Film-maker Simon Sly will be celebrating the culmination of a year’s work at the premiere for his new movie Short Film Catalogue Part VII at Cineworld in Swindon.

Simon, from Swindon, who has multiple sclerosis, screened his film 12 Wonders of the Short Film world at the cinema last year – and hopes his latest creation will attract plenty of viewers on July 8 at 8pm.

“Anyone who would like to come is welcome. It would be great to see them there,” Simon said.

The film is about half an hour long, and it is a compilation of short films, which are collages of images and video clips with a musical soundtrack. Its title is characteristically humorous as it is the first Short Film Catalogue he has made.

“Even though it’s called part seven, it’s the first and last in the series,” he says.

Simon, 40, had to obtain a British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) age rating to screen it at a cinema – a process which cost him £450. It has been given a 12A certificate. He is also investing another £400 for the cinema screening, which can seat 130 people.

“The process took over a year, creating the short films that doing the animation to make it into a compilation,” he said.

“I’m very happy with the result, yes. It’s all made on an Applemac.”

To date none of his friends or family has been allowed to see the complete film – they will have to wait till the screening.

"In the next year or in two years, depending on how long it takes to make the short films I need, I would like to make Short Film Wars: 3rd in the Trilogy of 3, which will have music and introductory text that are a parody of Star Wars," he said.

Colour is a huge inspiration for Simon's creativity - both in his home and garden, which is a miniature glade of trees and rich, red roses.

"In my house I have orchids, cyclamen and a bird of paradise plant, and in my back garden roses, lilies and wisteria, which flower at different times," he said. "Attractive flowers are another great source of colour. A number of years ago I felt so unwell all I could do was lie on my settee watch television and look out at my garden: so it was a very important view to me."

Simon was first diagnosed with ME and then later with multiple sclerosis, a condition which robbed him of his teaching career, his physical energy, his manual dexterity and even made speaking a challenge, though it has not taken his imagination, ambition or creativity.

He went to Kingsdown School, then studied maths at Reading University. During his university days, Simon first developed his love of film and came up with ideas for his own short films. He trained to be a secondary school teacher of maths at Oxford Brookes University, and secured a job at St Joseph’s in Swindon, where he worked for several years.

But illness struck ten years ago, and he was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalopathy. Eventually he overcome ME using a therapy called the Lightning Process, which he described as superb and highly recommends.

“People need to know there are ways to get better from it,” he said.

He developed an intentional tremor, which meant his hands would shake, and three years later was diagnosed with MS. Despite the challenges of his condition, Simon went on to make films and to write a book called Superhuman You. Although it was a response to having ME and then MS, he says the book, which is available from Amazon, is suitable for anyone who wants more motivation and inspiration to overcome problems.

Simon is very disciplined and does exercise every day to keep himself as well as possible.

"I do as much as I can, to stay as well as I can, for as long as I can. In the morning, before I get up, I do various muscle tensing and speech exercise.

"When I get up I do balance exercises and sit-stands. Then later in the morning I do fifteen to thirty minutes of exercise, fifteen minutes of reading and fifteen minutes of meditation and then vocal exercises," he explained.

The difficulties created by his illness have never stopped him pursuing his dreams.

“With hard work, self-belief and perseverance, you can do anything."