Name: -                 Nik Hookey

I passed my Learner test when I was 17, about twenty years ago. I had been taught by my mum, who had passed her IAM test many years before. I had always intended to go further, and take the Advanced Test offered by IAM, but had never actively gone looking for it.

I’m a minister of Newcastle Baptist church, and in April 2009 it was my privilege to officiate at Peter and Karen Lowe’s wedding service. When I discovered that they were both IAM observers I rashly mentioned that I had always wanted to do the Advanced course!

A few weeks later and Peter was at my door with the application form ready for me to send off! I have hugely enjoyed my observed drives, although found some a bit frustrating (only because of my driving!) I love driving, and it gave me an hour or two each week to concentrate on improving the art of driving well.

It was brilliant when I took my test – the examiner was very friendly but business like, and when he debriefed me at the end I thought I must have failed, before he told me that I had passed!

I would highly recommend the Skill for Life programme to anyone, whether they drive for work or pleasure. It has made me think a lot more about my own driving, and it is just possible that my wife would agree that I am now a better driver than I was before!