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ROBIN,70 STILL ON THE ROAD
12:00 - 24 February 2005
Taxi driver Robin Martin is believed to be Plymouth's oldest cabbie - after being given the go-ahead by councillors to carry on working despite reaching the age of 70.
Mr Martin, who counts a Dr Who actor among his past customers, asked the city council to break its age limit and allow him to continue driving a taxi as he is still fit and healthy enough to work part-time.
On the back of his licence it states that 'any private hire driver's licence will be terminated when the holder reaches the age of 70'.
But on Tuesday afternoon a meeting of the council's licensing committee held at the city's Council House decided to allow Mr Martin, who recently turned 70, to keep his licence subject to his remaining in good health.
A report submitted to the committee said: "There is nothing of note on Mr Martin's (medical) file to give officers concern."
Mr Martin, from Plympton, has been driving a taxi for the last 16 years and told the Herald: "It means a lot to me.
"I told the committee I enjoy the job and I'm fairly fit and not ready to retire yet. It was like facing a jury!
"I enjoy the social aspects of driving the most. I'm always meeting new people and, at the same time, earning a few extra shillings."
Mr Martin was told from now on he must produce his medical files annually for his licence to continue. He believes he is the longest-serving driver working for Taxifast.
The one passenger Mr Martin wishes would step off the train and into his cab is musician and Pavilions favourite Jools Holland, but the keen organist has had a fair few other celebrities gracing the back seat of his cab.
When John Nettles performed as Mother Goose in pantomime, Mr Martin would take him to the Theatre Royal. "He'd always have his earrings in and get me to stop for an Oggy Oggy pasty on the way."
And the flamboyant blonde Dr Who actor Jon Pertwee was also among Mr Martin's customers.
"He was a really lovely man. We got talking and I found out that he had been out in Kenya entertaining the troops at the same time I was placed out there in the mid-Fifties with the 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment to fight the Mau Mau movement," said Mr Martin. "I asked for his autograph on the back of my receipt book and he wrote a little poem about Kenya, too."
Snooker player Steve Davis and BBC news reader Nicholas Witchell are some of the other famous faces he's had on board.
Mr Martin, who avoids working weekend nights, says he enjoys the company of most of the people who share his taxi and has struck up several friendships.
"I once met a woman who needed some carpet in her house," he said.
"My wife and I had just taken up some perfectly good carpet so we offered it to her and then dropped it around."
Born in a terraced house in Camels Head, Mr Martin has spent most of his life in Plymouth, where as well as driving a taxi he has also worked for the Post Office.
At 70, he puts his good health down to his background as a keen footballer and the work he does in his garden.
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good one
i guess as long as your fit and healthy then why not.
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