Meet Ilona Williams

I came to Britain from Finland in 1968 when I married my English husband. I have lived around Britain so know the island very well.

I trained as a Psychiatric nurse but didn’t work as a nurse over here. I took an Open University Degree in Psychology and Education whilst I had my 3 children. They are all grownup now and I have 4 granddaughters.

I had 2 Healthfood stores in London for 8 years and then I taught Food Hygiene in Thomas Danby College in Leeds. I am also a magistrate

I have lived in Leamington for 8 years now and found that I needed something meaningful to do with my life. I care about older people so found my way to Age Concern where I now volunteer on the Information and Advice desk. I have also put myself forward to do Befriending. I enjoy working at Age concern a lot.

I love cooking and exercise and we often go for long walks at weekends. We also like to travel.

Meet Val Hunnisett

In the '80s and early '90s I worked - housing advice - school secretary - admin for a housing charity. I Lost my job because of ME (or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). Over the years I've slowly improved and learnt to live within what I can do. This has made me develop a serious interest in health, how to get it and keep it. I always wanted to work again, but could not be reliable because of the CFS.

When I heard about ACW's Ageing Well (precursor of ActivAge) in 1992 or 3 I asked to train as a health volunteer despite being 'too young' - you were supposed to be over 50. Maggie Flemming (the lady running it) said OK and I helped with info stands, newsletters, health education sessions, the walking project, driving the minibus taking people swimming, Tai Chi sessions, Extend sessions, easy exercise sessions..... - I learnt a lot and gave a lot too.

In about 1995 I dropped out of volunteering because my mother-in-law was ill and died, 6 months later my own mum died, my husband was ill at the same time. After Mum died, my father (retired head teacher) heard about what I was doing and started volunteering as 'office junior' at Clemens Street - so people in Clemens Street now think I am there because of him but it is the other way round. Getting out to 'help' kept him going. I didn't volunteer because keeping his house and mine going was really all I could do at the time. However, during 2005-6 he became quite frail and in August '06 died (aged 94).

So in Jan '07 I started again with Age Concern - Bob trained me on insurance but I just couldn't get to like it so have 'crossed the floor' to Advice and Information.

Why volunteer? Learn new things, meet all sorts of people. Your own worries seem very unimportant. Every week it's different and interesting. Try to do something useful. I'm with Age Concern now because when I needed to do something, but was pretty ill they were tolerant enough to accept me with my limitations. So I have stuck with them. This month I have my 60 birthday so I will finally be old enough to volunteer with Age Concern!

Since 2003 my main hobby is archery http://www.rlsas.com/ is our club site. I shoot twice a week when possible. I play flute (just in private) more or less self taught, have become quite keen on gardening, have a huge interest in housing, particularly lifetime design and provision. We have one daughter who is a qualified nutritionist (and state reg dietitian). She is teaching herself web design in hopes of earning more!

Regards

Val