With the lighter nights approaching and Spring starting to take a grip, we’ll all have greater opportunity for more driving. The roads will become busier later into the evenings and so our advanced driving skills of good observations, observation links and anticipation will be put to good use. As members and friends of the St. Helens Group you are very welcome to make contact with us and ask for a free ‘MOT’ of your driving. These observed runs are confidential between you and the Observer so please have no concerns about this. Bad habits can easily creep into our driving so an extra, non judgemental, pair of eyes may be all that is necessary.

It’s important that we continue to promote the Group in St. Helens and the surrounding area. If you are involved with another social group who has regular meetings with speakers then let me know and I’ll offer its organising Committee a talk from the Group. We have done this recently for a U3A group and are planning to do so for a couple of Age UK groups.

April is the time of year when the Annual Subscriptions to the Group are due. Group subscriptions are different to annual subscriptions to national IAM RoadSmart. We have held the subscription at £8.50 for at least 15 years and have no plans to raise it at the moment. However, increasing costs are bearing down on the Group – notably Group Insurance and the hosting fees for our website (previously free hosting on the IAM website). So, please consider renewing your membership for another year. If you are no longer a current member but would like to support the group with a donation of any amount then this would be much appreciated – please let me know. If your donation is £8.50 or more you’ll become an official St. Helens Group member! For Associates who joined the Group after August last year, we will waive your annual subscription this year.

Mark Farnworth

Group Chairman