Thank you all for your help and suggestions.
It would appear - now that I have spoken to the Dinosaur, said in effectionate tones - that his problem is not actually with the internet but with Outlook Express.
Having said that, he apparantly had guests in for lunch today and somebody has found him a local contact who will hopefully come and look at the computer in the next couple of days.
Is'nt the electronic world amazing? You post a question and get so much support from people you don't even know within such a short space of time. Thanks again for the help.
Scottie Dog