"I first started volunteering for WRVS, or WVS (Women's Voluntary Service) as it was then known, when I was 16.

War had just broken out and I was at school in Harrogate but the school building was soon taken over by the RAF. So, I decided to join my mother who had got involved with WVS at the beginning of the war.

Together we helped the evacuees who were being sent from London to the country and worked in a WVS canteen in Stevenage where we provided food and refreshments to members of the army.

When I was 19 I had a break from volunteering as I enlisted in the Navy. When I enrolled I was given two options; to become a Stewardess or a Radar Mechanic, I chose to become a mechanic and completed a two-year course in a year and spent the remainder of the war in Glasgow.

After the war I came home to Stevenage, met my husband and got married and together we moved to Kent. Once we were settled I decided to start volunteering again and set up a WRVS Meals on Wheels service in the area.

We delivered the meals in baskets and braved all weathers, including snow, to get the food to the elderly and housebound. Unfortunately my husband was then diagnosed with throat cancer and to aid his recovery we decided to move to Jersey.

Whilst in Jersey I started volunteering for WRVS again and helped to set up a lot of schemes on the island. One of these was a good neighbours service where we collected the elderly from their homes and transported them to day centres.

This service meant that housebound older people were given the chance to meet and socialise with one another and have a change of surrounding, it was a lifeline to many.

It was during this time that I was presented with the Queen's silver jubilee medal for my volunteering.

After my husband's death one of my daughter's decided to move from Jersey and set up home in Presteigne.

I also moved and have been living in the town for nearly 20 years. Once I had set up my new home I started volunteering for WRVS again by delivering Meals on Wheels.

I am now 84 years old and have been volunteering for WRVS for 68 years.

It gives me so much pleasure to help other people and I still really enjoy giving my time to WRVS, even after all these years. I still help the WRVS meals on wheels scheme in Presteigne by assisting the local organiser with rotas, organising the drivers and helping to recruit more volunteers.

WRVS is still as relevant today as when I started volunteering in 1939. WRVS still provides support in emergencies and also helps older and vulnerable people stay independent and active and I am very proud to be part of it.

If you too would like to volunteer please call 0845 601 4670 or visit www.wrvs.org.uk.

Article written by Joan Griggs