February 2009 Archives

YELLOW Top Taxis are set to celebrate 50 years in the trade with a glittering ball next month.
The firm started life in 1959 and, from their first office on Hoghton Street, less than a dozen drivers built up a business that has been going strong ever since.
Billy Barton, the firm's first managing director, who retired from driving at the age of 80, remembers how it all began.
He said: "When the company started there were seven men and we had a little meeting about whether we should install radios or not because there was only one radio taxi then.
"We voted and we won the vote to have the radios so we started with seven radio cars and in the first week there were 267 calls.
"But there were two men who were very much opposed to what we were doing and so they'd block us in the rank - after three weeks they came and joined us and by the time we finished we had 70 cars."

Billy was voted in as the company's managing director and his sons soon followed him into the trade and now Yellow Tops has reached its half centenary he's thrilled to be celebrating with staff past and present.
"I will be going along to the do," he said.
"In our busiest week Yellow Tops had 14,347 jobs. Of course as competition got keener that decreased - but we're still in business and I'm very, very pleased about that."
Another man who is happy to see business thriving in Southport is current Yellow Tops MD John Whiteside who says the secret to success is attention to detail.
"We run a tight ship from the top down, and we always have," John said.
"It's a lot of hard work actually - but we're still here when a lot of other firms have gone to the wall and we've never had to lay off a driver."

DRIVERS, operators and customers of Yellow Top Taxis are gathering to celebrate the firm's first 50 years with a glamorous ball.
The dinner dance, to be held at the Floral Hall on Monday, February 16, is open to all connected with the company.
On the night guests will tuck into a three course meal while a disco and guest artist will provide the entertainment.
Organiser and Yellow Top Taxis owner John Whiteside is also promising a few surprises on the night.
Tickets are available until February 9 and cost £25. For details, call 01704 531000.