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23
Dec
‘I’ve worked every Christmas Day except three since 1965’, says Harrogate cabbie
Harrogate taxi driver Kevin O’Boyle has worked all but three Christmas Days since 1965 — and he shows no signs of hanging up his cab keys.
For the 82-year-old director of Central Taxis, working on the big day is normal.
From taking families to see their loved ones to picking up NHS staff from the hospital, Mr O’Boyle still chips in with driving customers around.
He says:
We could go literally anywhere. We are contracted to break down services and the NHS. So we could be picking people up from accident and emergency.
The Stray Ferret visited Mr O’Boyle’s office at Claro Court Business Centre off Claro Road, where the car park is full of taxi cabs.
He sees Christmas Day like any other working day and can sum up his attitude towards missing any festivities in a sentence:
I’ve done it that long now, it does not matter.
In fact, until recently, his wife used to send his Christmas dinner up to his office on the day while he was busy working a shift.
Much of the taxi work on Christmas Day is pre-booked, said Mr O’Boyle, but it can include trips to the hospital, wheelchair accessible jobs or journeys further afield for those left stranded after their car has broken down.
Those jobs are largely down to contracts which Central Taxis has with Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust and other companies
'I feel fit and have got good eyesight'
While some people will be still in bed dreaming of opening presents and eating mince pies, Mr O’Boyle’s day can start as early as 7am — depending on what trips are booked.
On one Christmas, he says drove as far as Malham Cove.
Much of the festivities which some may miss on the big day does not phase Mr O’Boyle.
He said he makes up for the lost time on Boxing Day — which also happens to be his wedding anniversary.
But, after 60 years of working nearly every Christmas Day, does he not fancy leaving the festive shift to others?
He said:
I’m 82, so there will come a time when I have to give it up. But I feel fit and I have got good eyesight
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