Our Tutors


John Tizzard – Advanced Tutor

I am John Tizzard and I am one of the Senior Tutors for Derbyshire ROSPA.

First ride was a Honda 50 at the age of 14. My first Legal bike was a BSA Bantam D5 150cc bought from a Derby City Traffic Cop who lived in Spondon. Passed my test on this at the age of 16 and 2 months.
I rode this until a mate of mine told me he was trading in his Norton so I had it off him for 15 quid. It was a 350cc Norton Electra.

There followed marriage, family and 25 bikeless years which ended with the acquisition of a BMW R75/6 750cc boxer followed by a VFR750, Honda 1100 Pan European, 3 R1200GS’s, a Yamaha FZ 1 (very fast), F650GS and now my Honda CBF1000. I have toured Germany and Ireland on the Pan and Spain and France on the GS.

I was a CBT and DAS trainer but now my riding is RoSPA Tutoring or Escorting Cycle Races (Including the Tour of Britain ) as part of the NEG (National Escort Group).

My RoSPA experience started in cars. I first passed my Gold test in the 1990s. Bike wise, I first did IAM in 2006 when working part time as a DAS Trainer. I went on to do RoSPA Training with the West Midlands group.

After moving to the Derbyshire Group I became a Tutor and went on to do the Advanced Tutor Training before taking on the Training Officer role in 2015.

Steve Watt – Training Officer and Advanced Tutor

My name is Steve Watt and I have been a motorcyclist most of my adult life. I have been an advanced motorcyclist for the best part of 15 years, with bike highlights and low lights featuring a Yamaha FS1e, Yamaha RD200, Suzuki GT500, Suzuki GT750, Kawasaki ZX9R, Triumph Sprints (various), a BMW k1200S and now a Yamaha Tracer 900GT – which I love(ish).

I have been a member of member of Derbyshire ROSPA very nearly since the groups inception and have been an advanced tutor since 2015. I am recently retired from employment with a local major aerospace company and advanced motorcycling training is hobby. 

I try to bring the same exacting standard to training that I take to work, because I believe it can make a difference to others enjoyment of the motorcycling and significantly improve there abilities to do it safely. We can transform the abilities of any motorcyclist willing to invest the time in our programme of training and have fun doing it. Were it not fun, and not for the opportunity to meet a generally super range of people and improve there skills, I would not be doing this all year around and in all weathers.  In my opinion, its the trainees and members that make this worth doing.

I am also the Training Officer (for now)

Fred Parsons – Advanced Tutor

My name is Fred Parsons and I have only been actively involved with Derbyshire RoSPA since 2016. During this time I have been assessed at Gold standard as a rider,  and approved and tested as a tutor. I gain great satisfaction from teaching and seeing associates progress.

I am an all year around rider and regularly return 18k miles a year in the UK and Europe, many with pillion and luggage! I have been riding motorcycles, without remission, since the age of nine and am fairly recently retired giving me more time to pursue my riding passion and support others in developing there motorcycling expertise safely.

In my professional life, I was for thirty years the founding Director of a large regional charity delivering  a range of education and support services to autistic children and adults. My background is in teaching and humanities and these continue to be areas of special interest which at times I can apply to my RoSPA tutor role.

I am also a doting  Grandpa, evidenced by the photo!

Andy Vest – Advanced Tutor

Hi my name is Andrew Vest,

I’ve been riding motorbikes on the road from the age of 16 years old to commute to work in Derby as a Mechanical Engineering Technician.

I now run my own Haulage related businesses & as a professional HGV driver from an elevated position I travel 1000’s of miles a week & experience many varying standards of driving & riding.

After becoming an advanced rider in 2014 I then went on to qualify as a tutor. My aim is to try & pass on some of my experience in a manner & to a standard expected of myself in my professional career to people who seek to improve their safety, skill, & pleasure on motorcycles.

As most motorcycles are ridden for pleasure I try to pass on advice in a friendly (sometimes humorous) confident professional way to help associates reach the standard of advanced riders. 

Andrew Jones – Tutor

I’m Andrew Jones.

I’ve been mad on Motorbikes since I was 16 and passed my test at 17, too many years and too many Sports Bikes ago but loved every minute of Biking from the day I first experienced them at 16  on a 50cc until now as a father of 2.  Must be around 37 years.  “They are immense Fun!! “

I passed my IAMs Test in 2015 and became an  IAMs Masters in 2018 and got my Rospa Gold in 2019 which allowed me to observe for RoSPA. (I was previously an IAM observer.)  Which I enjoy very much.

