Anticipating a substantial increase of tourists to London for the late Queen’s Coronation, former Spitfire ace and respected literary critic, John Metcalf, wrote a witty London guide. On this 70th anniversary, I bought a copy of this pocket-sized paperback, then priced at a reasonable 2/6d.

The book is a barometer of how much has changed in London during these seven decades. In the coming weeks, CabbieBlog will feature some of the best excerpts and starting with cabs.

TAXIS. London’s taxicabs range from rickety old puffing-billies which seem (and their drivers) to be of pre-World War I vintage, to purring smoothies smelling of leather and metal polish. Cheapest ride (the first mile for 1/3d) has gone up a bit since the pre-war 6d for the first mile; but still remains good value.

A recent innovation is the fleet of a hundred or more Radio Taxis…You telephone TER 8800, give your name and address, and they will ring you back, if you ask them, when your driver reports that he is nearing your door.

London has certainly changed these last 70 years. More of these nostalgic snippets to come from the recently republished paperback.

Adorned throughout with Edward Bawden’s beautiful and distinctive illustrations, John Metcalf’s charmingly idiosyncratic pocket guide brings to life with a dry humour the London and Londoners of the day, and available on Amazon.