The lonely pensioner who hit headlines earlier this year after putting up a poster appealing for friends has now launched a second heart-breaking appeal to find himself a companion to enjoy Christmas Day with.
Tony Williams from Alton, East Hampshire, UK, lost his wife and 'soul mate' Jo to pancreatic cancer in May this year and is now worried he will be forced to spend Christmas Day alone.
In an attempt to find himself a pal for 25 December, Tony, 75, has taken to placing cards around his hometown which promise 'a sumptuous feast, fine wines and good conversation'.
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Tony, a retired physicist, said: "I can't face being on my own at this time of year.
"I have had responses, but one was a vegetarian and another had no interests that I share.
"I don't want someone coming here and not speaking, watching me carve the turkey - although I don't really like turkey.
"I love cooking, and I'm a bit of a wine connoisseur, but what I decide to cook depends on who will join me."
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The cards, which Tony has placed on community display boards, lamp posts and telegraph poles around Alton, read: "Alone at Christmas? Tony Williams will cook you a sumptuous feast with fine wines to the make the mood festive.
"If you are cultured, lively, humorous and enjoy good conversation, ring me."
Tony has two brothers and a sister, however, none of them live nearby and, being vulnerable to the coronavirus because of his age, he was reluctant to spend Christmas with his siblings as they will also be visited by their children and grandchild.
He added: "The top priority is safety. My sister Tessa, who lives in Suffolk, said 'you are coming here for Christmas', but she has two grown up children and several grandchildren.
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"We both recognised that was a big restraint, and that's when I came up with the plan to put the cards up."
Tony was met with an 'overwhelming' response in September this year after he shared his appeal to find new pals.
Speaking to LADbible at the time, Tony said: "I just regret so much that it's impossible for me to answer even a small fraction [of calls and emails], but I'd like them to know that I've received so many messages of goodwill and kindness and compassion that I'm overwhelmed by it.
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"If I could meet them all in Albert Hall I would tell them how much I care for them and how much I'd like to reach out to them as they reached out to me.
"The love and the kindness and the compassion they've shown actually brought tears to my eyes."
Featured Image Credit: Solent News