If you spotted some Stormtroopers (UK Garrison), Mickey and Minnie Mouse (Mingo’s Mascots), some Furry Tail Folk, Clown Jolly Jack and some Animal Fu characters whilst shopping in Sainsbury’s (Low Hall), Chingford, on the morning of Wednesday 12th July 2017 you were not hallucinating, they were there to greet 300 very deserving children being taken to Southend-on-Sea for the day in a convoy of over 100 balloon decorated London licensed taxis and this could only mean one thing, it was the day of the LTFUC’s legendary annual outing! We thank all the wonderful characters for coming.
We were also pleased to welcome the Mayor of Waltham Forest, Cllr Yemisi Osho, accompanied by her Support Officer Stephen Myhill, and also Howard Reed, Master of the Worshipful Company of Tin Plate Workers, alias Wire Workers, and the Upper Warden Peter Wilkinson and we thank them all for giving up their valuable time to be with us. We extend grateful thanks to the management and staff of Sainsbury’s (Low Hall) for the use of their car park and for the lovely breakfast provided and also thank them for the water, Lego stickers and their helpers.
Once everyone had breakfast and the taxis had been decorated, the children and helpers were allocated to each cab and at 9.30am the very long convoy departed with horns blaring and lights flashing! We thank the following Police units for helping us out at the start, Valley Safer Neighbourhoods Team, Larkswood Safer Neighbourhoods, Hale End & Higham Park Safer Neighbourhoods, Hatch Lane Safer Neighbourhoods, Safer Transport team (Waltham Forest) and traffic units based at Chadwell Heath Traffic Garage. We also extend grateful thanks to the Green Flag (Kavanagh Motors) and the Red Cross for joining us all day and also thank Ears Communications for the loan of their radios.
On looking round Adventure Island it was great to see all the children having so much fun, their faces covered in ice cream, candy floss and donuts for which vouchers had been supplied and we thank the management and staff at Adventure Island for all their help and support. The tired and weary but happy drivers and children returned to the Cliffs Pavilion for tea and a disco at 4.30pm and those who had any strength left took to the dance floor, namely the children! We were pleased to welcome the Mayor of Southend, Cllr Fay Evans and her escort Mr Ian Johnson MBE and we thank them for joining us.
After tea the Fund’s Honorary Chairman, Michael Son, BEM, welcomed and thanked everyone for coming and it was now presentation time by the Mayor. First prize for the best dressed cab went to Steve Pulham, Taxi No. 10, and is helper Kay Molineux and he received the Terry Stapleton Rose Bowl, plus a full engine service and MOT, or £150 cash and we thank Stanway Engineering Ltd, Chingford, for sponsoring this prize. Second prize for best dressed taxi went to Niki Hunte, Taxi No. 60 and he received a shield. The third prize which was a ‘lucky dip’ went to driver Jason Clauson and he received premium membership for a year of the Waldorf Hilton Hotel and we thank them for the prize.The disco recommenced with many children rushing onto the floor and we must thank Dave Davies and his team for doing an excellent job, as well as the Furry Tail Folk, Clown Jolly Jack and Snow White who were on stage leading the children. Lots of children were having their faces painted in the foyer and here we must thank Jacqueline Walsh of ‘A Wacky Jackie’ and Jackie Tomlinson for their expertise face painting and Jacqueline’s son Jake for doing balloons. We also thank Southend’s wonderful Salvo the Clown for doing so many balloons for the children.
The Mayor of Southend, Cllr Fay Evans and her escort Mr Ian Johnson MBE join us for tea
The disco ended at 6pm with a giant conga which led the children off the dance floor into the foyer where a stick of rock was handed to each child on departure. Once again we thank Paul Van Looy for this wonderful donation and Paul Thompson for supplying the rocks. We also thank the anonymous donor who covered the cost of the diesel for all the drivers. Thanks go to the management and staff at the Cliffs Pavilion for their help and support.
Oh no the fun was not over yet, as can be seen in the following link. As the convoy left Southend, all the cabs were hosed down by the Leigh-on-Sea Fire Service much to the delight of the screaming ecstatic children and we thank Dean Riley and the crew most sincerely for this wonderful gesture. Sincere apologies to all those who got a soaking – hilarious!