Our instructors are specialists in helping you overcome your anxieties, offering patient, friendly tuition and guidance – helping you through your test at your own pace.
The First Driving Lesson!!!!!! By Graham Kent (owner of Anderby)
OK, so you've finally plucked up enough courage to start driving lessons - I remember what it was like - a mixture of being absolutely terrified, sheer blind panic and tremendous excitement (the same feelings as waiting for a ride on a big roller-coaster-only much worse).
The time came and I was waiting nervously at the window, clutching my licence and £2.50 (now I'm showing my age) - conjuring up different excuses that I could use to get out of it - I hope he doesn't ask me to drive off straight away onto the main road! I hope the neighbours aren't watching! Ok earth, you can now swallow me up - pleeeease!!
It was 31 years ago and I still remember it to this day. This machine had lots of controls that I had to co-ordinate - Having two left feet when it comes to dancing how on earth can I hope to drive this thing - I hope he doesn't shout at me!
Graham at 19 (Tank top and flairs)
A red car pulled up - it had L plates on - the moment of truth - he hasn't seen me - I'll pretend I'm not in - damn - he saw the curtains move - he's coming over - No! - I'll say I've got diarrhoea, or something! He comes to the door - I open it - my mouth moves but words desert me - he takes my licence - I can't speak - we're walking to the car - the L plates are for me - help! By now, my whole body is shaking uncontrollably, I need the loo - yes, I know I've been five times in the last twenty minutes but I need to curl up somewhere in a locked room on my own - away from this madman! Still can't speak.
'Sit in the passenger seat please' - relief! I'm not driving - perhaps I won't drive at all - perhaps he'll just talk - 'now just watch what I'm doing - you'll soon get the hang of it' - you must be joking mate - I've been scrutinising my dad for the last 5 years - still didn't have a clue what was going on - except he did let me have a go at the handbrake until I screwed that up one day waiting in a traffic queue - I couldn't get it off - dad shouted something - hands collided & fumbled - my thumb got crushed in his vain attempt to press the handbrake button through it. Gosh it hurt. No more practising.
The car behind nearly crashed into us and sounded his horn - and that was the end of that! The rest of the journey you could hear a pin.........
We go out to a long road that heads to the country - he pulls up - another moment of truth - we swop places - boy, this is a big car (not really - just a small Mazda) but it takes a long time to walk around it - actually not long enough - he's waiting by the door - blocking my escape route - he even closes the door behind me - oh my god!!! A steering wheel!!! And other things!!! help!!!
I hope I don't crash - I hope some of my friends see me driving - oh, I don't know!
............just over an hour later - WOW! Brilliant! Amazing! Fantastic! WOW again! I made the car pull off and stop all on my own and got up to 40mph and my driving instructor just watched me. He's a saint! He's a star! I cannot believe it! I want to marry him! I'm a driver! I'm great! I did it! I want my next lesson now! I'm going to tell the whole world when it is so that they can all watch me drive my car - yes, it's my car for that hour - no-one else's and I'm driving it - on my own - yeah baby!!!!!!!!
Now, just imagine all of that and then change the instructor to a nasty one (they are around) - he raises his voice at you - not much but enough - he's sarcastic - he makes you feel tiny - you're trying your best but hey - it's nowhere near good enough!!!. Not good - not good at all!
So, how can you be sure of getting a good driving instructor? And avoid the nasty ones that need to be avoided - Well - don't just go on how many years they've been doing it - the really new instructors can be very enthusiastic and can be much more patient than someone who's been doing it for twenty or thirty years and seen the same old mistakes time and time again!
They've also been taught modern teaching techniques. Ask around - recommendations are the best way of sussing out your future mentor.
Avoid giving them lots of money either (some schools ask for hundreds of pounds before you even take a lesson) - what if you don't like them or, for whatever reason, you cannot take the lessons - try getting your money back!!!
Use a reputable company - is the owner accessible? Can you speak to him or her?
Does the instructor answer the mobile phone during your lessons? What if they're late? Does their lateness eat into your time and your money? Will they do their shopping in your time?
Do you take the last pupil home? Many schools do this - it's so that the instructor keeps earning money - But not very good for you.
I will always remember how I felt on that first lesson and all our instructors are aware of those first time nerves (remember that they had to learn too). I have witnessed, by sitting in the back, hundreds of driving tests and it's great to still see pupils pass and experience one of the best days of their lives. I'm very lucky to be able to pass on my knowledge to the new instructors and see them teach fun, enjoyable and professional lessons and see their pupils pass their tests and change their lives.
I hope you find a good instructor - if you're not enjoying your lessons then do change - it'll be worth it.
