The Newsletter of Chelmsford Advanced Motorists
What’s that smell? www.iamchelmsford.org.uk Issue 111 April and May 2015 IAM Group 7223 Registered Charity No 1059372
Congratulations Here are some of our successful members receiving their certificate from our Chairman Scott Bannister I'd decided that my wife was right - I wasn't the best driver in the world, and that I would finally do something about getting advanced driving lessons. I wish I'd done it years ago. Not only was it much cheaper than I expected - and certainly far less expensive than getting to the required standard for the last driving test I'd taken, 25 years ago - it was hugely enjoyable and of course educational, and I can't thank my Observer, Gaynor, enough, for her time and advice. I've always been keen to spend time behind the wheel, but extended periods left me feeling tense and drained. Now I arrive relaxed and ready for anything. Tony Foster
"I thoroughly enjoyed my observed drives with Terry Joyce and would like to say thank you for his encouragement and guidance in helping me to pass my test." Neil Howard
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Forthcoming Group Meetings These are usually held on the 2nd Monday of each month at the Essex Police Sports and Social Club, Which is through the Police vehicle park at the very end of St. Margarets Road, Chelmsford. Group Meetings start promptly at 8pm, so please arrive at around 7.45pm.
http://goo.gl/maps/VrEwi
CM2 6DS
http://www.essexexplorer.co.uk/cam.kmz
Associates, Full Members & Guests Welcome Date
Topic
Speaker
Monday 11th May
Essex Crimestoppers Presentation
Stuart Walins
Monday 8th June
Hospital Radio Chelmsford
Graham Medhurst
Make a note in your diary and please be there! Disclaimer—Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this Newsletter are those of the individual writers and they do not necessarily reflect those of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, nor those of the Chelmsford and District Group of Advanced Motorists. Their accuracy has not been verified. Notice—Data Protection Act: records are held of members personal details submitted on their application form. The information will be used solely for the Group’s administration purposes and will not be passed to any third party.
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Welcome to our new Associate and Full Members. We look forward to seeing and talking to them at our monthly Group nights David Howard
Eastwood
James Howard
Rayleigh
Richard Rearman Doddinghurst
Larry Foley
Chelmsford
Penelope Bann
Little Braxted
Vici Royle
Chelmsford
Daniel Conway
Halstead
Jake Newman
South Woodham Ferrers
Mark Woolerton
Braintree
Alan Shaw
Witham
Justin Flindall
Terling
Graham Newman
South Woodham Ferrers
We are a friendly bunch, so don’t be worried about coming to our Group nights if you are on your own. Make yourself known to John who will greet you at the desk, he will find one of us to come and talk to you. John will also try to get you to part with some money for the raffle. There will be Senior Observers, Observers and generally an Examiner at the evening and you will be able to get answers to any questions that you have. Please come along, we’ll even give you tea or coffee and there is a bar - for light refreshments obviously! Terry Joyce
Electronic Newsletter It was agreed by the Committee that all new members would receive their copy of Forward Vision electronically. This is because the cost of printing it and postage is our group’s largest expense. Existing members will continue to receive a hard copy unless they wish to receive it electronically.
