Early last week the news came through that our friend and colleague Alan Fresco had sadly passed away. He had been very ill for quite some time, in and out of hospital with a number of serious conditions until finally he could take no more. I visited him in hospital and at his home, and although he was delirious at times, we did manage to share some stories together which made him chuckle and hopefully eased his burden somewhat. 

Like most cab drivers, I first came across Alan via his writings in the cab trade magazines. He had a way with words that were unique, very humorous, with a hint of Jewish shtick. He would often write about his family and the trials and tribulations of outings with them in his beloved taxi. Reading his stories you eventually felt that you were part of his extended family as you felt you knew them so well. He would often come on the Southend trips with us when we were the London Taxi Drivers’ Fund for Underprivileged Children, either as the official photographer or as a driver. He always enjoyed the day and was never seen without his camera and notebook, ready for a good story. 

In July 1990 Alan was part of a mini convoy of vehicles that were put together by the LTFUC to travel to Romania to bring much needed relief to a children’s orphanage in Varadia de Mures Transylvania. It was a round trip that lasted almost three weeks and we want to believe that the medicines, toys, food, and other relief items that we left behind really did help the lives of those desperately poor and undernourished children.

It was heartbreaking to see the conditions that they were forced to live in all because of the hated tyrant and dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. Throughout the entire trip Alan tried to see the best in people and keep everyone’s spirits up. After we all came home, we remained firm friends and often enjoyed each other’s company reminiscing about the happy and sad times we experienced during that trip. Not long after, his lovely wife Carol passed away and Alan was never to be the same again. The light had been taken from him and he continued to struggle. When covid struck he became ill and was forced to give up driving the cab which was a huge blow. He tried to carry on writing small items for publication, but he had lost the spark and became discontented. As time passed, even though he was cared for by his wonderful daughter-in-law Joanne and his sons, his illness overtook him, and he passed away peacefully.

It takes a big man to wear big, coloured glasses and a weird hairdo, but Alan did it. He was indeed a big man in every way and I for one am proud to have known him.

RIP Alan, you deserve it.

Malcolm Shaffron

Honorary Secretary