First Gear Runs Another
Successful Driving Course For Young People.
The latest course of the First Gear training programme, a youth initiative
for pre-learner drivers aged 16 & 17, concluded recently with Bob Law of
RML Safety Training Services presenting the 8 young people with
certificates after they successfully completed the course.
The
course aims to encourage positive attitudes towards driving a car, plus
the ownership and maintenance of a motor vehicle. It also promotes the
correct attitude towards other road users.
The course lasts for several
sessions over a number of weeks. It included stints of driving which were
delivered on the �off road� site at Dounreay (who also provided
accommodation and refreshments for the course), under the watchful eyes of
local Driving Instructors, Nicola Mowat (Driver Training) and John
Duffield (Leaview Driving Academy). Also included in the programme were
talks and practical sessions from officers of the Northern Constabulary,
UKAEA Constabulary and UKAEA Fire Brigade.
A visit to the Fire Station in Wick
continues to be one of the highlights of the course, when the participants
get a chance to look around the station and appliances, with a talk from
Station Officer Gordon Cook and Leading Fire-fighters Richard Mackay and
John Gunn.
A visit was made for the very last
time to the Old Police Station in Wick, where participants got a last
chance to see it working before closure and removal to the new station. We
were delighted to welcome on the final day of the course the Procurator
Fiscal, Mr Gary Aitken who gave an enlightening talk, afterwards answering
many questions from the young people.
Also included was a practical First
Aid session delivered for the first time by Bob Law of RML Safety Training
Services of Contin, Ross-shire. (Who also presented the certificates)
The programme was co-ordinated and
presented by Brian Lavery of the Community Learning & Leisure Service in
Wick and Diane Gibson of Youth Clubs Caithness.
The 8 young people who completed
the course and received their certificates were Matthew Phimister, Sarah
Clarke, Leanne Mackay-Steven, Laura Wyllie, Richard Whitty, Gregor
Swanson, Craig Nicolson and Amy MacDonald.
The next First Gear Course is due
to take place in November and anyone aged 16 or 17 who is interested in
the next course should phone Brian Lavery at the Wick Community Education
Centre on 01955 605423 for an application form.
In the Photograph
Left to right standing Brian
Lavery (Co-ordinator & co-presenter, Community Learning & Leisure Service,
Wick), PC Alan Loomes (Northern Constabulary), PC Phil Williams-Blake (UKAEA
Constabulary), Sarah Clarke,PC Dean McDonald (UKAEA Constabulary), Bob Law
(RML Safety Training Services), Gary Aitken (Procurator Fiscal), Diane
Gibson (Co-presenter, Youth Clubs Caithness), Craig Nicolson & Richard
Whitty. Kneeling at front - Gregor Swanson, Leanne Mackay-Steven,
Laura Wyllie & Amy MacDonald. Missing from the photo are Driving
Instructors Nicola Mowat (Driver Training) and John Duffield (Leaview
Driving Academy) |