Ken clocks 34 years in his London cab

Salesman Ken Bird isn’t known as Mr Taxi for nothing, the loyal Mann & Overton employee has been selling LTI Vehicles’ London taxis for nearly 19 years, and before that he was driving one for 16.

He still drives a London cab as he clocks up at least 60,000 miles a year travelling to see clients in his demonstrator – and it serves as his office as well.

”People ask me what I do for a living and they look at me a bit strangely when I say I sell London taxis because not that many people do this for a living,” said Ken, aged 59.

“I enjoy the job I am doing, I relate to the customers I am dealing with and I suppose the most important thing is that I am selling the best product.

“There is only one true taxi. The success of the TX4 and the recent deal to manufacture cabs for the Eastern market in China proves this. Other vehicles try and emulate it but no one can get the mix just right. The vehicle really is an icon.”

In 1973, Ken opted for a career change from his job as a painting contractor and planned to take his HGV, PSV and Hackney licence tests.

But he got his Hackney licence first, took to the streets of Birmingham as a driver and never looked back.

In 1988, Ken was gearing up for a new challenge when a vacancy arose in the sales department at Mann & Overton Birmingham, formerly Taxicraft, official dealer for the Coventry-made LTI Vehicles cabs.

His sales patch then repeatedly grew from the original Staffordshire, Wolverhampton, Walsall and Birmingham, to include Herefordshire, Worcestershire, the south west, South Wales and even Northern Ireland.

In 1994, LTI helped relocate Ken and his family from his native Birmingham to Weymouth to help him cover his area more easily, which by then also included the Channel Islands.

This October, Ken will celebrate 19 years as a taxi salesman.

“Being a driver was the grounding for me and made my job easier when I came into sales as I was dealing with the same area,” added Ken, who lives in Weymouth with wife Lesley, and children Elkie, aged 19, and Matthew, aged 17.

“But 34 years is a long time to be driving a cab. I would most likely get withdrawal symptoms if I stopped now!”