Please let me know if you change your email address . Page 4
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Roll of Honour Congratulations to these latest Members of our Group who have Passed
‘The Test’. Test No
Name
Test Date
Observer
1044
Norman Smith
14th February
Scott Bannister
1045
Ben Waterman
15th March
Clifford Murira
1046
Freddie Whitten
30th March
Scott Bannister
See page 2 & 23 for photos of our members receiving their certificates. To all those people who have passed their test: It would be appreciated if you could write a few words thanking your Observer and maybe something about the process and your test, to give those New Associates an insight into the process of learning Advanced Driving. Please remember: Do telephone both your Observer and Scott Bannister ( Associates Co-ordinator ) immediately after your test. Page 5
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From the Chairman Well, Spring has sprung and our thoughts turn to laying down stocks of suntan lotion for the coming heat-wave – or in my case, to batten down the hatches to avoid too much of that sun. Actually I quite like a bit of warmth – just not too much. Two things to report to you. Firstly, I am now the proud possessor of a dash-cam. The justification for buying this was that the resultant footage would be able to be used to fuel a discussion at a group night where myriad examples of good/bad behaviour on the road could be witnessed and commented upon by the assembled masses. As all the men out there will know, when it comes to buying new toys it is of critical importance that some vague kind of justification be put forward to account for why the purchase is practically vital to the survival of the human race. Well, it hasn’t gone well so far. Since fitting said camera I can report that absolutely nothing has happened in front of me worthy of the slightest note. The camera has created a bubble of goodness around the front of the car. There has been the occasional noteworthy situation happening behind but my camera doesn’t face that way so cannot send out its beams of ‘goodness’ in that direction. I don’t know whether to be pleased or not. I’ve obviously failed to get any viewing material but on the other hand I am safer !! Second thing to report is that the AGM is coming up at the July Group night. Now obviously you will all be marking the calendar and counting off the days till you can come along and take part in a fun-filled evening. But though the AGM on its own would be enough of a draw, we have sweetened the pot even more by securing the speaking services of the new Chief Executive of the IAM – Sarah Sillars. So come along and find out where the IAM is going. With a bit of luck it might even coincide with where our Group is going, but you never know…….and I promise the AGM bit won’t take any more than 10 minutes – 5 if I can manage it.
Scott Bannister
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~~~~~~~~ Editorial ~~~~~~~~ Hello, For information about the picture on the front cover see Page 12 &13. I was saddened to hear from Claire Lambert that her Father, Fred Lambert had died and then I read the rest of the letter that she sent on how advanced driving had made a difference to his and her lives. A heartwarming and pertinent story as we drive towards old age. You can read it on pages 14 & 15. There have been some interesting Test Passes recently. The first you can read about is on page 9. Pat Clements, one of our Observers took a new qualification brought in by the IAM for Observers.
Also on page 22 Norman Smith who took his Caravan Towing Test. Thank you to those of you that have contributed to this edition. Please keep the letters and articles coming.
There are the dates for next year on Page 16. Many Thanks to Sue Sweetland for her patient and educated assistance in producing this Newsletter.
Terry Joyce Please contact me by email at terry.joyce@iamchelmsford.org.uk
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Group contact information Our Group Enquiry number: - 07757 399897 Honorary Life Members
Mr Mike Corbett, Mr Glyn Jarrett, Mrs Ruth Jarrett, Mr Dave Travers, Mr Colin Snow.
Committee Chairman Associates Co-ordinator & Chief Observer Secretary
Scott Bannister
Treasurer
John Johnston
Membership Secretary
Ken Carrington
Website Editor
Jon Ward
Newsletter Editor
Terry Joyce
Events Organiser
Sally Langley
Publicity
John Stone
Group Contact
Susan Sweetland
Committee Member
Dr Clifford Murira
Committee Member
John Ockmore
Committee Member Committee Member
Ken Howard Malcolm Kentish
Committee Member
Selva Seeni
Committee Member
Anthony Shilson
Committee Member
Norman Smith
Observer Examiner
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01245 468912 scott.bannister@iamchelmsford.org.uk
Steve Wright
01268 785674 terry.joyce@iamchelmsford.org.uk
Gaynor Manthorpe
