Henry Winkler - famous for his role as Arthur 'Fonzie' Fonzarelli in the 70s TV comedy Happy Days - is now a successful writer.

The 62-year old actor and author dropped in at Swallownest Primary School, Rotherham, and Silkstone Common Junior and Infants, Barnsley.

The visits were part of a tour of the UK to promote his children's books, organised for the National Year of Reading.

His books - written in conjunction with Lin Oliver - feature a character called Hank Zipzer and are based on the Fonz's own experience as an undiagnosed dyslexic schoolboy.

Henry Winkler's visit was yet another coup for Rotherham, which last year welcomed Dolly Parton to launch her own reading project and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, who is filming a new series in the town.

However, staff at Swallownest admitted they had to explain to many of the youngsters exactly who he was. And desperate efforts to get hold of a Happy Days video for the kids to watch came to nothing.

But, even so, Henry soon had the kids reading out of his hands as he talked to them about his childhood difficulties with dyslexia, how he overcame his problems and went on to become a successful actor and writer.

He also read excerpts from his books to the 200 youngsters before sitting down to sign them.

Henry said: "School was unbelievably hard for me because teachers didn't know what dyslexia was at that time. I was labelled a troublemaker and I was in my early 30s before it was properly diagnosed.

"I was told I was stupid, lazy and not living up to my potential most of my life. But just because we learn differently that doesn't mean we are not incredibly smart human beings.

"That is something I want all these kids to understand. They all have great potential because they are all smart."

Asked about his time in Happy Days, Henry said: "It was great. We were all one big happy family both on and off screen. But I know that a lot of the kids today haven't heard of me."

One youngster who had heard of the Fonz, however, was Aaron Robinson, 10, who had brought along his dad's Happy Days album to be signed personally by its best known star.

Aaron said: "My dad was a big fan of his. He will love to have his autograph."

Another pupil who said he had been impressed by their famous visitor was 7-year-old Jack Bradley, who said: "I hadn't heard of him before - but he was very funny."

Headteacher Sylvia Hudson said: "Everyone seemed to love him. I was a bit of a Happy Days fan myself. It was a bit of a surprise when we heard he was coming."

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