Driving the cab

Roger Loosley | Features | Work in Progress

Date posted: 1 Jan 2015

Subject: Nik Yianni is a London Black Cab driver.
Age range: 40-50 years. He is married to Lola and they live in Guildford.
Interests: motor sport; formerly had a licence to drive Go-Karts.

RL: Nik, please tell us how and when you became a Christian.
Nik: Lola and I were living in France and our nephew, who was working for St Helen’s Bishopsgate, used to visit us and would bring us some Christian books, which were thrown in a corner! I wasn’t really interested.

One night Lola couldn’t sleep and read one of these and checked what it said with the Bible. This spoke to her. I thought that I should read the Bible and started with Matthew’s Gospel. I had never read this before and was ‘blown away’. I realised that the Lord Jesus Christ was God. This was about five and a half years ago and, following our conversion, we moved back to the UK.

RL: Tells us about your job.
Nik: I’ve been driving London cabs for 18 years – I passed the knowledge on 6 June 1996. I enjoy driving. My hobby is my work, but it is not completely satisfying, although it does give me opportunities for evangelism – the passenger in the back can’t get out! I’m self-employed and so, although I belong to a trade association, I don’t have much to do with other drivers. Before I became a cab driver, I had trained as a gem setter.

RL: What is hard about being a Christian and a cab driver?
Nik: Driving in London is very pressurised. There are conflicting road users, buses, cyclists, pedestrians, HGVs. People get angry, shout, gesticulate and sometimes bang on the cab. It is hard not to retaliate or be drawn into an argument. I have learnt to treat these incidents as ‘a moment in time’ and not worry about them but move on.

RL: Is there any conﬂict between your work and home and church life?
Nik: As I am self-employed my fares are my earnings. At certain times of year there are quiet periods, although these are becoming less predictable. If it is quiet it is tempting to work longer hours. If it has been quiet and then gets busier it is also tempting to work longer hours to make up for the quiet period! If I work longer I get home later and am tired, both of which impact on my home life. I have learnt to be content with what I earn and not to work excessive hours. As I am always home late it is difficult to be involved in church activities during the week.

RL: Do you see any areas where you are in danger of being sucked into the lifestyle of those who aren’t Christians?
Nik: Yes, there is the danger of working longer hours to make more money at the expense of the quality of our home life. Also, I see the anger and hatred of people who are pressured and short tempered. It is tempting to respond in a similar manner. I see a complete contrast between the conduct of some road users and the way my fellow Christians behave.

RL: Do you have any ambitions regarding your job?
Nik: No. I am content with what I am doing.