Pontefract Driving Instructors Association was initially started to bring together DSA Examiners and Driving Instructors, plus other authorities like the Road Safety people in the Pontefract area. It was first set up in December 2004 where a committee was appointed.
The committee is as follows:
Chairman – Ian Sidaway, Secretary –Gavin Evans, Treasurer – Kevin Schofield ,
Newsletter Editor – Paul Pritchard, Committee Members –
Neil Carter, Sandy Currie, David Erwin, Garry Gibbons.
Since starting the association it has gone from strength to strength and currently has 70 members.
We have also adopted the Dave Lawrence Sickness Scheme that is in use with Leeds Driving Instructors Association and Harrogate Driving Instructors Association, where members do not pay into the scheme unless there is a member off work for longer than two weeks, ask any of our existing members or committee members, they will gladly give you more information.
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Meetings are held every two months in Pontefract, at the
Yorkshire Penny, Cobblers Lane.
Everyone is welcome, ADI’s and PDI’s. (Guests are welcome).
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There is free web space on the website for all members, they can put whatever they want on it and also photo’s if they wish, plus a free newsletter is sent out by email or post to all members, edited by our very own Paul Pritchard.
On the web site we have a forum that gets used daily by quite a few members, on the forum we can share different views and ask advice from other Instructors about various things like test routes, we can even share views on the examiners that use the Pontefract Test Centre. The members area of the web site is password protected so no one but members can access it.
We also publish adverts in the newsletter so if anyone is interested in placing an advert you can contact Paul on 01132 877 677 or mob 07947 139 260
We regularly meet with Driving Examiners and other DSA personnel as well as Traffic Police and other road safety people.
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Events and Activities
Since the association started in 2004 there have been various activities:
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Pontefract Liquorice Fair - July 2008
The PDIA attended the 2008 Liquorice fair on July 12th - Members from the association manned a stall full of free information about learning to drive. The day was very successful, in terms of putting the PDIA into the public domain and trying to encourage them to learn with a PDIA member. Below are four members ready for action!
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Skid Pan Fun
A group of 12 members went to a skidpan experience at the Police training establishment in Crofton, Wakefield. All members got the chance to drive a 3 litre BMW around the circuit recklessly. This was quite an enjoyable evening as you can imagine, 12 Driving Instructors having a play in a BMW on a skidpan!
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West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership
We had Philip Gwynne from The West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership as a guest speaker, he invited us to help run a competition with Ridings FM involving teenagers answering questions on air, and the winner would win 10 driving lessons with a Pontefract Driving Instructors’ Association Instructor, the Instructor was David Erwin, the Association also gave the winner a free Pass Plus course. The competition ran for 1 week.
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Gordon’s Tyres
After negotiations between Pontefract Driving Instructors Association’s own Bob Gant and The Manager of Gordon’s Tyres, Mr Shane Howell, Gordon’s Tyres have decided to offer PDIA a 12% discount on tyres, exhausts and other consumables.
Any PDIA member that uses this service must show their membership card to the Manager for proof of membership.
There are also Gordon’s Tyres garages in Wakefield and Leeds and they will honour this deal as long as the Castleford branch is mentioned. Castleford branch will be called to confirm the deal.
Gordon’s Tyres
Green Street
Lock Lane
Castleford
WF10 2LY
Tel: 01977 603388
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DSA Cardington Trip
Seven members, including myself (Ian Sidaway), recently visited Cardington for an open afternoon, and were made very welcome. Lunch as soon as we arrived and a very nice lunch it was and cheap too. After lunch it was into the cinema to watch a couple of videos, one video was the first ever film advertising the very first driving test in 1935 a very funny film. After that we had a guided tour around the complex and were shown where various training was taking place such as HGV testing and motorcycle testing. Then had a guided tour inside the complex and met the guy that develops the Driving Test Success DVD’s and CD Roms. Then it was back to the cinema for a question and answer session. We could have done with another hour or so questioning the Examiners but very pleased with the day out, well worth the trip down for anyone wishing to go next year. The trip was paid for by the Pontefract Driving Instructors’ Association. Our motto is: Lets work together and not against each other.
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