"We reached new heights of cooperation"

As an AA Driving School Instructor I'm more or less my own boss, which I like. However, I also like knowing that the AA will be there with help and advice when I need it. So like everyone who works for the AA I really feel like I'm part of a big family sharing the same goal - looking after our members and customers. That's why, when an AA Patrol recently asked me for help I was only too please cooperate.

I was going shopping in Kingston-upon-Thames and by chance had decided to use my AA Driving School car. As I was approaching the Bentall Centre car park, an AA Patrol came towards me. It turned out that a member had broken down on the lower ground level of the car park. But there was a problem. The ceiling was too low for his van to get down there, so he asked me if I could drive down there and tow the member's car out where he could fix it. Naturally I was only too willing to help.

The patrol arranged for the exit gate to be up and I drove down to the stranded motorist. He then attached the tow cable to both vehicles and I pulled the member out to where his van was parked. Job done. And I assume that the patrol must have got his job done too, as when I'd finished shopping and left the car park neither the AA Patrol or the member where anywhere to be seen.

Alan Shirley, AA Driving School Instructor