“HELPING people keeps me young.”

So says an 81-year-old great-grandmother who tots up as many hours with her volunteer work as many people do in a full-time job.

One of 12 children, Mary Stone was nominated for the Daily Echo Good Neighbour Campaign by her younger sister Rosemary Skinner, who described her benevolent sibling as “a saint”.

Among her many good deeds, Mary works with disabled children, helps to rehabilitate stroke victims and puts together wash kits and Christmas presents for homeless people. She also visits people in hospital, cleans the houses of infirm friends and makes decorative hanging baskets for her neighbours.

The Sholing mum-of-four said: “I don’t really think I do all that much. I have always liked helping people and I think it is good for me and keeps me young.”

Mary also works for numerous voluntary groups but is most committed to Peartree Church, where she has been a member for 58 years.

Her sister said: “It is hard to catch up with her sometimes because she is always out helping people with one thing or another. She is very modest about what she does but really deserves recognition. She does lots of things for the elderly, even though she is older than most of the people she helps.”

Fifteen years ago Mary gave up work to care for her husband Bob, who had a stroke. Before then she had worked for Debenhams in Southampton for some time and at Alldays grocers in Woolston for 19 years.

When Bob died a year later she threw herself into volunteering and fundraising for the Mothers’ Union, Strike Back stroke club, The Society of St James and others.

If all this were not enough, she still finds time to play cricket in the New Forest with her sisters.

Both Mary and Rosemary back our campaign.


Do you know someone like Mary?

IF so we want to hear from you.

The Daily Echo launched its Good Neighbour Campaign earlier this month as plummeting temperatures and Siberian winds whipped the county and put vulnerable people at risk.

The aim of the campaign is to promote community spirit and urge everyone to help look after elderly people in the community.

It also recognises those people who go the extra mile for their fellow man.

Send your stories to Simon Carr at simon.carr@dailyecho.co.uk or call him on 023 8042 4495.