After a ride went viral, a London cabbie offers some life lessons for the road
By Jaclyn Diaz
Michael Son sits behind the wheel in his London cab, a job he's had since 1965. Dan Barker hide caption
toggle caption Dan BarkerMichael Son sits behind the wheel in his London cab, a job he's had since 1965.
Dan BarkerAfter almost six decades on the road in one of London's famous black cabs, this driver provides some priceless life lessons.
Who is he? Michael Son, 80, lives in Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex, England, and has driven one of London's ubiquitous black cabs since 1965.
- His encounter with passenger Dan Barker recently led to minor internet virality. The attention from this ride led the public to discover just some of the remarkable things Son has experienced in his years on the road.
- In Barker's memory, Son said it was his last-ever ride as a cab driver and it was tradition that drivers give their first and last ride for free, so he wasn't going to be charged.
- In Son's recollection, he had made a wrong turn and offered to give the ride for free. Barker said he was touched, regardless. Before getting out, he grabbed a photo of Son and , formerly known as Twitter.
- Son has mostly retired, for the record, and did say it's a 300-some-year-old tradition for cab drivers to give their first ever ride for free, at least.
What's the big deal?
- Barker's post received more than 3.4 million views, according to X. Though their versions of the interaction differ, both men were wholly unbothered by it and marveled at how a simple, nice interaction took off.
- What's even more odd, though, is that when Barker posted this, a person responded and suggested that he donate to a cab charity. When Barker clicked on one called the , Son was in one of the photos on the website, standing next to the U.K.'s Queen Camilla.
- "It's such an odd coincidence to get into somebody's cab in the first place, when they tell you that this is probably going to be their last-ever ride, let alone to then suddenly Google a charity and have them appear on your computer screen," Barker told NPR.
- Son has been involved in the London Taxi Drivers' Charity for Children since the 1980s. The group brings special-needs and disadvantaged children to events like circuses and parades, and raises money to buy medical equipment. Son has served as the group's honorary chairman and as a member of the board.
Queen Camilla steps out of a London taxi as she arrives to visit Barnardo's Nursery in November, 2022. Arthur Edwards/POOL/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption Arthur Edwards/POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesQueen Camilla steps out of a London taxi as she arrives to visit Barnardo's Nursery in November, 2022.
Arthur Edwards/POOL/AFP via Getty Images- The work with his charity has led Son to rub shoulders with the British royal family on several occasions. Queen Camilla is one of the organization's patrons. For his decades of work with the charity, Son received thein 2019.
- Becoming a London cabbie is no small feat. To be certified, Son had to pass a test called referring to a driver's familiarity with London's streets and buildings. When he started training to be a cab driver, London was much smaller. Even back then it was incredibly difficult and took months, Son told NPR. "Now it's just grown exponentially and to try and learn it must be awful," he said.
You never know who you will meet in a London cab. Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty ImagesYou never know who you will meet in a London cab.
Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty ImagesSo what now?
- Son said he will continue working with his charity even as his cab driving career nears an end.
