Visit website to view video of tribute - not sure if making such an almighty racket after 10pm is the best way to go about these things
Convoy of taxi drivers sound horns in Welsh town in tribute to dead cabbiehttps://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wale ... s-15159055'I spoke to Peter on the Saturday night before he died; I never thought for one second that it would be for the very last time.'
A convoy of taxi drivers drove through Carmarthen last night in tribute to one of their own who died in a crash last month.
Peter Morgan Salmon, who worked for Paul’s Taxis in the town and had been a taxi driver for 25 years, was killed in the early hours of Sunday, August 12.
He was travelling home from Carmarthen to Kidwelly when his silver Toyota Avenis was in collision with a grey Volvo at around 6.10am.
Mr Salmon, who was 64 and has since been described as “ the nicest person you could ask to meet ”, suffered fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced dead later that morning in hospital.
The news shook the taxi industry in Carmarthenshire , given Mr Salmon’s popularity among his peers, many of whom he had worked with and alongside for the previous two decades.
On Saturday night, every taxi in town met at the same place at the same time, and set off in union to salute their friend Peter.
“His funeral took place on Friday and a lot of people couldn’t make it for different reasons, so I came up with the idea of us all paying our own little tribute to Peter,” said Aaron Haughey, who runs A&E Taxis in Carmarthen.
“I thought it would be a nice gesture so I put something on Facebook asking people to get together and thousands of people saw the post; it was so nice to see that so many people cared for Peter. He was such a nice man.”
Aaron went to the local police station in Carmarthen on Saturday to make them aware of the plan and then arranged for stewards to manage Saturday night traffic as more than 20 taxis made their way through the town.
Horns blazing, this was a 15 minute tribute and celebration of a life cut tragically short a month ago.
“The ironic thing, given that he died in a car crash, is that he was the safest and most careful taxi driver in Carmarthen," said Aaron.
"He was also one of the loveliest men you could ever know. I remember, once, a few of us were parked on Lammas Street, outside Spar, and he came out with a number of cakes and he would be going up and down the rank, asking other drivers if they wanted one.
“That was who he was.”
At just after 10pm on Saturday night, one taxi made off from Lammas Street at the sound of a single horn. The other cars, and the sounding of their horns, all followed slowly behind.
They travelled down Morfa Lane, along the River Towy, up Jail Hill, around King Street and Queen Street before driving up Blue Street and back to Lammas Street.
“I spoke to Peter on the Saturday night before he died,” said Aaron. “I never thought for one second that it would be for the very last time.
“I’m just glad that we all did something nice for him. His sister was there last night and she was overwhelmed by it. It was a very emotional night for us all.
“Peter was liked by everyone. He was such a lovely person and we all miss him.”
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances that led to the fatal crash on Sunday, August 12.
A 25-year-old man was arrested by police on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, drink driving and drug driving. He has been released under investigation pending further enquiries.
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