Drivers honour taxi queen Mary
More than 100 Glasgow taxi drivers provided a special guard of honour outside the funeral of a Rutherglen woman last week.
Mary McLaughlin, 58, died earlier this month following a short illness .
Mary had worked in the taxi trade for 40 years, and was a popular figure with drivers and staff at the Glasgow Taxis Ltd firm, working in the East End.
In tribute to her, dozens of drivers in their taxis lined the streets outside Linn Crematorium last Friday, adhering to social distancing and applauding as the cortege arrived. All drivers left the area as soon as the family had passed through ahead of the private service.
On behalf of the family, Mary’s brother Eamonn McLaughlin said: “Mary will be greatly missed by all of the family, especially her nieces and nephews who were her world.”
On behalf of Glasgow Taxis, chairman Dougie McPherson paid tribute to Mary and said:“Mary was 40 years in the trade and knew every driver.
“She was‘taxi’through and through.
Mary was a fountain of knowledge and her gentle and helpful manner was hugely appreciated by everyone who she encountered.
“We will all miss her tremendously and all friends and colleagues at Glasgow Taxis offer our thoughts and prayers to all her family and many friends.”
Glasgow Taxis also ran a collection to support Mary’s family.
Mary leaves no children but is survived by her three brothers, two sisters and countless nephews and nieces.