3rd October 2024 • The HERALD • Page 43 v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SPECIALISTS v OUT & ABOUT Top Flight Private Hire and Taxi Service Top Flight Private Hire was rst established in 2013 by owner and operator, Steve Dodgson. Steve had worked previously for a local taxi company for over 10 years and then eventually with an executive private hire business which was mainly dealing in VIP trips to all airports. Deciding to work for himself, Steve started o with a luxury Mercedes Estate car and gradually added a Mercedes saloon car and also a Taxi licensed vehicle for doing local runs. Business was building very happily with many clients booking regularly for their holiday airport transfers, this all came to a rapid end when the Covid 19 pandemic essentially ‘shut o ’ travel in all forms. During Lockdown Steve was lucky enough to get a position with ames Valley Police being employed temporarily as a Radio Frequency Surveyor. is job basically involved driving an unmarked police vehicle around almost every road in the regions of ames Valley, Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex. Being very highly vetted Steve was then required to carry out building radio surveys at many secure locations in these areas… a very responsible position. e ‘temporary’ position lasted 3.5 years and came to a natural end at the start of July this year. Steve has now come back to the public transportation business by reviving ‘Top Flight Taxi Service’. He is fully licensed and insured with NFDC to carry up to 6 passengers in his VW Caddy. His vehicle is also wheelchair accessible, being able to carry one person in a wheelchair and one passenger or up to 4 passengers and 1 wheelchair user if it’s pre booked. Steve is trying to ‘keep it local’ with only Southampton and Bournemouth airports being the preferred locations for airport transfers. His vehicle is also excellent for local cruise transfers as it has a massive capacity for luggage for up to 4 passengers Steve can be found sometimes working from Hythe taxi rank (by the ferry entrance) or is happy to take bookings via phone, text, WhatsApp, email or FB messenger. “I know I can’t be everywhere at once… but the larger companies do a lot of school runs and that ties them up for a lot of the day…. Try calling me at Top Flight Taxi… I may well just be available and if I can help then I will” comments Steve. Top Flight o en ‘pairs’ up with other independent local taxi service providers and so together WE will try to get you there. If you’ve been let down or time has become tight, you could always give Steve a try, so call Top Flight! Steve busking by his taxi, helping to fundraise at a Hythe Pier Heritage Association event TOTTON REPAIR CAFÉ Totton Repair Café is running on Saturday 19th October, 10.30am to 1pm at Totton & Eling Community Centre. e aim of the Totton Repair Café is to try and prevent small household goods from going to land ll if they stop working. You can take along small electrical or other items too good for the tip, you can sit and help/observe with any repair and refreshments are available while you wait for a small charge. It’s also an opportunity to nd out more about the Repair Café and Men’s Shed. A er your repair is completed all they ask for is a voluntary donation towards the cost of the hall and insurance. For further details please contact the Totton & Eling Community Centre by email: tottonrepaircafe@gmx.co.uk MUSIC MAKING AND SHARING Music Making and Sharing takes place on the 3rd Saturday of the month (19th October and 16th November) from 2pm to 5pm at Calmore Village Hall, Pauletts Lane, Calmore SO40 2RS. e cost is just £5 payable at the door. e group welcome and encourage musicians to go along to share their musical skills and are open to listening to other peoples’ musical enthusiasm – with the instrument of their choice and the genre they like. If you compose your own music, they would love to hear it. Or perhaps you would like a space for presenting/trying out pieces you are going to perform elsewhere, including a music exam. You need to take along your instrument, music and equipment including a music stand if you require one. ere is a piano. If you are a singer and require accompanying, please take your accompanist along. Anybody who would like to play/sing a couple of pieces to non-judgemental fellow musicians is welcome. All levels of ability are welcome (professionals to beginners). e meetings start with a brief musical warm-up and then they take turns in playing and listening to each other. e space is open for experimentation, risk taking, and appreciation. ey welcome adults, young people from age 16, and supervised children. Website: www.musicmaking.uk Go along to St Matthews Church Hall, Ringwood Road, Netley Marsh, SO40 7GY, on Saturday 19th October, 2pm–3.30pm for a Jumble Sale. Entrance 50p, children free! Donations of jumble welcome from 12.30pm at the hall. e Sale is in aid of St Matthews Church Restoration Fund. Jumble Sale in Netley Marsh
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