For 25 years before I retired I was a truck driver. I owned my own business selling hardware, this involved long hours and a lot of mileage but I have always loved driving. I was lucky enough to be able to retire at 54. After I retired I wanted to spend some time on me! holidays etc, however my wife had other ideas and she wanted me 'out of the house'! So she volunteered my services to Action Cancer, where I drove their screening van all over Northern Ireland.

I don't play golf and I dont go fishing, so I had to find another way to spend my retirement. I wanted to give a wee bit back and because I love driving it was the natural thing for me to volunteer for.

I am currently a volunteer driver for VSB (Volunteer Service Bureau). I drive people who are unable to to drive themselves, perhaps because they have mobility or sight problems or just need a little extra support. I take them to their hospital appointments or perhaps to the day centre. There is much more to it than just driving people from A to B. I make sure that the people feel safe and that they reach their destination and get safely inside and meet the people that they need to meet. It is about providing a personal caring service.

I love doing what I am doing. I get a lot of satisfaction from helping people. I am not saying that I am a saint or anything like that but if I can help...especially if I can help in a physical way then I am happy to do that. I have seen people who were nervous about leaving their house grow in confidence because of the driving service that we provide.

I think that driving is something that most people can do, I mean, it only takes a couple of hours a week and makes such a difference. I have met so many people that I would never have met. You never know where volunteering can take you.