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National Observer Qualification On a very cold. frosty and snowing Saturday morning (7.45 am ) I made my way to the Police sports ground at Chigwell to meet 6 other IAM members who had applied to take the National Observer Qualification test. Three examiners arrived just before 9.00am and after introductions and a friendly chat I was allocated to go out with Trevor. The first part of the test was for Trevor to drive his own car and for me to observe him as you would do in a normal IAM run. He did a moving brake test and by the time we came to the end of the drive (200 yds.) I realized what an excellent driver he was. The drive lasted about 45 mins. with me discussing his "faults" and "mistakes" and commenting on them. Returning to the car park I de briefed on his drive and suggested that he was nearly test ready !! He then chatted about my observing. We then transferred to my car as he wanted a demo, drive. After the usual comments about what I would be doing I started with a moving brake test. I was asked to give a commentary for most of the drive. Again the drive lasted about 45 mins. Followed by a de brief on the return. During this chat he casually mentioned that I had passed, WOW! I can honestly say that I enjoyed the runs and learnt a lot from Trevor who was extremely pleasant and a fair examiner. Thank you Trevor. I learnt later that three of the seven members taking the test failed for various reasons. If any observer is thinking of taking the test and I could help please phone me. Two weeks after the test I received an e mail report of the runs. Several observers completed the senior test some years back so try this one. The IAM is trying to bring an overall standard of observing over the country Pat Clements
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A Bird’s Eye View Those of you who read this nonsense I write every couple of months will know that I don’t often have the opportunity to praise a company but this time I do. Hooray for Prudential! At around 12.15 on the morning of Sunday 8th March we were coming home from church and to cut a long story short, another driver pulled out of a junction on our left without looking properly. The Master Of The House was driving and just for a change, I wasn’t taking much notice of what was going on (I’m not the ideal passenger, I’m afraid) so the first I knew was seeing the M.O.T.H. steer hard right, and hearing the bang. The front bodywork of the other vehicle, a very old Berlingo, more or less exploded, leaving debris over a large area of road surface, so there had been a severe collision and it was fortunate that none of us was injured. Sir had managed to minimise the damage (well done him) to our car but both passenger doors were very deeply scratched, along with panels front and rear and the sill, and the lining of the front wheel arch came away. This is the moment, I can tell you, when you wonder what the car is worth and the dreaded word ‘write-off’ begins to haunt you! I spent 35 minutes talking to Pru on the phone the next day – no more claim forms or little drawings of the scene – and waited. By lunchtime there had been a call from the Repairers, almost apologising for not being able to pick up the car until Wednesday. When they took the Focus away, they left me a little black Ford KA to play with and ten days later on Friday 20th, the car was brought back, beautifully repaired and polished. So, let’s hear it for Prudential and Lookers at Colchester: Hip, Hip . . . . . . Happy Easter.
Susan Sweetland
Our Observers Ron Adams
Graham Lowe
Scott Bannister
Gaynor Manthorpe
Pat Clements
Dr Clifford Murira
Philip Cooper
John Ockmore
Paul Crosby
Graham Robson
Jamie Drummond
Roger Spall
Tony Hawes
Lawrence Tattersall
Helen Jeffries
John Tullett
Terry Joyce
Mark Warbey
Rob Laird
Brian Williams
George Locker
Rob Wise
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Young Driver Scheme Do you know of anyone who is not 17 years of age, but wants to learn how to drive? Chelmsford IAM group supports this road safety scheme to give people the opportunity to learn basic car control skills in Driving School Dual Controlled cars on private land before they go on the public Highway. Lessons, lasting for one hour, are run on the third Sunday of most months at Earls Colne (near Coggeshall). There is an initial Registration Fee of ÂŁ40 which covers registration and the first one hour lesson. Subsequent lessons cost ÂŁ25. Lessons must be booked in advance. The scheme is intended primarily for 16 year-olds but, if vacancies permit, places may be offered to 15 year-olds or even to older people who are nervous about
getting behind the wheel (again, or for the first time). Full details of the scheme, a letter from Essex Police and a map may be viewed, and the application Form can be downloaded, from www.youngdriverscheme.org Alternatively, forms may be obtained from the YDS Organiser. Nicola Hyland, 67 Main Road, St Lawrence Bay, Southminster, CM0 7NA Dedicated Mobile number 07847 645632 or yds@iamchelmsford.org.uk
Notification of Events There has been a lot of positive feedback from events organised by the Group. If you would like to be kept informed of any up and coming events please make sure that l have your current email address.
