FRIENDS Geoff Fitch and Rick Bond are appealing to others to join them as volunteer van drivers for the Cotswold Care Hospice.

Every week the pair visit the charity’s shops across the Cotswolds, transporting donated stock between shops and the warehouse near Nailsworth.

“All the ladies in the shops are very good to us,” said Rick.

“If we accepted every cup of tea offered to us we would never finish until late at night,”

Cotswold Care is appealing for more volunteer van drivers to support the charity’s 14 shops.

Property consultant Geoff, from Westonbirt, started volunteering for Cotswold Care Hospice thanks to his wife Cheryl who is a volunteer cook at the day hospice.

“She came home and said she had found the perfect job for me and that I could take a friend,” he said.

The two men have been friends for 39 years.

Rick, from Kingscote, whose wife died in 2009, says he looks forward to the day on the van.

“It’s the rock in the middle of the week,” he said.

“It’s the banter and the humor I enjoy and being together with Geoff for the day,”

The third member of their team is Geoff’s dog Tholo.

“He stands in for Rick and I get less yap from him,” joked Geoff.

Volunteer drivers need to be between the age of 25 and 74, be able to lift and carry heavy items and have a clean and full driving licence.

To find out more about how to volunteer, contact Suzie McDonnell on 01453 886868 or email suzie.mcdonnell@cotswoldcare.org.uk