Wessex Advanced Motorists

A tale of Beauty

DJW — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 08:55:56 +0000

My name is Peter Cox and as a relatively new recruit to the Wessex IAM Group as an Associate Member I can say that the experience so far has been both interesting and rewarding. Having taken advantage of a free taster drive back in April, I then signed up for the full course. Both taster session and my training to date has been with Andrew Redfern, who as well as passing on his driving advice and knowledge has also regaled me with tales of his very interesting life flying helicopters all around the world and his tales of flying the Police helicopter here in the South West.

I am not entirely new to the concept of advance driving having been a blue light driver for 28 years with the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. Eight of those years driving the HGV Pumping Appliances and Aerial Appliances etc. and then 20 odd years as a Response Officer driving to take Operational Charge at incidents in a marked-up Response Car. During that time East Sussex FRS made the decision to put all of its emergency response drivers through the ROSPA driver training, which is very similar to IAM and also based on the Police Roadcraft Manual. I achieved two ROSPA Gold Awards during that time.

However, having passed 76 this year I decided it was time to get my driving re-evaluated by an independent source hence my joining IAM.

At the beginning of the year, I also decided to scratch an itch I had held for some time and in a vain attempt to regain lost youth, I wanted to own another drop head sports car. I last owned one 50 years ago in 1976, during that long endless summer, a delightful blue Austin Healey Sprite, which I parked in the street back then for nearly three months without putting the hood up once. I don’t think you could do that now! So it was that in January this year I bought my latest extravagance, or some might say folly, a 1998 BMW roadster.

Having been to my first IAM meeting at Hatch Beauchamp back in May, the next and most recent meeting was the annual “show and tell” meeting held this year at the Lion and Lamb in Hambridge on 17th June. Not knowing quite what to expect I took the BMW to the meeting on a very pleasant summer evening. Seven Members chose to introduce their vehicles and say a few words about them and I was No 6. When the votes were counted, I was truly surprised that my car and introduction to her had been voted the best and I was awarded the Timpson Cup to hold for the next year. Personally, I voted for the chap with the Volkswagen van for both his interesting back story and the amount of customising he had done on his vehicle. Below I detail the gist of what I told the assembled Members about my car.

Beauty, my BMW, as I have christened her is a 1998 BMW Z3 E36/7 model with the M44 1.9 litre, lightweight, twin cam, four-cylinder engine producing about 140 bhp. As a car she has led a remarkably easy, cosseted life, always garaged and lightly used. She has done only 43,000 miles since new. For the first 25 years of her life she was owned by one careful lady owner, a single lady called Louise who lived in London. For the first 25 years of her life she completed an average of only 1,650 miles each year. Despite this Louise had the car regularly serviced by a BMW main dealer and I have the complete paper trail of all work ever done on her. I also have every MOT certificate the car has ever had. Beauty is in exceptional condition totally rust free and original. She is very much a base model with few gadgets and extras and all the better for that. When she was 25, Beauty was sold to a sports car enthusiast and collector in Hampshire who added her to his collection of about 12 sports cars. This owner also owned an up-market performance car dealership and he displayed his collection in the showrooms of his business, only using them occasionally. Beauty only did a few hundred miles during his ownership. Late in 2025 the collector decided that his collection was taking up too much valuable showroom space and he decided to slim down his collection to about 6-8 of the most valuable cars, so Beauty had to go and that’s when I acquired her.

When buying Beauty I thought that I was buying a German car but I was wrong. Every BMW Z3 ever sold was assembled in America at the BMW Spartanburg plant in Greer, South Carolina the first BMW model to be totally assembled outside Bavaria, Germany. How many people know that? Beauty is in Atlanta Blue the same colour of the Z3 that James Bond drove in GoldenEye.

Going forward, I intend to keep Beauty in the manner to which she has become accustomed and will always garage her, look after her carefully and use her gently. When time and funds allow, I will tidy up some trim and upholstery and clean her up under the bonnet, getting her into even better condition. I will keep her on the road all year but only aim to use her with the hood down and when the roads are dry. I have started attending the odd evening car meet with her. We are spoilt for choice of such meets In Somerset.

So far I am thoroughly enjoying both my latest sports car drop head motoring and the IAM experience. Thank you to all those members who voted for Beauty and I thoroughly recommend the “Show and Tell” meeting to all members.

Peter Cox

Annual Show & Tell Event – Wednesday 17th June 2026

DJW — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 08:40:09 +0000

For this year’s Show & Tell, we met at the Lion & Lamb at Hambridge. A nice little pub and well worth the visit if you’re out that way!

For my part, it was really nice to meet so many new Associates in one place at the same time.

In all, we had seven entrants each of whom gave a really sterling & heartfelt description of their cars and what that car meant to them.

