Beloved Poppy Cabs forced to change name after Royal British Legion trademark dispute
- Perry Richardson
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
After more than 15 years transporting veterans free of charge to Remembrance Sunday commemorations in London, the volunteer-run Poppy Cabs initiative has officially changed its name to Cabs for Veterans following a dispute with the Royal British Legion over the use of the word ‘Poppy’.
The service, founded in 2009 by a small group of London licensed taxi drivers, has become a recognised part of the capital’s annual Remembrance events. Each year, volunteer black cab drivers donate both their time and their taxis to transport veterans between London’s mainline railway stations, military clubs, the Cenotaph and remembrance services across the city.
The rebrand follows discussions that began in 2025 after the Royal British Legion challenged the use of the word ‘Poppy’ and the associated logo, citing its intellectual property rights. Despite talks between the charity and Poppy Cabs coordinator Mike Hughes, an agreement could not be reached, leading to the organisation adopting the new name, Cabs for Veterans, in July 2026.
Mike Hughes said the decision had been painful for those involved in the long-running initiative.
He said: “This has been incredibly upsetting for everyone involved. Poppy Cabs has become a much-loved and respected part of Remembrance Sunday and having to change a name that means so much to so many people has been heartbreaking.
“We have always had enormous respect for the Royal British Legion and the incredible work it does supporting the Armed Forces community. We have never seen ourselves as working against the Legion, quite the opposite. We have shared the same goal of supporting veterans and helping them take part in the nation’s Remembrance commemorations. Donations have also raised thousands of pounds for both the Royal British Legion and the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans.
“While our name is changing, everything else remains exactly the same. Our wonderful volunteer taxi drivers will continue to give their time freely, and we will continue to ensure veterans can travel with dignity to the events that mean so much to them.”
Hughes stressed that the organisation’s purpose remains unchanged despite the new identity.
“The name may have changed, but our mission has not. We remain as committed as ever to ensuring that every veteran who wishes to pay their respects on Remembrance Sunday can do so with the dignity, comfort and respect they deserve.”
Hundreds of veterans use the service every Remembrance Sunday, with volunteer London taxi drivers covering thousands of miles across the capital to ensure transport is not a barrier to attending commemorative events. The operation relies entirely on volunteers, including drivers, family members and supporters who help coordinate journeys throughout the day.
The rebrand has prompted disappointment among some within the military and taxi communities. Dick Goodwin, Vice President of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, described the outcome as “incredibly short-sighted” and questioned why legal action had been pursued against what he described as a volunteer-led initiative supporting the same cause.
Goodwin said: “Every Remembrance Sunday I am in London, and there is no more moving sight than standing on Westminster Bridge as Big Ben chimes the start of the two-minute silence and seeing hundreds of London’s iconic black cabs lined up in quiet tribute. Each one represents a driver who has freely given up their time, their taxi and their earnings to ensure a veteran can take their rightful place at the Cenotaph.”
He added: “To see such a wonderful initiative forced to abandon a name that has become synonymous with kindness and remembrance is deeply disappointing. Having worked with the RBL for many years it’s difficult to understand why so much firepower was directed at a group of volunteers whose only aim is to help veterans.”