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Roadcraft Observation Links The next part of Chapter 4 covers is observation links. Roadcraft states that observation links are clues to physical features and likely behaviour of other road users. Aim to build up your own stock of observation links. These will help you to anticipate situations that might develop. As advanced drivers we need to build up a list of scenarios that could possibly happen. The question we should ask ourselves is ‘what if’…...? If we come up with lots of these scenarios we are pre-programming our brains so that if something happens, our brain will grab the right one and we will be able to predict or respond to whatever is happening much quicker. The picture on the front cover demonstrates an observation link or two. Firstly is the pile of Horse Pooh or Equine Defecation, try saying that in a commentary. This should conjure up a picture of a horse just around the left hand bend. So at this point we need to know what is behind us so that if we do come across that horse we can deal with it easier. If there is a vehicle behind you, depending on your speed it may be worth giving them information by using light braking to warn them you are slowing, so that if you do meet the horse or horses you have already started to prepare yourself and the vehicle behind. I mentioned smell on the front cover but it is unlikely that you would be able to smell the pile of pooh but if there is a stable in the vicinity you may get smells from their dung heap. And to seal the deal there is the Accompanied Horses warning sign. Usually there will be an entrance within 100 yards that horses may come out of. This picture has got some obvious clues for you, bins, recycling and dustbins. From this you should envisage that you could possibly meet a dustcart but the other thing that you could look at is that the recycling bins are upside down, so the it may be more likely that the dustcart will be ahead on your side of the road. You could also imagine that you could meet dustcarts on both sides of the road, unlikely but possible. In this picture you can see that the verges have been chewed up, probably by heavy vehicles. It is therefore possibly we are going to meet one as we go around that right hand bend. There are no white lines, so it is likely that the vehicle may be coming around the bend partly on our side of the road. Thinking about this will help you to assess the speed that you want to go into the corner at, so you will be prepared. Continued on Page 13
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Roadcraft/Observation Links continued
What is our observation link in this picture? I think that the white line finishing should flag a warning to you that the road is narrowing. You should be able to assess that by looking at the bend as you approach but the line or lack of line gives you plenty of warning. Like the last picture, you should expect any vehicles coming around the corner to be partly on our side of the road.
If you were driving towards this sign it would start to be readable from around 150 yards and at that distance when I ask an Associate to tell me what the sign is, 99% of them say roundabout. I have taken this close up to highlight the use of these signs as an observation link. Like most pictures it tells a story. Firstly you have a T junction before the roundabout. Then it shows each exit on the roundabout and gives an indication of the width of the road. For instance exit one is smaller than the other exits. Here is a picture of the sign and roundabout from the air. There are lots of other observation links. Here are a few of them. A river running beside the road, Expect Bridges over the river and sharp bends. A motorway off ramp. Expect an on ramp in approximately Âź mile.
A line of lamp posts in the distance or a group of dwellings. Expect a speed regulatory sign
From Roadcraft with comments by Terry Joyce
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A Driving Story Hello Terry. You mentioned in your booklet that you would like people that have just passed the test to say a few words about their experience and to thank their observers. I wonder if you would like something from an older member. My father was in his late seventies when he passed his advanced motoring test in 2001, this still taught him a lot and gave him confidence although he had been driving for many decades, his first car had a running board!. I’m the little one in the wellies and I’m 60 this year so it was a long time ago. He was still driving everyday until he became ill and died a month later at the age of 92. Getting out and about everyday kept him active, independent and interested in life and I believe the advanced motoring lessons gave him the knowledge and confidence to still do this safely at 92.
He not only found the driving lessons helpful but enjoyed them very much. Continued on Page 15
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Continued.
An unexpected bonus of this experience was his new respect for women, could a woman possible teach him something he did not already know?, he was a terrible male chauvinist, bless him, but this all changed when he was taught by Gaynor. So thank you Gaynor, as his daughter this also changed my relationship with my father. A small part of my job involved driving other people’s children around and I felt that I owed it to the children and their families to be the safest driver I could possibly be so I also took the lessons and passed the test. I was taught by Paul, a very pleasant young man who made the experience very enjoyable. Thank you Paul, from myself, and on behalf of all the children who got safely to their destinations.
