THIS week is Adult Learners Week, and there can be few better examples of the benefits of improving your skills than Ray Oakey of Blakeney.
For since attending classes to brush up his English at the Royal Forest of Dean College Ray has discovered not only a growing interest in literature and poetry, but has become a poet in his own right.
He now has his first book of poetry on sale (It's True It's Real It's Me, £4.99 at Taurus Crafts, Lydney), a work he has composed, laid out and printed all on his own after going to college with no computer skills at all
"To tell you the truth it has turned my life upside down," says the electrician and one-time ice cream salesman. "Now I can hardly find the time to get on with work!
"I went to college after seeing something on television about adult learning because I needed to write letters properly, and improve my spelling. They were so helpful."
He hopes everyone will be encouraged to look into some ways they can improve their own lives by taking his example.
"It was when I was writing to the college to thank them for all their help that I found I could express my feelings more in poetry," he said. "I had never written a poem in my life before."
He has written his book – shortly to be the subject of a HTV programme after a film crew spent an entire day with him – besides discovering a growing taste for literature and reading about history.
"My first grandchild, Lily, was born in the autumn and I can't wait until she is old enough for me to write to her," said Ray, now studying for his English GCSE.
"I am now writing my autobiography so she can read all bout my life."
Ray received a certificate to mark his achievement at a special ceremony in Gloucester last week, as did a group of visually impaired people at the Forge Centre, Cinderford, who have all learned new skills, and wheelchair-bound James Hoskins of Ross who has been following his ambition to learn radio skills with the Forest of Dean Community Radio through Artworks! in Lydney.