East London Cabbie Day
What happens when hundreds of London taxi drivers skip work to transport children with learning difficulties from East London to Maldon, Essex, for a day out? A fun day out and a fantastic display of kindness. The event, called East London Cabbie Day, runs annually each summer and sees residents, shoppers and volunteers alike line Maldon High Street with balloons and flags, waving and cheering as the cars drive by, making the children feel special. Ultimately, the day exists to give the kids a day to remember. The taxis head to the Plume Academy, where students are waiting to greet them, provide lunch and host an afternoon of fun and games. The East London Cabbie charity relies on the generosity of helpers, carers and taxi drivers, as well as local companies and businesses to sponsor and support the day. All of the taxi drivers who take part miss a day’s work on the road to voluntarily take the children on this trip. Plus, every driver dresses his or her taxi with balloons and some even have giant cartoon characters tied to the roof of their vehicles – it’s certainly not a day that is done by halves. What’s even more touching is that the event began in 1952 with just eight taxis and has only grown in popularity over the years with up to 70 taxis taking part today.