AS TEMPERATURES plummet and Siberian winds continue to whip the county, one man can be relied upon to make sure older people get a hot meal a day and a caring word.

Despite only having one leg, George Milne, 74, has been delivering Meals on Wheels to vulnerable people in Hamble five days a week for 20 years. He is the second person to be recognised in the Daily Echo Good Neighbour Campaign.

However, it does not end there for the Thornhill great-grandfather, who makes sure the people he calls upon are wrapped up warm, reassures them has even run errands.

George said: “I started volunteering because I wanted to do something worthwhile that would help others. When I started I had no idea I would be doing it for 20 years but I’m definitely not going to stop now.

“At this time of year it is particularly important that older people get a hot meal but its more than that, for some we are the only ones they ever get to see.”

The father of five has had a few jobs in his time, starting as a farmer before nursing the mentally ill.

He later worked as a chef aboard the ship Queen Elizabeth, was a paint sprayer at the Ford Transit plant and a lorry driver. However, it was when he was working on the tunnels for Fawley power station that he started to have problems with his right leg. He was diagnosed with Caisson disease and bone cancer and his leg was amputated.

At 53 he was no longer able to do his job and was laid off.

He then decided to throw himself into volunteering and is the only person in the Eastleigh branch of Meals on Wheels working the whole week.

Over the 20 years he has contributed more than 10,000 hours to the cause.

George has also found time to help raise £5,000 for the Queen Elizabeth Foundation. One of his fundraising activities was a daring wing-walk on a plane at the age of 70.

Fellow volunteer Lily Dale said: “I think George is a real hero, everyone knows him and I think he makes a lot of the people we visit feel safe and he reassures them.” Julie Davies, Meals on Wheels co-ordinator, said: “George is amazing, like all the volunteers who give up their time to look after others.

“It is so much more than just delivering meals and I don’t know what some of the people would do without him and the others.”

George backed the Daily Echo campaign and urged other people to contact the group and give up a few hours of their time.

To find out more about volunteering contact 023 8062 9130.