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Interviews

In total 26 oral history interviews were conducted for this project. All but a couple of these were conducted by the children with some conducted later by digital:works due to cancellations.

These are the stories of London and Londoners, new and old. Some take us back to 1950s London when many of the drivers were Jewish. These were the days of the closed shop, pea-souper fogs, driving heavy, cold cabs on empty streets. Meeting the boat trains, or heading to Covent Garden in time for “the burst” when theatres would empty out and the streets would fill with people looking for cabs home. And what about getting a cab to take you south of the river? Interviews also contain stories of the advent of the mini cab in the 1960s, of the London Docks and Fleet Street where night workers would give big tips at the end of a shift. There are stories of the challenges faced by the first black drivers and women drivers. The comradery but also the conflict. Interviews bring us up to date as road become increasingly crowded with traffic, as traffic lanes then cycle lanes appear, and as new people move into the trade.

There are detailed description of “doing the knowledge”, the dreaded “appearances” and then the challenges and joys of life working as a London Cabbie.

There are many stories, funny, sad and poignant, and through these stories we get an insight into the history of the men and women who have driven the famous black London cab.

You can listen to each of the full interviews as audio by clicking on the play buttons opposite. They make take a few moments to load onto the page so please be patient.

The full interviews are also going to the TUC archives at London Met.

 

Henry Harrison

Al Fresco, gained badge in 1966.


Henry Harrison

Alf Townsend, gained badge in 1962


Henry Harrison

Allice Cudlip, gained badge in 2015


Henry Harrison

Allan Evans, gained badge in 1978


Henry Harrison

Colin Evans, gained badge in 1974


Henry Harrison

Danny Freeeman, gained badge in 1992


Henry Harrison

Gary Zylberszac, gained badge in 1982


Henry Harrison

Geoffrey Rose, gained badge in 1963


Henry Harrison

Graham Waite, gained badge in 1978


Henry Harrison

Javid Raja, gained badge in 2000


Henry Harrison

Kamal Abdellaoui, gained badge in 2004


Henry Harrison

Karen Menpez, gained badge in 2004


Henry Harrison

Kate Freak, runs the cabmans shelter in Russell Square


Henry Harrison

Louise Osborne, gained badge in 1993


Henry Harrison

Malcolm Cleaves, gained badge in 1968


Henry Harrison

Micky Samroo, gained badge in 1977


Henry Harrison

Nick Townsend, gained badge in 1989


Henry Harrison

Richard Cudlip, gained badge in 2006


Henry Harrison

Robert Lordan, gained badge in 2010


Henry Harrison

Stanley Roth, gained badge in 1957


Henry Harrison

Stuart Hope, gained badge in 1987.


Henry Harrison

Suzanne_Sullivan, gained badge in 2012.


Henry Harrison

Teresa Johnson, gained badge in 2004


Henry Harrison

Tony Caccavone, gained badge in 1969


Henry Harrison

Vasco Figueira, gained badge in 1961


Henry Harrison

Jimmy Barry. Interviewed while driving.