Meet The Team
Nigel Richards Driving School have been providing driving lessons in Wrexham, Oswestry, Mold and Chester since 1994. All our team have been trained by Nigel Richards Instructor Training and some are ex pupils of the school!
Nigel Richards
Founded by Nigel Richards, a passionate driver since his youth, our driving school began in July 1994 with a single student.
Today, we deliver 500-600 lessons weekly across Wrexham, Mold, Chester and Oswestry, and are proud to now teach a second generation of drivers whose parents were among our first pupils. Starting as a solo instructor, Nigel expanded the school to meet growing demand, now boasting a fleet of 16 cars and a team of instructors—all trained in the innovative coaching methods he developed coming up to 30 years.
Our commitment to excellence continues as we consistently integrate the latest client-centered teaching techniques, ensuring the best learning experience for every student.
Neil Rowlands (AKA The Welsh Wizard)
We are pleased to have Neil Rowlands on our team as he is a fluent Welsh speaker and now allows Nigel Richards Driving School to offer lessons in Welsh and English. So if you would like your driving lessons to be conducted in our native language then Neil is your man!
Neil is an experienced driving instructor who has been working in Pwllheli, West Wales and has now moved over to Wrexham and joined our school. Already proving a great success with our pupils in his new Vauxhall Corsa Neil is always in great demand and we enjoy having him on the team.
Jenny Thompson (AKA The Golden Girl)
Jen Thompson learnt to drive with Nigel Richards Driving School when she was 17, as did her 3 brothers.
Hailing from a Wrexham farming family family Jenny got plenty of early vehicle control of the fields of the family farm.
After trying a few career paths Jenny decided her love of driving should be followed and decided to train to be a driving instructor. She came back to Nigel Richards Driving School for her training.
She passed all the examination to become an approved driving instructor and we think its now safe to say she has found her ideal profession.
Since passing she has fitted perfectly into the team. Shes easily recognised with the HELLJEN number plate!
Paul Johns (AKA Golfing Great)
Paul trained with Nigel after being made redundant from a local factory after many years of service. He felt he needed a more rewarding career and took the step to pursue his interest in driving. Upon passing all his qualifying exams Paul joined the team. His popularity amongst pupils was instant due to his very calm and confidence boosting nature and methods of teaching
He now gets regularly recommended to other pupils for these attributes and is really enjoying his time with the school, which now gives him the flexibility to enjoy his golfing more combined with giving his pupils a great service.
Nick Roberts
Nick Roberts learnt to drive at 17 years of age with Nigel following in the footsteps of his older siblings who also all learnt with us. Passing at 1st attempt he then furthered his driving career in the Royal Air Force by becoming a Firefighter.
Nicks love of driving caused him to enquire about becoming an instructor resulting in him enrolled into our driving instructor training program. He took his time over the training, getting everything right and passing every exam at the first attempt with flying colours!
His instructional ability was then put to the test, resulting in his first 5 tests all passing! An amazing achievement. We are so pleased to have him on the team and so are his full diary of pupils!
He now helps us train our team of instructors.
Jon Foulkes
Meet Jon, a valued member of our team whose journey to becoming a driving instructor is as inspiring as it is unique. It all began when Jon's son, Jordan, was learning to drive at Nigel Richards Driving School. Jordan's instructor, Nigel, was impressed by his consistent progress with each lesson.
Curious about this remarkable development, Nigel learned that Jon, Jordan's father, had been diligently practicing with him. This discovery revealed Jon's latent passion for teaching driving. With a longstanding interest in this profession, Jon seized the opportunity to train with us.
His dedication and skill have since culminated in an impressive high pass rate among his students. Jon's story is a testament to the unexpected paths that lead to fulfilling careers and the excellence we nurture at our driving school."
Jamie Pritchard (AKA Gym Fit Jamie)
Jamie trained with Nigel Richards Instructor Training after deciding to pursue a career change like his work colleague who also trained as an instructor in Wrexham with us.
He is a keen fitness enthusiast and the flexibility of driving instruction allows him to attend his gym to his liking. The flexibility also allows him to spend more time with his young son.
Jamie has a superb pass rate with his pupils and they all comment on how they enjoy his relaxed and patient method of coaching driving.
Ian Speare (AKA The Ice Man)
Before joining our team, Ian navigated the complexities of logistics planning at a haulage firm, where he honed his expertise in transport and organization. This experience seamlessly transitioned into his role as a driving instructor. Under the mentorship of Nigel, Ian demonstrated exceptional aptitude, swiftly passing all his qualifying exams on the first try.
Ian's personal success isn't just a testament to his skill but also a foundation for his teaching approach. He instils confidence and competence in his students, who frequently mirror his achievement by showcasing their abilities confidently at the test centre.
