Rieanna Langley – Blindley Heath - 1st Time Pass - 10/2/10
Rieanna’s mum contacted me to book a Mid-way pass course, she hadn’t had any experience on the road but had been driving on private land for a while. Rieanna had already had an assessment lesson with another driving school but they wouldn’t give her the commitment she required so she booked another assessment with me. After the assessment & explaining how the LD system of DVD & Workbook would help, we booked 20hrs & the test for 6 weeks time. Unfortunately due to the weather in December & January we had to change the date & Rieanna got an cancellation on Sunday for the following Wednesday. After fitting in an extra lesson on the Monday Rieanna passed 1st time on the Wednesday after only 20hrs of lessons.
Eerika Franklin –Edenbridge – Passed - 26/1/10 – 3 minors
Eerika contacted me last March, after looking at a few websites she decided on LDC because of the LD System & the offer of a home visit to explain how the system works. We made steady progress & the LD Workbook helped Eerika to fully understand why things were done in a certain way. After nearly passing a good 1st test, the 2nd proved a bit more difficult to get a date for. After a cancellation by the test centre & another due to the snow, Eerika finally passed her 2nd test with flying colours & only 3 minors.
When selecting a driving instructor I was looking for someone who would be focused and not waste my time or money. Graham takes pride in his work and aims to help his students to pass in the minimum amount of lessons needed, by encouraging a proactive approach on the side of the learner, and a professional, intuitive, organised style of teaching that helps the learner to think for themselves. I was very happy with my choice and would recommend him as an effective and pleasant driving instructor.
Emma Enser –Tonbridge – Passed - 18/2/10 – 2 minors
Emma contacted me last year & booked a Semi Intensive course as she was starting a new job. By using the LD Workbook & DVD her skills developed quickly then it was just a case of gaining the confidence to make the decisions that she knew were correct. After a couple of false starts & cancelled tests due to the snow Emma finally drove on the test how she did on her lessons. Enjoy your extra ½ hour in bed & no more buses to work!
The lessons were flexible and were tailor-made to work around my schedule and my skills. I like the relaxed way Graham taught whilst still being informative and valuable to a learner driver. There was never any pressure to have done anything by a certain time; it was all in my own time. I would definitely recommend Graham to friends!
Claire Boulter –Edenbridge –1st Time Pass - 27/1/10 – 2 minors Claire contacted me last summer after qualifying as an English teacher. Having lived abroad for the last few years she had decided to wait until she was back in England before learning to drive. Claire already had her own car so had lots of opportunity to practice although her own mini, being rather temperamental created some interesting challenges. The LD Workbook & DVD helped with the lessons & kept the practice focussed ending in an excellent 1st time pass with only 2 minors. Hopefully you will be confident enough to drive abroad when you start you overseas teaching job in the summer!
Before I even started driving I was convinced I was going to be one of those people who would only pass on the 8th test! Graham helped build up my confidence and as the lessons went on I gradually believed that I was making progress and could see that passing the test was achievable. The LD DVD in particular was of great help to me as it helped cement things I had already done in a lesson or helped prepare me for what was in store in a future lesson. Graham helped me learn to trust myself and my skills as a driver and I would recommend him to anyone.
Claire
Daniel Atkinson –East Grinstead - Passed 4/2/10 – 5 minors
Dan contacted me in November 2008 & booked a Mid-way course of 20 hours. Although he hadn’t had lessons for a while he had been taking lessons & tests on & off over the last 20 years. After failing his 1st test we set to work gradually correcting each of the faults & bad habits, & also trying to overcome his fear of the test it’s self. This was a slow but steady process with a few more tests in between but resulted in finally gaining a well deserved pass.
Thank you for all you did to get me through the test. When we met in late 2008, the fact that I didn’t drive was almost a part of my personality. It must have taken great patience & skill to dismantle that obstacle. I would recommend Graham to any learner, especially one who is trying to learn later in life. He was able to instil the confidence in me that the test, far from being an insurmountable barrier, was entirely achievable. For all candidates, I would add that Graham’s attention to detail during each driving lesson gave me additional confidence.
Thanks again & very best wishes
Dan Atkinson
Abigail Batty - Lingfield - 1st Time Pass 27/11/09
Abi’s mum contacted me to book her a surprise lesson just after her birthday. Abi showed a natural ability for car control aligned with her confidence & the LD Workbook progressed quickly through the course. After the 1st couple of lessons Abi also had plenty of practice with her dad, using the workbook for guidance, all of which helped her prepare & pass her test 1st time in just over 3 months. Enjoy your driving & never forget to keep learning.
Libby Ashdown – Lingfield - 20/1/10 – 4 Minors
Libby contacted me after becoming disillusioned with driving & after an assessment drive it was very noticeable that although her driving was fairly good, Libby’s confidence was not. Our 1st aim was to increase Libby’s confidence & get her enjoying driving before even attempting to teach her anything new. Once this was achieved & Libby was looking forward to her lessons we then moved steadily through the course concluding with a good drive, passing with only 4 minor faults. All Libby needs now is a Sat Nav as she readily admits her sense of direction is non-existent!
