A Whitley Bay lady talks about her father’s experiences as a taxi driver during the 1920s and 30s.
My father ran a taxi business in Whitley Bay. When we lived in Ocean View he used to park outside Whitley Bay station waiting for customers. If someone rang on the house phone I had to run up to the station and tell him. I remember the phone number – it was 770. Not many people had phones then. One time someone gave him the fare in butter rather than cash.
There was an architect called Mr Dixon who was always getting dad to take him places. He had something to do with the building of the Regal Cinema. My mam and dad were invited to the opening night. One of the streets in Monkseaton – Selwyn Avenue – was named after his son.