A little bit about me

As you’ve probably guessed by now, I’m a London Taxi Driver.

Me sitting on one of the Trafalgar Sqaure Lions, 1983

I was born in the London Borough of Brent, during the Christmas of 1980

I’ve loved London since I was a child; a passion especially boosted by day trips to museums and being allowed to watch episodes of ‘Minder’ before bedtime!

Before becoming a cabbie, I worked in Secondary Education. I had experience in a number of schools, firstly in learning support and inclusion units; working with teenagers who had severe learning and behavioral problems. I then went on to train as an English teacher.

Sadly, after becoming rather jaded with the red-tape, politics and paperwork which seem to define that profession nowadays, I decided to try my luck elsewhere.

After leaving my first calling, I struggled to find employment, and spent time on the dole, followed by spells working in department stores and supermarkets.

I then discovered ‘The Knowledge’; the training course to become a qualified London Taxi Driver.

I enrolled on it and, after a gruelling 4 1/2 years, managed to pass and have never looked back (please click the menu bar; ‘The Knowledge of London; Training to be a London Cabbie’ for a detailed account of that experience).

I’m very proud of my roots… as with many Londoners, they are rather mixed:

My Great Grandmother (on my Mother’s side) was a Native American; an Arapaho Indian (a tribe referenced by the late, great Ian Dury and his band, ‘The Blockheads’ in the classic tune, ‘Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick’)…. maybe there’s something in the genes there that helped my instinct and sense of direction!

My Grandfather (on my father’s side) is Irish; a County Cork man…must be where I get my luck and that other famous cabbie trait; the ‘gift of the gab’ from!

I also enjoy photography; please visit my flickr site for more info:

www.flickr.com/cabmirror

Thank you so much for visiting, & I hope you enjoy your time in my virtual Taxi!

cabbierob@gmail.com