I have enjoyed lots of things to do with motorcycling and had many sports bikes and done several track days on them but discovered a liking for off road and have done several training days over the last 2 years and found it great fun. But I am still an avid fan of WSB and BSB and still support several of these thro the year.

I seem to have settled on 3 Bikes .I enjoy the Usual Bmw GS, but also have fun on an Aprilia 1100V4 factory and KTM Exc250 2 stroke.

I ride all  year round, theres lots to experience  from 4 season riding which is great to pass on to associates as well keeping myself honed!

My  day job is as a School Teacher which I enjoy but its not really as exciting as riding a motorbike which is where I’m most content. LOL.

Bob Whitmore – Tutor

My name is Bob Whitmore I started riding at 15yrs old on fields what ever we could get hold of.  My first road transport was a Honda SS50 then on to a Yamaha RD 250, which I tinkered with to make it go faster  My wife also had a Yamaha RD 250. Then the children came along and bikes had to go on the back burner .

Fast forward a few years and finally got back into biking brought a Kawasaki GPZ1100 unitrak. Then swiped for a ZZR110. Then got hold of a Old BMW650 and knocked about with a training school in BoT. I found I liked helping others on bikes. Then swapped the ZZR to a ZX12R.

Then took some advanced training with Nigel Bowers Advanced Biker. He’d mentioned that I might like to pass on some of my skills to others.  So I joined Rospa Derby group. A great bunch!  I took the test got Gold and retaken since and still achieved Gold  I now help with tutoring others with their riding skills.

My main Bikes the pan (ST1300) which I use on regular trips to France. I’ve just returned from a 3115 mile trip to San Marino for the Moto GP with my lad on his ZX10R.  I’ve another bike (Royal Enfield Pegasus) which I use now and then when the weathers good. 

I enjoy meeting new riders at group meetings though my work has got me working that I miss out on so meetings.  I’m also involved in the local Blood Bike group Derbyshire Blood Bikes and been with them for the last ten yrs. 

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Mick Bethell – Tutor

Hi, my name is Mick Bethell , my love of bikes may have its roots from my early years travelling wherever the family went on a motorbike and sidecar. Many trips to Grandparents in Bristol via the Fosse Way before motorways were even thought of.

My first experience of riding was Dads Lambretta on our allotment. Started riding on tarmac in 1964 with a James Captain 197cc as a commute from Ilkeston to Derby as an apprentice with British Rail.

This was followed by a 350ccNorton model 50, 500cc AJS, 500cc Norton with sidecar  500cc Sunbeam S8 with and without sidecar and an LE Velocette Noddy Bike.

Then family came along and curtailed that phase, however I promised myself that on retirement I would return to motorcycling.

Work moved from Derby to Nottm where I was an Electrician with British Rail & Jarvis Rail following privatisation. I worked mainly with On Track Plant, cranes tracklayers etc where I rose through the ranks of Supervisor to Manager and Warranty Engineer. 42 happy years on the railway with a great bunch of people.

Post retirement bikes have been Kawasaki 500ccGPZ,  Honda Pan European 1100 & 1300s , BMW R1100 S , present bike is a  BMW 1200 RT and just added a classic 1962 Norton 650 ss.

In 2015 I did the Bikesafe course followed by the Enhanced Rider Scheme which fuelled the desire to improve my riding ability and enjoyment.

Kevin Bethell – Tutor

I’m Kevin Bethell. I started motoring as a sixteen year old with a Lambretta TV175. I then took a break for forty plus years before getting round to taking my bike test. No looking back since (apart from mirrors !)

My first bike was a Honda CBF1000. First go down the road and I thought “this is quicker than the bikes I learnt on and a lot quicker than I remember the Lambretta was ! Better get some help”

So I did a BikeSafe course…. learnt a lot.

In 2015 I did the ERS… even more.

In 2016 I started learning with Derbyshire RoSPA.

Changed the bike to a “boring” grey BMW R1200RT.

In 2017 I achieved a RoSPA GOLD standard in the test.

In 2018 I became a tutor. Even managed to squeeze in a couple of BikerDown courses (some of it didn’t sink in the first time). All good stuff. It’s never ending . . every day’s a school day.

If I can put something back into biking and help people stay safe whilst still enjoying their riding then I am happy.

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Gavin Harris – Tutor

Hi, my name is Gavin Harris. I’m a Business Consultant for BT Enterprise.

