The Childrens' Magical Taxi Tour Big Breakfast
28th September 2018Phillip Davis is the Master of the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers...for the second time! It was he that organised the first Magical Taxi Tour Trip to Disneyland Paris for children with life-threatening diseases in 1994 and so it is fitting that he is Master again as the Company celebrates 25 years of this extraordinary charity. With donations gathered from City businesses and Livery Companies alike, it is an annual event that has grown and grown.
Representing our Company, I made my way before dawn to the East Winter Gardens at Canary Wharf to join all the other donors and supporters to a big breakfast laid on for the children, their families and carers ahead of their taxi journey to Europe's home of all things Disney. The excitement of the children was palpable as music and fanfares were played. Apart from the Master of the Hackney Carriage Drivers, the party was lead by the Lord Mayor, Charles Bowman, the Lady Mayoress, the Sheriffs and their Consorts; all there to support the event and wish everyone well as they set off.
After breakfast, unable to contain their eagerness to get under way, the families and carers were physically dragged by the children to the waiting taxis; 120 of them! To the cacophony of blaring taxi horns and a brass band, the taxis roared out of Canary Wharf with their happy passengers waving at the assembled crowd who were all waving back.
It was one of the most joyous events of this Master's year so far and also the most poignant. There were children there that day whose lives would certainly be cut tragically short, others whose lives would be burdened by debilitating disease. Some lucky ones might get better but not without suffering and pain. This charity affords all of them, their familes and carers a welcome break. It is an opportunity to suspend their worries and share a special time together.
The Master Phillip Davis has much to be proud of for his initiative and I wish him well in his year as the Hackney Carriage Drivers celebrate their big-hearted and steadfast work over these 25 years.