All posts by Gibson Square

A Licensed Black London Cab Driver I share my London with you . . . The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Previously posted: Have a nice day

3 June, 2023 Gibson Square 1 Comment

For those new to CabbieBlog or readers who are slightly forgetful, on Saturdays I’m republishing posts, many going back over a decade. Some will still be very relevant while others have become dated over time. Just think of this post as your weekend paper supplement.

Have a nice day (01.06.2010)

It started as a promising day, the sun was shining, we had a new Government and yes, I had earned enough to warrant a trip to the bank. I proffered my deposit, the cashier smiled and said good morning, and then her eyes alighted upon a £50 note of mine. In a nanosecond a money checker detection pen appeared and like a censor from the Lord Chamberlain’s Office she had drawn a line across the note.

“It’s a forgery, I’m afraid, and I can’t give it back, but I can if you wish, give you a receipt”. Great, £50 down.

Rapidly striding off to WH Smiths, and taking the cashier’s advice to purchase for myself said detector pen, my mood darkened.

In an effort to cheer myself up and repair my dented ego, I did a bit of research on counterfeiting and also to confirm that I wasn’t the only London cabbie to get caught.

As a large city London has vast sums of cash changing hands each day, and this makes the Capital a perfect place to distribute this worthless junk. This was recognised in the Middle Ages and they used some rather novel methods to deter offenders.

Clipping was a popular past time in this period, where small clips were taken from the edge of a coin and using them to mint a counterfeit. Coin clipping is why many coins have the rim of the coin marked with stripes, text or some other pattern that would be destroyed if the coin were clipped, a safeguard attributed to Isaac Newton, after being appointed Master of the Mint.

Unlike today the threat to England’s economy from counterfeiting and ultimately the country’s security was appreciated by Parliament and offenders had a multiple choice of punishments, ranging to having one’s ears removed to hanging.

The Treason Act 1415 was an Act of the Parliament of England which made clipping coins high treason and punishable by death. (It was already treason to counterfeit coins.) The Act was repealed by the Treason Act 1553, and then revived again in 1562. The Act originally only protected English coins, but was later extended in 1575 to cover foreign coins “current” within England. The Coin Act 1575 also abolished (for coin clipping only) the penalties of corruption of blood and forfeiture of goods and lands (see what I mean by multiply punishments).

In modern times fraudsters have now a range of aids to perfect their craft making detection harder, so there is far more counterfeit currency in circulation. Remarkably last year the total amount of fake £1 coins hit 37.5 million, the highest sum since the coin was introduced in 1983, and a rise of 26 per cent since 2007, when 30 million were found to be fakes. Even more remarkable is that convicted forgers these days retain their ears, and only serve the shortest of sentences.

Puppydog tails

Test Your Knowledge: June 2023

2 June, 2023 Gibson Square 3 Comments

In two weeks, King Charles III will attend Trooping the Colour for the first time as Monarch. How much do you know about this annual ceremony? As before the correct answer will turn green when it’s clicked upon and expanded to give more information. The incorrect answers will turn red giving the correct explanation.

1. Upon what anniversary does the ceremony take place?

The Battle of Waterloo

WRONG Trooping the Colour is believed to have been performed first during the reign of Charles II. Then, in 1748, it was decided this parade would be used to mark the official birthday of the Sovereign (as opposed to their actual birthday) and it became an annual event after George III became King in 1760, except during the World Wars and a national strike in 1955.

The Monarch’s official birthday

CORRECT Trooping the Colour is believed to have been performed first during the reign of Charles II. Then, in 1748, it was decided this parade would be used to mark the official birthday of the Sovereign (as opposed to their actual birthday) and it became an annual event after George III became King in 1760, except during the World Wars and a national strike in 1955.

The formation of the Household Cavalry

2. What is the Colour?

The guards’ bright red tunics

WRONG Trooping the Colour dates back to the time of Charles II in the 17th century when the flag or Colours of a regiment were used as a rallying point in battle and were therefore trooped in front of the soldiers every day to make sure that every man could recognise those of his regiment.

