In message . com,
Mizter T writes
Mike Hughes wrote:

In message . com,
Mizter T writes
Mike Hughes wrote:

There is a very good chance of getting a taxi off the street,
particularly if you try the rank at the Metropole Hotel on the corner of
Edgeware and Praed St


Even early on Christmas Day morning?

Yes

I worked last year. I was surprised at how many taxis and also how many
customers there were around. Remember that there are a lot of taxi
drivers in London who are not Christian.


Thanks for the reply, that's interesting that there's so many taxis and
so many prospective passengers around at that time.

Of course I'd presume that London taxi drivers would represent all the
different communities in London and would thus represent all faiths,
but I must admit my (possibly quite erroneous) assumption is that many
are ethnically British white men,

Until fairly recently that was the case. There are now more people from
all backgrounds joining the trade, but as it takes on average 3 years do
the 'knowledge' to get a licence many people from 'ethnic' backgrounds
have taken the easier option of working outside the law or at best
working in the Private Hire (minicab) trade.

and thus would wish to celebrate
Christmas with their families (though of course these days I would
presume many either wouldn't regard themselves as Christians or
wouldn't be Christians, but like the majority of people nonetheless
they'd mark Christmas).

There has been (still is) a large number of Jewish people in the trade
(family immigrants prior to WW2) that is gradually changing


--
Mike Hughes
A Taxi driver licensed for London and Brighton
at home in Tarring, West Sussex, England