Volunteer John Purdy, who at the age of 87 still gave up his time to help elderly people, has died.

He joined the Royal Voluntary Service in 2012 and always gave five days of service, and sometimes weekends, ferrying older people to medical appointments, shopping and to visit partners in care homes.

The former long-distance lorry driver, who was a keen gardener, died at Medway Maritime Hospital last Friday.

Julie Roalf, who manages the charity’s Medway services, said: “John wasn’t your average 87-year-old man. He was more like a sprightly 60.

"John wasn’t your average 87-year-old man. Personally, I feel like I’ve lost my dad all over again. He was totally inspirational." - Julie Roalf

“I had a big amount of love for that man. Obviously when you lose your own parents you can relate more and, personally, I feel like I’ve lost my dad all over again.

“He was totally inspirational, and was working full-time until four weeks before his death.

“Everybody is gutted here. He used to sing to all ‘his ladies’ when he drove them around. Often, after trips to a care home to see their husbands, they would come feeling devastated because their partner couldn’t remember them.

“But by the time they got home, John would have them laughing and smiling again.

“I saw him two days before he died and although he looked ill, he never lost his humour. He laughed and joked with us all.”

Mr Purdy, of Nore Close, Gillingham, was RVS’s oldest driver.

He served in the Korean War between 1950 and 1953 as a Sergeant in the Army. After 12 years, he joined the Merchant Navy.

When he came out, he got a job as a driver and moved to Chatham where he met his wife, Wendy, a Medway councillor.

Cllr Purdy said she was moved by people’s tributes to her husband, but her loss was still too raw to say any more.

The couple had been together for about 50 years. Their son and 11-year-old grandson live in Holland.

The volunteer centre is looking to hold an event in Mr Purdy’s memory once the funeral has been arranged.