Hello All

@CoopsE1 aka Dawn Cooper here . This is my first Blog which Steve has asked me to write on LegalledOff so I thought I’d start with a bit about me.
I got my badge on the 22nd January 2008 after 3 years almost to the day from Manor House to Gibson Square and a long 3 years that was too… So why did I do the Knowledge Of London (KOL)? I kind of stumbled upon it through a friend who had just started the KOL, as we talked about what was involved; I thought I could do that. I was neither happy with my job in IT or the prospect of the rest of my working life being stuck in the 9-5 mentality. I was so over the Corporate World!! 

For me it started as a bit of a hobby and distraction which soon became one of the biggest challenges and achievements of my life to date. Each of us have a different experience of the KOL but I am sure we will all agree that it is all consuming, and requires every ounce of your focus and energy. I personally really enjoyed my time doing the KOL and have met friends for life through it. My call over partners are still my friends today, I guess its because we have shared something together that is unique. I know that I wouldn’t have gotten through it without them, so a big thanks to Jamie, Tony (@Charlie8Zero) and Lee (@jackcabnory).
There are a number of milestones moments, the first milestone is completing the KOL, second is Badge day and third is overcoming the fear of that first job. After that you are on the road, a Butterboy or Buttergirl, completely on your own and that is something the knowledge doesn’t prepare you for. .
So Badge Day comes as i said 22nd January 2008 got my badge in the morning and rented a cab and went out that afternoon. I’ve never been so scarred in all my life – now i knew why they put you through so much on the KOL. The first job is traditionally free – i took a friend to Euston Station dropped off and turned light on, turned the cab around i wasn’t brave enough to rank there. I hand goes up and my stomack goes over. Liverpool Street Station please. Thank you taxi gods for giving me an easy one. The traffic was so bad enroute probably being new the the job i drove the line instead of avoiding the traffic at that time of day. Anyway we arrived at Liverpool Street £17 on the meter i explained that it was free the guy was well pleased. I also felt bad taking his money because half the time we sat in traffic. This feeling goes on for a while but you soon get over it and realise its a job and the punter has decided to take a cab so therefore pays the fare. I always try to avoid traffic the best i can and communicate this with the punter during the journey.
Doing the KOL is one thing but driving a cab is another. Just when you thought the learning was over you have to quickly learn the rules and etiquette which are part of an age old tradition. For example, cabs driving down the road are like a moving rank, the first cab with its light on gets the job. All sounds easy enough until… there is a cab in a side street with his light on! If I let him out of the side street he has to give the job to me, you get the picture. As a trade we have our own language which is ever evolving, like ‘gods waiting room’ aka Euston Rank not language used in the Blue Books… could life get any more complicated.
So two years in and I’ve grasped the etiquette and language but now having to face the impact of the recession, the underhanded tactics of the minicab trade and the celebrity status that has happened as a result of my being featured in the Guardian – ha ha!
I now own my own cab, am a member of DAC and found @tweetalondoncab and i haven’t looked back. Driving a cab at night in London can be a lonely job and being a woman it can make you feel vulnerable at times. Since joining DAC and being part of @tweetalondoncab (TLC) I feel connected with other drivers all the time. TLC is growing all the time with like minded drivers who really want to make a difference. We have a good community. Richard (@Cabbiescapital) from TLC put me forward for an article in the Guardian newspaper, some of the boys have been in a pub quiz organised by visit london, We are in the process of gettiing our own TLC reciept pads or rear window advertising. We also have other plans and ideas going on behind the sceens. Its nice to be part of something where everyone wants to input and everyone has some really good ideas to promote the Black Taxi Trade.

B Lucky Dawn