Two octogenarian school friends were reunited at a Hednesford care home after over 70 years.
Classmates Audrey Sishton and Margaret Moore, both 86, said their farewells on their last day of school in 1951.
Though both continued to live in the Cannock area, where they married and brought up their families, the pair didn’t meet again for another 71 years.
The chance reunion happened when Audrey temporarily moved into Littleton Lodge care home whilst her house was undergoing repair work.
She immediately clocked eyes on fellow Belt Road School for Girls pupil Margaret, who had been in her class until they both left school aged 15.
Margaret, who has four children and seven grandchildren, had been living at the luxury care home on Bishop Street since June 2021.
Staff at Littleton Lodge, which is operated by Ideal Carehomes, laid out a special vintage afternoon tea for the school friends, which included cucumber and ham sandwiches, fruit cake, Battenburg and scones with jam and clotted cream.
Both women were born in 1936, three years before the start of WWII. Their years at primary school were coloured by the war and although war was over by the time they started at secondary school in 1947, food rationing was still a part of everyday life.
Audrey said: “It was lovely to bump into Margaret again and we had some fascinating chats, remembering what we had got up to at school and filling each other in on the rest of our lives.
“I do remember that at school, Margaret was definitely the cheeky one!”
Margaret said: “It was a real surprise when Audrey turned up at Littleton Lodge. We had a lot of fun talking about our school days.”
Home Manager, Rachel Ellis, said: “It was heart-warming to see these two lovely ladies catching up after so long. After 71 years, they had much to talk about!
“It was certainly a shock to us all when Audrey revealed that Margaret was a bit cheeky at school. During her time at Littleton Lodge she has been nothing but the picture of politeness!”
Littleton Lodge is a purpose-built luxury residential and dementia care home operated by Ideal Carehomes. With 66 ensuite bedrooms, it has landscaped gardens and a full and varied activities programme.
For more information, call01543 399640, email littleton.lodge@idealcarehomes.co.uk or visit www.idealcarehomes.co.uk