At HC-One’s Admirals Reach Care Home in Chelmsford, Essex, the home has been celebrating some of the inspirational women who live in its home this International Women’s Day on Friday 8th March 2024.
This includes resident Mandy Lodge aged 57 years old, who has lived at the home since October 2017. Mandy was the first female taxi driver at Brentwood station in February 1992, who started to work from a taxi rank before branching out to start her own company with her husband.
Mandy did her taxi driving test in February 1992 and was asked questions to test her knowledge of the local area. Mandy was successful in passing her test first time which was a rare occurrence at the time.
She started her own taxi company called Lodge Taxis with her husband at the age of 25 years old. Mandy’s husband, Kevin Lodge, had previously worked with his dad in his taxi company but took the leap to launch their own taxi company together in 1992.
Mandy and her husband spent months learning the different roads, places of interest, pubs, churches and airports of the Brentwood Borough area and the surrounding areas.
Mandy’s husband specialised in the chauffeur business, driving people to different destinations. Mandy and her husband promoted their business through advertising in local papers and handing out business cards to local companies as well as advertising on their vehicles. Mandy was always keeping an eye on what competitors were charging and ensuring their prices were the best and most competitive to attract more clientele and business. Both Mandy and her husband got to travel all over the country through this line of work and Mandy even got to go to Cilla Black’s house to deliver a package for her. Whilst Mandy recalls not getting the opportunity to speak to Cilla, she remembers receiving a generous top from her son who answered the door on her behalf and seeing Cilla curled up on the sofa watching TV.
Mandy Lodge, resident at Admirals Reach Care Home said:
“I really enjoyed starting my own taxi company with my husband. I am proud to have been the first female taxi driver at Brentwood station. My career has allowed me to travel all over the country and meet all kinds of people.
“For any woman thinking about starting their own business, my advice would be to go for it! You have to be determined, hardworking, do your research on your competitors, and invest in promoting and advertising your business to succeed.”