The weekend of 12th-14th September saw the Turners’ Company help make some very special magical memories for a family that had faced so many challenges. Once more I had the privilege to drive a black cab as part of the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers Children’s Magical Taxi Tour to Disneyland Paris.
I met “my family” at 5.15 am at the Limehouse Premier Inn who, despite the time, seemed remarkably awake. Jorawar, his sister Tavroop and their mother Jagtinder were part of a group of families from Birmingham Children’s Hospital and had travelled down the previous day. They were all looking forward to the adventure but did not appreciate fully what they were about to join. Thinking that it was only the eight or so families from Birmingham taking part in the trip they were overwhelmed to see one hundred black cabs and numerous support vehicles lined up outside the venue for breakfast in Canary Wharf. It is labelled the Big Breakfast by the organising committee and it certainly lives up to its billing. Our very own Master and Consort joined masters from the other supporting livery companies and a military band. The Sheriffs, representing the Lord Mayor, gave the welcoming speech and sent the convoy on its way to Disneyland Paris.
The true magic of this trip is that the families participating in the event realise they are not alone in facing their challenges. Jorawar has, unfortunately, spent much of his young life in and out of hospital culminating in a liver transplant last year. These trips also give the children the opportunity to see their doctors and nurses away from the hospital in a far less threatening environment.
The families are given the celebrity treatment throughout the journey to Disneyland. The convoy, which at times can stretch over five miles, is escorted by the City of London Police, Kent Police and the French Gendarmes all the way. On arriving at Dover, the harbour police stop all the traffic to usher the convoy aboard the ferry where the families are met by the Captain and crew all bearing numerous gifts for the children on the trip.
The celebrity treatment continues in France. On arrival at the scheduled service station stop for refuelling the taxis, the staff lay on a children’s tea party with face painting, bands, movie characters, sandwiches, cakes and gifts galore for the children. It is quite a struggle to prise the children away from the party but we still have a couple of hours more travelling before pulling in to our hotel at Disney, where we are met by a myriad of Disney characters ready to give the children huge hugs.
The excitement of the first day is matched by the excitement of the second day when we hit the parks as soon as they open. Once more the families are made to feel very important by having a special pass that allows them to skip the queues and get on as many rides as the children can cope with. It is lovely to see the families relax and put some of their worries behind them. It is understandable that the parents can be very protective of their children but Jorawar could not have been happier when he managed to persuade his mum to allow him to go on the rollercoaster, Thunder Mountain. The caveat was the Jorawar had to ride with his mum and it was obvious that Jorawar enjoyed it far more than Jagtinder!
That evening, despite a tiring day in the parks, we all dressed up in our finery for the gala dinner and party. The dinner is held in a very fine banqueting suite in one of the larger hotels at Disneyland and very few of the children will ever have experienced such a grand location, extravagantly decorated with hundreds of balloons and attended by an army of waiting staff meeting their every need. We climbed aboard the transport back to our hotel around 10.30pm, exhausted but with many happy memories and a couple of liberated balloons!
The return journey on Sunday starts with the children climbing all over the motorbikes, cars and ambulances of the emergency services. Anyone wanting a lie in at the hotel is rudely awoken by a cacophony of sirens, whistles and revving engines. Reluctantly, the families return to their taxis for the start the long drive back to England.
I finally dropped the family off at Euston station around 7.00 pm in time for their train back to Coventry, tired but with many magical memories and very grateful for the support shown by the Turners’ Company. Alex Robertson, Liveryman
