Posted on the 16th February 2026 in PHTM News
FREENOW BY LYFT RECOGNISES OUTSTANDING BLACK CAB DRIVERS AT DRIVER RECOGNITION EVENT
The event recognises drivers across three categories:
Driver of the Year:
This award recognises black cab drivers with the highest trip volumes, exceptional customer satisfaction, and consistent performance.
Seven drivers were named Driver of the Year 2025:
• Chris Jones • David Arthur Porter • Andrew Keen • James Kevan Jones • Antony Hizer • Faisal Dahir • Koray Hassan
Legacy Driver:
The Legacy Driver award recognises black cab drivers who have been driving with Freenow by Lyft for the longest period of time, celebrating loyalty, experience, and long-term contribution to the trade.
Five drivers were named Legacy Driver 2025:
• Neil Chadwick • Jim Parlour • Mark Andrews • Jason Todd • Perry Richardson • Matthew Emmerson.
Driver’s Driver:
The Driver’s Driver award celebrates black cab drivers who have made outstanding contributions to the wider community and the taxi trade, as nominated by fellow drivers.
The three Driver’s Driver winners are:
• Female Driver’s Driver - Penesta Shanaj
Penesta has been a taxi driver for 11 years. Married with three children, she is a strong advocate for the taxi trade and is passionate about encouraging and supporting more women to become black cab drivers.
• Taxi Community Driver’s Driver - James Kent
James, 74 years old, has been a black cab driver for over 50 years and has worked with Freenow by Lyft since its earliest days. Now 74, he is a committed campaigner on health issues affecting taxi drivers, particularly prostate health, and actively encourages drivers to attend regular health checks. He also campaigns for better access to toilet facilities for drivers, as well as more flexible stopping arrangements to allow short breaks when needed.
• EV Champion Driver’s Driver - Ahmad Faghiri
Ahmad, 51 years old, is married with five children and works across Kingston and Chiswick. An enthusiastic electric vehicle advocate, he champions the move from diesel to EVs within the taxi trade, highlighting their environmental benefits, comfort for passengers, and reliability and efficiency for drivers.
The event brought together drivers from across the capital to celebrate the vital role black cab drivers play in their communities, helping keep London moving and its nightlife thriving.
Danny O’Gorman, General Manager at Freenow by Lyft, said:
“Black cab drivers do far more than get people from A to B. They’re a constant presence in their communities and often go above and beyond what’s expected of them. We’re incredibly proud of the drivers being recognised, and events like this are an important way to shine a light on the wider role they play.”
Antony Hizer, one of the Driver’s of the year comments:
“I love what I do as a black cab driver. It’s a job that keeps you on your toes, gives you the chance to meet people and be part of the community. Being recognised for that is really rewarding and it’s a great feeling to know the work we do everyday matters.”
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