OUR HISTORY

Since 1928, we have been helping children less fortunate than others. As well as our famous yearly seaside outings, we also hold exciting events for the children and we raise money to deal with the many appeals we receive.

Please take a look through our Timeline to see the journey we have been on over the past 90 years.

1928 – The LTFUC is Born

In 1928, a taxi driver named Mick Cohen, who had grown up in the Norwood Orphanage, recruited 12 drivers to organise an outing and raise money for the Home.

1931 – The Birth of a Tradition

Three years later saw the start of a tradition. The coaches of the previous years were replaced by 40 licensed taxis decorated with Union Jacks.

1949 – The Committee is Formed

Four years after WWII had ended the first official committee of the London Taxi Drivers’ Fund for Underprivileged Children was formed.

1950 – Media Coverage

For the first time, television and newspapers reported on the annual outing.

1951 – Off to Brighton

The venue was moved to the south coast of Brighton.

1953 – The LTFUC Grows

Growth meant that the charity could increase the number of children being helped by allowing other Homes to be involved in the outings.

1966 – Southend-on-Sea

After alternating the previous year’s outing destination, the Committee decided on Southend-on-Sea as a permanent location.

1974 – Royal Film Premiere

The LTFUC hosted a Royal World Charity Premiere film called ‘The Island at the Top of the World’.

1984 – All Aboard the Orient Express

A special trip was arranged for 45 children to go on the Orient Express.

1988 – Our Diamond Jubilee

After 60 years the LTFUC celebrated its Diamond Jubilee.

1989 – Lady Di

The LTFUC were honoured and privileged to have Her Royal Highness Diana, Princess of Wales attend the children’s Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at the Grosvenor House.

1990 – Back to Brighton

Due to rebuilding work at Southend, the outing returned to Brighton after a break of 27 years but now with a party of well over 500.

1991 – St Thomas Hospital

The charity makes its largest single donation of £26,000 to St. Thomas Hospital Premature Baby Unit.

1992 – Bonjour Calais

A day trip to Calais was organised for the children, courtesy of P&O European Ferries and Esso Fresh Smell Diesel who supplied the fuel for all 120 taxis.

1993 – Back to Southend-On-Sea

This year saw our annual seaside outing return to Southend.

1994 – Mad Hatter’s Tea Party

The Mad Hatter’s Christmas Party, held at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane becomes an annual event.

1994 – MBE awarded to Gerry Dunn

Committee member Gerry Dunn is awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire).

1995 – VE Day Celebrations

To commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of VE Day, the Fund organised a special outing for 300 disadvantaged children.

1997 – Taxi Safari Reinstated

After a break of 10 years, the Taxi Safari outing was reinstated.

1998 – Lord Mayor’s Show

To celebrate the 70th Anniversary, seven taxis took part in the very prestigious Lord Mayor’s Show, one for each decade of the charity’s existence.

2003 – Buckingham Palace

The LTFUC were invited to take 200 special needs and disadvantaged children in a convoy of 100 decorated taxis to a special tea party in the grounds of Buckingham Palace.

2004 – HRH Prince of Wales

The Committee of the LTFUC attended a reception held in the gardens of Clarence House.

2004 – Alan Cohen awarded MBE

Committee member Alan Cohen is awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire).

2006 – University College Hospital

The LTFUC donated a new Children’s Sensory Room to the University College Hospital on Euston Road.

2007 – Kisharon Donation

The LTFUC donated £3,000 to Kisharon, a British charity founded in 1976.

2008 – Celebrating 80 years

A Gala Dinner and Dance was held in the Palace of Westminster to celebrate 80 years of assisting disadvantaged children in Greater London.

2009 – School Donations

The LTFUC presented an Easy-Lift Bench to Kisharon’s Day School in Temple Fortune.

2010 – Royal Patronage

The charity is given Royal Patronage from the Duchess of Cornwall.

2012 – Buckingham Palace

The Fund’s Hon. Chair, Susan Angel and husband Gerald along with committee member Michael Son and wife Maxine attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

2016 – Michael Son BEM

Trustee Michael Son is awarded a BEM in the 2016 Queen’s Birthday Honour’s List.

2017 – Cockney Harvest Festival

The LTFUC attend the traditional annual London Pearly Kings & Queens Costermongers’ (19th anniversary) Harvest Festival Parade.

2017 – The MIPAA Chairman’s Award

On 15th December 2017, the Fund’s Honorary Chairman Michael Son BEM and Honorary Secretary Malcolm Shaffron attended the Motor Industry Public Affairs Association, (MIPAA) Board of Directors Annual Lunch.

2018 – Celebrating 90 Years

A host of celebrities turned out to join the LTFUC’s 2018 ‘Mad Hatter’s’ 90th Anniversary celebration party.

2018 – 90th Anniversary Dinner & Dance

The LTFUC celebrated a landmark event with over 250 guests at their 90^th Anniversary Dinner & Dance.

2018 – Cabmen’s Shelter Charity Day

On Friday 29^th June, the Russell Square cabmen’s shelter, run by Katie Simmonds who has worked there for the last four years, holds a fundraising day for the charity with £3,100 being raised by donations and tips.

2018 – The Charity Rebrands

The charity are rebranded by Pentagram, the world’s largest independently-owned design studio, to the London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children (LTCFC).

2018 – LTCFC grant to Coram’s Fields

On Friday 7 September 2018, Coram’s Fields announced the official reopening of their nursery playground, after receiving a grant from the London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children (LTCFC), for the sum of £18,902.

2019 – Reception at Buckingham Palace

On Thursday 14 February 2019, 150 of the charity’s supporters, benefactors, fundraisers and volunteer London licensed taxi drivers made their merry way to Buckingham Palace for a reception hosted by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall.

2019 – The Business Travel Conference

We were thrilled that the LTCFC had been chosen as the nominated charity at The Business Travel Conference 2019.

2019 – LTCFC Livery Taxi Wraps

Following our rebranding, Ubiquitous Taxis offered a number of LTCFC livery taxi wraps to the committee and our volunteer drivers to help raise awareness for the London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children.

2019 – London to Brighton Cycle Ride

On the bright and sunny morning of Sunday 15th September, 14 members of the LTCFC Cycle Team assembled on Clapham Common to take part in the 2019 Skyline London to Brighton Cycle Ride.

2020 – Southend Outing Cancelled

It was with much regret that we had to announce that our outing to Southend on 14^th July had to be cancelled.

2020 – LTCFC Food Bank Donation

The LTCFC stepped in to help a food bank based in St Barnabas Church, North London.

2020 – LTCFC School Starter Packs

The LTCFC distributed over 700 school starter packs to more than a dozen schools teaching disadvantaged children and those with special needs, throughout London and the South East.

2021 – Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Cancelled

Due to the ongoing Covid19 pandemic we were forced to cancel any plans for what would have been our 49th Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at the Grosvenor House.

2021 – Mad Hatter’s Hat Competition

Following the cancellation of our Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at the Grosvenor House, to keep engaged with the schools and specifically the children we held a Mad Hatter’s Hat Competition online.