Taxi fun day

Brilliant day out for special needs children

A special day out for youngsters with additional needs returned this week after being axed for two years due to the pandemic.

The West Lothian Special Needs Children’s Taxi Outing was held on Monday, to the delight of all of the youngsters who took part. The event sees generous taxi drivers parade through Livingston with the youngsters in their cars, who are then treated lots of fun activities after.

Organiser Eddie Millar said he is pleased to see the event return after having to take a backseat because of covid.

He said: “It was absolutely fantastic to be back.”

The West Lothian Special Needs Children’s Taxi Outing made a triumphant return this week after being cancelled for two years because of the pandemic.

The event sees school kids with special needs taken for a day out around Livingston thanks to generous local taxi drivers before being treated to lots of fun activities.

This year’s event was held on Monday and saw around 25 kids being driven around in 17 taxis, waving to onlookers as they went.

Also taking part were the Royal Artillery, the Police Outriders, Bumblebee from Transformers and a flatbed truck leading the parade blasting out the kids’ favourite songs while Morrisons supermarket employees handed out sweets.

The event was founded by taxi driver Eddie Millar and his wife Helen in

2017.

It was last held in 2019 but had to be scrapped the last two years due to covid restrictions but Eddie said he was delighted to see its return.

He said: “It was absolutely fantastic to be back.

“We left from the football stadium, who were absolutely fantastic with us, some of the footballers came out and the Calcutta cup was also there.

“Then we ended up in Livingston Rugby club, they did so much for us and host it every year, they do such a good job.

“It’s been great to have it back again after the pandemic. Because this was the first year back we kept it small so we can built on it.

“Next year we hope to expand by involving more schools and hopefully get more taxis on board.”

Eddie said he couldn’t do such a great job without help from the organisation committee and fellow taxi drivers.

He went on to say: “I would like to thank all the taxi drivers, the rugby club and the football stadium and the police and all the other volunteers and the cooks who joined us from Tarbrax to cook for us.

“It’s important too that committee members like my wife Helen, Alex Lamont and Margaret Dickson get a mention because they do so much.”