The Taxi Charity visits the British Normandy Memorial

The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans escorted a group of veterans to Normandy for D-Day commemorations.

London taxi drivers volunteering for the Taxi Charity took a group of 24 veterans to Normandy for six days for D-Day commemorations.

The trip included visits to the British Normandy Memorial and the Juno Beach Centre, remembrance ceremonies in Grangues, the Pegasus Memorial and the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Ranville, an afternoon with students from a school in Cabourg and a meeting with the D-Day Commemoration Committee.

Normandy veteran Bill Gladden, who served with the 6th Airborne, Recce Regiment, said: ‘I flew to Normandy in a glider on D-Day and was lucky enough to come on trips for years with the Taxi Charity to remember the friends I’ve lost.

“I cannot thank the charity and all the volunteer drivers for the care they take with us. This year they arranged for me to say Khomia’s epitaph during the memorial service at Memorial Pegasus, which was a real honor.

“London’s taxi drivers are so kind to us and as soon as locals and visitors see the convoy of taxis they cheer and cheer as we pass. I know they don’t just thank us, but thank the male and female taxi drivers who take the time to drive us.

“I’m 98 so a trip to Normandy would be unthinkable without the charity. They pick me up and my niece from home in a black cab, give us a fabulous week and then drive us back to our doorstep. They are very special group of men and women.

Dick Goodwin, Vice President of Taxi Charity, said: “Having not been able to visit Normandy since 2019, it has been a pleasure to finally be able to bring these veterans back to France to remember those who did not return.

“The pandemic has had a devastating impact on fundraising for all charities and we are no different. Our veterans, their caregivers and the volunteer taxi drivers who generously give their time to drive us do not pay the trips and although it is our biggest wish to be able to return to Normandy in 2023, we need donations and support for our fundraising activities to make future trips possible.

To learn more about the support that Taxi Charity provides for veterans or to donate towards future trips, please visit taxicharity.org

The Taxi Charity is based at 88 Grasvenor Avenue in the London Borough of Barnet.

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