IT is a bright Thursday afternoon and pensioner George has his hat and coat ready for his visitor’s arrival.

Months earlier George, 76, was back home at his flat on the outskirts of Salisbury after a three-week stay in hospital and struggling with respiratory problems. He was worried that he was no longer able to drive and fearful of being left isolated.

The visitor he is eagerly waiting for is Robert Stilby, a volunteer visitor with Age UK Wiltshire and it is thanks to his steady friendship and gentle encouragement that George has sold his car, mastered a mobility scooter and begun regular trips back to meet his friends at Five Rivers Bowls Club.

Mr Stilby, himself a sprightly 81, has been a volunteer since March with Age UK’s Wellbeing Project. The scheme is aimed at tackling loneliness and isolation among the elderly by matching volunteers to clients referred to the charity by families, GPs, social services and carers. The project is designed to re-connect older people with their community by overcoming loss of confidence, mobility issues or lack of knowledge.

Mr Stilby, a former media professional who lives just outside Salisbury, volunteered after a lifetime of public service as a magistrate and volunteering for Victim Support. He said: “I felt I could do something for Age UK because, being old myself, I might have something in common with people like George who are on their own or coming out of hospital. I’ve been through a few things in life, so I thought maybe I could share something.”

After undergoing training, he was matched with George and began visiting once every ten days or so.

George, an EastEnder born in Bow, moved to Salisbury with his wife Maureen 35 years ago. He has been on his own for almost 13 years after both Maureen and his second wife Eve died. With no children and elderly friends unable to get out, he found himself alone for long periods. Having to cope with breathing difficulties and constant pain threatened to leave him isolated in his small but scrupulously neat flat.

Robert helped him sell his car, organise his paperwork and provided a sounding board for all manner of everyday problems that can be magnified when there is no one to share them with.

“It was hard by myself because nobody knocks on the door, but Robert is my mate now. I look forward to his visits. We go out to the pub for lunch and he listens to my problems and we have a joke.”

“We enjoy chatting,” said Robert, “because we can go back quite a few years between us. For me, I’ve come to realise what it is like to find yourself on your own, a bit dependant and facing the problems of mobility in today’s society.”

“I didn’t realise that when he’s on his mobility scooter, George has to work out in advance where he can cross the road, where the obstacles are, how people treat him. I hadn’t taken any of that in. You see the world from his point of view and that’s important.”

Former electrical auto engineer George said Robert’s visits are a chance to discuss worries and share problems like medication. “I like the company best though. He helps me get out and he’s somebody I can talk to about everything and nothing.”

Age UK has just under 40 volunteers in the Salisbury area but has many more clients like George waiting for volunteers like Mr Stilby. Call 01380 727767, email volunteering@ageukwiltshire.org.uk, or go to ageukwiltshire.org.uk to find out more.