Father Tom meeting his surfing web goal

The reverend, known as Father Tom, is taking on a new challenge – learning how to use a laptop and surf the internet.

He says learning about the worldwide web is vital for him as he is disabled from the neck down and will need his new skills to help him communicate with others and find information he needs quickly.

Father Tom, who lives in Wem, started learning about new technology last year with the help of Philip Moyse, a tutor at Wem Getting Older Adults Online (GOAL).

Father Tom, who will celebrate his birthday on August 21, said: "When I started I found it quite difficult, but under instruction of my friend Philip I am beginning to get on well with it.

"It is alright now, not too difficult. I do have a problem because it seems to keep doing things by itself.

"But I am completely disabled from the neck down so I can't go out so I really can't do without it now.

"I did used to manage, but it was very hard. A lot of the time people don't take phone calls so I need to be able to email and contact people online.

"I think the best thing is if I want information I can get it straight away."

Mr Moyse said he had been spending a lot of time with Father Tom to teach him how to use the internet and he said he was amazed by the reverend's dedication. He said: "He really is a fascinating person who although he is physically disabled he has a very sharp mind and as you would expect has lots of memories.

"My first meeting with him was very informative – he told me about an incident when he was sailing off to war when he was swept overboard by one wave and then back on board by another.

"I asked him what the name of the ship was that he was on and he typed in the information.

"He was so impressed with reading the history of the ship that he has visited lots of other websites now including the local church website."

While Father Tom already gained some experience online using Skype, he is now able to send emails, surf the web and is much more confident using the computer. The GOAL team was created last year in the town as a community group to get people over the age of 55 in the area able to use computers.

Initially the group borrowed computers from Shropshire Council but now most of the people they work with have their own laptops or tablets or are given them by grandchildren and children.