I’ll pop round to his flat for a cup of tea and copious biscuits and he’s also been over to my house for dinner several times. My partner is responsible for the cracking dinners Vic has eaten when he comes round and we will definitely plan more. We spent some time together on Boxing Day to continue the Christmas celebrations, and we are looking forward to all the upcoming trips and events with the charity and things we can plan together to enjoy in Eastbourne.
Talking about this fantastic friendship and the role the charity played in its formation, Dick Goodwin, Vice President of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, said: “One of the very special aspects of the charity are the wonderful friendships that develop. We often say that the charity is like a family and it really is. I had a drink with Chris and Vic at the charity Christmas lunch at Millwall and they really have developed a fabulous friendship and are supporting each other. Vic recently lost his wife and this combined with the move to Eastbourne might have been challenging but Vic’s family and Chris have made the transition easier. Although there is an age gap of 51 years, they have both served and have many shared experiences, which is a great foundation for friendship”
Chris shared his final thoughts on the value of this new found friendship:
“Someone once asked what do you think you are learning from each other? I don’t know if I teach him anything but he makes me realise how important it is to look after the people that are important to you.”
