Damir Lipa (Manual)

Hi, I’m Damir,

I’m originally from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, which used to be part of Yugoslavia to those of you who might remember. 

Arrived to the UK as a refugee in 1992, having escaped from the war. It took me a couple of years to find my feet and settle down in London, where I lived for 26 years. 

I started working in luxury hospitality, five star hotels and fine dining restaurants in affluent parts of London, such as Knightsbridge, South Kensington and Mayfair. This is where I learnt many transferable skills, and I pride myself on having great customer service and communication skills. 

I’ve always been very passionate about driving. I used to sit behind the wheel of my parents car at a very young age, and simulate the steering, changing gears, accelerating and all the other movements and the body language that I copied from my dad. I still remember it vividly. It was fun and exciting. 

After many years of working in hospitality, I decided to change career and become a driving instructor. I enjoy the job and never look back. It might sound cliche, but it really is very rewarding. It’s a great feeling when you teach somebody a skill that stays with them for life. I am easy-going, patient, passionate and born optimist. Always look at the bright side of life. 

I am married and live in Reigate. We moved from London in 2018, so I now have great local knowledge of the Redhill and Reigate area. 

In my spare time I like walking our dogs, exploring the countryside, cooking and going to wine tastings.