The London Cabbie Challenge
On 16 May, a team of London Mark Men set off to visit the London cabmen’s shelters, spread all over London, in aid of the Cabmen’s Shelter Fund in their 150th anniversary.
The 4 man team headed up by R. W. Bro David Ashbolt and consisting of W. Bro Marios Styliandes, W. Bro. Brian McCormack and myself headed off on an unusually sunny day from the St Johns Wood shelter – the oldest functioning shelter in London. Before we set off, we had the honour of being allowed inside the shelter, with the permission of the Trustees, which is normally strictly reserved for licenced taxi drivers only.
The team managed to catch a lift off the Widows Sons on the first leg with the bikers turning up in numbers to support the challenge and whisked the team to the second shelter of the day, where we were met with what was the common theme of the day – a big smile and appreciation for what the Province of London was doing for the shelters.
After a quick photo, we headed off to the next shelter where David and Marios were given a mop and bucket for cleaning job! Once the floors were mopped, we the made our way across London, battling the traffic any way we could. After taxi rides, walking and pulling Marios around in a wheel chair – due to him trying to get the sympathy vote – the team marched on ticking off each visit as we went.
With a long day under our belts, lots of photos, fun and stories from all the shelters’ operators, the team finished off the challenge with quick dart over to Mark Masons’ Hall, where we were met by our Provincial Grand Master and the Trustees of the CSF and sat down to a celebratory meal by the team at MMH.
All in all the day was a great success and the final amount raised will be announced at the Annual Meeting on 10 July – once the donation pages are shut the day before the meeting and money counted!
The team would like to thank the CSF Trustees, all the shelter staff who looked after us so well, the Widows Sons, Gary Carter for the great photos, everyone who supported the team throughout the day, the staff at Mark Masons’ Hall and all the members and Lodges who always step up and support this great Province – thanks everyone!
If you or your lodge have not donated yet and would like to support this challenge please click on the link below or donate through your lodges’ relief chest to the LMBF’s relief chest MMM2076.
Mark Well
W Bro Stacy Harman
