Mahatma Gandhi once said: ‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.’

This is a fitting description of the Bradford on Avon and district LINK volunteering transportation service, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last week with a coffee morning at United Church, St Margaret’s Street.

The Wiltshire LINK community service began in 1979 when volunteers helped transport the elderly, sick or disabled to hospital appointments and social visits, among other things.

In 1995, a congregation of people from the town decided to expand the Wiltshire LINK community service to their town and since its modest beginnings it has grown to include 50 drivers and a multitude of telephone coordinators.

Despite the financial hardships, the benevolent service has endured and continues to provide a vital link for people in need, maintaining their quality of life and independence.

Whether it is driving someone to visit a grave, popping in to a social event or going to the dentist – LINK continue to provide, one wheel turn at a time.

The service can clock over 40,000 miles a year, driving people as far as Salisbury or Bristol hospital or as close as Bradford on Avon health centre.

"Obviously as a driver, you are doing something for the community. But what isn’t obvious is how much we get out of it. It’s a service with a smile,” said chairman of the Bradford on Avon service Tony Monks.

“People say what a fantastic service we are, sometimes just having someone to talk to is good.

“I heard about it by chance when we moved here. Most of our team our retired and it is an absolute pleasure to do.”

The volunteers received a blow when the Wiltshire Council cut their 10% funding in recent years due to cuts, but Mr Monks says the service will run for at least another 10 years.

“We have been lucky thanks to some big donations over the years but people really appreciate what we do. I’ve been invited in for tea all sorts of times,” said the former Bath teacher Mr Monks.

“One gentleman took me inside his house and showed me his picture with Nelson Mandela. It’s the people that make you enjoy this job and look forward to the day ahead.”

Rowena Quantrill and her husband Bill, have been there since the service’s inauguration, working as a driver and a telephone coordinator – a position she still holds today.

“My main memory is just how grateful people are. ‘What would we do without you?’ they say. And my husband who has been a chair and treasurer would say the same.

Volunteers are not paid because they are without worth, it is because they are a priceless commodity. These commodities celebrated 20 years of LINK with a cup of coffee and a tail or two with past and present volunteers.

“It was lovely seeing so many old faces and reminiscing,” said Mrs Quantrill.