London Black Taxis

How Cabbies Kept the Capital Connected

By Sally Patterson

Lyall Delin, cabbie for 21 years

Lyall Delin, cabbie for 21 years

“I am writing to offer the support of London’s black cab trade in helping you ensure that people can access vaccination sites.

“Our members have already supported vulnerable passengers and helped transport key workers and are keen to assist further in any way they can.”

Head of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) Steve Mcnamara’s letter to Nadhim Zahawi MP, Minister for COVID Vaccine Deployment, on 11th January, exemplified the camaraderie of London’s 21,000 taxi drivers.

The black taxi trade, synonymous with London itself, was hit disproportionately badly by Covid-19, and as Steve reminded me, taxi drivers can’t work from home.

He explained many members had fallen through the cracks of furlough and self-employed schemes, either because they had recently paid for new electric vehicles or were ineligible as business owners.

The number of taxis passing through the Heathrow taxi feeder park—London’s biggest taxi rank- mirrors the decline in numbers on the capital’s streets.

Heathrow’s taxi feeder park showed numbers were down 96% on last year’s figures in April, May and June, and 85% in October.

Source- LTDA

But like chameleons of the roads, black taxis have adapted to the environment.

They've put their socially-distanced seating arrangements and unparalleled knowledge of London’s streets to good use.

Throughout the pandemic, drivers quietly transported workers, food, medical supplies, or simply brought some cheer back into people’s lives.

In December cabbie Lyall Delin, who had no fared work, instead offered Christmas lights tours in his new hybrid electric taxi, and was inundated with bookings.

Though he’d always driven his wife of 35 years, Cindy, and their three daughters Katie, Natasha and Sophie, around Harrods and Selfridges to see the lights, Lyall had never done it commercially.

He said: “I felt very proud to be able to put a smile on people’s faces, especially the children who had experienced a lot of disappointment over the Christmas period.

“Most families told me they hadn’t been able to do anything as a family for months, and one mother messaged me saying ‘it was a truly magical experience and it was like I was seeing London for the first time.''

YOUNG AT HEART: Lyall turned 60 in November but said because he couldn't have a party, he's not counting this year's birthday.

YOUNG AT HEART: Lyall turned 60 in November but said because he couldn't have a party, he's not counting this year's birthday.

“Seeing all the cabs filled with happy families made me feel proud to be a London cabbie," Lyall added.

"FOR MY MIND AND SANITY": Lyall said after such a quiet year he needs to start working properly again.

"FOR MY MIND AND SANITY": Lyall said after such a quiet year he needs to start working properly again.

During March’s lockdown, Mark Twyman was also short of paid work so he began transporting NHS workers to keep them off public transport.

The father-of-two refused payment, but was touched when one woman gave him eggs from her farm.

Mark is also ferrying older and vulnerable people to their vaccination appointments, for a discounted price or for free, funded by local people’s unsolicited donations.

He said: “A 94-year-old woman asked how much she owed me, and I said ‘don't worry about it, I'm sure you've paid all your taxes in your life, you don't have to worry about it.’

"She was getting a little bit emotional and she was really grateful for it.

“So it's sort of a nice thing to do."

Less nice, however, are the 15 funeral journeys Mark has offered since March, and he explained he shows respect to the bereaved families by adorning a suit and tie.

Mark’s wife of 24 years Sara added: “Mark's been amazing, thinking on his feet and offering services and being part of the community as well and just offering his services where he can.”

In fact, dental nurse Sara said he’d built up such a huge client base he couldn’t keep up with demand, so she trained to get her own cab driver license during lockdown.

She said: “It’s been a difficult time, but so positive. I’ve had an amazing response, mainly from women, they just feel reassured. 

“I'm just really lucky to have been able to contribute as well, and be independent and change my direction.”

MR & MRS: Mark and Sara Twyman drive an old white London taxi for weddings, complete with a crushed velvet interior. Credit: Sara Twyman

MR & MRS: Mark and Sara Twyman drive an old white London taxi for weddings, complete with a crushed velvet interior. Credit: Sara Twyman

SUPERMARKET SWEEP: Ray estimated the Exclusive Shopping Club made around £5,000 per week to support the drivers in the cooperative.

SUPERMARKET SWEEP: Ray estimated the Exclusive Shopping Club made around £5,000 per week to support the drivers in the cooperative.

Innovative cabbie Ray Winstone, a founding member of tour cooperative Black Taxi Tour London, also changed path this year.

The cooperative launched the Exclusive Shopping Club, delivering shopping, prescriptions and packages to members’ doors.

The 59-year-old, who has four children, aged between six and 37, and three grandchildren, kept himself afloat by also servicing cabs, installing wardrobes and repairing roofs.

Bromley-based Ray said: “The knowledge is about four years of self determination, nobody's going to give you anything. 

“Most cab drivers are entrepreneurs, so they'll find another way.”

On the other side of the Thames in Whetstone, North London, Martin Franks also applauded the industry’s resilience.

He founded Black Taxi Hire in 2009, supplying taxis for filming, PR and advertising companies, which he continued throughout lockdown.

Martin said: “I'm quite optimistic for the future.

“Businesses and events will come back, and people are going to be hungry to get the economy going again, aren't they?”

Another driver, Putney-based Darren Allen agreed.

He explained: “If you want the truth, I'm not worried about the long term, because I think on the back of this we will get busier.

“We're an iconic part of London.”

FACEBOOKING: Martin said the social media platform was the perfect place to find bookings.

FACEBOOKING: Martin said the social media platform was the perfect place to find bookings.

AN OLD HACK: London’s first petrol–powered cab was introduced in 1903. Credit: London Vintage Taxi Association.

AN OLD HACK: London’s first petrol–powered cab was introduced in 1903. Credit: London Vintage Taxi Association.

According to the London Vintage Taxi Association, by the 1760s there were over 1,000 horse-drawn hackney taxis thronging London’s streets.

TFL numbers show by June 2020 there were 18,553 cabs, now all engine-drawn.

But the pandemic saw nearly 4000 black cabs delicensed since June, and by 13th December there were just 14,638 on London’s streets.

Darren, whose father is also a cabbie, described the scarcity of available jobs, and because he is newly qualified, the father-of-two said he didn’t qualify for many schemes and grants.

He said : “It's really hard to stay afloat at the minute, you just hope and pray that the app will go off.

“I've even thought a couple of times of trying to do a funding page to get help that way.

“But I'm a proud person, I don't like to ask people for help."

Darren added: "I just try and get by, and that's what I've done."

Black cabs are as British as Yorkshire tea, fish and chips and Buckingham Palace.

This year, however, London cabbies proved they're more than a tourist trap.

Using the experience and trust they've built over centuries, black taxis have kept London moving, even in lockdown.

ROLLING WITH THE TIMES: Black Taxi Hire cabs even appeared on China's Next Top Model. Credit: Martin Franks

ROLLING WITH THE TIMES: Black Taxi Hire cabs even appeared on China's Next Top Model. Credit: Martin Franks

TopBuilt with Shorthand