Be in the know

The Legion’s Taxi Driver funding scheme is helping to keep the road clear for those veterans who know where they want to get to on civvy street, says Rebecca Grant

From Legion Autumn 2009

London cab driver Brian Wynne clearly loves his job. “It’s just such a good trade to be in,” the former TA Private explains. “It’s got a lot of history to it, and you meet some really interesting people. What’s also enjoyable is that when people come up to you, you have no idea where you’re going to end up going.”

Fellow cabbie Colin Evans, also an ex-service man, agrees: “I enjoy the level of professionalism that I can offer to the public. I recently had a couple in my cab who’d just arrived from Brazil and they hadn’t got a clue about the hotel they were going to. The man kept saying to me, ‘Jurys, Jurys…’
“I wracked my brains, and I asked him ‘do you mean the Jolly St Ermins?’ The pair of them were jumping up for joy, shouting ‘that’s it, that’s the one!’ It’s that sort of thing that makes the job so rewarding.”

The pair have enjoyed roaming the city’s busy road networks since they earned their licences in March this year – and after the years of committed hard work and energy they had both put into passing the notoriously challenging ‘Knowledge of London’ taxi-driver scheme, their happiness is entirely justified.

Every London black-cab driver needs to go through the ‘Knowledge’ examination process. In order to pass, they must memorise a total of 320 routes – known as ‘runs’ – within a six-mile radius of Charing Cross, as well as a further 25 suburban runs. Candidates are tested during a series of one-to-one examinations, and it takes an average of three years to complete the training.

“It’s quite an open-ended process. It takes some people two-and-a-half years, and it takes others five, six or seven years,” says Colin, who was a Rifleman with the Royal Green Jackets. He got his licence after spending two years and eight months on the Knowledge programme, which he prepared for by attending the Knowledge Point School in Caledonian Road. He also purchased a motorcycle and travelled around the capital’s streets to get to grips with the runs.

“I was very determined to complete it,” he says. “As you progress, you do begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel, because it’s done in stages. Each time you complete a ‘building block’ you know you’re a step closer to getting your badge, so it does make you feel good.”
Being in a supportive environment, like the one the school offers, helps make the learning process much easier. As well as varied classes that help the trainee cabbies memorise the runs, they get the chance to test their knowledge by pairing up with a ‘call-over partner’ to revise the material with.

“It’s like any environment when where everybody’s doing the same thing, we’re almost talking the same language,” says Colin. “By working with a call-over partner, and going to the classes as well, you build upon all the material that you’ve learned.”

But finding the funds to pay for the training at Knowledge Point can prove tricky for many, especially if they are not currently in full-time employment. Fortunately, Colin and Brian’s forces backgrounds meant they could qualify under the Legion’s Taxi Driver funding scheme.

For Brian, who had to give up his former ‘civvy street’ career as a plasterer due to injury, receiving Legion funding was the difference between success and failure.

“I went along to look at the school, but didn’t really have any plans to join because I’d stopped working and, financially, it would have been a bit of a struggle, but there was a sign that said if you are ex-forces or ex-TA that you could go on The Royal British Legion’s scheme.
He adds: “Initially, I was surprised that they were able to help me. Obviously, I’d heard about the Legion before, and everyone I ever speak to thinks it’s a fantastic organisation, but I never thought I’d be helped by them, because I didn’t know they had schemes to help people with their future. I’m so glad they do, because if I hadn’t been able to go to the school, I may not have been able to complete the Knowledge.”

In addition to providing funding for the course, the Legion is on hand to offer welfare support to the ‘Knowledge’ students throughout
their course. Colin recalls: “They were there for me the whole time. When I went in to talk to them about funding, they told me about all the other financial help that you are eligible for as well.

“For example, if I’d dropped my motorcycle helmet and couldn’t afford a new one, they would have made a case for me to receive funding so I could get it replaced, allowing me to continue my training.

“It was really comforting to know that once I’d started the training I had the full backing of both the school and Legion, so that no matter what happened, I would be able to accomplish my goal.”