Having high spirited children in the car can be very distracting when you are driving, and your first impulse is to drive slower than normal, one of the things I learnt was driving slowly is not the safest thing you can do as it causes other drivers to become frustrated and take silly risks to overtake you, causing accidents, so you should drive at the speed limit. I also think it is important to provide everything possible to entertain children, children’s songs and stories to listen to and comics, puzzle books and games for them to do during the journey, and this allows you to concentrate on driving. It sounds obvious but it was surprising to hear one of my male colleagues who always had the cricket on the car radio, complaining because he had to keep stopping because the children were playing up. Thanks Claire Lambert
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Dates for 2015 Monday 11th May
Essex Crimestoppers Presentation
Stuart Walins
Monday 8th June
Hospital Radio Chelmsford
Graham Medhurst
Monday 13th July
AGM/IAM Chief Executive
Sarah Sillars
Monday 10th August
Subject to be advised nearer the time.
Clifford Murira
Monday 14th September
Director of EMG Driver Training High Performance Course UK Ltd who is an Advanced Car Instructor & Trainer (Grade A), talks to us about his role.
Eunan MacGuinness
Monday 12th October
Collision investigation & the litigation process and Wills.
Tony Carter & Andy Grant
Monday 9th November
Liaison officer between the Department for Transport and the Association of Chief Police Officers
Jeremy Moore OBE
Monday 14th December
Annual Christmas buffet & quiz night
These speakers have all been booked by Sally Langley. If you know of someone you think the group might like to hear, then please contact Sally on 07905 445249 or email her at sally147@catlover.com.
Please add them to your diary
August 23rd - Driver Experience Day At Ford’s test track at Dunton (off the A127). Note it’s a test track, not a race track !! It’s about finding out how your car behaves when you push it slightly outside it’s normal boundaries in a completely safe environment. We do braking and steering exercises. Yes, I know that doesn’t sound very exciting but, as mentioned above, a smile is guaranteed. It’s an interesting track to drive round. Cost for this one is a minimum £15 – all of which goes to Essex Air Ambulance. Ford’s give us the use of the track for free and observers’ time is free so really it costs nothing…..but we might as well take the opportunity to make you make a charitable gesture !! The main IAM run track days along similar lines – they will cost you around £125, so ours is a bargain. Scott
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The Chelmsford & District Group of Advanced Motorists Annual General Meeting – Monday 13 July 2015. The Group’s Annual General Meeting is scheduled to be held at the Essex Police Sports & Social Club on 13th July 2015. The business will commence at 8pm and is expected to last for about 30 minutes. Agenda 1. Apologies for absence. 2. Minutes of the last meeting (AGM on 14 July 2014). 3. Matters arising from the Minutes. 4. Reports from the Chairman, Secretary, Membership Secretary and Treasurer. 5. Adoption of the Accounts. 6. Election of the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Committee members. Any Other Business.
Election of Group Officers & Committee Members Under rule 3.3.4 the following Group Officers retire:Scott Bannister – Chairman Steve Wright– Group Secretary John Johnston – Treasurer Scott Bannister is NOT standing for re election either as Chairman or for the committee. Steve Wright is NOT standing for re election & John Johnston offers himself for re-election. Nominations for the positions of Chairman, Group Secretary and Treasurer are invited. Also under Rule 3.3.4 the following Committee Members retires by rotation and offer themselves for re-election:- Clifford Murira and Jon Ward. (Committee nomination form See Page 18)
Nominations are invited from Full Members to stand for the Committee. The Nominee must be willing to stand for the Committee and sign the Nomination form. By signing the Nomination form, the Nominee is affirming his / her ability and intention, if elected, to attend Committee meetings regularly. All officers and one third of all other Committee Members must retire annually by rotation and may offer themselves for re-election by Group Full Members (Rule3.3). Please note: Those elected become Charity Trustees of the Group. You must not stand for Committee if the law debars you from being a Charity Trustee.
Only fully paid-up members of the Institute of Advanced Motorists and of the Group may nominate Committee Members or be nominated as Committee Members. The nomination form must be returned to the Group Secretary (Steve Wright, 15 Elm Walk, Rayne, Braintree, Essex CM77 6ES) no later than 20 June 2013. Note: The number of Committee members including the officers must not exceed twenty.
