Interview with Brooke McCreaner (WEST SIDE)

Brooke McCreaner (42)

London Black Cab Driver, London

The ultimate Londoner, Brooke grew up in the East End and now drives its streets as an iconic ‘London Cabbie’. Since every official London black cab driver has to pass ‘The Knowledge’ - memorising over 25,000 streets - Brooke hopes her ability to quickly get her bearings in a new town will be useful. She loves chatting to everyone who gets in her cab, and meeting people from all walks of life. However, she’s used to being her own boss and working alone, so will stand her ground and not go with the crowd.

What made you want to take part in the Apocalypse?

I like to push myself and I like to go out of the kind of norm. And I just felt like for me it was something that I wanted to experience and challenge myself. And, it was the social side for me, as a black cab driver, I work by myself, passengers get in and go so I wanted to see if I could be part of a team.

So what skills were you most confident would help the group?

I really love cooking. I was brought up where we didn't really have much money, so my mum would make something out of nothing. I really would have liked to have been able to bring that to the table. I also feel like I'm a sociable person; I love connecting with people, it's my job, I'm chatty. I like to say I'm a people person. So, I thought I'd be able to bring that to the group.

What was the biggest challenge you faced in there?

The loneliness, and not feeling connected, and feeling like I wasn't a part of it. I didn't know my place. 

What was your first reaction when you arrived in the town?

Wow, this is really happening. It was just so real that once you're in it, you're like, I'm actually in it. It's a social experiment, but it felt so real. You just lose yourself in it and think, I've just got to survive. No outside world, no contact with the outside world. It's an experience I'll never get again, well, I'd like to, but you never know. Let's just hope it doesn't really happen.

Did it shock you to discover there was another group there?

Yes. I was nervous, thinking, oh my God, what is going to happen now, how is this going to unfold? I didn't want the drama, but it was hard because everyone's rationing, so it's survival of the fittest, if you like. It was a bit worrying.

Were there any funny moments that happened?

Finding the chickens was a highlight. They were like my little mates. It was weird living with them, and I swore I was never going to eat chicken again and I've eaten chicken again since. It's so weird. But it was almost like I wanted them to become part of a community, part of a family. They were living with us, like our babies.

What did you learn about yourself? 

I learned that I can advocate for myself while still taking a moment to process how I feel. I can be emotional and still stand up for myself, but I’ve learned that taking a beat can help me respond in a way that feels more considered and true to who I am. But it's so difficult when you're in that environment to rationalise what's going on. For me, I realised that what's really important is community and how important that is to me, and how much I need to be around people I really connect with. And I know how to brush my teeth with coal. It was an experience, but when you haven't got toothpaste, you're grateful for the coal, for sure. Even with the water, when you're boiling it and it's not clean, it's mucky, but you're like, I don't care. So, in a way, surviving on the most minimal thing is so possible.

Has the experience changed how you think about contemporary life and the things we take for granted?

Definitely. It changes you; it really does. I realised I can overindulge and it's just not necessary as we can survive on such little. And with social media, when you don't have that, it makes you realise you don't need it and you can do so much to entertain yourself instead.