80-year-old Horley resident helps community by repairing computers and laptops

From laptops to desktop computers, Howard Bretman noticed that a number of his neighbours were turning to Nextdoor to ask for help with technical issues. Having worked as an electrician and having taught electrical technology, Howard knew he had the skills to help them out.

Howard is almost completely self-taught, having first had an interest in electrics aged 12 when he began wiring sockets in the family home. His father bought him a copy of a DIY magazine and his career began. “No one was surprised when I became an electrician!”- Howard speaking of his early hobby.

Since owning his first computer in 1975, Howard has developed a wealth of invaluable computer skills he is able to pass on to others.

Howard said: “I can build a desktop if I’ve got all the parts and can take laptops apart and put them together again. A lot of people simply have slow computers which I can fix.”

After a decade as an electrician, Howard moved into education, teaching electrical technology for 25 years. In his early career, the college where he taught had a total of twenty Commander computers.On one of his summer breaks, the head asked if the teachers could take them home for safekeeping. By the end of the summer, the school had twenty computer experts. Howard’s next step was to start helping others fix their tech problems.

Howard has offered his help to his local community via Nextdoor, all for free.

Howard continues: “One young lady had her own cleaning business, and all her details were on this broken laptop,” Howard recalls. “Companies were quoting her £100, I helped her for free – that was a lot of money she couldn’t risk”.

Refugees Welcome Crawley has also benefited from his kindness. He has supported their great work by fixing laptops for the charity, allowing them to continue to offer an invaluable service.

If Howard’s neighbours need his help, they only need to ask or watch out for his regular updates: “

Howard continues:”I will post messages to Nextdoor with IT support, upcoming updates and things, which is the main way people find me. I also respond to people’s callout messages. Nextdoor is great as people can ask others for help”.

See more: Port of Dover delays: Crawley school arrives in Italy after travel chaos - school provides update, Crawley MP Henry Smith will NOT be seeking re-election - here is his statement in full, 8 of the best walks for dogs in Crawley, handpicked by an AI chatbot

Nextdoor is completely free to download. To sign up to Nextdoor or to find out more, visit www.nextdoor.co.uk.