As children prepare to return to school for a new academic year, an author from St Albans is celebrating publishing 50 mathematics books to help people learn.

Gareth Rowlands is a retired Mathematics teacher and lecturer who also worked as an education officer in Kenya for 14 years.

He has specially written for primary schools, secondary schools and colleges not only in the UK but all around the world, as well as campaigning to promote awareness of the role the subject plays in combatting Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss.

“Mathematics books can be a joy to both students and teachers alike,” Gareth says. “Using colourful illustrations, clearly drawn diagrams, numerous examples with plenty of exercises along with enjoyable practical activities relating the subject to students’ day to day experiences can make learning the subject a lot easier to understand and use.

“These are the vital aspects I have included. Mathematics being such an important subject in all our lives should be an enjoyable subject to learn.”

Gareth also explains how maths has a part to play in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss.

He recently gave a talk on the value of mental and physical exercises in slowing down the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss at Parkfield Medical Centre in Potters Bar.

He has also created the website battledementia.co.uk which he says is his “personal crusade to champion the Alzheimer’s cause”.

The main aims of the site are to “suggest an appropriate approach to the use of activities that could be attempted whilst caring for people suffering from dementia in an effort to improve their quality of life” and to “offer some valuable and much needed support to those who care for people suffering from dementia day-in, day-out and at night in their own homes as husbands or wives, as family members or as the dedicated, hard -working carers in residential and nursing care homes”.

Gareth adds: “It is aimed at supporting hard working carers and to create more and more awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia here in the UK and internationally.

“I have already donated my activity resources to Alzheimer’s organisations and residential care homes in the UK, Canada, Mauritius, Cyprus and Pakistan having been interviewed on BBC Three Counties Radio, Mauritius TV and Cyprus radio.

“Most recently, I arranged the delivery of my activity booklets to the Kenya Alzheimer’s Society. I am pleased that my web site continues to gain interest internationally.”