100-year-old widower finds new purpose

Corinne Sanders

When his wife of 72 years passed away six years ago,Peter Davies admits he felt like“a lost soul”.The 100-year-old man from Macclesfield,England struggled to find meaning in his life,so when his daughter suggested he offer his help at the local elementary school,he decided to go for it.

“I married for 72 years,and when my wife died,life changed dramatically,”Peter explained.“My daughter suggested that,to get some structure back into my life,I do something I'm capable of doing,because I'm not very ambulatory,I can't walk and run about these days,but I've still got my marbles(智力).”

Peter uses those marbles to volunteer at Dean Valley Primary School,Bollington,and he is a huge hit with all of the children he tutors.He makes reading into a fun game,and his new status as a grandfatherly figure makes him feel more connected to his community than ever before.

“The kids are great;they are like sponges,”said Peter.“I'm sure I get more out of it than the children do.It is a lovely and warm feeling.I'm not this old man who lives on his own.I'm part of the community,which is great.”In 2023,Peter received an incredible honor due to his years of volunteering when he was named as the oldest person on the King's New Year's Honours List.In February,he received a British Empire Medal (BEM) from King Charles Ⅲ!

Reading Check

What should we learn from Peter Davies according to the text?