ABOUT US
Lee & Amy are a husband and wife team who created Tolson Driver Training in 2020 and are the company directors. We are both fully qualified Government Approved Driving Instructors (ADI's). Lee has been an instructor for over 23 years and Amy since 2016. Lee also mentors trainee instructors, supporting them throughout their ADI training. Our instructors who make up the team are a mixture of fully qualified ADI's and trainee instructors, all of whom trained under Lee's guidance or are currently supported by the Tolson team on their instructor journey.
Lee
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I was born in Portsmouth where I lived until 2019 when Amy and I moved to back to Kent to raise our family. I have 2 Daughters, Georgia who is 25 and Leah who is 20. And of course now our little boy Zachary who is 9. At college I trained and qualified as a chef and worked hard for many years in the hotel and restaurant industry. As my girls were born and got older I realised that I was in an industry that just wasn't going to give me the time to be with my family. I trained as a driving instructor and qualified over 23 years ago and never looked back.
For the past couple of years I have also been a mentor to trainee driving instructors supporting them on their journey to become a fully qualified ADI
Amy
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I was born and raised in Kent in the Cranbrook area, I moved to Portsmouth for 4 years, where I started my career as an ADI and we returned to Kent in 2019 to bring up our family.
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After a long career in the Motorsport Industry as an Events Coordinator I moved to Portsmouth to be with Lee and his Daughters, but it was time to settle down into a job that was more family friendly with the hours I was working. This lead me to a role as a trainer for an IT software company. Unfortunately I was made redundant, however this opened a door to new career, the more I realised I enjoyed the training role the more it became clear that I should join Lee as a driving instructor. Fast forward a few years, I'm a fully qualified ADI, we are back in Kent and we have our little boy, Zachary.
Outside of work Lee and I love to keep busy with family and friends, enjoying days out and socialising and look forward to our holidays abroad.
The satisfaction that this job brings us is enormous. Nothing can beat the smile of a student who has just passed their driving test . And we couldn't be prouder of them. We love helping others achieve their potential, their goals, their dreams. To us it's not just a job, it's an important part of our life and the pleasure it brings us to help our students reach their goals is fantastic.
Rob
I was born in Ashford and have lived in Kent all my life. I've been married to my amazing wife Emma for ten years and our home is completed by two cocker spaniels, Lucca and Alto. We've spent our life together in Maidstone until recently moving to Headcorn.
My work life has been spent in retail where my passion has always been in coaching and developing people. As the industry has changed over the years and consequently opportunities to spend quality time on training are fewer, I decided to change careers to concentrate on the thing I love most - seeing people grow and develop new skills. That has bought me to this point as a driving instructor.
I was incredibly lucky to meet Lee and Amy and completed all my training with Lee. He was a great mentor and helped me achieve my goal to become and ADI. I'm very proud to be the first franchisee of Tolson Driver Training and am excited to be part of an amazing business who put their students at the centre of everything they do.
In my spare time I enjoy running (I've completed 2 marathons and have a place in the London marathon in October 2022), long walks with our dogs, reading and cooking.
Chris
I have lived in and around the Maidstone area for most of my life. For many years, I worked in London’s creative industry- a career I thoroughly enjoyed and found incredibly fulfilling. As I’ve grown older, I’ve felt a strong desire to give something back, which led me to pursue a career as a driving instructor.
Friends and family have often commented that I have the qualities of a great teacher: patience, empathy, and the ability to make learning enjoyable. I believe those traits are essential to helping learners feel confident and supported behind the wheel.
I was fortunate to be introduced to Lee and Amy, and I’ve worked hard to reach this point in my journey. Lee’s training has been exceptional, and it’s been invaluable to share experiences with not only him but also with Amy and Rob along the way. I’m excited to be part of the team and look forward to helping students thrive in their journey.
Outside of work, I’m a proud father and have a wonderful relationship with my son. I have a passion for art and design, enjoy photography, and stay active with regular workouts—it’s a great way to boost energy and focus. I also enjoy playing golf (albeit not very well!), spending time with family and friends, cooking, and entertaining. With Belgian heritage on one side of my family, I’m also fortunate to speak fluent French.
Russell
I’m originally from Aylesford near Maidstone, I began my working career in the care industry supporting young adults with learning disabilities. My late father was in the motor trade so it was only a matter of time before I followed his lead. I however took the cleaner option of selling cars instead of repairing them.
Over the years I had often thought about becoming a driving instructor, it wasn’t until the start of 2025 that I began my journey with Lee Tolson, he is, and will continue to be a great tutor. In this career you never stop learning. I’m really pleased to be joining Tolson Driver Training specialising in tutoring in an Automatic car.
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Being a driving instructor isn’t just about teaching someone how to pass a driving test. It’s teaching a life skill, It’s giving that person independence and the knowledge to keep themselves and others safe.
My partner Debra and I live in Headcorn with our three rescue dogs, Ralph the Corfu Bitsa ( Bits a this and Bits a that) Murphy our blind Collie and Bella the whippet. We both love our motorcycles, and getting away in Barry the campervan.
Mark
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I grew up in Biddenden, Kent, and have spent most of my life working as a mechanical engineer in the automotive industry. It was a career that let me follow my passion for cars and problem-solving, and one I thoroughly enjoyed. Over time, though, I felt drawn to do something different—something that allowed me to share my knowledge and help people more directly. That’s what inspired me to make the move into becoming a driving instructor.
Friends and colleagues have often said I’m patient, approachable, and clear when explaining things—qualities that gave me the confidence to take this step. Helping learners grow in both skill and confidence behind the wheel is something I find hugely rewarding, and I feel lucky to be part of their journey.
I’ve been fortunate to have the support and guidance of Lee and Amy along the way, as well as the chance to share experiences with the wider team. Their encouragement has been invaluable, and I’m excited to be part of such a friendly, supportive group.
Outside of work, I’m very much a family man and love spending time with them whenever I can. I also have a passion for motorbikes and enjoy getting out on the road whenever the opportunity arises.
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