Dropped over the Edge

By Malcolm Cooper

Malcolm was a taxi driver in Canterbury for nearly 40 years. His insight into the taxi world and the regulations that went with it were brought to our attention in Taken for a Ride, published back in 2002. Nearing retirement age and disillusioned with his taxi life, he again put pen to paper and Driven to the Brink was published. He retired a month before his 65th birthday, on the day his badge expired - he was Dropped Over the Edge. A very pleasant experience he feels!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Sep 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781528958233

Malcolm Cooper

Malcolm Cooper is Vice President (Research) at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan and lectures in tourism law and tourism development and planning. His research interests include tourism development and planning, sustainable development and management of environmental resources.

Book preview

Realisation

About the Author

Malcolm Cooper was born in Chester on 5th May 1948. From the age of nine months, he travelled with his parents via The Royal Air Force. Following the untimely death of his father whilst studying ‘A’ levels at a boarding school in Germany, Malcolm returned to England to train as a teacher. Teaching was not for him and at twenty-six, he became a taxi driver in Canterbury where he remained until retirement.

About the Book

Malcolm was a taxi driver in Canterbury for nearly 40 years. His insight into the taxi world and the regulations that went with it were brought to our attention in Taken for a Ride, published back in 2002. Nearing retirement age and disillusioned with his taxi life, he again put pen to paper and Driven to the Brink was published. He retired a month before his 65th birthday, on the day his badge expired – he was Dropped Over the Edge. A very pleasant experience he feels!

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the residents of Stoneway Park.

Having been Taken for a Ride during my years as a taxi driver, and then Driven to the Brink, I have finally been

>Dropped over the Edge.

Copyright Information ©

Malcolm Cooper (2019)

The right of Malcolm Cooper to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781528958233 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published (2019)

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd

25 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5LQ

Acknowledgements

My thanks go to Eira, and to her ability to cope with 21st-century technology, which enables me to get these final chapters to my readers.

Prologue

For me life has three chapters…

The first chapter takes you from birth to the early stages of adulthood, which takes in schooldays and possible further education.

It is hoped that it is a pleasant time of your life with minimal pressures but no ‘real’ responsibilities.

Chapter two is your working life; for some, this will start at fifteen, for others it may not begin until you are around twenty-five, but this chapter of your life will take you through to retirement between forty-five and seventy-five quite possibly. This chapter may involve marriage and parenthood, and will be a time of definite responsibilities; whilst working for the present, yet planning for the future.

The third