A SPECIAL guest joined volunteers at the Salisbury and District branch of the Samaritans. 

Actor David Robb, whose credits include Downton Abbey, took some time out to visit the branch's base at Milford Street today (Tuesday). 

Robb is currently appearing in Alan Bennett's Single Spies at Salisbury Playhouse, which runs until Saturday. 

He is no stranger to the work of the Samaritans and has been volunteering for its central London branch on and off for 29 years. 

Robb says he was inspired to join the Samaritans after seeing a dramatic poster when he was on the tube on his way to get injections before travelling to India for filming. 

"It was a dramatic image, the poster was just saying 'Think you could handle a bereavement, sacking and case of clinical depression in one day?'. It just got me," he said. 

"I started off doing it and I suppose not to be too cliche one felt one should help contribute a bit more than taking."

He added: "It gives you a sense of perspective, it reflects on the greater scheme of things instead of just your own little world. You also make friends.

"It gives you a wider view of the human experience. You are dealing with people passing through terrible crises in their lives. It is quite a privilege to be trusted."

He says the service Samaritans provides is "invaluable". 

Speaking about volunteering, he said: "It is very worthwhile and it is elevating and may be the best thing one can do."

Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to email recruit@samaritansofsalisbury.org.uk or call 01722 330672.

The Samaritans number 116 123 is free to call and will not appear on phone bills.

More information is available at samaritans.org/

  • Volunteers are encouraging people to cook up a storm in the kitchen. They have put together a cook book to boost funds for the branch. 

The Salisbury and District Samaritans Cook Book will be available to buy during the branch's events - The SAMS Ride on May 22 and from volunteers at Waitrose in Salisbury on May 31.