Comparing the two tests is like comparing black and white; they couldn’t have been more different.
Peter Torre
“It was in the days of hand signals and it rained the whole time, so my arm was soaked! At the end, the examiner said in a monotone voice: ‘I think you’re safe enough to be let loose on the Queen’s highway.’”
By contrast, Peter’s second driving test, taken at Mill Hill test centre at 1.35pm on 2 June 2009, was conducted in his Ford Ka by a female examiner. Her greeting was friendly and informal. Peter was encouraged to relax into the experience, which he succeeded in doing despite his driving reputation being at stake!
“She was a lovely lady, and I felt very comfortable,” said Peter. “I just drove in my usual way, nothing special, because I drive to Roadcraft [the police drivers’ handbook] standard anyway. I quite justifiably was given one minor fault for not checking a mirror, and that just goes to show that nobody’s perfect!
“I did like the ‘show me, tell me’ element of the test, and the fact that the manoeuvres are varied these days so that candidates have to prepare for them all. It was a more detailed and thorough test, and very fair. I give the modern day test ten out of ten.”
It’s high praise indeed coming from an experienced road safety professional like Peter, a one-off character who has many fascinating anecdotes from a life spent in driving. As a trained Rolls Royce chauffeur in the 1960s, he
worked for Lord Astor shortly after his entanglement in the Profumo scandal, and was later employed by music magazine New Musical Express (NME), during which time he met John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Tony Bennett and Dame Vera Lynn.
Between 1966 and 1971, Peter worked for a First World War major, driving his Phantom V Rolls Royce during the summers spent in Surrey and winters spent in the Bahamas. When the major died in ‘71, Peter successfully embarked on his ADI training.
“The whole package – part one, part two and the provisional licence to instruct – cost just £16. Good old days,” remembers Peter.
After several satisfying years as an ADI, Peter joined the Metropolitan Police Motor Driving School, Hendon, as a civilian instructor in 1978. When he left in 1987, Peter combined ADI work with his professional driver services.
While he no longer regularly teaches learner drivers, in his semi-retirement he still gives advanced motorist lessons and enjoys his chauffeuring work.
“I take people to Ascot and out on social occasions in their own cars if they don’t want to drive,” said Peter. “I’m driving a millionaire to London’s West End in his Lexus this weekend.”
www.dsa.gov.uk Despatch Magazine 19
1959 Peter Torre pictured as a young air cadet in the year he gained his driving licence
1971 Peter Torre’s first ADI picture
2009 Peter Torre on the day of his second test on 2 June
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