Seems some mistakes can follow you for the rest of your life.

Yesterday my wife was at our local police station in her capacity as a HomeWatch Coordinator when a WPC said she knew me. Nora knew I hadn't taught her to drive then she explained she was the copper who saved my life.

A number of years ago there had been some armed robberies, while sat eating my sandwich I noticed something shiny the other side of the fence.

It was a large machete, I'm intelligent so picked it up with my little sandwich bag to deliver to police station.

The barrier opened to let a police vehicle out and I drove in. Couldn't get the door opened into the place when a young lady appeared from the car park. She escorted me back to my car, told me to go to the public police car park and let me out.

You can't miss the public police car park on the main road but I did. Apparently she said she didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to raid a cop shop driving a fully liveried  driving school car and that's why I wasn't pepper sprayed.

Seems I'll never live this down.

Two queries from neighbours has made me realise how misinformed or how little the general public know.
Firstly, if you are a driver and unsure if you should disclose a medical or health condition, you can check online at:
 Gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving 
The second  query is a young lady who had her licence revoked for drink driving, 7/8 years ago. Later had a stroke which she is now recovering and is being told by just about everyone but me that she can apply for a disability car and just get in and drive it! 
Fortunately I think I've managed to persuade her that isn't right.

Congratulation to Alex Mayoh on passing his driving test at his first attempt.

Remember what this boring old man has been teaching you, you are a safe driver Alex, stay that way.

Congratulations to Daniel Clark on passing his driving test with just 2 minors.
Now I have to watch out for him on his bike and in a car. Drive safely Dan.
Unfortunately no photo because Nora forgot to give me the camera. Can't get the staff these days

Greater Manchester Police

· 

Police are appealing for witnesses after two men threatened a student driver and his instructor with a pistol in Bury.

At around 4pm on Sunday 17 January 2016, the victims were sitting in a car on Bridge Street, Bury, when two men emerged from a nearby ginnel and approached the driver’s side of the car.

One of the offenders then removed what has been described as a ‘Mauser pistol’ from the waistband of his trousers and pointed it at the victim sitting in the driver’s seat.

The two offenders then walked off in the direction of Bell Lane, as the man with the gun tucked the pistol back into his trousers.

The shaken victims then drove off in the opposite direction before reporting the incident to police.

The offender with the gun is described as white, between 19 and 25 years old, around 6ft tall with a slim build and brown eyes. He was wearing a light-grey coloured hooded top with the hood up and matching jogging bottoms.

The second offender is described as white, around 30 years old, between 5ft 9in and 5ft11in tall, of slim build and short hair. He was wearing blue jeans and a black body warmer.

Detective Sergeant Ian Partington said: “This is a very strange incident which seemingly has no motive, but must have been incredibly frightening for the people threatened.

“We do not know whether this was, in fact, a genuine firearm, but until we can ascertain that we must treat this as a viable threat.

“The pistol itself is very distinctive and the victim has given a detailed description, which has allowed us to identify what we believe it to have looked like.

“I would ask that anyone who was in the area at the time, or who may have seen these offenders either before or after the incident to contact police.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 170116/1686 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 FREE.

Such an event I thought I'd broadcast it!
I've just done a Pass Plus course, didn't do any in 2015, lots of student considered doing it while in the car with me, but obviously forgot once they had passed.