⬛️ 𝐑𝐈𝐏 𝐖𝐖𝐈𝐈 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟓 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏𝟗𝟐𝟔 - 𝟏𝟔 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

Tom Schaffer, who was affectionately known as the poster boy of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans died on 16 March, he was 97. Tom was a regular on Taxi Charity trips across the UK and to the Netherlands and Normandy and for over 30 years.

After enlisting during the war and initial training, Tom volunteered for the Parachute Regiment and was accepted and  joined the 13th (Lancashire) Battalion. His first military action was in the Ardennes as part of 6th Airborne and his first jump was Operation Varsity in March 1945. The aim of this operation was to establish a bridgehead across the river Rhine for the main Allied advance into Germany. 

In 2022, Taxi Charity Chairman Brian Heffernan was thrilled to take Tom to an event at Markshall Estate, Colchester to commemorate the 77th anniversary of those who flew in Operation Varsity. Tom said at the time, “Operation Varsity was part of our job. My only thoughts at the time were let’s get this done. 

We lost a lot of men, but the operation was a success and we captured 3.500 German soldiers. The Taxi Charity take me to commemorations all over the country and on the continent.  The volunteer cab drivers like Brian pick me up from home and without them I would not be able to participate  in so many commemorative occasions. They take us on fantastic social events too!”

On 5 December 2019, Tom was presented with the Dutch Liberation Medal by Lieutenant Colonel Rob Arts who was the Dutch Military Attache to the United Kingdom. Tom said, "It is a real honour to have been presented with the Dutch Liberation. Next May, I will be travelling to the Netherlands with the Taxi Charity to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Dutch Liberation and I will wear this medal with immense pride."

Chris Watson, commented on the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans’ Facebook post, “Our dear Dad has gone now, he will be in our heart forever and will be sadly missed. Thank you all for the lovely messages, means a lot to us, always so proud of our Father.”

Paul Raison, Veterans Officer, The Parachute Regimental Association said, “Tom Schaffer was the epitome of a veteran of the Parachute Regiment from his era. Always cheerful and larger than life, he was a pleasure to be around. He will be sadly missed by everyone that knew him or had the good fortune to have met him.”

Dick Goodwin, Honorary Secretary, The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans said, “I have had the pleasure of knowing Tom since 1998 and it was an honour. Tom was a regular on our charity trips, always accompanied by his great friend John ‘Pinky’ Pinkerton who also served with the Parachute Regiment. 

For many years he was part of our veteran collection team raising thousands for the charity he loved so much. A real character who was always smiling and joking. We always referred to him as the poster boy of the charity! He will be greatly missed by so many.”

To find out more about the support the Taxi Charity offers to veterans or to donate visit www.taxicharity.org

🟦 𝐓𝐚𝐱𝐢 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐀𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐁𝐄

Taxi Charity ambassador and Dutch advisor, Frans Ammerlaan, has been awarded an Honorary MBE by King Charles for services to commemorations and to British World War II veterans.

Frans Ammerlaan has had a long association with our veterans. He has a great interest in Operation Market Garden, an Allied military operation during the Second World War fought in the German-occupied Netherlands from 17 to 25 September 1944, and founded the Market Garden Foundation.

From his home in the Netherlands, Frans Ammerlaan has been working with the Taxi Charity since 2010. His advice and involvement in organising the charity's trips to the Netherlands for Dutch Liberation commemorations each May, and for Wandeltocht and Operation Market Garden each September since 2012 has been invaluable, and in 2023 he became a Taxi Charity ambassador. 

Frans was advised of his Honorary MBE by His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Joanna Roper GMG.

Joanna Roper said: "I am delighted that Frans Ammerlaan has been awarded an Honorary MBE by His Majesty King Charles III, in recognition of his support to the veterans of Operation Market Garden that took place 80 years ago. We must remember the sacrifices that were made in the name of peace and liberty. Frans’ long service to the veterans of the Battle of Arnhem helps to ensure that those sacrifices are not forgotten."

