A community-spirited pensioner from Hartley Wintney has been recognised for his contribution to the village’s day centre.

Ron Osborne has been involved with the Rosie Minibus Volunteers service for 20 years.

The service transports older people, the sick, disabled users and those suffering from dementia, to the Rosefield Day Centre at Rosefield Court in Monachus Lane, Hartley Wintney.

The 80-year-old, who joined other volunteers at a thank you celebration in the Victoria Hall in West Green Road, on Friday last week, has been a steady volunteer for the past 20 years.

People who use the day centre are those who are normally unable to leave the house unassisted. It provides them with a closer link to the community. 

But Mr Osborne is modest about his accomplishments.

He said: “I suppose it’s just one of those things, you get involved with it and you carry on.

“It is a nice thing to be able to help people that are a bit less able to help themselves.”

When funding for the day centre, which is provided by Hampshire County Council, was under threat about five years ago, Mr Osborne was part of the action group which successfully campaigned to defend it.

Geoff Pye, the treasurer of the Rosie Minibus Volunteers group, said: “He is the last survivor of the group of about three or four people who helped set up the day centre.

“In the early days, he was a driver. But unfortunately, when we get to the age of 75, we can’t get the necessary insurance, so after 14 years driving, he became an escort, because the people using the minibus sometimes need some extra assistance.”

But when Mr Osborne turned 80 in August, he had to stop helping on the bus altogether — also for insurance reasons.

He is now carrying on as the secretary of the minibus volunteers group.

Mr Osborne, of Harebell, said the day centre provided an important service to the community.

“People seem to appreciate it.

“They enjoy their day, it gives them a chance to have a bit of social time,” added Mr Osborne.

Mr Pye, 76, who has been a volunteer for about 17 years, said Mr Osborne was well known in the community for the volunteer work he did.

Mr Pye, of Becketts, Hartley Wintney, said: “He’s one of these guys that if you ask him for anything, he’ll do it.

“He’s been a mainstay as a volunteer and he is known in the village for what he does.”