A special welcome to to Craig Lyon, Alex Herrmann and Charlie Plant who have joined the Group and will join our Spring course.

With better weather on its way and the Group busy with both Associate and Observer training I’m feeling even more certain that the Group has put the dreaded Covid years behind it. Thank you to the current Associates who have shown excellent commitment to their advanced driver training.

We  strive for high driving standards for our Associates but also high driving and observing standards for our Observers. You will  know  there are two Institute of the Motor Industry qualifications for Observers - the Local and National Observer qualifications. The same standard for both but the former via a Group assessment and the latter by assessment by an IAM Examiner. Recently, the IAM has given notice that they are going to phase out the Local Observer qualification so that means some of our Observers need to take the National Observer (NO) assessment. I’m delighted to inform you that Observers Garry Maddocks, Andrew Farrimond and Mark Hemans have recently passed the NO assessment. Well done to you all.

A reminder that Group annual subscriptions are due. Please support the Group by paying annual subs. As we all know costs are rising and for the Group that means higher costs for room hire, insurance and general admin expenses e.g. stamps and envelopes for the newsletters. If you receive a paper copy of the newsletter but now have an email address please consider getting your newsletter by  email. Donations to the Group of any amount are always welcome and much appreciated. Lets remember why we do what we do. .. to do our bit to improve driving standards and reduce death and injury on our roads.

Well, that’s it from me. Safe driving and good observing.

Mark Farnworth
Group Chairman