Man, 75, puts poster in window asking for friends after wife's sudden death

‘It’s my last resort. I’ve tried everything to make friends, but it feels like nobody wants to talk to me,’ says retired physicist

(Tony Kershaw / SWNS)

A lonely 75-year-old man has put a sign up in the window of his home asking if anyone would like to be his friend after the sudden death of his wife has left him feeling socially isolated.

Tony Williams says he has gone days without talking to anyone since the death of his wife, Jo, who died in May.

The retired physicist, who lives in Alton, East Hampshire, is not near any family members and has no children.

Williams recently put two adverts in his local newspaper to say he was looking for someone to speak to but received no replies.

Now, he has taken things to the next step by putting a sign in his window.

The sign reads: “I have lost Jo. My lovely wife and social mate. I have no friends or family. No one to talk to. I find the unremitting silence 24 hours a day unbearable torture. Can no one help me?”

Williams has also made business cards to hand out to people at the supermarket that have the same message on them.

“It’s my last resort. I’ve tried everything to make friends, but it feels like nobody wants to talk to me," he said.

“Not very many people pass my house, but I was hoping it would spread around the community, and someone might reach out.

“Jo was my best friend and we had a lovely life. But now I’m all by myself. My wonderful wife has just died, and I have nobody.

“All I want is for somebody to see the sign and phone me up. I just want a nice conversation so I’m not sat in silence all day long.

“I’m not looking for someone to listen to me cry - I just want a normal person who I can chat to! I can talk to anybody about anything.

“I spend most days just sat in the house in silence, just waiting for the phone to ring… but it never does.”

Williams described himself and Jo, a legal secretary, as “soul mates”.

The two met in a bar just over 35 years ago.

“Our relationship was always so natural. We had no secrets and we could be totally open with each other."

Jo passed away just nine days after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

 “Now I’m here, completely alone, in the house where my lovely wife spent her dying days," said Williams.

"Every time I walk in the room, the first thing I do is look at her photograph.

"I just want a friend, and I hope my sign will find someone for me.”

Tony's neighbours said they have offered to help him - but the 75-year-old said he's after a friend his own age.

[Update: If you wish to contact Mr Williams, you can email news@swns.com and they will direct you further]