We are going to run a series of blogs introducing our driving instructors from the many areas we cover, so that you can find out a bit about them before you start your intensive driving course or driving lessons. Today I’d like to introduce Gary Langley.
Gary’s home town is Shrewsbury, although he teaches in Oswestry, Shrewsbury and the surrounding areas as a fully qualified Approved Driving Instructor (known as an ADi). He has been an ADi for approximately 17.5 years, so he has lots of experience and knowledge to pass on.
As there are lots of test routes that an ADi needs to be familiar with, most driving instructors only cover a couple of test centres and Gary’s are Shrewsbury, which can be found on Stafford Drive, Battlefield Enterprise Park, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 3BF and Oswestry test centre which can be found on Mile Oak Industrial Estate, Maesbury Road, Oswestry SY10 8GA.
Gary teaches in a manual Ford Focus, which his pupils love driving as it’s not too big but still has plenty of room.
Being a flexible driving instructor, Gary likes to mix things up by doing regular driving lessons and intensive driving courses in Shrewsbury and Oswestry.
The things Gary has told us about why he likes being a driving instructor are the flexibility of his work v life, but mostly for their ‘yay’ moment when a student passes, especially if it’s been a journey to get them there.
All driving instructors have things that find challenging about their career, but Gary has told us that some of the challenges are diary management: in particular, the logistics of allowing enough travel time between pupils with the roads getting busier and busier. Dealing with impatient and rude members of the public, who seem to have forgotten they were a learner once! And the obvious one…trying to find my pupils’ a test which corresponds with their training progress, but that is where the driving school steps in, as the staff are particularly good at finding tests for intensive driving courses.
We asked Gary what his favourite test centre is and he said “I like my local test centre at Shrewsbury as all the examiners are simply great and are so good at making my students feel comfortable and relaxed. If I have any queries or need assistance, they are very approachable and are happy to help”.
All driving instructors have things that they like to do away from teaching, and we asked Gary about his hobbies, and he told us, “I’m an avid football fan (Manchester United). My main hobby is Taekwondo. I currently hold a black belt 3rd Dan, and I’m working towards gaining my 4th Dan. I enjoy it as it helps me to keep fit and improve my flexibility after sitting down for most of the day. I also appreciate the discipline it teaches me, but I mostly like training with the guys and girls at my local dojang (club) who have become like a 2nd family over the years”. Gary is too modest to say, but he also won a British Championship a few years ago in Taekwondo. We’ve attached a video of him winning below.
If you would like to learn to drive in and around Shrewsbury or Oswestry, please feel free to give our friendly team a call on 03458 121 007 between 09:30 & 17:30 Monday to Friday or send us an enquiry, and we will call you back.