it maybe before your time, ( 1980 IIRC ) Mastermind was won by Lon tax drvr Fred Housego. ( cant remember his speciality subject )
Harry Harris is another well known black cab driver. His WWII digs and wartime London programmes I have found to have been quite interesting when featured on TV. He is a qualified history guide and brother to the actress Patsy Palmer.
I don't recall anyone claiming that HGV drivers have any "outstanding" abilities,but they do have specific training for their job:as in all walks of life,there are good,bad and indifferent,it's all the same whether you are a judge,doctor or a carpenter. One of the reasons lorry drivers are no longer considered,or are willing to be,"Knights of the Road",is the attitude shown by some members of the public,including it seems,yourself. The owner of the vehicle will expect to get maximum productivity out of his investment of maybe £120k that the truck and trailer have cost him,and therefore that truck wants to be sitting,"on the limiter",or whatever speed limits allow,for as long as possible in that driving day. This is no different to any other kind of investment,in that the owner/shareholder whatever will expect to get the maximum practical return from his investment Should you find yourself "baulked",by an HGV,you can be secure in the knowledge that the driver will (a) be making a journey that is necessary to UK economy,in one way or another (b) The driver would almost certainly like to go a bit faster if he's overtaking,but speed limits* for HGV's haven't changed for decades,so take no account of any advances in truck technology,and (c),he/she probably has the same opinion of your driving/riding ability as you have of theirs. Of course,if someone plies their trade in an office,factory or similar environment,the shortcomings in their skills and abilities are unlikely to be subject to the public gaze:truck and bus drivers do not enjoy the same privacy,allowing anyone to make comment about their performance at work. However,all opinions are subjective,and could possibly be distorted by the holders personal feelings about humanity in general..... *until this year.
Learned from a Black Cab driver en-route to see the Poppies tribute at the Tower of London the other week: The Owner,or person responsible for the maintenance of a Black Cab is called,a "musher" If a cabbie rents a cab part-time,i.e,just for the day or night shift, he is renting,"half flat",or full time,"full flat"... Top bloke that cabbie,it was worth the price just to hear him talk about his profession...
This thread has degenerated. Those involved have been contacted. Please stop acting like children. Thread closed.
