Group Committee
CAD Observers
What is an ‘Observer‘?
They are existing IAM Members who have undergone further training and regular certification to be approved by our governing national body to prepare members of the public for taking and passing the IAM Advanced Car Assessment. All our Observers have received specialist instruction about teaching advanced driving techniques and have passed the high standard required by IAM RoadSmart’s external quality assurance accreditation providers.
Neil is a retired IT Director who moved from London to Cornwall in 2014. Given our roads are so challenging, Neil passed both Advance Motorcycle and Car tests before joining the CAD Committee and training to be a National Observer. In July 2025 Neil took over as Chairman of the Group.
Barbra started her interest in Advanced Driving about 20 years ago with the Thames Valley ROSPA group, becoming a Tutor. She also joined the Newbury IAM group and became an Observer and worked with both groups until the move to Cornwall where she joined Cornwall Advanced Drivers eventually becoming the group secretary and a National Observer.
John spent 25 years in the agricultural industry in Hertfordshire then 19 years running a printing company in Truro with Rosemary until retirement. Passed the IAM Advanced Driving test in 1980, joined Cornwall Advanced Drivers in 2010, was chairman from 2017 – 2025 and is now coordinator for new associates. Has been an Observer since 2015 and a National Observer since 2018.
I took the advanced test in the early 1990s and became an IAM Observer to stop my new-found skills deteriorating. It’s great to help people enjoy their driving more and to help road safety. I’m definitely not a petrolhead and care much more about driving than cars!
Neil originally decided to enroll in the Advanced Driving course while lying awake in a bivouac in -18°C temperatures, looking for something other than work to enrich his life! Neil enjoyed the course so much, he volunteered with his local group as the Operations Manager of Guildford Advanced Motorists’ Since relocating to Cornwall and joining CAD, Neil has passed his Masters driving qualification and also qualified as a National Observer. Neil is based close to Bodmin and looks forward to coaching local drivers to realise their potential as Advanced Drivers.
After changing my career in 2000 from dairy farming, I trained to become a DVSA ADI in 2001 until 2021 when I retired. In that time I gained several more driving qualifications, IAM Advanced Driver, IAM Fleet Trainer, SAFED driving instructor, RoSPA Advance Driver (Gold). I also had a taxi licence and was a chauffeur for a prestigious company based in Cornwall. I have joined CAD and regained my IAM Advanced Driver with a First and I am a National Observer with the group. I thoroughly enjoy helping people to gain the Advance certificate and look forward meeting many more associates in the coming years.
A semi-retired business owner, I still cover between 15-20,000 miles pa and wanted to maintain a good standard. I passed with a First, joined as a Fellow (a re-test every 3years) and have enjoyed it so much have recently qualified as a National Observer. Based in the West of the county, there are not many roads I don’t know, have a relaxed style, and I am keen to mentor/tutor those wishing to confirm or improve their skills.
