The Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers is one of the 108 Livery Companies of the City of London. Its members are professional hackney carriage drivers, including London black taxicab drivers who have learnt the knowledge of London.
The Fellowship of Hackney Carriage Drivers was recognised by the City of London Corporation in 1990 and was granted livery in February 2004, becoming the Worshipful Company. The process started with an instruction from Oliver Cromwell to the City's Court of Aldermen in 1654 on regulating drivers. Legislation created the Fellowship of Master Hackney Coachmen, the first such society for taxi drivers.
The Company's charity supports any deserving members and their immediate family. It has run an annual taxi tour to Disneyland Paris for children with life threatening illnesses each year since 1994. Its education programme teaches taxi drivers about the history of London and it seeks to promote public awareness about the high standards of the hackney carriage trade. The Company also part-takes in the annual Lord Mayor's Show.
The Hackney Carriage Drivers' Company ranks 104th in the order of precedence for the Livery Companies.
Famous quotes containing the words company, hackney and/or carriage:
“The old idea that the joke was not good enough for the company has been superseded by the new aristocratic idea that the company was not worthy of the joke. They have introduced an almost insane individualism into that one form of intercourse which is specially and uproariously communal. They have made even levities into secrets. They have made laughter lonelier than tears.”
—Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874–1936)
“Now hardly here and there an hackney coach
Appearing, showed the ruddy morn’s approach.
Now Betty from her master’s bed had flown,
And softly stole to discompose her own;
The slipshod ‘prentice from his master’s door
Had pared the dirt, and sprinkled round the floor.”
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745)
“Because I could not stop for Death—
He kindly stopped for me—
The Carriage held but just Ourselves—
And Immortality.”
—Emily Dickinson (1830–1886)