VETERAN taxi driver Arthur Pritchard, who has been driving taxis throughout the Chester area for more than four decades, is the oldest person to achieve the BTEC in Transporting Passengers by Taxi or Private Hire and the NVQ Road Passenger Vehicle Driving.
Arthur, 71, from Broughton, Chester, started driving taxis while working as an aircraft engineer and soon made it his full time career. Although he retired at the age of 65, he couldn’t quite give up completely and quickly went back to driving part time.
He said: "I couldn’t do without the people. It’s a great job if you like meeting and talking to different people."
Formalising licensed driving qualifications began five years ago throughout the country. Cheshire West and Chester Licensing Authority made the BTEC compulsory for new applicants in July 2009 in conjunction with West Cheshire College, who developed the course.
And although Arthur did not have to complete it under what he describes as ‘Grandfather’s rights’, he was determined to do it.
He said: "The tutor told me no one had ever failed so I was worried I would be the first. But I managed it and I’m pleased I have.
"I didn’t think there was anything they could teach me because I thought I knew everything there was to know about driving a Hackney cab. But I was wrong and I did learn new things."
Arthur, who originally qualified as an engineer from Loughborough, has always preferred driving to engineering but said his original skills did ensured he could do 90% of the maintenance of his cab himself. He has no intention of taking his foot off the pedal just yet.
He said: "As long as I can get insurance I’ll keep on driving. I love it."