Thank you so much for all your tuition & giving me the confidence to pass my test. I secretly thought I was going to be one of those people that takes about 9 tests to pass & then still drives dreadfully! I’ll be sending you pictures of my lovely little Fiat 500 (red with cream leather) hopefully very soon. All the best for the future & thank you once again.
Libby
Rose Bowles – Edenbridge - 1st Time Pass 19/10/09
Rose contacted me after she had been offered a company car due to her firm’s relocation. The only problem with this was that she didn’t have a driving licence! Rose initially booked an intensive course over 2 weeks but it quickly became apparent that the time pressure was stopping her from progressing so we agreed to change to weekly lessons. It was a long road of 2 steps forward & 1 back but finally we agreed that Rose was ready for her test. I final few lessons on preparing for test day paid off as Rose got a well earned 1st time pass. Now we just need to persuade your boss to pay for the pass plus!
I knew learning to drive in my late 30’s wasn’t going to be easy & it took a lot longer than I thought. Thankfully I had Graham’s expertise & patience to guide me every step of the way. He never gave up finding new ways to help me overcome any sticking points & kept me motivated right up to my test date when all his hard work paid off - I passed 1st time!
I am eternally grateful to Graham for teaching me a skill which will change my life & would thoroughly recommend him to anyone.
A big thank you Graham!
Jayne Pearce –Edenbridge - Passed 26/8/09 – 5 minors
Jayne contacted me to restart her driving after finishing Uni & starting work. She had previously had 2 tests a couple of years ago but didn’t feel she was ready so was almost pleased not to pass. Despite having quite a long break Jayne’s driving skills were still very good & the LD Workbook helped her understand some of the things she was unsure of. Gradually Jayne’s confidence increased to a point where her original test date was brought forward by 3 weeks. Jayne passed with only 5 minor faults & was complimented on a good confident drive! I look forward to the Pass Plus in October, M25 here we come!
I started learning to drive 5 years ago, had 2 tests then failed. I started learning with Graham and found the basics of what I’d learnt came back but I lacked confidence. Graham developed my confidence considerably. He really encouraged me whenever I doubted myself and made me prove that I could do it. Looking back I’m so pleased I passed with Graham as I feel so much more confident and now I know I can drive.
Tom Williams – Tonbridge - 1st Time Pass 3/6/09 – 4 minors
Tom started his lessons very soon after his 17th birthday & he was very keen to be driving as soon as possible. Having explained how using the LD Workbook & DVD correctly would help him progress quicker, he took this on board & was always well prepared for his next lesson. Tom progressed quickly through the course due to his preparation & confidence, & passed 1st time with 4 minors after only 28 hours tuition.
Well done Tom & hope you enjoy driving to your cricket matches from now on!
As soon as I was 17 I was desperate to get driving, and Graham was perfect for this as he was very happy to go at the pace I wanted. So as soon as we had our first lesson, I read through the LDC book which gave me a much better knowledge of driving and left me well prepared for lessons, and our progression every week was great. My aim was to be driving by the summer so I could get to my cricket games easily, and learning to drive with Graham meant this was achieved! He was also very flexible with our lessons, as I quite often had Cricket training a few days a week, so I sometimes couldn't attend our lessons, but this was no problem as Graham would offer me an alternate date (usually the next day or two) so that we didn’t slow down our progression, which was great for me! Thanks for all your help Graham; I thoroughly enjoyed learning with you! Regards, Tom
Rachel Toft – Lingfield - Passed 2/4/09
Rachel contacted me to restart her driving after initially taken lessons & a couple of tests at 17. Despite not having driven for a while Rachel’s driving was basically sound & didn’t need much work to get to test standard. Rachel however gave me a different challenge because she had decided that driving, especially the test & manoeuvres were very difficult. Eventually after convincing her she could do it & they didn’t have it in for her, Rachel finally got the pass she deserved. Good luck at Uni & hope you enjoy your new found freedom, life is less colourful without you!
After a couple of failed tests it was hard not to feel like giving up but after getting in contact with Graham - I gained the confidence to believe that I could pass. Graham helped with the technical aspects of my driving as well as the mental. In this sense, he helped me realise that I could drive and that the test was achievable! Without Graham's patience I don't ever think I would have passed - I would recommend him to anyone at any stage in their driving! Thanks so much Graham!
Lawrence Tal – Oxted - 1st Time Pass 26/2/09 - 2 minors
When Lawrence contacted me he offered me a different challenge as he had been driving for over 30 years but his US licence was not transferable so he had to pass the UK test within a year. After an assessment lesson I recommended 10hrs to get familiar with Crawley & sort out 30 years worth of bad habits. Lawrence was very open to learn & understand why things should be done in a certain way. He always took my advice on board & practiced it in between lessons. Because of his willingness to change his driving habits & take onboard why they needed changing, the driving tests was fairly straightforward with only 2 minor faults.