PLEASE consider standing for the committee, we only meet 6 times a year. Steve Wright Group Secretary
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Chelmsford & District Group of Advanced Motorists Minutes of the Annual General Meeting 2014 held on 14 July At the Essex Police Sports & Social Club, Chelmsford, Essex The meeting commenced at 19:45. Welcome The meeting was opened and attendees were welcomed. Apologies for absence - There were no apologies Adoption of the Minutes. Minutes of the previous AGM were accepted as a true record. Matters Arising There were no matters arising from the Minutes. Reports from the Chairman, Secretary, Membership Secretary & Treasurer These were previously circulated and were accepted. Accounts These were previously circulated. Acceptance of the accounts were proposed by Clifford Murira and seconded by Ken Howard. This was carried unanimously
A question was received from the floor querying the rationale of charging an entrance fee on group nights. The Chairman explained it was to sustain group funds and to compensate for not increasing the yearly fee (which is difficult with standing orders) The members were asked if they had any ideas what we could spend funds on. The floor required clarification as to why it has to be road safety related. It was explained this was in the memorandum and articles of the group.
It was suggested that advertising/publicity spend is increased. It was explained that this has been trialled with little success.. Election of Officers All officers were re-elected en bloc. Colin Snow proposed and Pat Clements seconded. The vote was unanimous. The members were invited to join the Committee, Selva Seenivasagam, Malcolm Kentish, and Anthony Stilson agreed to stand. Don Abernathy proposed the nominations and John Ockmore seconded. The vote was unanimous. Any Other Business There were no further questions and the AGM concluded at 9.07pm Name
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Position
Nominated by
Seconded by
Chelmsford Advanced Motorists
Signature of Nominee
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Chelmsford Advanced Motorists Library List DVDs Drive Smarter, Essential know-how for your driving career (2 copies) By Gem Motoring Assist Roadcraft, The Police Driver’s Course on Advanced Driving By The Police Foundation
PC CD-ROMs The Interactive Highway Code HMSO/ Interactive Driving Systems Hazard Perception Test
HMSO/Oasis
BOOKS Roadcraft Human Aspects of Police Driving The Tyre Digest (2 copies)
TSO Scottish Police College Michelin
Driving Abroad
Robert Davies
The Official Highway Code Rev. 2007 Edition
HMSO
The Official Guide to Accompanying L-Drivers
DSA
Sideways to Victory
Roger Clark
The Myway Code
Ian Vince/Dan Kieran
Paul Ripley’s Expert Driving
Daily Telegraph
The Inner Game of Tennis
W Timothy Gallwey
Mind Driving
Stephen Haley
Older Drivers – Safe or Unsafe? Traffic– Why we drive the way we do Boreham, A History of the Racing Circuit
IAM Tom Vanderbilt Bryan Jones & John Frankland
CDs Awake, Driver Reviver
THINK
Advanced Road Craft
Bespoke Driving Training
The Driving Test – Your Licence to Drive
IAM/Safety on the Move
If you have any books etc from the Library can you please contact Scott Bannister
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Letters & emails On all matters relating to motoring and the Chelmsford Group, this newsletter or your experiences in preparing for or taking your test are most welcome. Hello, “I would like to thank Clifford for all his patience, guidance and time. I really enjoyed our drives, particularly getting the bends just so. The test was stress free but trying to maintain 100% concentration did tax the grey matter (and my vocal chords – commentary) somewhat. I’m glad to say that thanks to Clifford I passed.” Regards Ben Waterman ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My IAM experience so far, Was to improve the driving of my car. My Wife was the one to give me a push, Something to do with parking in a bush. I need not have worried, The instruction was never hurried. "We'll take it at your pace", "For God's sake it's not a race !" Encouraging comments from Graham Lowe, "Drive to the limit point & not too slow". He had the patience of a saint, Lesser mortals could be seen to faint. There followed much gentle schooling, No time for idle banter nor for fooling. Serious stuff this driving lark, Roadcraft, IPSGA & how to park. A mock exam was soon arranged, I met a Scotsman, slightly deranged. He seemed happy enough so onto the test, I knew I'd have to do my best. Ninety minutes soon whizzed past, My commentary did just last. The examiner said "Congratulations. Well done.", It's given me back my driving fun. Alan Hatch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Letters & emails
continued
