A Croxley Green resident who has kept in touch with her Canadian pen pal for an incredible 84-years is celebrating her birthday with a special card from her long term friend.
Daphne Galashan, who turns 96 tomorrow, has lived in the village for more than 50 years, and has kept in contact with Charlotte Paton, from Montreal in Canada throughout major events including The Second World War, as well as life updates and family news.
Daphne told CroxleyNews: “It all started when I was 12-years-old. I was in Geography class and the teacher passed round a list of names and addresses from all around the world. I picked out Charlotte and when we started writing, we didn’t stop.
“We both got married in our late teens, Charlotte had five children, we both had very happy marriages, but have now both lost our husbands.”
Daphne, who lives on Kenilworth Drive, turns 96 on April 27 and has received a birthday card and special letter from her friend, also 96, across the pond.
Daphne added: “It really is amazing that we are both still healthy and have kept in touch all of this time. Every birthday and Christmas we exchange cards, it is so wonderful.”
The women have only ever met once, when Charlotte visited Daphne in Croxley Green 30-years ago and immediately struck up a friendship in person.
Colin, Daphne’s late husband even visited Charlotte when he was in Canada training for the air force during The Second World War and received a sightseeing tour of Montreal by his wife’s pen pal.
Daphne will celebrate her 96th trip around the sun surrounded by friends at her home on Wednesday, April 27.
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