About Us
The early years
It all began with engineer's apprentice, Stanley Roberts. Keen on 'motoring', his parents rented him a small garage at the back of their home in Peckham, where in 1910 he started his business instructing people to drive.
The first cars
Stanley's first school car was a Dutch-built 'Spyker' and his first student was a former coachman, who he trained to become a chauffeur. He soon added more cars with a Richard Brazier, a Berliet, two Darracqs and a Milnes Daimler for learner lorry drivers. Then, moving the growing driving school to Coventry Street in Piccadilly, he gave the business a new name - The British School of Motoring (BSM).
The First World War
During WW1, BSM was appointed to run War Emergency Courses teaching the Army to drive. After the war, BSM continued to provide dedicated motor engineering courses. In 1925 Stanley branched out to establish the Automobile Engineering College, together with the Engineering Educational Trust. In 1931, in conjunction with Brooklands Aviation, aeronautical engineering was incorporated into the syllabus and the business became known as the Chelsea College of Aeronautical and Automobile Engineering. Up until WW2, the school undertook all types of driving tuition and engineering training. Its engineering shops in London covered an area of over 67,000 sq. feet, with courses ranging from engine testing and fitting to forge work and welding.
The first driving test success
In 1935, the Ministry of Transport called on BSM to help it set up a practical driving test. The original examiners were drawn from BSM staff. The first person to pass the new test was Mr Beene, who had been taught by BSM.
