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A fond fare-well!
MILLIONS of people around the world dream of doing this to their office.
With a lump in his throat the owner of a famous Fylde taxi company tore down his firm's home of 30 years.
Whiteside's taxis have ferried people around the Fylde Coast from their depot on St Andrew's Road North for three decades, but the owners decided the current cabin could no longer handle the expanding business.
So gone is the draughty old wooden cabin and in its place is a state-of-the-art new 250,000 office block on the same site.
Owner John Whiteside seemed to be having the time of his life as the diggers claws tore into the roof of the building where he has spent so much time.
He said: "There was a tear in my eye as I began to flatten the old cabin, but they were tears of happiness tinged with sadness.
"We were too poor for Tonka toys when I was a child so as I got older I thought I'd buy myself one to have a little bit of fun with!
"I've been looking forward to this day for months and It's been great fun getting stuck into the old cabin and pulling it down."
Mr Whiteside's son Daniel has grown up with the family business running from the instantly recognisable white cabin and said the building would be missed as part of the family's heritage.
As the bulldozer moved in, down came a piece of heritage famous throughout the area.
Whiteside's have run taxis from St Annes and around the Fylde since 1880 and the cabin is synonymous with taxis for a large number of residents in the seaside resort.
Daniel said: "Mr great grandfather Thomas Whiteside began the business when he won a horse harness at a raffle. He borrowed a horse and cart and started a haulage company which has become the biggest taxi firm in the Fylde.
"Two years ago we began work on a new state-of-the-art office which has now been completed and I hope that our new premises stand us in good stead for many more generations.
"I'll miss the old office in a way, but the new premises are much better for staff and customers.
"My dad loves getting in the digger and when it came to tearing down the old office he wasn't going to let anyone else do it. He loves it."
The company's own building team constructed their new headquarters in Station Yard.
The office includes a waiting room where customers can wait for cabs in a warm and dry environment.
New staff offices which contain modern radio equipment and a drivers room will include a pool table and fruit machine are also inside.
paul.fielding@blackpoolgazette.co.uk
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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