The regiment flag

CORRECT Trooping the Colour dates back to the time of Charles II in the 17th century when the flag or Colours of a regiment were used as a rallying point in battle and were therefore trooped in front of the soldiers every day to make sure that every man could recognise those of his regiment.

The Sovereign’s black horse

3. In modern times, where else has Trooping the Colour taken place?

Windsor Castle

CORRECT Three times the ceremony, known as ‘Mini’ Trooping the Colour has taken place at Windsor Castle twice due to Covid-19.

Edinburgh Castle

WRONG Three times the ceremony, known as ‘Mini’ Trooping the Colour has taken place at Windsor Castle twice due to Covid-19.

Caernarfon Castle

WRONG Three times the ceremony, known as ‘Mini’ Trooping the Colour has taken place at Windsor Castle twice due to Covid-19.

4. How many words of command are spoken?

113

CORRECT With over 1,400 officers and men on parade, together with 200 horses; over 400 musicians from 6 bands and corps of drums marching and playing as one, only 113 words of command are given by the Officer in Command of the Parade.

213

WRONG With over 1,400 officers and men on parade, together with 200 horses; over 400 musicians from 6 bands and corps of drums marching and playing as one, only 113 words of command are given by the Officer in Command of the Parade.

5. What mustn’t be worn by members of the public?

Denim

CORRECT Because the Monarch is in attendance, everyone must be dressed in their best, and no one can wear denim, shorts or sandals. The no-jeans rule is stated, like, three times. Technically, hats are optional but are recommended for paying the necessary compliments to His Majesty and worn due to the hot nature of the summer’s day. Failure to comply with the dress code results in a person being turned away.

Hats

WRONG Because the Monarch is in attendance, everyone must be dressed in their best, and no one can wear denim, shorts or sandals. The no-jeans rule is stated, like, three times. Technically, hats are optional but are recommended for paying the necessary compliments to His Majesty and worn due to the hot nature of the summer’s day. Failure to comply with the dress code results in a person being turned away.

Red

6. What event happened in 1981?

An IRA protest

WRONG In 1981, the appropriately named Marcus Simon Serjeant tried to kill the Queen when she rode past. He was inspired by John Lennon’s killer to assassinate someone for fame. Luckily, he didn’t realize that his gun was only firing blanks, and the Queen survived the terrifying scenario.

An attempted assassination

CORRECT In 1981, the appropriately named Marcus Simon Serjeant tried to kill the Queen when she rode past. He was inspired by John Lennon’s killer to assassinate someone for fame. Luckily, he didn’t realize that his gun was only firing blanks, and the Queen survived the terrifying scenario.

Many of the horses were sick

7. For what are heat guns used?

To ward off protestors

WRONG The boots are the trickiest of all to clean. It’s a long process that can take up to 11 hours. First, each boot has to be burnt down with a heat gun while a mixture of beeswax and black polish is worked into it. Once set more black polish is applied in layers and then ‘bulled’ with a thoroughly washed duster that is dabbed in water and polish. If done correctly the first time the future bulling process becomes much quicker. 1,200 pots of polish have to be bought and provided to the men of the Household Division to pass muster on the day.

To flatten the procession route

To polish boots

CORRECT The boots are the trickiest of all to clean. It’s a long process that can take up to 11 hours. First, each boot has to be burnt down with a heat gun while a mixture of beeswax and black polish is worked into it. Once set more black polish is applied in layers and then ‘bulled’ with a thoroughly washed duster that is dabbed in water and polish. If done correctly the first time the future bulling process becomes much quicker. 1,200 pots of polish have to be bought and provided to the men of the Household Division to pass muster on the day.

8. How much horse manure is left behind?

2 tons

WRONG The average horse produces 50 lbs of manure a day. On the day of Trooping the Colour, there could be 4.5 tons of it on the streets. That would be 63 tons of horse manure in the two weeks leading up to the event. No wonder they need a team of five road sweepers on the day organised by the management of the Royal Parks.

