My story
I was found in a convent in Brighton by social services. They took me to London and put me in a children's home near Middlesex. On my first day at school a teacher stood me up and said "this is Peter from the children's home" which made me cringe.

I moved from home to home, so I could never settle into education.

The wing scribe
I was banged up in prison, at the age of 45 and I wanted to write letters to my partner. My writing was really bad. One day in a prison workshop the tutor said to me "is there anything you would like to learn?"

I was too embarrassed to tell my mates "I can't read or write very well" so I told her and she arranged sheets of paper to be sent to my cell so I could practice.

I improved in the next few months, the writing started to flow and soon others asked me to write letters home for them, I thought "if I could do this, what more can I do?"

A great experience
My first experience of having a tutor was when I walked into the classroom - I had a mohican and an attitude. He sat us all down and said "while you are in this room you will be treated as students".

In prison I had a number, 8118 and I was called Diesel. But he called me Peter and it was gob smacking! A man of authority not using my prison number!

The lessons were really interesting, teaching us about how governments were run. He was giving me information and I was soaking it up - every lesson was interesting.

You are capable
I met this guy called John Orr, he inspired so many guys. He would say "you are capable - your work is the proof!"

After a few months I got my first certificate in education, Level 2 English Literature.

He presented it to me in front of the class and it was very emotional. The boys were clapping and I was chuffed. I thought "I wonder what more I can do?"

Confronting your fears
You realise there are many people like you who are frightened or too embarrassed to ask. I was told as a child I wasn't clever enough and it knocks your confidence.

But once you get over that first step you can achieve anything. It really is like a whirlwind. Not just in terms of education; if something is wrong with my car I now have the confidence to study the book and fix it myself, so I have saved lots of dosh as well!

Communication skills
One of the main skills I learnt is communication. If you communicate, you can ask. You overcome the fear of not asking in case you might look stupid. You can talk to tutors and other students.

I would never have spoken like this four years ago. It opens doors! There is so much out there. Once you get into education you become hungry for more. But try not to take on too much at once.

Future Plans
My future plan is to go for a degree in literacy. I will discuss with the Open University, but I will also go to learndirect to see what they can offer.

I'm also going to contact the two main tutors who have been my biggest influence. They will say "go the creative writing way" and then I will go for it!

It's quite daunting because it's not like doing an A level. I know I can do it now; years ago I had no chance of getting a degree because I didn't have the confidence. But now I will get it and I know I can achieve it, even if it takes me six or eight years.

I hope one day to go back to prisons and teach creative writing. Because you see guys writing and discovering something they never knew they had. Like when I wrote my first story and the tutor read it out and I wanted to hide under the table but everyone said "well done Diesel!"