I came to motorcycling relatively late in life, passing my Direct Access in 2003, after spending a number of years commuting into Nottingham from Alfreton on an Aprilia SR125 Scooter. I rushed out the same day as passing and bought a Suzuki Bandit 600 S and never looked back.

Since then I’ve owned an Aprilia RST Futura, a Kawasaki Z750, a Kawaski Z1000SX Tourer, before succumbing to the lure of a BMW in 2020. My current main bike is a BMW F850GS Adventure Sport and I also ride a Honda CRF 250L for the occasion trail ride.

My journey to becoming a Tutor started in September 2015 when I completed an Enhanced Rider Scheme assessment and I joined RoSPA Derbyshire Riders soon after. It wasn’t all plain sailing as my first RoSPA test resulted in a SILVER pass, but I attained a GOLD when I retested in June 2019. I then started my career as a Tutor for the Group.

Andy Purdy – Tutor

Hi my name is Andy Purdy. I have been biking since I was sixteen that was on a Honda SS50. I went on to pass my test and have had numerous bikes. When I married and had a family biking took a back seat for a while. However I soon bought a Kawasaki Ninja and relit my love of biking. I now ride a BMW GSA. I joined Derbyshire RoSPA took my test achieved gold and was approached to become a tutor. I am also a Derbyshire blood biker. I hope that being a tutor, I will help people to become better safer riders.

Gary Furnival – Tutor

Hi, my name is Gary Furnival and I ride a BMW R1250 RS.

I am Gary Furnival and, like many riders, am a “born again” biker. I passed my bike test as a teenager and rode my Honda 250 Super Dream in all weathers as it was my only means of transport. Improving income and family pressures resulted in swapping the bike for a car. After a 30 year break I returned to motorbiking buying a VFR800. It was obvious that my riding skills and confidence had deteriorated significantly but I joined RoSPA in early March 2017 and with excellent tutoring and lots of practice I took my RoSPA test 6 months later passing with a silver grade. The following year, after much more practice and self evaluation, I retook the test and achieved a gold pass. Becoming an advanced rider has made my riding much more enjoyable as well as being much safer. My journey is confirmation that it is never too late to learn something to a high standard and good guidance with plenty of practice and a self-critical mindset you can achieve significant improvement relatively quickly. Being a tutor allows me to give back to the riding community and help others along their own journey.

Paul Archer – Tutor In Training

I started riding at 16 on a Puch moped and motorbikes have been a constant passion ever since. I managed to work my way through another 23 bikes during the intervening 46 yrs. These have ranged from sports bikes (Ducati’s Pantah & 851, Kawasaki GPZ600) to street bikes (Honda CB900 & Yamaha’s RD400, TR1 & XJR1300), a tourer (K1300GT) and modern classic (Triumph Thruxton). There have been a few winter hacks thrown in (Honda’s XL125, CB200 and Suzuki’s GS550(?), TS250) but my favourite bikes have all been sports tourers, Triumph’s 1050ST and BMW’s K and R1200RS’s. I currently ride a R1200RS, a C650GT scooter and an old 1974 Triumph Tiger 750.

Having passed my test in 1980, I subsequently completed an RAC\ACU riders course. Enjoyed an observed ride with Nottinghamshire Police (851 vs overloaded police spec K100) and a challenging day with a retired Met. chief examiner on the back roads of Suffolk. I joined ROSPA in 2021 and passed my Advanced Test in Sept. of the same year.

I ride for pleasure and commuting but also volunteer with Derbyshire Blood Bikes and am currently training to become a ROSPA Tutor.

Ian Whitty – Tutor In Training

I began riding bikes while still at school on an old Honda C50 which I used on wasteland close to home.  I hit the road at 30mph at sixteen years old, my bike being a Honda MB50, and moved up to a 400 Dream (thanks Dad!) when I got my full licence at seventeen.  I’ve had a number of bikes, mostly Honda’s, since then. My favourite was my CB1300 which I kept for ten years before getting my ‘retirement bike’ – a BMW RT for touring on.

I’ve always loved getting out in woodland and up on the moors so in recent years have enjoyed green laning.  It’s easier than pedalling a mountain bike!  Last year I went to Yorkshire and the Lake District on my KTM to explore further afield from the Peak District.

A Bikesafe course with Leicester police was my introduction to advanced riding and I’ve been a member of the IAM for eight years now.  I joined ROSPA in 2019 to further improve my riding skills as I believe there’s always more to learn in biking and in life!