1 ton

4.5 tons

CORRECT The average horse produces 50 lbs of manure a day. On the day of Trooping the Colour, there could be 4.5 tons of it on the streets. That would be 63 tons of horse manure in the two weeks leading up to the event. No wonder they need a team of five road sweepers on the day organised by the management of the Royal Parks.

9. Why are the guards’ uniforms red?

Red naturally blends making it difficult to estimate numbers

CORRECT Contrary to some rumours it’s not so that blood doesn’t appear to the enemy when shot. In 1645 when the New Model Army was formed a cheap form of dye was used to ensure all uniforms were of a similar colour. Naturally, over time the uniforms faded and weren’t as bright on the battlefield. Warfare was of a different order then, with more orchestrated battles where the enemy could easily be identified. Red was interestingly useful as units naturally blended wearing this colour, making it difficult to estimate numbers.

So their blood doesn’t show when shot

WRONG Contrary to some rumours it’s not so that blood doesn’t appear to the enemy when shot. In 1645 when the New Model Army was formed a cheap form of dye was used to ensure all uniforms were of a similar colour. Naturally, over time the uniforms faded and weren’t as bright on the battlefield. Warfare was of a different order then, with more orchestrated battles where the enemy could easily be identified. Red was interestingly useful as units naturally blended wearing this colour, making it difficult to estimate numbers.

The dye was readably available

10. What timepiece determines the time that the Monarch arrives?

Big Ben

WRONG As the clock on Horse Guards chimes 11 o’clock His Majesty The King arrives to take the Royal Salute from the officers and men of the Household Division on parade. After the salute The King rides up and down the ranks, inspecting the troops on parade.

Horse Guards clock

CORRECT As the clock on Horse Guards chimes 11 o’clock His Majesty The King arrives to take the Royal Salute from the officers and men of the Household Division on parade. After the salute The King rides up and down the ranks, inspecting the troops on parade.

The Monarch’s watch

Thinking allowed

The cost of free air

1 June, 2023 Gibson Square 2 Comments

When I started driving, free air was available at our local garage, and if a young lady needed help, the attendant would happily leave his pay booth. Then later ‘free air’ cost 50p or via a token purchased from the garage. Today my local petrol station, with its 8 electric charging points and a gadget to boost your mobile, now only accepts contactless credit card payments for free air. That’s progress.

Puppydog tails

Johnson’s London Dictionary: Millennium Dome

31 May, 2023 Gibson Square 1 Comment

MILLENNIUM DOME (n.) Much derided struckture designed by politicans, saved by eletronik telephony.

Dr. Johnson’s London Dictionary for publick consumption in the twenty-first century avail yourself on Twitter @JohnsonsLondon

A window on My World

May’s monthly musings

30 May, 2023 Gibson Square 2 Comments

🚓 What Cab News

Tom Hutley has pointed out incorrect signage on Gracechurch Street and Bishopsgate. During the hours of 7 am-7 pm (Mon-Fri) only buses and cycles are allowed to use this stretch of road, but he has found not one, but two incorrect signs! Stating that the restricted hours are 7 pm – 7 am! Therefore taxis can use it in the day, but not at night?

🎧 What I’m Listening

Your London Legacy podcast was made nearly three years ago when Mark Monroe is interviewed about acting, being a cabbie and his YouTube channel Secret London.

📖 What I’m Reading

As I’ve been recently writing about London A to Z by John Metcalf. The book has a host of long-forgotten aspects of London. In 1953 Moyses Stevens offered an all-night flower-delivery service, so much for today’s next-day delivery.

📺 What I’m watching

This month blue tits are feeding their young in our bird box, unfortunately, due either to weather conditions or that the parents were inexperienced, three fledglings didn’t make it. Better luck next year..

❓ What else

Since July 2009 I’ve been posting daily London trivia on Twitter @CabbieBlog. Remembering to upload isn’t always easy, so when various resources appeared on the web which enabled 10 tweets to be scheduled it was to be welcomed. Now since Elon Musk has set Twitter’s API monthly access price at up to $210,000 and discontinued free access to APIs by third parties and developer plugins I’m back to where I was nearly a decade and a half ago. Thanks, Elon.