I've always enjoyed driving and considered myself to be a good driver. Taking the Advanced Driving Test was something I'd always wanted to do, but just never got round to doing. When Scott came to Waitrose representing IAM, I thought if I'm ever going to do it now is the time. I enjoyed every minute of my drives with John and feel a lot better driver than I was. Working for John Lewis, I got a discount to take the course and have claimed half the cost back through my John Lewis leisure learning benefit. I have also changed my car insurance to the IAM policy and claimed my free years RAC membership too. So already by taking the lessons and passing the test I have made a profit. I will also get discounted car insurance and RAC membership in the future too. I look forward to taking part in more IAM events and attending our meetings at the Essex Police HQ in Chelmsford. I'd definitely recommend anyone who already enjoys driving and would like to take their driving skills to the next level to do the IAM course and become an Advanced Driver. Charles Proctor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Other Events Hi there, Just to let you know – we have a busy Spring lined up so if you fancy any of the undermentioned, just let me know and I’ll put your name on the list. April 25th – Skid Pan – learn how to cause a skid and then how to correct it. Training is by ex-Essex police skid trainers and is done in their cars so no need to worry about bending your own. I know Winter is on its way out and the risk of skidding is much less but the lessons learned tend to stick with you. It’s about sensitising you to what a skid feels like and gives you a fighting chance of doing something about it as opposed to freezing with shock as many do. Cost of this one £45. Driver Experience Day May 24th - FULL . June 20th – 4x4 off-road course – I can’t pretend this one is terribly educational. If you find yourself off road then probably something pretty bad has happened and the ability to continue to drive in the countryside is probably not your main priority!! All I can say is, I’ve done it three times myself – have really enjoyed it. Find out how to have fun in a car at 2 mph – again, their cars, not yours. Can get a bit muddy, so old clothes required. Cost of this one £50. Just for your info, I’m also thinking of organising a skid-pan part 2 course and a 4x4 part 2 course for people who have already done the ‘normal’ one. If that might interest you, once again let me know. Scott
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It’s a F1rst But is it a Last Hi All,
I thought I would put pen to paper and tell you all about the journey, of my Caravan towing test. It all started one February afternoon in 2014, I got a phone call from IAM HQ about my membership renewal. I wasn’t sure I wanted to renew it, I was asked if there was anything I wanted to do that would make me change my mind. I said I wanted to do the Caravan towing test, Ok the lady on the end of the phone said I will sort that for you! STEP UP Scott Banister. Scott phoned to do the arrangements to meet at my home address, to go for a drive. The day arrived and I must say we got off to a fine start , twelve fine ladies in Burlesque outfits came out of my house, my wife included. Scott couldn’t believe his eyes. The drive went well except for the “bloody Caravan” his words not mine. Well several drives later and a lot of fun up steps my Examiner Scott Tulip. Just before Christmas 2014 we made arrangements to speak in early January, the problem being I couldn’t get the caravan out during the week only weekends. January 10th came and so did a phone call from Mr Tulip to say he was transferring to the North East and couldn’t take me for my test. Back in box 1 until early February, then I got a call from Derek Wheddon and made arrangement for 14th February, Yes Valentines Day, “how romantic”. At 9.15am, the car and caravan were ready to go and Derek arrived, asked me some questions and off we went. The result we all know was a pass with a first. I would have taken some stick if the result had been any different, from my fellow caravaners as I am well known for my towing and reversing ability. So I breath a sigh of relief at the result.
Firstly I would like to thank Scott Bannister, my Observer, Pat Clements, for her words of support and Derek Wheddon for passing me. If anyone is interested in towing any kind of trailer and wants any tips or tuition, you can always talk to me at group night, or e-mail me at towingandfroing@hotmail.co.uk. tel: 07768172739. Norman Smith
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Congratulations Here are some of our successful members receiving their certificate from our Chairman Scott Bannister Here is Pat Clements receiving her National Observer Qualification from Scott.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I would like to thank Scott Bannister, my Observer, Pat Clements, for her words of support and Derek Wheddon for passing me. Norman Smith
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