Will you still teach me...when I'm 64?

Most people her age might be thinking about taking life easy but a brave 64-year-old is ready for a new life in the fast lane by gearing up for her first ever driving test.

Businesswoman Val Adaway recently decided to get behind the wheel of a car and take lessons for the first time in 30 years.

Mrs Adaway, of Balmoral Close in Wellingborough, took the plunge after
a chance meeting with 45-year-old driving instructor Andrew Love, who runs Kettering-based LUV2DRV, at a business networking meeting.

She said: " Andrew seemed very relaxed and after con-sulting with another business contact, a psychologist, I decided this is what I wanted and needed to do.

"I had a few lessons in the mid-80s, ironically while working in the motorsport industry, but I gave up.

"I have seen the idiots on the roads and felt I didn't want to put myself at their mercy but 'not driving' was holding me up."

And Mrs Adaway revealed she had another big incentive.

She soon qualifies for a soft-top Mini for increasing trade and customers at her own Utility Warehouse business.

Mr Love, of Wilton Road, Kettering, said Mrs Adaway started her lessons
in October but found there were "too many pedals" in a standard manual
car so switched to an automatic.

He said: "It is unusual for someone of that age to take their test for
the first time but I wouldn't put Val through it if she wasn't ready.
"For the first eight to 10 weeks she didn't want to get out of her comfort zone but I teased her out of that and she has done so well."

Dad-of-one Mr Love set up LUV2DR four years ago after working as an instructor for the previous two years.

He has helped more than 150 people pass their test.

He said: "Val is not a challenge for me. I've enjoyed teaching her and
have every confidence."

Mrs Adaway will sit her test on Monday at 11.11am in Kettering.

By a strange coincidence, 11.11 is her birthday date too – November 11.
She said: "I'm not thinking about failing.

"If it goes wrong I won't be reduced to tears and I will be back for another go."

Anyone interested in learning to drive, of any age, can contact Mr Love on 0781 2537562 or visit www.luv2drv.net.