By Izzy Hawksworth via SWNS
A dad-of-two says he’s been “given another chance at life” after learning to read in his forties.
Inspirational Peter Lloyd, 46, says he always felt “embarrassed” and would struggle doing everyday tasks such as food shopping because he couldn’t read.
But after signing up for one-to-one coaching with a charity that teaches adults to read, he was able to achieve one of his life goals and read the Harry Potter series.
Peter, who now plans to study GCSE English at college, said: “I feel like I’ve had another chance at life.
“I feel like I’ve been reborn. It’s like I’ve had a really bad illness, I’ve fought it and now I’ve got a second chance that I never thought I would have.
“I want to go back to different places that I’ve been to before because it’s as if I was blind before, because I couldn’t see things.
“I now look around and can read signs and see buildings and different things, it’s like things are standing out in front of me.
“The knowledge I’m getting is unbelievable.
“My wife and my children feel like I can support myself better because they don’t have to worry about me as much – it’s fantastic.”
HGV driver Peter was born partially deaf but he struggled with his work at school and focused more on sport, so he was never taught how to read.
It left him having to plan his days out around every day things such as avoiding unfamiliar car parks because he couldn’t read the signs.
He added: “I was embarrassed and it would cause anxiety and depression and all sorts of horrible issues.
“I would have to plan my days out – if I was going for a haircut then I would have to go to the same place and the same car park every single time.
“If someone told me I needed to go another hairdressers, then I would say no because I had the worry about going to a different car park and not being able to read the signs.
“I would go to Asda and get used to where all the food was, so I would be able to pick up certain stuff.
“Then you would go one day and they would move everything round the shop and you would have to try and find it.”
When Peter started working with Read Easy volunteer Alison Hollinrake, he told her that he wanted to start reading the Harry Potter book series.
They started reading the first two books together and now he’s reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Peter, of Southport, Merseyside, said: “When I started at Read Easy, I told them one of my life goals was to read Harry Potter.
“There was one time I looked at the book and I just couldn’t understand it but I had watched all the films so I wanted to read the books.
“They are 100% better than the films and I’m really into the books now – it’s fantastic.
“I never thought I would be able to read them – when I first started going to Read Easy, someone in year five at school would have been better than me.
“I can reply to emails now and if I get a letter in the post, then I can read it which is just fantastic.
“I can also go to the shop and pick different foods and I’ve also been looking at different recipe books and making food.
“Read Easy have given me confidence, belief and everything in life.”
Peter is now planning to go to college to study GCSE English and then he wants to become a Read Easy mentor, to help people who have been in the same situation.
He said: “I’ll be doing my level one and two English and then I’ll be able to do my GCSE English.
“Then I want to do creative writing and once I’ve done all that, I want to go full circle and sit at that table with a learner and I’m going to become a coach.
“When my learner tells me that I don’t understand, I can tell them that I have and that I will get them through this.
“People who can read and write, have never known not being able to read and write so it’s hard for someone to say they understand.
“I want to help change people’s lives and help people grow.”
Peter’s wife Cheryl, 40, and oldest son Callum, 21, persuaded him to contact Read Easy after seeing information about them online.
He is now encouraging other people to contact them if they need support because of how much they’ve helped me.
Peter said: “Alison is my guardian angel, she just understands me and what she has got me through in the last couple of years is unbelievable.
“She’s been my coach, my mentor and my friend.
“If there’s anyone out there who is struggling to read, then please contact Read Easy.
“It doesn’t matter if you are young or old, or if you feel embarrassed, depressed or anxious.
“If you give them a call then it will change your life.”
