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Fishers Taxi's

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Sorastro:
As has been mentioned before I was a taxi {hackney} driver in an earlier life, didn't spend a long time doing it, possibly less than 3 years full time and then a bit of p/t weekends after that. The last time I drove a cab was August 1976, this was for Shady's taxi's {Brian Shaw} but I started my career working for Fishers.
I seem to recall my Hackney test was taken with the transport manager of Fishers sat in the back of the taxi and a "suit" from the Corporation bus depot in the front, anyway I passed and got my shiny new badge.
There seems to be very little about Fishers out there so would have to go on memory {as I don't twitter/facebook}
Fishers was a subsidiary of Boddy industries which was also called Thomas Black possibly based in Sheffield. Their main fleet at the time was Morris Oxford Diesels, a couple of "London" style black cabs and a couple of white Peugeot 404's, their funeral side consisted of Austin Princesses.
I fancied driving an Austin for weddings {as they used them for that as well} but was told if you don't do funerals, which I flatly refused to do, then I couldn't do weddings.
Another thing I flatly refused to do was what they called "B.I.D.'s" or sometimes referred to as "specials", this was basically picking up dead bodies and transporting them to either the hospital or a funeral director at the request of a funeral director or the police they certainly didn't put that in the job description
I cannot remember my wages at Fishers but it wouldn't have been a deal.
It would appear the car I used regularly was one of a batch sold to Yates's in Brimington circa 1975. The rest I don't know the fate of but these were possibly replaced by more Peugeot's. Fishers didn't stay in business much longer after that possibly late 70's, as I remember the funeral cars were sold to the Coop.
When Shady started to get established I was "poached" from Fishers
Other taxi firms at the time I can recall, Shady's taxi's {who was just starting up} Jocks taxi's {off Newbold rd}, Bowers taxi's {behind Chesterfield hotel}, Yates's taxi's {Brimington},

Fly:
Lots on the 'Old Chesterfield Pics' group on Facebook.
Here's a taster from John and Geoff.


--- Quote ---John Pemberton
 I drove for fishers (Geoff Pheasent) on Felkin Street around 1972,they owned some lorries as well can't remember the names, but I seem to remember Thomas Black buying the Taxis and lorries out then selling the taxis, we used to all park up at garages bottom of St Helens Street. The taxis were diesel Peugeot 304s column change. I remember the taxi meter showing 14p for first mile then 12p mile after that, 3p for a suitcase in boot. I moved to Fishers on Felkin Street when Fishers went, around 1974 driving their taxis, and Daimler wedding and funeral cars, for Geoff and Rita and old Mrs Bower. Left there around 1976.


Geoff Pheasant
Hi all, don't remember them personally as I wasn't born at the time but I have heard many stories, my dad is still going strong and we are in the process of restoring one of fishers last Morris Oxford taxis, it was also the first taxi my dad owned when he started GPs after being the manager at Fishers until they were closed down. My dad's taxi office was on corporation street ( number 13) I remember playing in the yard as a child, between the sweet shop and the derelict freemans hotel. Opposite the chesterfield hotel and bowers. ( the lot was demolished to make way for the slip road to the A61. My dad also bought the Austin a135 Princess limos and hearses Fishers originally had after the co-op had owned them for a few years in between times. Any messages or questions you would like to ask I'd be happy to pass on to him. I can also ask if he has any photos from that time to post on here.
--- End quote ---

Sorastro:
Thanks a lot Fly for that as I say I don't venture onto facebook I'd rather remain blissfully ignorant....

I drove for Fishers about the same time as John Pemberton, don't recognise the name as you just addressed each other by your first names, would probably know him if I saw him. Some names I do remember:-
Lucy Darnell....Harry Brown....Dave Smith...Derek Browett {I know for a fact at least two of those are no longer with us}
One p/timer I remember was a teacher who taxied at weekends and he drove an Escort Mexico, but can't remember his name.

The Peugeot's were in fact 404's

Yes it was Geoff Pheasant sat in the back of the cab on my test {glad to hear he's still knocking about?}

 It was 14p for the first mile and 3p per quarter of a mile after that + v.a.t. of course {yes vat even back then} so LMS to Grassmoor was 50p +vat = 58p + 3p for every item of luggage in the boot. After midnight rate was giving the meter 2 turns which made it change faster.

Fly:
Credit to Geoff Pheasant from the facebook group mentioned above. These are some of the pictures he posted there.

Sorastro:
By gum that Peugeot takes me back, it was one of two then, I know Lucy Darnell always drove one of the Peugeot's don't know who regularly drove the other but obviously time dims the brain.

One of the best money making contracts Fishers had was ferrying medical staff from hospital to hospital and hospital to home, they must have made a fortune out of the NHS then. One example when I covered nights I was sent to Matlock at about 5 in the morning to go and knock up a young lady who worked at the {old}Royal. she made a call, then dressed and then I took her to the Royal she said "Please wait" she was in there for about 15 minutes she then got back in the cab and I took her back home.
I can't imagine it's done like that now {not on that scale}
Another money earner was the "government" offices in Chesterfield.

Now I'm amazed at the number of cabs on the LMS rank when I go round on the bus. each one has a different name on the door and they are queuing to the station entrance, is there REALLY that much business to warrant those many?

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