Tributes paid to Bury taxi driver following coronavirus death
TRIBUTES have been paid to an "extremely caring and kind" taxi driver following his death from coronavirus.
Suliman Khan died following a struggle with the highly contagious coronavirus and was called "one of the most generous men I have ever met" by local MP, James Daly. Mr Khan's funeral took place today at Bury Cemetery.
Bury Private Hire Drivers Assocation was behind a socially-distanced 'guard of honour' for Mr Khan. His fellow taxi drivers lined the streets to pay their respects and remembrance.
MP Mr Daly added: "He worked tirelessly as a taxi driver and was a familiar face in the local community, held in high affection. "He will be sadly missed by by many, in particular his two sons, Mohsin and Murtaza Khan and his son-in-law Abdul Wahab.
"He was always lending a hand to others and reaching out to them when they were in need. He was an extremely caring and kind man. "I remember the first time I met him at his residence on Cedar Street, Bury. He made me feel so welcome and comfortable right away."
Since the coronavirus outbreak, Bury taxi drivers have called on Bury Council to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to their trade to alleviate the risk to working drivers.
The Private Hire Drivers Association (PHDA), which is a not-for-profit taxi driver organisation in Bury, had made the call following Mr Khan's death.
Mr Daly has now helped supply PPE to Bury taxi firms in order to alleviate the virus risk to drivers and passengers, following the death of a local taxi driver. The donations include hand sanitiser and face masks.
In a statement, the Vice Chairman of PHDA, Raja Naveed Aijaz, said: ”The recent death of a fellow taxi driver from Covid-19 required us to immediately request Bury Council to order the use of face masks for customers.
"We asked Bury Council for the necessary PPE for the taxi drivers - But in response, we have been obliged to equip ourselves with PPE”.
Fiaz Khan, the owner of a private hire firm in Bury, said:“Like most industries in Bury, the taxi trade has been hit heavily since the outbreak. "Total lockdowns and fewer passengers has provided very little work to a once vibrant trade. The demand for taxis is almost at zero, but drivers cannot choose not to go to work”.
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