Ayr taxi drivers hit road to Blair Drummond Safari Park for children and carers at Whiteleys Retreat

Taxi drivers with Maxine Allan, Chief Executive and Founder of Whiteleys Retreat Charity
-Credit: (Image: Alasdair MacLeod/Ayrshire Post)


Ayr taxi drivers are banding together to organise a day out at Blair Drummond Safari Park for children and young carers at Whiteleys Retreat.

Rodney Harris, who works for Ayr Premier Taxis and owns the Venga Party Taxi, decided to have a meeting with taxi owners John Kelly, Thomas Lindores and Rikki Colville to discuss a potential fundraiser.

They decided to take their own approach to the famous Glasgow Taxi Outing and started Ayr Taxi Day Out.

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Ayr Taxi Day Out will take place on December 8
Ayr Taxi Day Out will take place on December 8 -Credit:Alasdair MacLeod/Ayrshire Post

Drivers are hoping that, together with their colleagues, they can fund a day to remember at Blair Drummond on Sunday, December 8.

Rodney told Ayrshire Live: "John, Thomas, Rikki and myself are making this event happen. We are calling ourselves Ayr Taxi Day Out and there are going to be other taxi drivers and owners who will be taking the time off to take all the kids up to Blair Drummond for a day out, giving something back to the community.

"We reckon we will have at least 15 hackneys."

He added: "We discussed the idea and we agreed to give it a go and put the word out. John then contacted Whiteleys Retreat to see if they would be kind enough to be our backers' beneficiary and they agreed.

"Blair Drummond Safari Park was the chosen place due to it being on level ground.

"That's what the fundraiser is for, to pay for the entrance fees and also give donations to Whiteleys Retreat who provide therapeutic respite to children with life-altering illness."

John, who has owned Ayr Premier Taxis since 2008 and has been in the taxi trade since 1993, said: "We are a Hackney company based in Ayr, and have a fleet of 12 wheelchair-accessible taxis, mostly all driven by their owner/operators.

"I was approached by one of our operators, Rodney, about the possibility of doing something for local children along the lines of the Glasgow Taxi Outing that has been running for many years.

"I suggested he also include Richard, chairman of the local Taxi Owners Association, and Thomas, owner of A to B taxis. This way it would be easier to share responsibilities for the planning and also it would be a cross company effort rather than being seen as an Ayr Premier Taxis outing.

Taxi drivers raising money to benefit Whiteleys Retreat
Taxi drivers raising money to benefit Whiteleys Retreat -Credit:Alasdair MacLeod/Ayrshire Post

"Rodney came up with the location for the outing and I suggested we involve Whiteleys Retreat as our chosen charity. As a company, we have always supported Whiteleys and the fantastic work they do with families at what is a very difficult time for them."

John added: "This is the first time any of us have ever tried to organise anything on this scale, it most definitely has been a learning experience."

Ayr Taxi Day Out's fundraiser target is set at £2,500 and all extra funds will be donated to Whiteleys Retreat in Ayr.

Whiteleys provides free respite breaks and extended support for children, young people and their families with cancer or a life-altering illness across Scotland.

Maxine Allan, Chief Executive and Founder of Whiteleys Retreat Charity, said: "I was delighted when John Kelly called with the idea. It is such a kind and thoughtful gesture.

"In Glasgow there's a group of taxi drivers who bring children from the hospital to the beaches in Ayrshire during the summer months but no one has done this in Ayrshire yet.

"The children and their parents will love the trip to Blair Drummond. It's a fantastic place and in December it will be extra special and festive. The children and their siblings really deserve a fun day out."

To help with a fundraiser, please visit here.

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