Taxi Charity Honorary Secretary, Dick Goodwin, who works closely with Frans Ammerlaan to plan trips for veterans to the Netherlands, said: "What fantastic news it is for Frans to be awarded an MBE for services to commemorations and World War II veterans. Frans has worked so hard for our veterans and it is down his enthusiasm, dedication and tireless efforts that our trips to the Netherlands since 2012 have been possible. Everyone at the charity is delighted and we are looking forward to celebrating his Honorary MBE when we visit the Netherlands in May for Dutch Liberation."

Geoff Roberts, a veteran of Operation Market Garden, said: "I am absolutely delighted that my great friend Frans Ammerlaan, who has done so much to support and remember those of us who participated in Operation Market Garden, has been made an MBE."

To find out more about the Market Garden Foundation, visit www.marketgarden.com/2010/UK/foundation.html.

About the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans

The Taxi Charity is run by volunteer London black taxi drivers and has been supporting thousands of veterans since 1948. It is the only Forces charity that focuses on providing fun and entertainment and arranges free trips (for veterans from all conflicts) to the Netherlands and France for acts of commemoration and days out to museums, concerts, or social events across the UK. 

The charity received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2021 and celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2023, a remarkable milestone for a small, niche charity peopled by enthusiastic volunteers. In 2024, if funding allows, they will be taking a group of WWII veterans to Normandy for the 80thanniversary of D-Day.

 

To fund and facilitate their work, the charity is wholly reliant on donations, grants and sponsorship.

www.taxicharity.org

❤️ 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞’𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲, 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐱𝐢 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞’𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲, 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐱𝐢 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬

                       Always Bee You Making Love Hearts

A Hertfordshire based charity that supports adults with learning disabilities has delivered Valentine love hearts for veterans supported by the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans

The love -ly project was the brain child of Jo Radcliffe who runs the Hertfordshire based charity Always Bee You, which enables adults with learning disabilities and mental health issues to access the opportunities, skills and support they need to live fulfilled lives.

The young adults were asked if they might like to make Valentine love hearts for WWII veterans and the request was met with an overwhelming yes. Jo contacted Taxi Charity volunteers Dick and Susy Goodwin and it was agreed that the hearts would be placed into the charity cards which are being sent to veterans across the country for February 14th.

Jo Radcliffe, Always Bee You said, “We chose to support the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans as we felt there might be some people who would be lonely and isolated on Valentine’s Day and we wanted to show appreciation for the amazing service they gave our country to keep us free and safe.

We also felt that it would be good to share some history and stories with our group members who may not have heard about the war. It was wonderful for some of the group to talk about their great grandparents and find out their own families stories.”

The Always Bee You team was delighted to have the support of local artist Donna Reeves who helped with the design of the hearts.

Dick Goodwin, Honorary Secretary, Taxi Charity for Military Veterans said, “We send the veterans we support a card every month to show that we are thinking about them. The cards are incredibly popular and when Always Bee You asked if they might do something special for Valentine’s Day, we were thrilled to be able to share the love.”

Louis Melton who is supported by Always Bee You said, “We made Valentines Day love hearts for these veterans as we really are grateful for all that they have done for us.”

 To view Louis’s full message visit  - www.taxicharity.org/post/hearts-from-herts-for-our-veterans

 To find out more about the support the Taxi Charity offers to veterans or to donate visit www.taxicharity.org

About Always Bee You

Always Bee You is a Hertfordshire based charity enabling adults with learning disabilities and mental health issues to access the opportunities, skills and support they need to live fulfilled lives.

 www.alwaysbeeyou.uk

 About the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans

The Taxi Charity is run by volunteer London black taxi drivers and has been supporting thousands of veterans since 1948. It is the only Forces charity that focuses on providing fun and entertainment and arranges free trips (for veterans from all conflicts) to the Netherlands and France for acts of commemoration and days out to museums, concerts, or social events across the UK.

The charity received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2021 and celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2023, a remarkable milestone for a small, niche charity peopled by enthusiastic volunteers. In 2024, if funding allows, they will be taking a group of WWII veterans to Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. 

