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 Services Bureau). I drive people who are unable 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 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.