Taxi Charity set to celebrate 75th anniversary with 4 July black cab seaside convoy

Image credit: Taxi Charity

The Taxi Charity is all set to celebrate its 75th anniversary with a much-awaited trip to the coast on 4 July.

The trip is a part of the charitable organisation’s efforts to provide entertainment and support for veterans from all conflicts since 1948. Over 50 volunteer London cab drivers will be assigned the task of picking up veterans from across London and the southeast to convey to Worthing for a day filled with fun and entertainment.

The trip will involve a rendezvous at South Holmwood, Surrey, where the drivers and veterans will enjoy refreshments prepared by the village residents. From there, the convoy of cabs will head towards Worthing and is expected to reach the promenade by 12pm. The veterans will enjoy lunch in the Pavilion Rooms following which the guest speaker, Mosquito Pilot Flt Lt (Retd) Colin Bell DFC, will address the gathering.

The occasion will also be graced by the charity’s patrons - Vice-Admiral Sir Adrian Johns, KCB, CBE, KStJ, DL, and Lady (Suzie) Johns.

The organisation has been supporting thousands of veterans since its inception and is run entirely by volunteer London black taxi drivers. The charity's focus is on providing fun and entertainment and arranges free trips to the Netherlands and France for acts of commemoration, in addition to days out to museums, concerts, and social events across the UK.

The Taxi Charity received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2021, a prestigious accolade approved by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the equivalent of the MBE for charities.

To fund its activities, the charity is reliant on donations, grants, and sponsorship, and has launched a '75 for 75' fundraising campaign to raise £75,000 in its anniversary year. As the nation marks its first anniversary of freedom from the pandemic, the Taxi Charity's day trip is expected to bring joy to many veterans and their families.