A quick first post 'Hello'
I've been 'lurking' for a few days and thought that it might be rude just to 'jump on in' so a bit about me first
I'm a 30 something dad of two. I began my driving career at the age of about 10 (as soon as I could reach the pedals!), driving cars off-road under the close supervision of my old man (who was then a serving DS in Bath CID).
I took the standard test only 4 weeks after my 17th birthday - failed of course - I was too cocky and didn't have enough experience.
After I did pass I was fine in town but like so many youngsters I thought I was James Hunt out on the open road and, yes, as it always does, it caught up with me eventually when I lost it big time on a twisty unclassified road and rolled my beloved Escort RS1600i off a tightening right hander into a field.
Rather than blame the 'slippery road conditions'
I thought it was about time I really learnt how to drive so I joined the IAM and under the stewardship of my then local group East Somerset I did the test with the infamous Andy Poulton out of Keynsham near Bristol.
Andy suggested my driving was good enough to take it further and I later joined both East Somerset and Bath group as an Observer leading to me doing the Senior Observers Course with Andy and Paul Hodge at the old Police Driving School in Bath in 1994.
A few years of very enjoyable observing followed, I observed about 20 associates, I great mix. It did begin to take up too much of my time however and in 1997 when our first daughter was born I agreed to give it a break, promising to come back to it..
..so, 10 years later, I'm back!
I'm currently doing the Bath Group Observers course as a refresher, we're currently three weeks in to the Monday night classroom sessions. Although I'm a bit rusty on some of the theory, I'm pleased to say it's amazing how much I retained.
Anyhow, enough about me. Thanks to you, the Admins especially, for providing somewhere for us to 'chat' - I look forward to joining in!
Andy
