Fonzie Frenzy hits Bradford

Fonz from Leeds Trinity University College on Vimeo.

THURSDAY certainly turned out to be a happy day for six hundred school children in Bradford as they got to meet a TV legend.

Henry 'The Fonz' Winkler, who is dyslexic, arrived in town to encourage youngsters with learning difficulties to follow their dreams.

The American actor, who is famous for playing leather-clad mechanic Arthur Fonzerelli in the TV sitcom Happy Days, told a packed audience at The Abundant Life Centre how difficult life was for him at school.

For the past three years he has teamed up with First News, the country’s only children’s newspaper, as part of a campaign to raise awareness about children with learning challenges.

Despite his dyslexia, Mr Winkler has gone on to become a bestselling author of children's novels including Hank Zipzer stories, which tell tales about a 10-year-old boy who is the World’s greatest underachiever.

Mr Winkler wowed kids with stories about his Labradoodle dog and how he has gone on to achieve so much, despite suffering from dyslexia.

As his UK tour comes to an end, the producer and director told BCB reporter's Raz Mirza and Lauren Stewart about the frustration he felt growing up because he wanted to do well at school and wanting to be able to read well. He wasn't diagnosed dyslexic until he was 31.

One thing is for sure, his visit may have been brief to Bradford, but its given a whole new generation some Happy Days.