When he's not guiding students behind the wheel, Ian indulges in cycling, embracing the freedom and adventure of the open road. He also plays a vital role in his family's culinary ventures, delivering delectable homemade cakes and brownies crafted by his wife. Joining Ian's class isn't just about learning to drive; it's about embarking on a journey towards skilful and confident driving.
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Geraint Hayward (AKA The Man From Llan)
Geraint joined the Nigel Richards Driving School team after passing through our training system. He is a resident of the wonderful town of Llangollen and covers our pupil enquiries from there up to Chirk and Gobowen. Geraint has always been a big driving fan having learnt to drive tractors at an early age he still take to the fields on occasion and is a huge Formula 1 fan and a regular Marshall at motor sport events in Oulton Park.
He really livens up our regular social events and is one of our Soap Box Derby race team.
Dave Johnson
Dave Johnson is our Mold area instructor. He approached us to train as a driving instructor after being made redundant from his previous job. Becoming a driving instructor had been an ambition of Dave's for many years and the act of being made redundant was the catalyst to start him on the journey to complete his ambition. Dave is a an avid drummer in a local band and real people person which shows in the glowing feedback reviews from his pupils.
Gillian Burgess - ( AKA The Woman of Oz)
Gillian Burgess is our Oswestry based instructor. Gillian came to us for her instructor training after not having the best experience with another training school. She soon picked up our methods and passed all the examinations with flying colours. In her past life Gillian was a teacher with a love for driving.
So when a desire for a new challenge arose, it seemed logical to combine the skills. We are pleased to confirm that Gillian is now a key member of our team over the border in Shropshire and is getting superb feedback from her pupils.
Eric Ellard- AKA Erico!
Eric approached Nigel Richards Driving Instructor training to train as an instructor to seek and more flexible career to suit his life circumstances. He totally dedicated himself to every aspect of the training which resulted in him passing every one of the qualifying exams at the first attempt!
He is a an avid Wrexham fan which is another reason he became and instructor with us because he no longer had to worry about having to "Apply" for time off to attend the matches! He now has a full diary of pupils and is really enjoying the career he so desired and this enjoyment is reflected in his pupils performance on their lessons and tests.
Adam Healy
Adam arrived at our driving school seeking an escape from his job. He wanted greatly flexibility and a more rewarding career. And judging by his dedication he certainly seems to have got that!
His dedication to his training is reflected in training his own pupils and the results he gets at the test centre. Adam spare time is dedicated to building his dream home and tending to his sheep, goats and many other animals on the home farm. He is always in big demand in the Llafynydd/Mold areas.
Adam is always a huge hit with all his pupils, known for making each lesson fun and informative.
Carl James (AKA Carlos)
Carl's journey with NRDS goes back over two decades, showcasing a deep family connection with our brand. Unlike many of our instructors, Carl wasn't initially taught to drive a car by Nigel; instead, 23 years ago, Nigel taught him to drive a truck.
This special relationship continued with Carl's family, as we also had the privilege of teaching his wife to drive and his daughter, who learned under the guidance of our instructor trainer, Nick Roberts.
With such a strong bond of trust and history, it is a true pleasure to have Carl as part of our team of instructors. His lifelong career as a professional driver has endowed him with a wealth of knowledge and experience, which he enthusiastically shares with his pupils.
This dedication is evident in the glowing reviews he receives, reflecting his exceptional teaching skills and commitment.
Affectionately nicknamed "Carlos," Carl bears a striking resemblance to a certain 70s TV cop—a fun touch that adds to his unique character. Carl's extensive driving experience and friendly, approachable nature make him a valued member of the NRDS family, ensuring that his pupils receive top-quality instruction.
Ian Norris is a proud member of the Nigel Richards Driving School team, bringing both passion and expertise to his role as a driving instructor. After being made redundant from his previous career, Ian saw the perfect opportunity to pursue a long-held dream of becoming a driving instructor—a journey he embarked on with our comprehensive training program.
Covering the Shrewsbury and Oswestry areas, Ian is known for his calm and encouraging teaching style, which makes him a favorite among learners of all experience levels.
Outside of work, Ian has a lifelong passion for sailing. On weekends, you’ll often find him navigating the open water, enjoying the sense of freedom and challenge that sailing brings. His enthusiasm for both driving and sailing demonstrates his commitment to mastering skills and sharing his expertise with others.
Jamie Cunnah
Jamie trained with and joined Team NRDS after seeking to escape his job as a postman. His former career served him well as he was an LGV driver with the post office and he passes on his vast driving knowledge to his pupils with ease. He is also an active member of our NRDS Soapbox racing team after having his first run in the Farndon Race. His video of him parking the soapbox at the end is testament to his driving skills. WATCH IT HERE
