An inspirational widow who overcame severe learning difficulties to learn how to read and write has been nominated as a community champion.

Avril Ward, 69, left school at the age of 19, unable to read or write but has managed to turn her life around, completing more than 70 courses at Croydon Adult Learning and Training (Calat) and using her new-found skills to help others.

Wheel-chair bound and suffering from cerebral palsy, she worked as an industrial packer but was inspired to restart her studying by her husband who died in 1997.

She started taking courses at CALAT with the hope she would be able to read her post and write out shopping lists.

But she discovered a thirst for knowledge and has done courses as diverse as english and maths to fitness, music and computing.

She has even created a manual to make computing easier to understand which is being published to help other learners.

She also uses her skills to help others with disabilities.

She is due to receive a special award at the museum of London on May 17 in recognition of her astounding achievement. The award will be presented during Adult Learners Week.

The inspirational woman said: “It has helped my community because I am now able to help with disability issues for others as well as myself.”

Alan Tuckett, from the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, said: “The transformation that Avril has experienced is due to her dedication, persistence and ambition. I hope that adults across the country will be inspired by Avril’s story to take up learning and discover for themselves a whole new life.”