'My heart skipped a beat' - two residents reunite after 60 years apart

Two childhood friends who grew up as neighbours in Linlithgow have reunited by chance after losing touch 60 years ago.

Irene Gresty and Janet Henderson reunited together. Credit: Bield Housing and Care.

Irene Gresty and Janet Henderson, both 80, had been living just minutes apart at separate Bield developments in Bield at Home - Linlithgow for the past three years but, despite living so close, their paths had never crossed until a recent event hosted by Bield helped bring the best friends back together.

Ms Gresty lost touch with Ms Henderson when she moved from the area after her husband was deployed by the Navy. They lived in a host of countries, including Singapore, before returning to Linlithgow to reside at Brae Court.

She said: “We were joined at the hip growing up as we were neighbours and also went to school together, we have many fond memories of sticking up for each other and playing in the park.

“I moved back six years ago as my family still live here. I loved the area growing up so wanted to settle down to enjoy retirement.

“From speaking to people I’d known in the past, I found out Janet still lived in the area but our paths hadn’t crossed.

“I just couldn’t believe my luck, after all these years we just bumped into each other! My heart skipped a beat.”

'We have many years to catch up on'

The two women vowed to never let it go that long again without seeing each other and spent the full afternoon catching up and exchanging numbers.

Ms Henderson who resides at West Port said: “People often move away from the area, and you lose contact, it’s the way life goes.

“We both got married and now have different surnames. I hadn’t thought anything of it when someone told me Irene had moved back to the area as I didn’t recognise the name – so when I saw her at the event it was pretty surreal.

“We exchanged numbers so I’m really looking forward to meeting up in the future, we have many years to catch up on.”

'I don’t think we have ever had anything like this before'

Bield is a registered charity dedicated to providing flexible housing solutions and support for older people. Bield Housing and Care has 180 developments across Scotland, providing independent living for those aged 55+.

Tracey Howatt, director of customer experience at Bield, said: “We often have friends reuniting after not seeing each other for a long period of time, but I don’t think we have ever had anything like this before.

“It’s lovely for the two ladies to reunite and it just shows, you never know when you’ll bump into an old friend again.”

Ms Henderson added: “At Bield, you’re always doing different activities and bumping into people you haven’t seen in a while, but I couldn’t believe I got to reconnect with someone I knew so long ago.”

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