Hundreds of disadvantaged children in Merseyside were treated to a memorable day out this week, thanks to the actions of a Liverpool cabbie.
Bernie Buxton, 78, from Stockbridge Village, has been coordinating trips for some of the region's most vulnerable young people for the past 38 years. He set up the Liverpool Taxi Drivers Children in Care Outing Fund in 1985, which is estimated to have helped more than 10,000 children since its foundation.
And on Wednesday (July 27), more than 300 youngsters were taken on an all-expenses paid trip to Southport. The children, identified to Bernie via social services and a number of charitable organisations, were taken to the seaside resort in a fleet of 50 taxis, many of which were decked out to celebrate the occasion.
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Bernie told the ECHO: "It all started in 1985, when there was another organisation that used to take blind children on a day out, and I started thinking about underprivileged children too. It snowballed into children in care and disadvantaged families.
“On the trip to Southport, the kids get all the sweets, crisps, lemonade and ice cream they want. They get all the fun of the fair and get £10 pocket money at the end of the day.
"They get a nice meal while they’re there, so they’re well looked after. At the fair, they get a wristband that allows them to jump on anything that they want to without queuing. These days last in their memories for years."
In addition to the arranging annual trip to Southport, Bernie also helps to mount a number of events throughout the year for the children to enjoy, and is incredibly proud of the lasting impact his work has had on those who have been helped by the Outing Fund.
He said: "We even have grown ups now that come back and tell us they remember days out. Some of them were only three years old when the events started but now they’re in their 30s and 40s and they still remember the days out from when they were kids.
"We’ve made two trips to Disneyland Paris. One year we went by coach and then another year we flew from John Lennon airport with a group of 50 children and they were absolutely amazed. They stayed in a luxury hotel with a swimming pool - some of the kids had never even had a bath, never mind a pool.”
Wednesday's event saw the children gather outside the OSC Club in Old Swan, where they were given an impressive send-off by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Roy Gladden and Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Serena Kennedy.
Bernie said: “All the cabs were decorated in balloons and ribbons and streamers. It was a spectacular take-off from the club and a spectacular occasion for children all over Liverpool. This year, we invited Ukrainian refugees as well.”
In 2012, Bernie was selected to carry the Olympic torch and, in 2015, he was awarded an MBE in recognition of his extensive charity work. But the 78-year-old insists events like Wednesday's wouldn't happen without support from the wider community.
He said: “I have to thank all the taxi drivers who take part because they give up their day. In this economic climate, where the cost of diesel and fuel is what it is, they give up their time and pay for petrol. Some of them even spend days preparing their cabs because we have three cash prizes for the best dressed cabs and there’s some fierce competition trying to win.
"Serena Kennedy judged the best-dressed taxi and no one could argue with her!"
Bernie also believes that the police's involvement in the annual event is fundamental in helping children from deprived backgrounds to see a different side of the force.
He said: “It’s great the police get involved as well because the only time some of the children see the police is when their parents are being arrested and things like that. But on this day, when they’re letting them sit on the motorbikes, the kids love it and they see another side of Merseyside Police.”
In addition to the annual trips to Southport, taxi drivers from the outing fund take part in charity golf matches and stage various shows for the children at the OSC club.
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