The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans Celebrates 75 Years of Service
2023 marks the 75th anniversary of The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans. In honour of this milestone, we decided to take a look at some of the incredible work the charity does, its history and the celebration to mark the occasion.
The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans is a London-based volunteer organization that works for the benefit of veterans from all conflicts. The charity was formed in Fulham back in 1948 and was originally known as the London Taxi Benevolent Association for War Disabled.
The charity relies on licensed London cabbies who volunteer their time and cabs to provide veterans with regular outings and trips abroad.
Memorial Trips
There are two annual trips abroad organised by the charity. One to Normandy to mark the anniversary of D-Day. The other to the Netherlands to allow veterans to join their Liberation Day celebrations.
Liberation Day is a national holiday in the Netherlands. On May 5th of each year, the Dutch people celebrate the capitulation of German forces in the country. Last year, The Taxi Charity helped transport 25 British veterans to Wageningen for the 77th anniversary of Liberation Day.
Three black cabs and three golf buggies pulled the veterans in a televised procession through the heart of the city. Hundreds of people lined the streets and cheered and showered flowers on their liberators as they drove to Wageningen Square. Their they met with officials, including the Dutch Defense Minister and members of the Dutch royal family.
In a recent interview with GB News, one of the veterans, 98-year-old Mervyn Kirsch, highlighted the importance of the trips. He commented saying:
“As I’ve always said going there, it’s being able to come back again, so many of my comrades are still there, brings it home, what could have been. More than it did at the time actually, and we couldn’t do it without the taxis.”
History
The charity was formed by three cab drivers in the Bedford Arms, Fulham back in 1948. A conversation about supporting their friends who had been injured during WWII, led to the idea of a charity to support veterans.
The original name for the charity was, ‘The London Taxi Benevolent Association For War Disabled’. In its first year, 25 taxis took 50 disabled veterans on day trips to Brighton and Worthing. Since that inaugural trip, the charity has journeyed to Worthing every year (except during the pandemic).
In 1987, the charity took 200 disabled ex-servicemen to Dunkirk, marking its first trip to the European mainland. Seven years later, 1994 saw the charity organise a four-day commemorative trip to the Normandy beaches for the 50th anniversary of D-Day.
In 2007, veterans and volunteers from the Taxi Charity were invited to Clarence House by [then] Prince Charles, which was one of the highlights of the charity's history.
As the charity marks its 75th anniversary, Brian Heffernan, a London cabbie and chairman of the charity, has big plans to mark the milestone:
“If funding allows, we hope to celebrate this amazing milestone not only with our traditional trips, to the Netherlands, Normandy and Worthing but also with an event on International Women’s Day, a party in the summer, a joint outing with the Household Cavalry, a shooting and a fishing day. To help fund these events we have launched a ‘75 for 75’ campaign and hope that with donations from our supporters, friends and the cab trade we can reach our £75,000 fundraising goal.”
If you would like to contribute to their cause you can do so via www.taxicharity.org or www.justgiving.com/campaign/taxicharity75for75.
After serving UK veterans for 75 years, the charity shows no sign of slowing down. With more volunteers joining and more trips planned, the charity's impact is sure to continue growing.