Tony Williams, 75 from Alton, East Hampshire, lost his wife Jo back in May, when, tragically, Jo, passed away from cancer just nine days after she was diagnosed.
And ever since, Tony has been completely alone, explaining the continuous loneliness is “like torture, with no family nearby”. Tony took finding a friend into his own hands, even putting two adverts in his local newspaper and handing out cards. Heartbreakingly, he received no responses.
But after a poster he placed in his window made headlines this week, the retired physicist has been overwhelmed with responses from people wanting to be his friend. In just a couple of days, he's had between 50 and 70 phone calls with strangers, and meanwhile he's received thousands of emails.
Tony said: “I just regret it's impossible for me to answer even a small part of calls and emails. If I could meet them all I would tell them how much I care for them and how much I'd like to reach out to them as they did to me. The love, kindness and compassion they've shown actually brought tears to my eyes.”
He has even had phone calls from as far as America and Canada!
Tony met his late wife Jo, who he describes as his “best friend and soul mate,” in a bar more than 35 years ago, and describes their marriage as a “perfect harmony”. The couple, who lived in Gloucestershire for 25 years, were unable to have any children, and so depended on each other heavily for company and support.
“For weeks and weeks, it looked as if I was pushing doors open and they were immediately slammed in my face. And then I was isolated and almost totally abandoned. And I thought, I've got to do something about that," he recalled.
Tony's determination has paid off, getting hundreds of people queuing up to be his friend. We're so pleased for you, Tony!
【小题1】Why did Tony advertise in the local newspaper?| A．To inform people of his wife's death. | B．To draw attention to the old's loneliness. |
| C．To seek a second marriage. | D．To find someone as a friend. |
| A．He is working as a physicist. | B．He is now in a sweet trouble. |
| C．He has a complete family. | D．He lives in Gloucestershire. |
| A．Disappointed. | B．Sympathetic. | C．Moved. | D．Surprised, |
| A．Tony loves his wife very much | B．Tony's children live far from him |
| C．Tony has become world-famous | D．Tony used to have many friends |
