Every year, since 1948, the Taxi Charity has been taking veterans to Worthing for the day, to spend time with their friends and enjoy seaside favourites, fish and chips and ice cream.
This year’s outing was only a week after many of the veterans spent a week in Normandy with The Taxi Charity for D-Day 75, remembering the friends they lost.
Sixty kind-hearted volunteer London cabbies picked up 120 veterans and their carers from their homes across the South East on Tuesday 18 June to take them for a much-loved day trip to Worthing.
After a pit stop at South Holmwood Village near Dorking in Surrey, for home-made sandwiches, cakes and refreshments, the taxis travelled in convoy along the A24 to Worthing.
Once in Worthing, the veterans enjoyed a fish and chip lunch with the Mayor of Worthing, Councillor Hazel Thorpe, on Worthing Pier.
The mayor, veterans, cabbies and invited guests heard from guest speaker Major (retired) Paul Raisen from the Parachute Regiment Association and enjoyed musical entertainment as well as having the opportunity to catch up with old friends, take in the sea views and grab an ice cream.
Graham Pike, one of the London cabbies taking part, and a committee member of the Taxi Charity, said: “Our annual Worthing trip is something we look forward to all year. It’s a pleasure to treat these ladies and gents to a trip to the seaside as a way of saying ‘thank you’ for all they’ve done for us.”
This article is on page 15 of the July issue of The Badge.