Derek holds the Warwickshire franchise for Pinnacle, a network of highly-trained drivers across the UK who provide a bespoke service for customers, offering that little bit more to satisfy the most demanding needs.  Derek has had a varied career. As a young man he wanted to be a traffic policeman in his native South Africa. After army training he travelled and while in the UK met his future wife.

He moved back to his homeland where he became a reservist traffic policeman in addition to his normal job working as an information technology consultant in the car manufacturing industry.  His work brought him back to the UK in 1996 but he was made redundant seven years later, by which time he had had enough of high-tech working.

“I decided that I was going to look for something that I love,” he said. Bearing in mind his love of cars and driving he was delighted when he saw an advert for a franchise with Pinnacle Chauffeur Transport, which had been formed the two years previously.

He took the plunge, invested, and became the fourth franchisee in the new company. Even with back-up from the company he found the change, including having to do his own administration, hard for the first two years until he became established.

Then his reputation, just like that of Pinnacle Chauffeur Transport itself, grew and so did his customer base.  One of his most famous clients is Lord (Digby) Jones, the former director-general of the Confederation of British Industry and latterly business and trade minister.  For the past three years Derek has driven Lord Jones two or three times a week on business engagements to London, Wales, the North as well as on  personal trips.

Other high profile clients have included top professional footballers, a leading heavy rock guitarist and television personalities.   “It’s a great honour to drive and be trusted by so many important people,” said Derek.

He has recently invested in the 2009 version of the Chrysler Grand Voyager luxury vehicle, the standard issue used by Pinnacle.

These stylish and extremely comfortable cars, which can carry up to six passengers, have power points for laptop and mobile phones, refrigerator and dvd player which transform an ordinary journey into a luxury experience.

Like other chauffeurs Derek has had security training and has qualified as a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists. He has also been Criminal Records Bureau checked for added re-assurance to passengers.

“Being a Pinnacle chauffeur is the best, most enjoyable and most rewarding job that I have had for years,” said Derek.

“The fact that I have travelled around the world with a top company and used chauffeur-driven transport means that I know what to expect as a customer and therefore try to live up to that with the service that I provide for my customers.”