Auld Bill.

 

 

 

The sun washed over the car park of London Taxi’s Direct. Steam from recently washed cabs drifted breath-like from the roofs and vanished into the warm still air.

Smiling mechanics with overalls rolled down to their waists, sat having lunch on old car seats while throwing insults and banter at each other.

 

I sat on the low wall smoking and enjoying their antics. The rumble of an old Austin FX4 filled the yard. The mechanics stood as if to attention as the old Matriarch cruised into the car park. Her chrome fixings and highly polished panels flashed and sparkled as she turned the tight circle the black cab is famous for. 

 

I watched admiringly as she drew up beside me. She shivered and purred before the cabbie turned the key to set her at rest. 

 

The old driver wearing a white flat cap and purple tinted ,gold rimmed John Lennon spectacles, drew on his cheroot and smiled at me.

 

“ Awright son? Dae yie like ma auld ‘buggy’?”

 

“ Aw Aye mate, she’s a cracker.”

 

He threw the door open and stepped out. He was the most flamboyant dresser I had ever seen. A nineteen seventies cherry red leather bomber jacket, with tan elbow patches and a high rounded collar, sat above a pristine white shirt and chinos. A chrome buckle with the superman logo flashed in between.  Highly polished tan brogues shone on his feet. The only thing missing was spats.

 

He handed me the keys.

 

“ Are yie jokin mate?”

 

“ Naw son. Jump in. Ma names Bill by the way.” 

 

I sat on the comfortable drivers seat and took in the smells of Bill’s tobacco, the leather seats and polish. The maple steering wheel, sleek with years of use, felt smooth and warm. I ran my hands round the thin wheel feeling the smooth bumps of the finger grips. I turned the key. The engine fired up immediately. The buzzer went off telling me one of the back doors had opened. Bill had jumped in and was sitting in the back. The seat was red leather and looked sumptuous.

 

“ Cumoan then son. Yir a taxi driver A take it?  “

 

“Aye, but no in Glesca. A work in West Lothian.”

 

“ Well this auld buggy disnae care whit area yie work in. Aw yie huv tae be is a taxi driver. Right son, select drive and we’ll git away. Jist take us round the block... Whit’s yir name son? “

 

“ Paul…Paul Hawthorne. “

 

 

“ Right Paul, let’s go son.”

 

I put my foot on the large square brake pedal and gripped the horse-head shaped gear handle. I selected drive. The engine tone changed slightly before the old buggy pulled easily and smoothly away. I turned left out of the gate and headed down the hill. She drove comfortably and responded instantly. The steering was heavier than I was used to, but not overly so. I was enjoying the experience. 

 

I looked in the rear view mirror old Bill had lit another cheroot and was smoking away happily. Well it was his car. We rounded the block and soon arrived back at the garage. I turned in the gate and parked the taxi in front of the doors, exactly where I had left from. 

 

“ Well whit did yie think son? She drives like new doesn’t she?” 

 

“Aye she’s a fine auld buggy Bill. How long have yie had her? “

 

“ A bought the taxi when she was brand new in nineteen seventy three, A don’t think there’s a piece ae metal oan her that wiz there when she left the factory.  A’ve put three engines in her and five gear boxes. I got it when A wiz forty three, A’m eighty three noo.”

 

“ Yir eighty three and still sloggin away aff the ranks?”

 

“ Aye A like tae work son… It’s no a hard job efter aw and A like the banter fae the guys and the punters tae. They aw love ma auld motor. Right son, A better away in and see the wee lassie in here tae book ma caur in fur its service.”

 

“ Aye okay Bill, A’ll see yie when yie come oot.”

 

I sat for another ten minutes. Philip the head mechanic who had been servicing my taxi came out and while holding the keys up he said.

 

“ Okay Paul that’s you mate. I’ve checked everything. Yir brake pads were a wee bit low, so A put a new set on. Jist be careful fur a wee while tae they bed in. Okay?”

 

“Aye, thanks Phil. That’s some auld motor there is it no?”

 

“ Whit auld motor?”

 

“ That auld FX4 there.”

 

“ Where?”

 

I turned back to the car park. The FX4 had gone. 

 

“ Where’s auld Bill? He went in tae see Tricia aboot ten minutes ago. He didnae come back oot… Well at least no fae this door. “

 

“ Did you say auld Bill? “

 

“ Aye, A did”

 

“ Did he have a white cap and purple tinted glasses oan and wiz he wearin a red leather jacket wie patches?”

 

“ Aye he wiz. Why?”

 

Philip had a strange look on his face as he said.

 

“ Paul, follow me.”

 

We walked up the car park and round behind the old taxis that were used for spares. There at the back among the long grass and weeds was an old nineteen seventy three FX4. The axle and wheels were gone along with the windows and the interior. The paint was peeling off and most of the engine was missing. She had been cannibalised and stripped down to the shell. Pieces of old wire and hoses were hanging out of the rusted engine compartment. I looked inside at the automatic gear handle... It was a horses head. looking at Philip, I shook my head as I said.

 

“ is this old Bill’s taxi? “

 

"Aye, He brought this taxi in here about five years ago for a service. While he was waiting he took unwell. We phoned fur the ambulance it came quick enough, but the auld guy passed away before they reached the hospital. The family didnae want the taxi. Big John the owner ae the garage bought it aff them fur spares. This is all that’s left ae it.”

 

“ Philip, A wiz drivin that auld cab half an hour ago.”

 

“ Aye A know.” 

 

He began to walk away, Without looking round, he called, 

 

“Keep an eye oan they brakes will yie Paul. See yie later.”

 

I looked at the old cab. After shaking my head I walked to my own cab and headed up the motorway to Bathgate. The brakes were fine.

 

 

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