Drive to the stars

May 13 2009 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

THE BOSS of a Teesside driving school is sharing the limelight with gobby comedienne Jo Brand and Westlife hunk Nick Byrne as part of the BBC’s effort to encourage public speaking.

Julie Craig, joint director with friend Deborah Strickley of Skelton's AB Fab Driving School, who says talking to a room of strangers ‘doesn’t worry me at all’, was chosen to record a five minute webslot, giving advice on how to build one’s own confidence and put other people at their ease. The programme was shot around the streets of Teesside where Julie shepherds nervous learners.

“Jo Brand only got two minutes and I got five - and I got to star alongside Nick Byrne and what kind of hunk is he?” said Julie, whose offshoot Ab Fab Enterprises has now branched out into holding female friendly car maintenance courses for women. The first free training session, sponsored by Surestart in Redcar, was held yesterday with around a dozen candidates getting under the bonnet and coming to grips with tyre changes.

According to mum-of-two Julie, drivers could save up to 25% on fuel and vehicle repair bills just by carrying out simple checks on their vehicles, but most women do not have the confidence to do it.

Julie who had worked with Deborah at a large insurance company, met up by chance at a driving instructor training course. The pair decided to become business partners and Ab Fab Driving School took to the road in October 2004.

To view Julie’s five minutes of fame, go to www.bbc.co.uk/speaker/improve/ and click on Fighting the Fear.