TEACHER Ray Irving is swapping the classroom for life as Henry VIII.

Ray has decided to take advantage of his remarkable resemblance to the infamous Tudor king after more than 20 years as a teacher at Rivington and Blackrod High School, Horwich, where his nickname was Henry!

He is now visiting schools and stately homes dressed as the king regaling youngsters with his encyclopedic knowledge of all things to do with Henry VIII.

Ray, aged 55, who lives in Chorley, said his looks have had a startling effect. He said: "Once I was in a Tudor house standing near an old staircase.

"A visitor started saying something and I said 'Yes I agree'. She was so startled she almost fell down the stairs."

But looks are where the resemblance ends. Unlike Henry, who had six wives and divorced or executed four of them, Ray has been happily married to wife Margaret for 34 years, who, he says, "is worth six wives."

They have three children and two grandchildren - who sometimes accompany him on trips dressed as court jester Will Sommers.

Ray was one of the first Advanced skills teachers in Bolton, teaching graphics and IT, before he gave up teaching last Easter after suffering a nervous breakdown.

It was then that he started studying the king's life and visiting the castles he once owned. He even had a suit custom-made out of velvet and silk to match the one worn by Henry in a portrait.

Ray said that his extensive reading had led him to the conclusion that Henry actually had quite a kind side -although he was a "hell of a show off."

He said: "He always looked after all his children, making sure they were well fed and clothed."

He added Henry also agonised over his decision to execute his religious advisor Thomas Cromwell giving him countless chances to escape the axe.

Ray has been inundated with email from all over the country and has been booked to meet pupils at St Katherine's School in Horwich this month. He is currently in the process of creating a CD-ROM and setting up his own website.

Eight facts about Henry VIII

King Henry was born in Greenwich on 28 June 1491, the second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York.

He reigned from 1509 - 1547.

His first wife was his brother's widow Catherine of Aragon.

When Henry came to the throne the country was Catholic and controlled by the Pope in Rome.

When the Pope would not let Henry divorce Catherine and marry new love Anne Boleyn, Henry made himself the Head of the Church and gave himself a divorce.

He had two of his wives executed - Anne Boleyn on grounds of treason and his fifth wife Katherine Howard for adultery.

Henry divorced Catherine of Aragon and his fourth wife Anne of Cleves. His third wife Jane Seymour died in childbirth and his sixth wife Catherine Parr survived him.

Despite his many wives, Henry only had three children, Princess Mary by Catherine of Aragon, Princess Elizabeth by Anne Boleyn and King Edward VI by Jane Seymour.