But for ex-nurse Joan Locke (82) that was a regular reality before she was referred to West Norfolk Befriending.

The volunteer-manned service matches ultra-isolated people with someone who can drop in regularly and take them out for the day or simply lend a listening ear.

When Mrs Locke was matched with befriender Lexie Durward, a 66-year-old retired civil servant, her first wish was to be taken to her husband's grave in Fakenham and now that wish is fulfilled routinely.

Mrs Locke said: "I moved here from Ipswich after my husband died because there were too many memories for me in a big house.

"We used to have a caravan and bring it down here and I liked Hunstanton so much I moved here, but I left all my friends then Lexie came and made a friend of me.

"They have been absolutely marvellous to me."

West Norfolk Befriending has been running for six years and became a registered charity in 2005, but despite growing demand it has actually scaled down its workload recently.

The constant limitations imposed by finances mean it is now working at full capacity, providing a service to around 20 people at any one time.

Even with just one member of paid staff – in manager Ms Carmel Wolverson – once volunteer expenses and overheads are covered, the service, with its base at St James Court, St James Street, Lynn, costs £50,000 a year to run.

Despite the limitations Ms Wolverson and all the volunteers who make up the service – from the trustees who oversee her, to the befrienders and a voluntary administrator – have just become an Approved Provider with the Mentoring and Befriender Foundation.

Ms Wolverson said: "It is external validation that we are working to good practice standards.

"Befriending is one of those things that people think is easy, but the human relationships aspect is very complex and befrienders and management of matches are the key to the success of the service.

"Demand far exceeds supply and we have had to realise that. Funding is always a huge challenge."

The befrienders do not purport to be a substitute family – they are service providers whose role is to give elderly isolated people their time and attention.

Befriender Mrs Durward, of West Winch, said: "A lot of our clients have fantastic families but they live a day's drive away.

"Many also have fantastic carers and, as much as a lot of them would like to stay and talk, they can't because they have got to get to the next client and this is where the befrienders come in.

"I'm retired and you need to fill your time. We can devote an afternoon to them.

"It's actually fantastic because we are meeting people, often from another generation, and you can learn a lot from them. You know you are making a difference to their lives but it is a two-way thing – you gain a lot too."