To fund and facilitate their work, the charity is wholly reliant on donations, grants and sponsorship.

www.taxicharity.org

⬛️ Obituary - WWII Veteran Glider Pilot Captain Ron Johnson 09.10.1921 - 16.11.2023

On 16 November former Essex Regiment and Glider Pilot Regiment veteran Captain Ron Johnson died at home aged 102.

 

Ron Johnson was called up in September 1939 and as the only grammar schoolboy in his group he was sent on many courses during training. Scoring 100% on an aircraft recognition course he was fast tracked to glider pilot training in readiness for D Day.

 

Not required for D Day in June 1944, Ron instead flew into the Arnhem and Oosterbeek area on the second day of Operation Market Garden in September 1944 in a Horsa carrying a jeep, two trailers and four Royal Electrical and  Mechanical Engineers.

 

While in the Netherlands Ron cheated death twice on the same day. The first time when a mortar bomb exploded in the trench next to him leaving those in the trench dead and his head and face bleeding. The second, some hours later after he had been bandaged and returned to the trench (and possibly still a little concussed), stood up, intending to check for signs of life in the adjacent trench and was shot in the back by a sniper. 

The bullet exited through his right arm – so it was back to the dressing station again where he joined many other wounded men at the Tafelberg Hotel, before being taken to Apeldoorn Barracks by the Germans as a POW a couple of days later.  

He spent three nights locked in a cattle truck on the route to Fallingbostel.  After three days, six Glider Pilot officers were taken by armed guard on a train via Hanover to Spangenberg Castle in Germany.

 

Ron was held in Castle Spangenberg from September 1944 to April 1945. In POW IXAH camp, isolation wasn’t the issue, the officers entertained themselves, but they were near starvation, and the Germans were short of food too.

 

In the April, the Germans began moving the prisoners’ eastwards towards the Russians and Ron and his friend Bob Garnett seized the opportunity to escape. 

That same night, Bruce Middleton Hope Shand, MC & Bar, DL,  Her Majesty Queen Camilla’s father, who had been held in Castle Spangenberg too, also took his chance to escape. 

Ron and Bob spent five days in the hills living on a few biscuits and rain water before the advancing Americans got them to Paris and from there on a train to the coast before a Dakota flight back to the UK. 

As soon as he arrived home he put on his uniform and headed to Buckingham Palace to celebrate VE Day.

 

Ron stayed in the Army and in 1946, while serving near Harrogate he met Sybil at a dance he had organised.  Sybil seized the opportunity to dance with Ron during a ‘Ladies Excuse Me.’ 

They married in March 1947 and moved to Salisbury, where their daughters Valerie and Diane were born in 1949 and 1951.

 

Ron left the army in 1953 to join Kalamazoo Office Systems at Southampton and then Oxford.  In 1958 he joined Hoover as a trainee manager and soon became an Area Manager then a District Manager at Watford. In 1967 the family moved to Vienna in Austria, where Ron enjoyed five years as General Manager, turning Hoover Austria from a loss-making company into a profitable one and training the Austrian Managers to take over from him.  

In 1972 Ron and Sybil moved to France where he was Marketing Manager of Hoover at their factory in Dijon.  They returned to England in 1974 to live at Tylers Green in Buckinghamshire, where Ron joined Barnes Group as Market Research Manager and soon became Director of European Operations.  His final job was as Financial Consultant for Allied Dunbar (later Zurich) which he enjoyed until retirement at 65.

 

In 2008 Ron and Sybil moved to Shrivenham to be near their daughters, so that they had support in their old age.  This also enabled them to have closer contact with their grandchildren and later great-grandchildren. 

 

Dick Goodwin, Honorary Secretary, Taxi Charity for Military Veterans said, “Ron was a wonderful character, the like of which we will never see again. 

On a Taxi Charity trip to Normandy in 2017, Ron took part in a question and answer session with local students. The questions were inevitably quite emotional and Ron simply told the room of young and old to 'love one another'. The room fell silent and I will never forget what he said and I doubt the students will either. Ron’s words ‘WE ARE FREE AND WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER’ are inscribed on the Glider Pilot Memorial at Wolfheze.”

