CHRISTMAS can be a desperately lonely time of year for people living by themselves – especially those who remember better days.

Roy Croucher, 86, worked alongside thousands as a security man at the Unipart manufacturing centre in Oxford for 15 years.

But for the past seven he has lived alone in Banbury after his wife Margaret passed away in November 2008. Their son died 20 years ago.

He meets up with a local family every week but says Tuesdays and Thursdays are “lonely days” in which the television is often his only companion.

Mr Croucher was fostered at a young age in Brackley after his mother died.

He said: “There were seven of us – five boys and two girls – who were split up and it took a long time to get back in touch. I have just one sister now and she lives in North Devon.

“I struggle with loneliness and don’t get out much because I’m on oxygen most of the time. Normally I just watch television and do my own cooking and washing up.

“When I was having cancer treatment three years ago I was picked up in the morning and brought back to an empty house. There’s no one there to talk about it with you.”

Unlike many older people in his position, Mr Croucher receives weekly visits from local mother-of-three Emma Gold, who takes him shopping on Wednesdays. They first met after Mr Croucher placed an advert in the Horton View Post Office asking for help. The children now call him their third grandfather.

He said: “They have more or less adopted me. They are all very kind and caring, and it’s a pity there’s not more of them about.

“But Tuesday is a lonely day. Thursday is a lonely day. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t see anybody.

“You don’t take any notice of your neighbours these days. When I was growing up, people would make sure that if anybody was on their own they would call on them.

“Now it seems that they haven’t got the time, or they’re not bothered.”

Mr Croucher’s only other point of contact with the outside world is his weekly call at 8pm on Saturdays from an Age UK Oxfordshire volunteer, Julia.

He said: “When Julia calls me she’s often the first person I have spoken to all day. I always look forward to her call. We normally talk about Emma’s children, what television I’ve been watching, what sport we like. She likes golf but I tell her it’s a walk spoilt. We have a laugh.”

An online fundraising page has been launched. For more information or to donate, visit campaign.justgiving.com/charity/ageukoxfordshire/endloneliness

HOW CAN YOU HELP

* Donate to the Lonely this Christmas appeal, which is aiming to raise £5,400 by Christmas to support Age UK Oxfordshire and its and Phone Friends service. Text AUKO22 £3 to 70070 to give £3 or visit campaign.justgiving.com/charity/ageukoxfordshire/endloneliness to pledge an amount of your choice.

* Volunteer with Age UK Oxfordshire. Ten new recruits are being sought over the Christmas period. There is no set minimum age and Phone Friends can volunteer from just two hours per week. To find out more, email volunteering@ageukoxfordshire.org.uk. 

* If you’re organising a Christmas lunch for neighbours and older people who may not have anyone to share the day with, register it at communitychristmas.org.uk