Thousands respond to lonely widower’s plea
A LONELY widower who put a poster in his window asking for friends after his wife died has been inundated with thousands of calls, cards and letters.
Tony Williams, 75, says he has received so many emails that his inbox has crashed, meaning he is unable to reply to messages until the problem is fixed.
He said: “The love and compassion people have shown has actually brought tears to my eyes.
“People have sent me the most delightful emails.
“They’ve sent me pictures of their kids, their pets, told me about their aspirations and telling me they are thinking of me.
“I got an email from a local teacher asking if children in her class could write me letters. I got in touch with her straight away and said it would be delightful. I would love that.
Cursed
“People have been phoning from Canada and the States. One lady said if I get on a plane sometime she would pick me up and show me her area of Florida.
“Another lady, who lives relatively nearby, has invited me round for a G& T which I’ll be keen to do.
“I’ve had others reach out from Germany, Holland, Australia, Egypt, India and Japan. It’s just been gorgeous. They were coming in thick and fast, about four or five a minute.”
The retired physicist, who has no children, moved to Alton, Hampshire, with his wife Jo, 75, last year. But then she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died nine days later.
Tony said he was left sitting at home willing the phone to ring – “but it never does” – and that he felt “cursed” by loneliness. He put two adverts in his local newspaper looking for a friend to chat to but didn’t get any replies.
He also had business cards made, which he handed out to people when he went to the supermarket or for a walk.
But it wasn’t until a photo of his poster went viral and was featured in the Daily Express that he was swamped by responses. He said: “I’ve been completely overwhelmed and am so thankful.”