Mike started his driving school in Ditchingham in May 1984. Since that time he has sat beside thousands of people of all ages and taught them to drive. The motto from day one was always to teach drivers to drive and not just pass a driving test. He has always found it to be a very rewarding job and watching people succeed in starting from scratch who may have never been behind the wheel before and go on to passing the test first time and in doing so opens a whole new world for them.

Mike has seen many changes in 25 years, to name just a few the introduction of the theory test and hazard perception test for new drivers, the reverse parking exercise, more open road driving 60 and 70mph areas, the much needed tighter marking system on learner tests and the new photo card driving licence (remember it only lasts 10 years then needs replacing - or £1000 fine).

In the driving industry he has seen many changes such as instructors having to sit the hazard perception test, the introduction of CPD (Continuous Professional Development) in order to keep the instructor up to speed with re-training.

Mike has taken and passed the Diploma in Driving Instruction, and is a qualified Advanced Driver Trainer and covers Norfolk and Suffolk as a Diamond Advanced Supervising Examiner.

Also as a Fleet Trainer he works with many companies with Health and Safety at work. This is assessing Company Drivers and re-training to help Directors and Companies to keep safe and have a driving policy in place to avoid and Corporate Manslaughter problems.

Also he is a accredited Taxi Driver Trainer and teaches driving in classroom presentations. Recently he has included Trailer Towing courses (for the trainer details watch the Waveney Valley Blog).

Belonging to many driver training organisations especially a member of the Elite Master Tutors of Driving. Mikes interest outside work is with Rotary as a member and a Past President of Bungay Rotary Club, he devotes a lot of time to the movement and did serve on Rotary District 1080 as a Membership Chairman (Development) for 3 years.

Mike always says it is his wife Jenny who had been the backbone to all his business interests and assists him with the paper pushing. Jenny for the last nine years has been employed at The Castle Inn Bungay.

Their son Mark is a member of the team employed at R. Charlish of Bungay who maintain and keep the training vehicles in good order on the road. Mike can always be found somewhere giving after dinner speeches on 'The Life of a Trainer' and putting the word road safety over to the public.

During the years Mike has appeared on Television, and on BBC Radio Norfolk where he did a live phone in programme on driving with Louise Priest (what a lovely lady).

Mike now looks ahead to the next 25 years promoting and teaching road safety. He would like to see everyone taking an interest in road safety: driving the eco way, really taking care on our roads and drivers being better prepared to take driving test, as it is not cheap with a practical test now costing £62.

So thank-you to everyone for their custom during the last 25 years, all the good wishes and I look forward to serving the community safe driving for the next 25 years.

Mike Daniels Dip Di and AcciDON’T
D.S.A. Registered Instructor, Awarded Highest Grade 6

Well done Mike, from all at the Waveney Valley Blog!

PREVIEW EVENING
For the Group’s production of
Hello, Dolly!

One of Broadway's classic musicals full of memorable songs including:

Put On Your Sunday Clothes, It Only Takes a Moment
Before the Parade Passes By, and Hello, Dolly!

click to enlarge

QUAKER HALL, SMALLGATE, BECCLES
Wednesday 6th May 2009 at 7.30pm
Open Auditions 18th & 20th May 2009
(Performances 13th – 17th October 2009)

Details: 01502 712329
or E-mail: business@wlog.org.uk
Come along to hear about the plans for the show
Actors, singers, dancers & backstage – ALL WELCOME

Due to rapid expansion within the gallery over the next three months, we would like to announce the following information:

Retraining Drivers for Insurance Companies, please don't let us meet you by Accident . . .

Mike Daniels and AcciDON’T
D.S.A. Registered Instructor, Awarded Highest Grade 6

Did You Know?

This was always a very busy time of the year for everyone. We would just be coming up to the time for spring cleaning. Throughout the Winter most houses only had a fire regularly in one room. Usually it was the living room, although they had to light one in the scullery when it was necessary for cooking and washing etc.. On Sundays the better off might have one in the Front Room or Drawing Room if they were having friends or relations to tea. Before the cleaning could start the chimney had to be swept and if the fire had been smoking, as it often did if a lot of wood was used or the wind was in the wrong direction, then the ceiling would need a good scrub and a fresh coat of whitewash. With the fumes from the oil lamps and candles making it worse it usually did anyway.

When he arrived the Sweep hung a sheet over the fireplace that he usually held in place with a couple of bricks on the mantelpiece and two or three more round the hearth. No matter how careful he was when he pulled the brush down the whole room was invariably covered with a fine layer of soot and however particular you had been when you covered everything up, it still seemed to get onto everything. Often into the next room or even up the stairs. The smell was always right throughout the whole house. Cleaning up as best he could the Sweep would swallow his obligatory cup of tea, put his money safely in his pocket and gather up his brushes, rods and other gear. Then, throwing the bag containing the soot over his shoulder he would hurry off to his next customer.

Once the mess had all been cleared up householders no longer had to worry about maintaining coal stocks and lighting fires to keep warm. Those families that had the means continued to buy small quantities of fuel through the summer months to stockpile for the following year. Coal and oil were sometimes the biggest expense families had. When the cleaning started there was a job for everyone and even the youngsters joined in, especially when all the mats and the stair carpet were hung over the washing line and given a good beating to get the dust and dirt out. The paintwork was all washed down and cupboards and ‘glory holes’ cleared out. At least one room would usually be in need of redecorating. To make things more difficult this was the time father was beginning to get busy with the digging and planting on his allotment.

It was always a big help when the weather was kind and the sun shone. If February had lived up to its ‘Fill Dyke’ reputation then warm dry Spring days had everyone’s approval.

It seems that the sunshine and showers not only bring forth the spring flowers, it energises and puts sparkle into all our lives. The days quickly grow longer and almost without notice the frost and forecasts of snow seem to slip into the past and we find ourselves with a completely different daily routine. No more dark cold evenings huddled round the fire indoors. Instead, there is a whole host of activities for us to enjoy outside as we observe the effect the changing season has on nature.

Everything is bright and fresh with new life springing up among the plants and animals that are all around us. The spring lambs are getting quite big now and the birds are starting to collect food for their fledglings. Do you ever wonder where all the different species suddenly appear from at this time of the year?

Spring has to be the best time of the year when there is natural beauty all around us and we have the warm summer days to look forward to. We can’t now swim in the river and play games on the bank as we used to but there are still lots of ways the river can be enjoyed. For instance, there are all kinds of boating activities for us to get involved in ourselves or get pleasure from watching others taking part.

A relaxing pastime we can all enjoy has to be just sitting beside it listening to the birds and watching the tide as it flows gently past. You might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the odd fish swimming by, a colourful dragonfly or any one of a hundred natural things that go on all of the time whether you are there or not. There are trees, often at the waters edge, offering shade from the sun and from where many varieties of wild flowers and grasses can be seen.

We often travel miles to see or find something different to do. Perhaps we should stop for a moment and ponder on the treasures to be found on our doorstep that we have yet to take note of and enjoy.

valley lad - [SIXTYSIX]

‘Beyond the Pond’
International Photographic Exhibition
30 Photographic works by 6 American photographers:

Mark L. Power
Davis Balderston
Grace Taylor
Mimi Levine
John Borstel
Laurie Sand

at
Beyond the Image Photographer’s Gallery
On the Thornham Walks Estate, Thornham Magna, Eye

Exhibition Runs 1st May - 26th July 2009
Viewing days Friday to Sunday 11.00am - 4.00pm

Private Viewing
Sat 2nd May 2009
12.00 - 6.00pm
Live Music by Daisyhead
(4.00pm - 6.00pm)