Disabled childrens annual day out to Maldon ferried by black cabs

Newham youngsters enjoy day out, thanks to cabbies

Kay Atwal, Chief Reporter Sunday, July 15, 2012
12:00 PM

More than 180 youngsters from across east London were taken for a day out in Maldon by a group of colourfully decorated black cabs

Disabled childrens annual day out to Maldon ferried by black cabs

The special needs children from schools across Newham were ferried by nearly 100 black cabs for the annual East London Cabbies Outing to Maldon in Essex.

It was the 60th such outing run by the cabbies committee. The event was started by Charlie Flemwell in 1952 with just eight vehicles taking part.

The drivers collected the children, mostly from Brampton Manor school in East Ham but also from Eastlea Community School in Hilda Road, in Canning Town, and JFK school in Stratford.

Then, with a police escort, they were carried in brightly decorated cabs to Mountnessing in Essex where they collected more children before heading to Maldon.

Disabled childrens annual day out to Maldon ferried by black cabs

Here they were given a warm welcome by the local residents, many of whom lined the High Street which was decked out in flags and bunting with a distinctly Olympian theme.

The children then enjoyed lunch and spent the afternoon on the Promenade where they played on a bouncy castle and were treated to a children’s entertainer.

Ken Flemwell, chairman of the East London Cabbies Outing, said: “For some of the children it is the only day out they get. Even for our drivers, they get a real buzz from doing it.” He thanked everyone involved for making the day such a success.

A tree was planted in Maldon to mark 60 years of the outing.