Despite such strong performances from every entrant, the runaway winner (as judged by his peers) was Peter Cox who waxed lyrical, and in some considerable depth, about his beloved BMW Z3 named Beauty. (And what a beauty she is, too! There again, I’ve always liked the sleek lines of the BMW ‘Z’ family of cars).

Fully serviced and garaged since new and with every piece of documentation issued along the way, the pride in his car clearly shone through and he was a very worthy, if not genuinely surprised winner.

So once again, many congratulations, Peter, on a good job very well done. Remember to keep the Sir John Timpson cup well-polished and be ready to defend your position again next year!

Barry, Chairman

Nervous and anxious behind the wheel

DJW — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:55:18 +0000

I have driven for 15 years, but a recent road accident shattered my confidence, especially after switching to a larger new vehicle. I felt nervous and anxious every time I got behind the wheel, even though I had many years of driving experience.

I joined the Wessex Advanced Motorists IAM course to rebuild my driving confidence and safety skills. I cannot thank Andrew Redfern and the whole observer team enough for their incredibly patient guidance. Step by step, they taught me advanced observation, road positioning, speed control and defensive driving techniques.

Gradually, my anxiety faded away. I regained confidence, feel calm on UK rural roads, and have started to enjoy driving again. I am delighted to have passed the IAM advanced assessment. This course has transformed my mindset, not just my driving skills.

I highly recommend the IAM advanced driving programme to anyone wanting safer, more relaxed driving.

Weiji Gao

April Members’ Evening

Barry Keenan — Sat, 02 May 2026 07:14:17 +0000

Our Members’ Evening guest speaker on Wednesday 15^th April was Debbie Birtwhistle from Children’s Hospice South West, who gave a very spirited and enthusiastic talk to the group.

Sadly, not many of our members were able to turn up on the night, but nevertheless, we still managed to raise the sum of £65 between us to go towards this most worthy of charities.

And I’m touched that a couple of days later, Louise Harrison, the charity’s Database Administrator, took the trouble to write a lovely note of thanks whilst at the same time inviting us to attend one of their open days.

There are 3 hospice centres covering the whole of the South West: Little Bridge House in Devon, Charlton Farm in North Somerset and Little Harbour in Cornwall. (You can find further details on their website www.chsw.org.uk).

I’ve been to one of their open days before, and I must say, it’s both a real eye-opener and a treat and certainly well worth a visit.

Barry
chairman@wessexam.uk

Blue Light Aware

DJW — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 10:50:19 +0000

Based on guidance contained within the Highway Code, Blue Light Aware is a resource containing short videos and animations, produced on behalf of the emergency services. Their crews rely on the help of other road users when they’re on a ‘blue light’ journey. By taking the time to watch Blue Light Aware you will better understand the needs of emergency drivers, reducing the risks you face; while contributing to a safer road environment. You may also be helping to save a life…

At our March members’ evening we showed the Blue Light Aware videos and the link to them is below:

Blue Light Aware videos – full set

Skills Days are back for 2026!

DJW — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 09:42:35 +0000

Ready to take your driving or riding skills to the next level? Join IAM RoadSmart for a Skills Day at one of four iconic race circuits in the UK!

Using your own car, you’ll learn skills and techniques that you can apply on the road, all within the safety of a closed-circuit environment. Working one-on-one or in a small group with a qualified instructor, you’ll gain practical knowledge and use the circuit to practice and perfect your skills. This year’s dates are 14^th May and 8^th September.

Also available, Car Skills Day with Skid Pan, which combines coached circuit driving with a practical skid pan session. Working one-to-one with IAM RoadSmart-qualified instructors, you’ll develop precision, control, and confidence in your own car. Reduced numbers on the skid pan this year allows more focused guidance as you practise handling low-grip conditions safely. For more details, go to https://www.iamroadsmart.com/skills-days-2026/

9 Elements of Tellington TTouch

DJW — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 09:40:44 +0000

At the January Members’ Evening, we were delighted to have Katharine Brunsch from Canine Support join us for a presentation on the 9 Elements of Tellington TTouch.

Katharine writes:
“These elements aren’t just technical tools for training; they are the foundation for everything we do with our dogs.

The core takeaway? Think about doing things with your dog, rather than to them. By observing our dogs’ feedback and listening to their “whispers”, we can use these nine elements as “dials” to adjust our interactions. If your dog seems unsure or overwhelmed, shifting one of these elements can set them up for success.”

The TTouch 9 Elements in Everyday Life

The Shape of the Circle: While specific to TTouch bodywork, it reminds us to keep our movements soft and rounded rather than sharp and direct.

