OAP prize for computer skill

OAP prize for computer skill

Tom Moore keeps in touch with friends all over the world

A north Wales pensioner who started his career delivering telegrams has won a national award for coming to terms with e-mail.

Tom Moore, from Bangor, started learning about computers 18 months ago after hearing his younger friends talk about computers and surfing the net.

The 76-year-old became hooked after starting lessons at the Lifelong Learning Centre at Bethesda library.

His efforts have landed him a prize in the "best adult" category run by the People's Network, an initiative which offers free internet access to the public in local libraries.

He says: "I heard the lads talking about e-mailing and thought I'd quite like to give it a go, so I bought a computer.

The possibilities are endless

Tom Moore

"I had only seen them on television before and didn't even know how to switch them on!

"I saw an advert about classes in Bethesda, put my name down and it went from there."

That was 18 months ago, when he was 74.

But Mr Moore says you are never too old to learn and according to his wife, Idanwen, he spends three-quarters of the day on his computer.

"The possibilities are endless," he explains.

"I have had so much enjoyment from it and I've learnt so much.

"I recently went on a trip to Ireland and took photographs of the others with my digital camera.

"As soon as I came home I downloaded them and printed them out," he says.

New gadgets

He was nominated for the award by Medwyn Williams, co-ordinator of the lifelong learning centre in Bethesda's public library.

Mr Williams says he put Mr Moore's name forward because he had done so well, especially for a man his age.

Mr Williams said: "I have seen such a difference in him.

"Every time I see him now he's talking about new gadgets he has bought.

"The latest is a digital camera and a CD writer - he is always saying the possibilities are endless."

Medwyn Williams (right) collected Tom's award on his behalf

Since discovering the internet, Mr Moore has been using his skills to follow his passion - genealogy.

He keeps in touch with friends and family all over the world and has helped people from Canada and America trace their ancestors in the Bangor area by e-mailing pictures and documents to them.

He has also traced members of his own family who emigrated to America through one of favourite websites, Ellis Island On-line.

Another on his favourite sites is that of the Gwynedd Family History Society.

Looking back on his 42-year career with the Royal Mail, it seems it is no wonder he is now embracing the latest technologies.

After starting as a telegram boy during the second world war, he has worked for the post office all over the UK.

"I had never thought about it before," he muses.

"But I suppose I have always been involved in the communication business."