Introducing Bryan Drake

My main delight, for six full days per week, is teaching young and old, with every level of skill, to be safe and comfortable when driving in Auckland’s busy traffic.

I studied Physics at the University of Canterbury from 1959-62 and later studied Theology at St John’s College, Auckland.

From 1965 to 2000 I was a Minister in the Anglican Church, including serving in Papakura and Bombay, and in Singapore from 1975 to 1981 as a parish priest and school chaplain. I returned to New Zealand to be the vicar of Ellerslie, and while there also served (1983-2000) in the Army becoming the Senior Territorial Force Chaplain, and Chaplain (1991-2003) to the Manukau Police District. I have also served, from 1984, as a parent representative, and then Chair, of the Penrose High School Board of Trustees.

While with the Army I qualified and became competent in off-road driving with both the Land Rover and the Army Unimog truck.

In 2003 I went back to study part-time at the University of Auckland, graduating in 2012 with a Master of Science degree in Geology, specialising in the evolution of hydrothermal systems (hot springs). I have continued since then as a Research Associate helping the Hot Springs Research Group with its international and inter-planetary research programme, and also with its educational outreach to schools and young people. I am also a participant in Te Ao Mārama, the University Institute for Fundamental Inquiry, with its concern for Astrobiology and the Origins of Life on Earth.

At the end of 1999, needing a change, I left the full-time ministry and began teaching driving as a franchisee in a large driving school. Now I have become an independent driving instructor in order to provide a more personal service to my students.