 

Taxi Charity Ambassador, Frans Ammerlaan, from the Market Garden Foundation said, “We are saddened to receive the news of Ron’s passing. Ron lived a long and full life and we will miss him dearly. 

His smile, his many wonderful stories and his cheerful company is something that will always remain in our memories. May the ‘Big Man’ rest in peace.”

 

Diane predeceased Ron, as did his wife Sybil. Valerie will be holding a private funeral for her father and she plans to hold a memorial service in 2024.

 

To find out more about the support the Taxi Charity offers to veterans or to donate visit www.taxicharity.org

 

In the summer of 2021, the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans spoke to Ron Johnson  - this is his story

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YWxNwoCpxw&t=421s

 

Picture Captions L-R

Ron Johnson, sitting in the front centre (2nd from the dog)

Captain Ron Johnson

𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐱𝐢 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

London cab driver Micky Harris has received the Prime Minister’s Point of Light award for creating a Taxi hailing app to unify the Taxi trade and donate its profits to charities.

London taxi driver, Micky Harris has been recognised by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for his exceptional contribution to society and awarded the Point of Light award.

Micky Harris used a legacy from his greatly missed late wife Barbara, to create a unique taxi-hailing app called Unify that not only provides drivers with the full metered fare but donates its profits to charities. 

On 9 November Harris received the prestigious Points of Light award in recognition of his outstanding efforts.

While studying for the Knowledge, the demanding process London taxi drivers undergo to acquire in-depth knowledge of the city's streets Micky stumbled upon the incredible work of the 'Taxi Charity for Military Veterans'. 

Moved by their mission, he wasted no time in joining the cause as a volunteer driver and soon became an integral member of the charity, even serving as a committee member earlier this year.

Micky and his wife Barbara had taken numerous veterans to events across the UK and embarked on special commemorative trips to the Netherlands and France with the Taxi Charity and their shared dedication and devotion to serving military veterans inspired them to find new ways of supporting the taxi trade and its associated charities.

As Barbara’s health was worsening, they discussed how the iconic London black cabs and the army of drivers could come together and the idea for an app to unify the trade was born. Sadly, Barbara died in July 2022 but with her blessing and an unexpected legacy Micky successfully launched a new taxi-hailing app in April 2023 called Unify.

The Unify App was welcomed by the cab trade and has already garnered the support of over 2,000 licensed taxi drivers and drivers are signing up every day. Beyond offering passengers the convenience of accessing reliable transportation services, the app encourages and empowers passengers to make charitable donations. 

By choosing to ride with drivers on this platform, passengers not only receive the service they require but also contribute to various worthy causes.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Rt Hon Johnny Mercer MP, said: “Micky is one of the very best examples of those with a determination to help and support our veterans. 

His dedication to supporting wider charities, as well as volunteering for the ‘Taxi Charity for Military Veterans’ embodies the values we all look up to. I'm extremely pleased to see him awarded with this Point of Light award."

London Cab Driver and Unify App owner Micky Harris said, “It really is such an honour to receive the Points of Light award from the Prime Minister's office. I work tirelessly day and night trying to do the right thing in an environment dominated by companies driven by profit. 

If this award can help bring awareness to others that if they try, it is possible to make a difference and with dedication and hard work, hopefully realise their dreams to make their community a better place for all. 

What we need now is for every cab driver to sign up to the Unify app, it doesn’t cost drivers anything to be part of this and by working together, we can all achieve so much more in life. I truly believe that we are all ‘Stronger Together’ and the Unify London App will give us the unity we need to succeed.”

To find out more about the Unify London App visit www.unifylondon.com

About The Unify London Taxi APP

The Unify London App has no surge pricing, no hidden fees and no cancellations. The cab is hired from the hail, meaning the cab driver receives the full fare. Unify is the only platform operating fully within TfL pricing structures. Profits from the App will be used to support the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, The London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children, The Albany Taxi Charity and the Magical Taxi Tour.

www.unifylondon.com

About the Points of Light Award

The Points of Light award was launched in April 2014 to recognise outstanding individuals making a positive change within their community and inspiring others.

www.pointsoflight.gov.uk

WWII Veteran Alec Hall from Southend-on-Sea, died at home on Monday 16 October with his family by his side.

𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐜 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝟎𝟑.𝟎𝟔.𝟏𝟗𝟐𝟐 - 𝟏𝟔.𝟏𝟎.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑

Alec Hall, served with the 181 Field Ambulance (Airborne) as a medical nurse and was part of Operation Market Garden in 1944. He returned to the Netherlands on several occasions with the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, most recently in May 2023 to remember his colleagues who did not come home.

 

Aged 18, Alec was one of the first people to volunteer for 1st Airborne. He was a medic in Africa and Italy before he participated in Operation Market Garden in 1944. When Alec landed in September, he headed to a hotel that was being used as a medical station and as the fighting intensified in the Arnhem area, moved to a second medical station in the Hotel Vreewijk that was being constantly attacked. He worked with surgeon Guy Rigby Jones and treated the badly wounded with two new drugs, one of which was penicillin.

 

After many men had been extracted by the Dutch Resistance, Alec who had been asked to stay behind to tend to the wounded  was put on an army Red Cross train and taken to Germany where he was held in a 3,000 capacity POW camp, Stalag V11-B.

 

He was held there until February 1945 in which time the only food he ate was boiled turnips. On 25 February, the prisoners woke up to find that the Germans had disappeared, and the camp gates were open. They vacated the camp, and Alec spent three weeks wandering, with nothing to eat until he came across an American tank in Memmingen. Alec was in rags, with his shoes falling off his feet. He shouted that he was English and was delighted when one of the Americans gave him his best uniform and a new pair of shoes. Alec helped with the ill and wounded for three more weeks before he was flown back to England in a Dakota.

 

After returning to the UK, Alec, like all the other POWs, received medical checks on his physical and mental health before returning to work in the hospital in Tidworth and was then transferred to a hospital in Dortmund Germany.

 

After the war Alec managed a number of stores in Southend, Leigh, Chalkwell and Shoeburyness for the London Cooperative Society until he retired. He loved football, and tennis and during the 1950’s he was the captain of the local tennis club in Southend. A young girl called Margaret came to the club  one day for a trial and they fell in love and were married in 1956. Truly sports mad, Alec was still playing tennis in his mid-seventies! Alec and Margaret had two daughter’s Sue and Anne and four grandchildren, Dominic, Milly, Edward, and William. Margaret, who was absolutely the love of his life, died in 2019 leaving him to soldier on with his habitual courage and grace for four more years.

 

Annie Bennett, Alec’s eldest daughter said, “Alec was a wonderful husband to Margaret, father to Anne and Sue, and grandfather to Dominic, Milly, Edward and William. He was loyal, courageous, stoic, hardworking and determined, and provided his family with all the love and support we needed. He was also a great character with a wicked sense of humour. We will not see his kind again.”

Dick Goodwin, Honorary Secretary, Taxi Charity for Military Veterans said, “It was always a pleasure to be in Alec’s company and I have very fond memories of him and his daughters joining us on our annual trips to the Netherlands. This picture was taken in May this year when we visited the Hartenstein Museum and he spent some time talking with Ronnie Weijers, Director  of the Hartenstein Airborne Museum and Taxi Charity Ambassador and founder of the Market Garden Foundation, Frans Ammerlaan.”

 

Ronnie Weijers, Director  of the Hartenstein Airborne Museum said, “This news really saddened me. I met Alec last May and he shared some of his stories. He tended to wounded soldiers in the same building I am working in today, which is hard to imagine. Most of all he told me how lucky he was to survive, as opposed to so many of his young friends. Alec was such a sweet and grateful man. Meeting him was one of the most touching experiences of my life.”

 

In 2021 Alec shared his story with the Taxi Charity  www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qFR3xt7p5M

 

Alec’s funeral will be held at Southend Crematorium on Tuesday 7 November at 10am.

 

To find out more about the support the Taxi Charity offers to veterans or to donate visit www.taxicharity.org