Children's Magical Taxi Tour 25th Anniversary Banquet

30th October 2018

To mark the 25th Anniversary of the Children's Magical Taxi Tour, the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers hosted an exceptional banquet at Mansion House. Since September, the Master, Phil Davis, is holding office for the second time; recognition and tribute by the Company for his inspiration to establish this remarkable charity and the years of tireless work that he has dedicated.

Support for the charity comes from the Company members along with many businesses and organisations in the City and representatives of all these organisations were invited to the event. This included the Masters and Clerks of twenty Livery Companies of which the Tobacco Pipe Makers' was one. The Principal Guest was The Lord Mayor, Charles Bowman, and the Lady Mayoress.

We heard from the Master about the beginnings of the charity when a sequence of chance conversations lead to an invitation from Disneyland Paris to offer a long weekend to children with life threatening diseases. Phil's challenge was to find enough support to arrange sufficient transport from London to Paris. With many of his Company members rallying behind him it was another stroke of luck that lead to the solving of the puzzle. Upon hearing of the ambitious endeavour, it was P&O that put its backing behind how the taxis could cross the channel. The charity was born!

What was intended to be a one-off event was repeated the following year and the year after that. Despite many further challenges, Phil's ingenuity and tenacity has seen the charity become fully established and it has grown into an extaordinary annual event that enjoys huge backing in the City. Since it began, over 5,000 people have benefitted from the charity; sick children and their families and carers. It has brought joy and happiness to the lives of people that otherwise might not have been able to share such special time together.

The Lord Mayor spoke for us all in extending well-earned gratitude and congratulations to Phil Davis and the members of the Company for their selfless commitment to such an extraordinary benevolent activity. It is exceptional. Thanks were also given to the Company for a wonderful evening of hospitality and entertainment. With over 360 people in attendance, it was a rare occasion to feel the Egyption Room at Mansion House to be truly full. A testament to the popularity of not just the charity but the Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers itself.