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Lonely listener Bill Palmer, 95, a hit on BBC radio show | Lonely listener Bill Palmer, 95, a hit on BBC radio show |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A 95-year-old invited into a BBC radio programme after calling in about being lonely has become a hit on social media. | A 95-year-old invited into a BBC radio programme after calling in about being lonely has become a hit on social media. |
Bill Palmer, from Southampton, called the Alex Dyke show on BBC Radio Solent about his life after his wife went into a nursing home. | Bill Palmer, from Southampton, called the Alex Dyke show on BBC Radio Solent about his life after his wife went into a nursing home. |
Dyke immediately ordered a taxi to bring Mr Palmer to the studio to allow phone-in listeners to chat to him. | Dyke immediately ordered a taxi to bring Mr Palmer to the studio to allow phone-in listeners to chat to him. |
A recording of the call has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook. | |
The 95-year-old, from Sholing, married his wife Sheila, 85, on 2 June 2014 after they had been friends for 30 years. | The 95-year-old, from Sholing, married his wife Sheila, 85, on 2 June 2014 after they had been friends for 30 years. |
Shortly afterwards Sheila - who has dementia and colitis - fell and was taken into hospital. She was then moved into a nursing home, where she now lives. | Shortly afterwards Sheila - who has dementia and colitis - fell and was taken into hospital. She was then moved into a nursing home, where she now lives. |
Mr Palmer phoned the BBC Radio Solent programme on Wednesday during a phone-in on "Love - later in life". | Mr Palmer phoned the BBC Radio Solent programme on Wednesday during a phone-in on "Love - later in life". |
Although he visits his wife every day, he said: "Every day is hell. I feel so alone". | Although he visits his wife every day, he said: "Every day is hell. I feel so alone". |
The production team immediately arranged to take Mr Palmer to the studio in Southampton, where he sat in on the rest of the show. | The production team immediately arranged to take Mr Palmer to the studio in Southampton, where he sat in on the rest of the show. |
Mr Palmer said: "I just sit with my wife and we tell each other we love each other, and that's it. | |
"She knows who I am and she often says 'we did get married on the second of June didn't we?' - and that's when it hurts. | |
"I listen to the radio and watch TV and have lots of friends, but unfortunately when you get old people don't visit - that's life." | |
Listeners phoned in to offer support and advice to Mr Palmer. | Listeners phoned in to offer support and advice to Mr Palmer. |
He was offered Sunday lunch, afternoon trips out and a ukulele orchestra to play for him, but he kindly turned them all down. | He was offered Sunday lunch, afternoon trips out and a ukulele orchestra to play for him, but he kindly turned them all down. |
"I didn't know such kindness existed," he told one caller. | |
Dyke said Mr Palmer had "touched the hearts of thousands of listeners" and it was his "nicest moment in 30 years of broadcasting". | Dyke said Mr Palmer had "touched the hearts of thousands of listeners" and it was his "nicest moment in 30 years of broadcasting". |
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