Pressure: Are your physical interactions too heavy? Whether it’s brushing, petting, or holding the lead, less is often more.

Tempo: Speed creates adrenaline. If your dog is over-aroused, slow your own movements down. Are you rushing them through their day?

The Mindful Pause: This is where the magic happens. A brief pause allows the nervous system to process and integrate new information.

Connections: Strengthen your bond by being fully present and intentional in every interaction – from mindful grooming and active listening to shared “sniffari” walks and creating a safe, predictable environment.

Breathing: When we hold our breath, we hold tension. If you breathe and smile, your dog will feel the shift in your nervous system and likely mirror it.

Intention: Hold a positive mental image of how you’d like the interaction to go. Dogs are incredibly sensitive to our internal “narrative”.

Release of Expectation: Do not get attached to the outcome. When we let go of the “need” for a specific result, the pressure vanishes for both parties.

Body Posture: Avoid leaning over your dog. Try to stand side-on rather than facing them directly to remain in a non-threatening, “polite” position.

The Golden Rule: Always listen to the feedback. When we allow for adjustment and adaptation, we build a foundation of trust that makes every day with our dogs easier.

For more information on how TTouch can support you and your dog, visit www.caninesupport.co.uk or visit the YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@caninesupport to watch any of the ‘Celebrating 50 Years of TTouch’ video series.

Katharine Brunsch
TTouch Practitioner, Canine Wellness Trainer & Trauma Informed Dog Practitioner
www.Caninesupport.co.uk
07369 251682
info@canineupport.co.uk

Working with people who lack sight, not vision

DJW — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:11:22 +0000

After the AGM a couple of weeks ago, Barry welcomed our guest speakers, Jackie Sopwith and Kate McCallum from Somerset Sight who gave an interesting and informative presentation.

Somerset Sight is a local charity that has been supporting blind and partially sighted people across Somerset for over a hundred years and in 2019 they won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The services they provide are very important and valuable, and enable blind and visually impaired people in Somerset to continue to live full and independent lives, the majority in their own homes.

These services are: Resource Centre, Mobile Advisory Service, Low Vision Clinic, Emotional Support, Technology Support, Social Groups and various activities, including an annual holiday and benefit so many people.

One of the main services they offer is the Volunteer Visiting Service, where volunteers are matched locally with a sight-impaired person for regular visits for company and support and to alleviate any feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Volunteer visitors help with a variety of tasks such as reading, correspondence, or making appointments, going out for a drive or just a cup of tea and a chat. Their volunteers get great satisfaction and enjoyment from their voluntary work, many friendships are formed and the people they support very much look forward to their visits, some telling us that it is the highlight of their week. Full training is provided and they cover all reasonable expenses.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer visitor or driver and would like further information, please phone 01823 333818 or email admin@somersetsight.org.uk.

Dining in the Dark

A while ago, Somerset Sight organised the second of their “Dining in the Dark” fundraising events, a delicious three-course meal at the stunning North Cadbury Court, but there was a catch – no one could see what they were eating or drinking.

The unique experience where people eat whilst blindfolded, was organised to enable participants to experience for themselves what it’s like to live as a blind or partially sighted person.

Jackie Sopwith, CEO of Somerset Sight, said “Many people who come to us at Somerset Sight with a new or deteriorating sight loss often feel that nobody knows what they’re going through. Whilst the aim of the event is to raise awareness, it’s also an excellent way to show people how reliant they are on their sight for everyday tasks such as eating and drinking, and to give them an inkling of what it’s really like for somebody with no sight at all.”

“Show and Tell” Evening

DJW — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 21:34:53 +0000

In June, we held our “Show and Tell” evening, which has become a regular annual event. It’s an evening to come along and show your car, old or new, and tell others about it for a minute or two, as if it were the preamble to an advanced driving test.
The event was attended by a good turnout of members, who enjoyed hearing about various cars, modern and classic, exotic and more humble.

The Sir John Timpson Cup, which is awarded for the most popular introduction, together with the best presented car, was won by Louise Ellis and her immaculate Mini. Her introduction was informative and amusing and showed a real affection for her car, which was spotless and obviously well looked after.

Safe and happy travels with your dog

DJW — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 09:35:51 +0000

On Wednesday, 21st May, Katharine Brunsch of Canine Support gave a fascinating and information-filled talk about the secret to stress-free car rides for our canine companions. She told us about Tellington TTouch, giving us tips and tricks to make our dogs’ journeys safer and more enjoyable by creating a calm and comfortable environment for our dogs, no matter the distance. For those who were unable to attend, she has put together an eBook to give you a flavour of her approach; it may also serve as a helpful reminder for those who attended. Tellington TTouch for Travel: Helping Your Dog Feel Safe on the Go