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End of road for Leeds cabbie after 45 years
AFTER a career in the Leeds taxi trade spanning 45 years, cabbie Brian Heptinstall is finally taking a back seat.
The 73-year-old, who gained his first hackney carriage licence from the council in 1963 and became a director of Telecabs two years later, is stepping down from the new company formed last year when Telecabs and Streamline merged.
And he has attended his last meeting as a hackney carriage trade representative on the council's Licensing Panel.
Looking back on his life behind the wheel, Brian said: "I have enjoyed it all. Taxi-ing isn't a job, it's a way of life."
"It's got great variety because you can't pick and choose who you pick up. You get all sorts in the back of your cab so it makes for an interesting life."
Through the window of his cab he has seen Leeds change from a grimy industrial city to a modern financial and retail centre and, contrary to many people's opinion, he thinks driving around the city has got easier.
"When I started we had only just got rid of the trams and the roads were certainly narrower," he said.
"All that has changed for the better."
Brian was training as a painter and decorator in 1955 when he decided to join the Army. He served until 1958 and worked as a taxi driver in Surrey before returning to his native Leeds.
He said: "The job has certainly changed. With all the clubs and bars it's now something of a night-time job. When I started there wasn't so many clubs and not that much late-night business. Only about six drivers worked through the night.
"I can remember the days when Leeds had two railway stations. After the Kings Cross train had arrived at City Station, and whatever fares were going had been picked up, a convoy of taxis would head down Wellington Street to Central Station to wait for the train coming in from St Pancras.
"Those that didn't get a fare would then drive back in convoy to City."
At his final licensing panel meeting, Brian was presented with a certificate of recognition for his "loyal and outstanding service to the hackney carriage service in Leeds."
His contributions to the panel were praised as "fair, frank and informed."
Des Broster, the council's taxi and private hire licensing section head, said Brian had an unblemished driver and proprietor history and was a great credit to the trade.
Coun Jack Dunn (Lab, Ardsley and Robin Hood), a long-serving panel member, said: "I have always respected Brian's plain speaking. He is someone who tells it as it is."
david.marsh@ypn.co.uk
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