Richard Arpino - Caterham - 1st Time Pass 17/2/09 - 3 minors
Richard contacted me in November last year about booking a 15 or 20 hour semi intensive course of lessons. He was supposed to have taken a test in September but was unable to do so & now just wanted a quick boost of lessons to get him back to test standard. After an assessment lesson I recommended the 20hr Midway Course because although Richard’s driving was a good standard, he had very little knowledge of Sevenoaks. A little bit of time removing the rust, some issues on why we do things a certain way & plenty of preparation on what to expect on test day then it was all down to doing it on the day. Richard was one of the few people who drove on the test like he did on the lessons which resulted in an excellent 1st time pass with only 3 minors. Congratulations Richard & if I need any landscaping done I know where to go for a discount!
Chris Sinclair - Dormansland - Passed - 13/1/09
Chris contacted me before going on holiday to book a 30hr Semi-Intensive course as he now had some time & money. Chris had already had a fair amount of experience & bags of confidence but just needed some guidance. He made good progress & even managed to work on some more advanced techniques. Unfortunately that confidence got the better of him on the 1st test but we quickly rebooked a 2nd test which he passed comfortably. Good luck with the coaching course & triathlon later this year.
Although I had had many lessons before starting this course it was several years ago, it took me a few hours to get used to the car and my manoeuvres were awkward, however with each day that went I became more comfortable with the car and my capabilities. Learning from Graham was very easy as he always found the right way to pitch or explain what I needed to understand and being in a teaching profession myself I know how easy this is to get wrong. After the third day of the six I was still making stupid mistakes but we talked little of driving as all he needed was a question in his “I know that you know what you did wrong” voice to make me understand the problem much more by making me think about it. Over confidence was my downfall which he warned me about and as I said to him on the morning of the test it was only if I made a mistake that I wouldn't pass, which I did within the first few minutes. That said we rebooked the test, a few hours refresher just before and I sailed through as he said I would.
The lessons were fun and easy and I never thought I was out of my depth whenever we progressed onto something new.
Louise Jones –Edenbridge - Passed 12/12/08 – 5 minors
Louise 1st started driving at 17 but gave up after failing a couple of tests to go to University. She contacted me to restart her driving & once we recapped the basics it was all about refreshing her memory & gaining confidence. Louise appreciated the structure of the LD System & progressed quickly followed a bit slower by her confidence. After a couple of attempts she finally overcame the reverse left & passed with a creditable 5 minors.
“Graham is a natural driving instructor, his calm, patient and supportive approach to each lesson ensured I was able to gain the confidence I needed at a pace that was right for me. I thoroughly enjoyed learning to drive with Graham and would like to say a big thank you to both Graham and to his family for allowing him to give up some of his free time to get me through my test. Graham and his new LUCKY CAR come highly recommended. Thank you.”
Raquel Berlanga-Carrion - Tonbridge - Passed 1st Time - 24/11/08
Raquel started lessons last November & told me that she had no experience of cars as she had lived in a city for most of her life. It quickly became apparent that this would be a slow but steady journey, but Raquel’s preparation for each lesson & her determination to succeed kept me focussed on the task ahead. After 12 months & exactly 100 hours Raquel got her just reward with a well deserved & hard earned 1st time pass. I would like to thank Raquel for stretching my teaching skills & in the process making me a better instructor.
Charlotte Younger - Godstone - Passed - 11/11/08 - 4 minors
After teaching her older sister Amy to a 1st time pass with a Test Booster course in March this year, Charlotte contacted me for the same course. Having taken 2 tests with Amy’s original instructor & a further test in her own car Charlotte hoped I could take her that final step to finally pass. Charlotte’s general standard of driving was good, especially her clutch control but having failed all 3 test for emerging at the wrong time she needed a bit more understanding & a confidence boost. Charlotte’s confidence grew with a better understanding of emerging & roundabouts, & even a change of car 2 weeks before her test didn’t stop her progress. She passed after 18 hours with a very smooth drive & only 4 minor faults to get her well deserved full licence.
Ed Knowles – East Grinstead - 1st Time Pass 15/5/08
I was recommended to Ed by his girlfriend who also recently passed. He had never driven before but decided the time had come to start. When he set his mind to anything he made sure he did it properly & driving was no different. Using the LD workbook to prepare for each lesson ensured that each subject was covered thoroughly & he was always keen to fully understand why we did things in a particular way. Ed’s attention to detail paid off passing 1st time with a creditable 8 minors. We won’t mention to Rachel that she passed 2nd time with 9 minors will we! Ed’s attitude was refreshing & he was a pleasure to teach, good luck in the future even if Rachel won’t let you borrow her car!
Amy Younger - Godstone - 1st time Pass - 14/3/08
After having had lessons with 2 previous instructors up until August last year but not yet taken a test, Amy decided to book a Test Booster course of 15 lessons in a week with a test on the Friday. Despite not having driven
since last August Amy's standard of driving was very good. After helping her get used to my car, the test areas & some preparation for test day, Amy
finished the week with a well deserved 1st time pass on the Friday.
"I would thoroughly recommend the test booster course. My Instructor Graham quickly identified my weakness so we could work on them before the test. It is great course if you just need a confidence boost before your test, and Graham was very helpful at pointing out and correcting those little bad habits that can result in failing your test. I passed first time all thanks to the test booster course and Graham's patients!!"