Secretary - Janice Haigh

I always wanted to learn to drive and passed my DVSA driving test in May, 1966, (when I was very young!!!)

In 1971, following a furious argument with my father about our standards of driving, I decided to take the IAM test – just to prove a point. I didn’t know anything about local IAM Groups at that time, and so I contacted the ADI who had originally taught me to drive. As I didn’t have a car of my own at the time, I had to use my instructor’s vehicle for the runs and wasn’t able to get a great of practice. However, I succeeded in passing the IAM test in October, 1971 – first time!

Following this, I joined the Leeds Group of the IAM, but, owing to the nature of my job (which involved considerable overseas travel), I was not able to attend regular meetings. I therefore let my Group membership lapse, but always remained a Member of the IAM. This served me very well, as in those days I drove approximately 40,000 miles per year in the U.K. and all over the world.

In the summer of 2000, I was in Wakefield and saw that the Wakefield Advanced Motorists (WAM) Group had a stand at an event in the city centre. Early that year, I had been forced to give up my job in export, as my husband had suffered a major stroke and was in hospital for 18 months. As a result, I had some time on my hands in the evenings (after hospital visiting hours), and so I joined the Group and volunteered for the Committee as Minutes Secretary. In approximately 2008, I was elected Chairman of WAM, and remained in that post until MYAM was formed in approximately 2014. As I was by now on my own and enjoying travelling, I resigned from the Group, but still remained a Member of the IAM.

Between 2012 and 2016, I travelled the world, driving in many countries and in a variety of vehicles. I drove cars in Australia, New Zealand, and even the Bahamas - and then I drove a camper most of the way across Canada. I loved every minute!!

Then, in 2017, several members of the MYAM Committee contacted me. The Chairman, Secretary, and Chief Observer were standing down, and I was asked to re-join the Group and stand for the post of Chairman. I agreed – and the rest (as they say) is history!!!

Since then, I am proud to say that the Group has flourished, thanks to a very hard-working and loyal committee, which continued to operate during the pandemic. As my personal background was in export sales and marketing, I have thoroughly enjoyed being the “front man” for the Group, encouraging people of all ages to improve their driving skills and join IAMR.