At the age of 98, partially deaf and mostly blind, Frederick Clipper is still one of the most dedicated volunteers that the Bermuda Red Cross has.

He has been volunteering for the charity since his retirement in 1976 and repairs wheelchairs for hospital patients each Saturday morning.

And so grateful is the Red Cross for his help that its headquarters on Berry Hill Road, in Paget, was named after him in 2001.

Why does he volunteer? "Well because the Red Cross needs volunteers and because I like it," Mr. Clipper said. "I enjoy being there. I am working with my fingers all the time there repairing stuff, cleaning stuff."

Mr. Clipper said his disabilities do not impede him at all, adding: "I can't talk to any customers, but I can do mechanical work."

Mr. Clipper, an American who was stationed in Bermuda during the Second World War, married Bermudian Rosemary Champness in 1943. Since then he has volunteered for Bermuda Physically Handicapped Association, Meals on Wheels and the Centenarian Transport programme.

According to his daughter Ros Clipper, 60, her father's participation is "phenomenal" and has inspired her to start doing her own work in the community. Like her father, she is a devoted volunteer with the Red Cross.

"When I came home for holidays I would do various things with him, and then when I came home to live, to look after him when my mother died in 2001, I sort of took over."

For eight years, Ms Clipper has been part of The Red Cross equipment team. She is called on throughout the year to deliver medical beds for sick people and seniors to private homes.

There are also those who are temporarily immobile and need a bed installed. Regardless of the situation Ms Clipper, and often her father, load the bed into a car and deliver it where it is needed. Last year alone they helped to transport more than 80 beds.

Ms Clipper added: "I have a full-time job, or near to it, but I volunteer on the evenings, weekends, public holidays, short notice or no notice.

"What you get out of it is so much more than what you put into it, a feeling you have actually done something for somebody and made their life a little easier."

She continued: "These people who are going back and forth to the hospital, when they can finally bring their relative home, it transforms their life. Home is where most people want to die or want to be. They don't want to stay in a hospital."

Ms Clipper says her family has been very fortunate and consider it their duty to help those less well-off. She encourages all people, no matter their circumstance, to look at her father as an example.

"Daddy puts it all down to helping people. I think a lot of other people would live more fulfilling lives if they got out and helped others. But a lot of people are afraid of volunteering because they don't think their skill level is going to be appreciated.

"You don't have any special skills, just be somebody that is prepared to give a commitment to do it. There are so many newly retired people that don't know what they are going to do. You can volunteer in all sorts of ways.

"Look at daddy, virtually blind and completely deaf to the female voice anyway. He gets out there and he gets more hugs from the people we deliver beds to and he loves it.

"He tells everyone about the hugs he has gotten and it makes him feel tremendous."